| City takes its community safety drills to Bothasig | City takes its community safety drills to Bothasig | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/City%20news.jpg" width="1440" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | The drills, coordinated by the Safety and Security Directorate happen quarterly and put several role-players through their paces. | <span><p>The Civil Security Initiative (CSI) drill in Bothasig on Saturday, 16 May 2026, was the latest in a series designed to put the Directorate’s community safety network to the test.</p><p>It brought together Bothasig, Edgemead and Zone 4 Neighbourhood Watches, District Watch, and other safety partners, alongside the City's Safety and Security departments, to simulate a high-pressure emergency scenario.<br></p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/Some%20of%20the%20drill%20participants.jpeg" alt="" style="width:1069px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>Participants were activated through a series of staged alert messages and tasked with securing all access points to the facility, maintaining a 100-metre perimeter, and relaying information in real time to the City's Joint Operations Centre (JOC). </p><p>With City and SAPS resources portrayed as fully deployed to the wider unrest, community structures were required to hold the line independently - exactly the kind of scenario these drills are designed to prepare for. </p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/Participants%20mid-simulation.jpeg" alt="" style="width:2532px;" /> </figure></span><p>‘These exercises are about more than testing procedures. It’s about working with our civil society partners to enhance skill sets, exposing everyone to potential safety challenges and how to deal with them, and to identify and address any gaps in systems, should there ever be a real need to respond. The recent violent protest in the Eastern Cape is a stark reminder that civil unrest in South Africa is something government needs to prepare for, given the increased misinformation campaigns, increasing unemployment and a growing distrust in government. In Cape Town, we will stand ready to defend our residents,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.</p><p>The Civil Security Initiative is aimed at harnessing the resources of community structures to strengthen information-sharing and emergency response citywide. A dedicated communication platform gives Neighbourhood Watches and civil society partners a virtual presence in the City's JOC during incidents, ensuring that when it counts, everyone is connected and no one is operating in isolation.</p><p> </p><p><strong>End</strong></p><span></span><span></span> | 2026-05-18T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Temporary lane closure at the Buttskop Road level crossing in Blackheath | Temporary lane closure at the Buttskop Road level crossing in Blackheath | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Development%20charges%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | The City of Cape Town would like to advise residents and road users of a temporary lane closure at the Buttskop Road level crossing in Blackheath | <span><p>‘The City understands that lane closures can cause inconvenience to motorists and residents, but these maintenance activities are necessary to improve safety at the Buttskop Road level crossing. We appeal to all road users to be patient, adhere to temporary traffic management measures and exercise caution in the area while this important work is under way,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/Buttskopp%20level%20crossing%20map.jpg" alt="" style="width:464px;" /> </figure></span><p>The City of Cape Town and Metrorail have an existing Maintenance Agreement in place regarding the maintenance of railway level crossings and the approach roads where the City is the road authority. <br><br>The temporary lane closure is to enable Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) officials to conduct a joint condition assessment and undertake maintenance work required by the Railway Safety Regulator. <br><br>The City apologises for any inconvenience caused and thanks residents and commuters for their understanding and cooperation.<br><br><strong>End</strong></p><p> </p><span></span> | 2026-05-18T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Scottsdene Wastewater Treatment Works boosts water reuse to drive savings | Scottsdene Wastewater Treatment Works boosts water reuse to drive savings | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Disposing%20of%20industrial%20effluent%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | The City invested R32,5 million to construct a new treated effluent pump station that has recently been completed. | <span><p>The City invested R32,5 million to construct a new treated effluent pump station that has recently been completed.</p><p>It supplies a number of users with treated effluent mainly for agricultural and irrigation use. With the new treated effluent pump station, the City can expand the reuse network to more customers. The pump station is able to supply six million litres of treated effluent per day to the Scottsdene treated effluent network, significantly increasing the availability of treated effluent within the area. Further development work is planned to extend the Scottsdene treated effluent network by 14km.<br></p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/Scottsdene%20Wastewater%20Treatment%20Works%20boosts%20water%20reuse%20to%20drive%20savings%201.jpg" alt="" style="width:924px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>Industries, sports facilities, parks, developments and schools in Bellville Industria, Bellville South, Stikland, Glenhaven, Kuils River, Scottsdene, Northpine, Wallacedene, Brackenfell and Protea Heights are encouraged to engage with the City to use treated effluent as an alternative water source. </p><p>Treated effluent is extracted and screened at the inlet of the pump station reservoir and filtered downstream of the pumps. The upgraded system also includes a supply capacity for internal reuse at the WWTW as part of the treatment process. The remaining treated effluent is either reused by customers or discharged to the receiving river.</p><p>The plant has previously benefited from capacity upgrades in 2010 and 2020 to service a growing population driven by increased housing developments in the area.</p><p><strong>What is treated effluent?</strong></p><p>Treated effluent is wastewater that has undergone a rigorous treatment process at wastewater treatment works to remove contaminants, making it safe for discharge into the environment. A portion of this water is further filtered and supplied to customers for non-drinking uses.</p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">It is supplied from nine City wastewater treatment plants: Athlone, Bellville, Cape Flats, Kraaifontein, Macassar, Potsdam, Scottsdene, Zandvliet and Melkbosstrand. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">It is more affordable than drinking water. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">It is strictly for non-potable uses such as irrigation and industrial activities.</div></li></ul><p><strong>Scottsdene ready to supply treated effluent to customers</strong></p><p>‘Providing industry with treated effluent for non-potable purposes such as irrigation and construction is vital in our call to save water. Every litre of treated effluent used is a litre of drinking water saved, helping to preserve our scarce water resources.<br></p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/Scottsdene%20Wastewater%20Treatment%20Works%20boosts%20water%20reuse%20to%20drive%20savings%202.jpg" alt="" style="width:938px;" /></figure></span><p>‘It also makes financial sense for users, as treated effluent is a more affordable alternative to potable water. By switching to treated effluent where appropriate, businesses and facilities can reduce their water costs while contributing to a more sustainable and resilient water future for the city,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.</p><p><strong>About Scottsdene WWTW</strong></p><ul><li>It was constructed in December 1976.<br></li><li>The plants services Scottsdene, Northpine, Bernadino Heights, Wallacedene and Bloekombos.<br></li><li>It has a designed average dry weather flow treatment capacity of 12,5 million litres per day (MLD)</li></ul><p>After its initial construction in 1976, which saw the installation of its first wastewater treatment module, the WWTW underwent further capacity upgrades over time resulting in the current plant, which has four treatment modules. Additional upgrades up to 2008 saw the construction of mechanical screens, washer compactors and more to meet the growing demand in the area. </p><p>During 2010 the treatment capacity of the WWTW was expanded with the construction of treatment Module D and the provision of a mechanical dewatering facility to enable mechanical dewatering and offsite disposal of wastewater sludge produced at the plant. </p><p><br>Caption 1: Clint Kleinhans (Senior Superintendent at Scottsdene WWTW) and Jacques Basson (WWTW Plant Manager) at the final discharge point where treated effluent leaves the plant for reuse.</p><p>Caption 2: Process Controller Vhuhwahvho Mmbadaliga clearing foreign objects from the dewatering facility, highlighting the operational impact of improper waste disposal.</p><p>Caption 3 (Dropbox): Staff at the Scottsdene WWTW inside the newly constructed treated effluent pump station, which will expand water reuse to more customers in the area.</p><span><figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> </figure><p><strong>End </strong></p><p><strong></strong> </p></span><p> </p> | 2026-05-18T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City’s Mobile Office heads to Wallacedene Community Hall | City’s Mobile Office heads to Wallacedene Community Hall | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/City%20news.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | This week, the City of Cape Town’s Mobile Office will be stationed at the Wallacedene Community Hall on Thursday, 21 May 2026. | <p>The details are as follows:<br></p><ul><li>
Thursday, 21 May 2026, from 09:30 to 13:30 at the Wallacedene Community Hall, Boesak Street, Wallacedene.
</li></ul><p>The City’s Customer Relations Department’s mobile team will assist residents with logging queries and service requests electronically.
</p><p>'I would like to encourage residents within the Wallacedene area to attend the upcoming Mobile Office visit. This service provides a convenient opportunity for community members to receive assistance with non-emergency enquiries, including rates, water, electricity, and refuse accounts, close to home. To ensure quicker and more efficient service, residents are kindly requested to bring their ID or municipal account details,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Theresa Uys.</p>
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<strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2026-05-17T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
