| ‘Let’s get this train rolling’: Mayor writes to Minister Mbalula to propose Working Committee on rail devolution | Our Constitution, as well as the National Land Transport Act and National Development Plan, recognises that some functions are best handled by local government. | <div>Yesterday, I wrote to the national Transport Minister, the Hon Fikile Mbalula, to propose the formation of a new Working Committee to be comprised of officials from the Department of Transport, the City, and PRASA.<br><br></div><div>The Committee would begin the detailed work of rail devolution and ensure close cooperation between the national and city governments on the policy direction outlined in the National Rail Policy White Paper that was gazetted by the Minister this month. It would also enable the two governments to work together to improve rail services in Cape Town, even before devolution occurs. <br><br></div><div>I commended the Minister and his Department on the White Paper; it is a progressive document that — if implemented carefully and with a people-centric rather than a politician-centric approach — will allow us to fundamentally change track as regards inclusionary and economy-boosting transport in South Africa. It has the potential to turn the story of South African rail from one of declining access, lack of safety, and unreliability to one of steadily improving mobility. <br><br></div><div>I believe the Minister and I share the vision of a Cape Town where everyone — from the construction worker getting to the building site, to the young schoolgirl attending school across town, to the civil servant returning home after a late night at the office — is able to arrive at any station between the hours of 05h00 and 22h00, catch a train within fifteen minutes and get home safely. <br><br></div><div>Our Constitution, as well as the National Land Transport Act and National Development Plan, recognises that some functions are best handled by local government. All over the world, as the White Paper acknowledges, it is known that rail is better managed by local governments, where officials understand local needs. <br><br></div><div>I asked Minister Mbalula to acknowledge that the devolution of a government function is not a “loss” for one sphere of government and a “win” for another, even when different political parties are involved. If urban rail in Cape Town succeeds, it is a victory for every sphere of government and for every South African. <br><br></div><div>The benefits resulting from a reliable, safe, and affordable rail network in Cape Town will have social, economic, and fiscal pay-offs that will have positive repercussions at a national level. The devolution of this function, it follows, is an act of patriotism that will improve the lives of all, not a narrowly-interested victory for a different political party. <br><br></div><div>I look forward to hearing back from the Minister on my proposal and am confident that together, our two governments will lay the tracks for a rail renaissance in South Africa that will see unprecedented mobility, connectivity, and convenience for all. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><strong>End</strong></div><div><br><br></div><p><br></p> | 2022-05-23T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City invites young Capetonians to apply for the Junior City Council | The Junior City Council (JCC) is a non-political programme run by the City which aims to expose secondary school learners | <div>The Junior City Council (JCC) is a non-political programme run by the City which aims to expose secondary school learners in Cape Town to the working of the City Council. The programme offers young learners from grades 10-11 the opportunity to develop:</div><div><br></div><div><ul><li>Key leadership skills</li><li>Community project management skills</li><li>Broaden their knowledge of local government in the context of Cape Town and</li><li>Cultivate a culture of active citizenry through ensuring they become ambassadors within their communities. </li></ul></div><div><br></div><div>The programme will run over six months and will accept two learners per subcouncil in the City of Cape Town. This will ensure that the programme is inclusive of the realities of junior councillors as they represent their respective communities. The Junior Council elects their own Junior Mayor, Junior Deputy Mayor, Junior Speaker and Junior Chief Whip. </div><div><br></div><div>Learners who wish to participate in the programme need to complete the application form using the following link: <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/JuniorCityCouncil_NominationForm.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Junior City Council nomination form</strong></a> and submit a 90 second video explaining how you would change your community if selected as a Junior Councillor. </div><div><br></div><div>Applicants will be shortlisted and will be invited to an in-person interview before the selection is made. </div><div><br></div><div>The City encourages all learners in grades 10-11 across the City of Cape Town to apply and use this opportunity to help us build a City of Hope. </div><div><br></div><div>Schools and learners can email junior.citycouncil@capetown.gov.za if further information on the programme is sought. The closing date for applications is on Friday, 17 June 2022.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><strong>End</strong><br></div><div> <br></div><p><br></p> | 2022-05-22T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Proposed conversion of Brushwood Road in Bridgetown to a one-way open for comment | The proposal is to turn Brushwood Road into a one-way to allow improved traffic flow. | <p></p><div>The proposal is to turn Brushwood Road into a one-way to allow improved traffic flow. The proposed one-way will flow north from Loerie Street and exit at Cornflower Street. </div><div><br></div><div>The City’s Transport Network Development Department received numerous requests for this conversion and has conducted an investigation to determine the feasibility of the proposal.</div><div><br></div><div>‘Upon investigation, the team established that residents have difficulty accessing and exiting their respective driveways along Brushwood Road and that the narrow road does not actually allow for two-way traffic. The team also found that there were two blind spots along this road which raised concern. We ask that residents please consider the motivations for this proposal, and to submit their comments as soon as possible,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.</div><div><br></div><div>The City also found that by changing Brushwood Road into a one-way street it will improve traffic circulation past Bridgetown High School, which becomes extremely congested during peak hours.</div><div><br></div><div>The public participation process is in compliance with terms of section 17 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, which states that the public and interested parties or groups must be given the opportunity to submit comments, recommendations or input on such proposals to the municipality.</div><div><br></div><div>Residents and interested and affected parties can submit comments as follows:</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align:left;"><ul><li>Email: <span class="A0"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"century gothic", sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:Transport.News@capetown.gov.za" target="_blank">Transport.News@capetown.gov.za</a></span></span> (Quote reference: 110212205)</li><li>Online: <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"century gothic", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay" target="_blank">www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay</a></span></li><li>Written submission: Subcouncil 14 office, Fezeka Building Cnr NY1 and Lansdowne Road, Gugulethu, 7750 – for the attention of the Subcouncil Manager, Anthony Daniels</li></ul></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><strong>End</strong></div><div><br><br></div><p><br></p> | 2022-05-22T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Residents encouraged to comment on Bellville’s future | The City of Cape Town hosted an Open Day about the proposed local spatial development framework (LSDF) | <p></p><span><p>‘On Saturday, myself and officials from the City’s Urban Catalytic Investment Department assisted attendees with more information about the City’s proposed long-term spatial vision for the Bellville CBD. This was a great opportunity to engage with us and I must say I was impressed with the attendees’ contributions and interest. The intention of the LSDF is to spatially transform the Bellville CBD into a more sustainable and thriving centre with the City, public partners and private sector all contributing to this effort.</p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/belville%20new1.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:869px;" /> </figure></span><span><div>‘I cannot stress enough how important it is to get involved in this participation process as once the LSDF is approved by Council, it will have a profound impact on all who live and work and do business in Bellville. I encourage Capetonians to please make their voices heard, and to submit comments on how we can improve or add to the draft LSDF,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews. </div><div><br></div><div>The overarching vision for Bellville is to create a CBD that is vibrant, attractive, sustainable and efficient in terms of development and transport.<br></div>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/belville%20new2.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:872px;" /> </figure></span><span><div>The draft LSDF contains exciting proposals for Bellville, among which:</div><div style="text-align:left;"><ul><li>To improve movement and mobility between the metro-south east and the northern districts as an important employment area, particularly within the Voortrekker Road Corridor</li><li>To apply the principles of transit-oriented development to create urban spaces with a mix of high density residentially-led development, commercial, retail, and recreational spaces</li><li>To create a safe and convenient precinct that facilitates and encourages walking and other forms of non-motorised transport, together with a master basement to accommodate parking in the CBD underground</li><li>Improved public transport services and facilities</li><li>Implementation of a new vertically integrated multi-modal Bellville Public Transport Interchange as a catalytic project, phased over time to unlock urban renewal</li><li>Implementation of quality social amenities</li><li>The release of vacant City owned land for mixed use development, including establishment of a ‘government precinct’, accommodating a mix of public uses, facilities and services</li></ul></div><div><br></div><div>Bellville’s unique location as Cape Town’s second metropolitan node should be used to stimulate investment in sectors that can create jobs, drive inclusive growth and resilience. </div><div><br></div><div>The implementation plans contained in the draft LSDF support job creation, infrastructure investment and affordable housing provision. These include coordinating efforts and actions from public stakeholders such as the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Transnet, and tertiary education institutions, and to align these with actions from City partners such as the Greater Tygerberg Partnership.<br></div>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/belville%20new3.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:882px;" /> </figure></span><div>Residents can submit comments until 4 July 2022. </div><div><br></div><div><strong>To participate:</strong></div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>The draft LSDF documents are available for download from <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"century gothic", sans-serif;color:windowtext;">www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay</span></a></span>; </div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Can be viewed at the Subcouncil 6 offices, or at the Bellville Public Library, Carl Van Aswegen Street, Bellville</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Email: <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:calibri, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:Bellville.LSDF@capetown.gov.za" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"century gothic", sans-serif;color:windowtext;">Bellville.LSDF@capetown.gov.za</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"century gothic", sans-serif;"></span> </div><div><br></div><div>Once the public participation process has been concluded, the draft LSDF will be revised to include the comments received from all local stakeholder groups and residents. </div><div><br></div><div>After Council approval, the LSDF will become City policy and guide land use and development in the Bellville CBD, in conjunction with the Tygerberg District Spatial Development Framework and Municipal Spatial Development Framework.</div><div><br></div><div>Captions: The City hosted an Open Day on Saturday, 21 May 2022, about the draft Local Spatial Development Framework for the Bellville CBD. Alderman Eddie Andrews, the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, met attendees and elaborated on the proposed overarching spatial vision for Bellville – namely, to create a CBD that is vibrant, attractive, sustainable and efficient in terms of development and transport. Also, to use Bellville’s unique location as Cape Town’s second metropolitan node to stimulate investment in sectors that can create jobs, drive inclusive growth and resilience.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>End</strong></div><div><br><br></div><p><br></p> | 2022-05-22T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
