City of Cape Town Link

Terminations and abortions

<h2 class="sectHeading">How do abortions work?</h2><p><strong>Abortions can be carried out in two ways:</strong></p><p> <strong>A medical abortion</strong>: Your doctor will give you medication that induces abortion.<br><strong>A surgical abortion</strong>: Your doctor will perform a surgical procedure.</p><p>Terminations are performed by trained health care workers during the first 12 weeks (and sometimes up to 20 weeks) of the pregnancy. Speak to your health care professional about the appropriate approach for you. Only in unusual cases will abortions be done after 20 weeks, such as if the mother’s life is in danger.</p><p> <b>If you have had an abortion, you may experience:</b></p><ul><li>irregular bleeding or spotting for the first two weeks;</li><li>cramping (like menstrual cramps) for the first two weeks (some women may have cramping for up to six weeks); and</li><li>emotional reactions for two to three weeks.</li></ul><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info toptip"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Top tip</h4><p>If you are younger than 18, it helps to be accompanied by a trusted adult for support.</p></div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">Know your rights</h2><p>Every woman in South Africa has the right to a free and safe abortion in the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy, sometimes up to 20 weeks, depending on the circumstances. </p><span><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info remember"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Remember</h4><p> No one can force you to terminate a pregnancy and no one has the right to force you not to. </p></div></div></span><p>You can have an abortion at any age, but you will be required to sign an informed consent form giving permission for the abortion to be done. Your abortion is confidential – you can choose who you want to tell.</p><h2 class="sectHeading">Find a clinic</h2><p>Your nearest <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Local%20and%20communities/See-all-City-facilities/Our-service-facilities/Clinics%20and%20healthcare%20facilities">City health clinic</a> can assist with the procedure or with referring you to a registered facility that offers safe and legal pregnancy terminations. If you need counselling, ask your clinic to refer you to someone you can talk to.</p><p>Government hospitals, some private doctors and gynaecologists, and non-profit providers such as <a href="https://www.westerncape.gov.za/dept/health/facilities" target="_blank">provincial facilities<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> and <a href="http://www.mariestopes.org.za/" target="_blank">Marie Stopes<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> also offer safe and legal pregnancy termination.</p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy light-blue bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info fastfact"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Fast fact</h4><p>Emergency contraception is not the same as an abortion. The ‘emergency pill’ (also known as ‘the morning after pill’) will prevent you from falling pregnant after unprotected sex within a certain period of time. Go to a nearest clinic within 5 days if you have had unprotected sex. Read more about <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Family-care-and-support/Pregnancy-and-family-planning/Contraception-and-family-planning">Emergency contraception</a>.</p></div></div>

Find out about safe and legal termination of pregnancy (abortion), what your rights are, and where to get extra support.

The cost of electricity

We bill you based on a three-tier tariff system comprising of the Lifeline tariff, the Domestic tariff and the Home User tariff. Find out how this works for residential and commercial properties.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/residential-utility-services/residential-electricity-services/the-cost-of-electricity"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">the-cost-of-electricity</a>

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The City's Draft Budget 2020-2021

The City of Cape Town's budget reflects its key policy decisions and priorities, determines rates increases and indicates where money will be spent on programmes and services.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Meet-the-City/the-city-budget/the-citys-budget-2020-2021"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">the-citys-budget-2020-2021</a>

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District plans

The District Plans are medium term (10 year) plans that aim to guide spatial development processes and land use management within the district and are approved by the Council of City of Cape Town as policy.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/planning-portal/Spatial-Plans-and-Frameworks/district-plans"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">district-plans</a>

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Informal trading

Informal trade is a very important part of Cape Town's economy and benefits both traders and locals.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/doing-business-in-the-city/business-support-and-guidance/informal-trading"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">informal-trading</a>

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The Business Hub

The Business Hub provides information on starting and growing your business.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/doing-business-in-the-city/business-support-and-guidance/the-business-hub"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">the-business-hub</a>

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Pay your traffic fine

The City has a number of different options for paying traffic fines. If you would like to pay your fine.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Pay/Driving-and-vehicles/Fines/Pay-your-traffic-fine"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">Pay-your-traffic-fine</a>

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Pay your rates and services accounts

You can pay your rates and services account in a number of different ways.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Pay/Municipal-accounts/Electricity/pay-your-rates-and-services-account"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">pay-your-rates-and-services-account</a>

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Prevent illegal dumping

We are calling on all our residents to stop and report illegal dumping … Illegal dumping costs us money It costs the City R350 million every year to clean up illegal dumping …

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Safety-in-the-home/Environmental-health-in-the-home/prevent-illegal-dumping"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">prevent-illegal-dumping</a>

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Upgrade to a new prepaid electricity meter

Find out if your suburb has been selected for a compulsory electricity meter upgrade

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Municipal-services/Electricity/apply-for-an-upgrade-to-a-new-prepaid-electricity-meter"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">apply-for-an-upgrade-to-a-new-prepaid-electricity-meter</a>

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Submit a building plan

If you are planning any building work on a property, you may need to submit a building plan for approval.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Planning-building-and-development/Building-plan-applications/Apply-for-a-building-plan"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">Apply-for-a-building-plan</a>

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City jobs and opportunities

The City offers a range of employment and career development opportunities to suitably qualified applicants from a range of social and educational backgrounds.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/jobs-and-skills-development/work-for-the-city-of-cape-town/city-jobs-and-opportunities"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">city-jobs-and-opportunities</a>

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2020/21 Tariffs

Find out about the latest tariffs that affect you

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/local%20and%20communities/meet-the-city/the-city-budget/city-wide-tariffs"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">city-wide-tariffs</a>

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Coronavirus

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new disease that was recently declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO)

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/personal-health/contagious-and-chronic-diseases/coronavirus">coronavirus</a>

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View the Council Meeting Calendar

Access the Council meeting calendar and agendas for upcoming meetings.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Meet-the-City/city-council/meeting-calendar"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">meeting-calendar</a>

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Coronavirus updates

We are operating with reduced services and communication channels as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and national lockdown.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/general/coronavirus-updates">coronavirus-updates</a>

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Load-shedding

Load-shedding stages are announced by Eskom and depend on the extent of the shortage of generation capacity

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/residential-utility-services/residential-electricity-services/load-shedding-and-outages"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">load-shedding-and-outages</a>

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Libraries

Loan out books, get access to electronic resources or take part in community programmes and events at any of our libraries

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/See-all-city-facilities/our-service-facilities/Libraries"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">Libraries</a>

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Cape Town Future Energy Festival

The Cape Town Future Energy Festival is a showcase of innovation and sustainable living.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Have-your-say/surveys-and-submissions/cape-town-future-energy-festival"><img alt="" src="/_layouts/15/IMAGES/icgen.gif">cape-town-future-energy-festival</a>

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Reduce rates for NPOs and PBOs

Some PBOs and NPOs which were previously excluded from the list due to legislative changes will now be able to benefit from reduced rates.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Claim-or-dispute/Contest-a-property-valuation/change-your-property-rating-category">change-your-property-rating-category</a>

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Apply for replacement wheelie bin

The City will replace or repair a damaged or stolen wheelie bin free of charge.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Municipal-services/solid-waste/Apply-for-replacement-wheelie-bin" target="_blank">Apply-for-replacement-wheelie-bin</a>

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Pay and renew your vehicle licence

There are a number of different options you can use when paying for and renewing your vehicle licence renewal.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Pay/Driving-and-vehicles/Vehicle-licences/Pay-your-vehicle-licence" target="_blank">Pay-your-vehicle-licence</a>

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Dam levels

The dam levels are critical for Cape Town’s water supply and are a key contributor to the Day Zero water dashboard

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/residential-utility-services/residential-water-and-sanitation-services/this-weeks-dam-levels">this-weeks-dam-levels</a>

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Apply for new or replacement driver's licence

Find out how to get a new or replacement driver’s licence.

<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Licences-and-permits/Driving-and-vehicles/Apply-for-new-or-replacement-drivers-licence">Apply-for-new-or-replacement-drivers-licence</a>

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