City joins STEM Club teachers for a class on the New Water Programme | City joins STEM Club teachers for a class on the New Water Programme | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/City%20news.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | The network comprises of primary and high school STEM Clubs across the Western Cape, inspiring young learners to excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics | <span><p>The network comprises of primary and high school STEM Clubs across the Western Cape, inspiring young learners to excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Teachers from the Metro Central and South districts were in attendance at Saturday's Level Up Lab.</p><p>This is the latest in a series of stakeholder interactions aimed at raising awareness among different community groups, about the objectives of the City’s New Water Programme: a key initiative aimed at diversifying sources of water supply for more sustainability. </p><p>‘The STEM Clubs Network is an excellent platform to reach schools, where young minds and future scientists can get in-depth knowledge about water reuse and desalination.<br></p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/City%20engages%20STEM%20Club%20Network%20on%20Faure%20New%20Water%20Scheme%20and%20water%20recycling%20plans_1.jpg" alt="" style="width:946px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>‘By discussing the City’s plans with educators, our objective is to co-create enriching learning sessions targeted at the youth. The feedback received will guide the City’s development of educational materials, which highlight the critical role that alternative water resources will play, in helping Cape Town build resilience against climate change and drought. </p><p>‘Not only were we excited about the opportunity to inspire the next generation of innovators who may one day run our water treatment plants; but the direct engagements also allow engineering experts to address concerns about how advanced technology can purify wastewater and seawater to drinking quality standards,’ said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.<br></p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/City%20engages%20STEM%20Club%20Network%20on%20Faure%20New%20Water%20Scheme%20and%20water%20recycling%20plans_2.jpg" alt="" style="width:991px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>About the City’s New Water Programme <br>The NWP is a multi-phase initiative to improve Cape Town’s water security by developing different water sources like surface water, seawater desalination, groundwater and water reuse. </p><p>The programme is a response to increasing water demand, climate variability and the need to build resilience against future droughts. It includes the Faure New Water Scheme (a water reuse project), the Paarden Eiland Desalination Plant (a seawater desalination project), clearing of invasive plant species and groundwater extraction.</p><p>Two projects are currently in planned stages:</p><p>• The Faure New Water Scheme is a water reuse scheme that will produce up to 70 million litres of drinking water per day. The scheme will convert treated wastewater from the Zandvliet Wastewater Treatment Works into drinking water using advanced water purification processes. The project involves advanced technologies and quality control systems to ensure the final product meets the highest drinking water standards. The purified water will then be blended with dam water and treated again at the existing Faure Water Treatment Plant before being distributed through the drinking water supply network. During March 2025, the City will start its public participation process on the feasibility of outsourcing the implementation and operation of the facility.</p><p>• The Paarden Eiland Desalination Plant is a new project that capitalises on the latest advances in scientific research and technological innovation. The design of the plant features a comprehensive multi-barrier treatment process to remove pollutants, pathogens and salts, ensuring the safe production of high-quality drinking water. The City started a public participation process on 31 January 2025 to consider outsourcing the implementation and operation of the permanent desalination plant. The deadline for public comment is 3 March. See here.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/City%20engages%20STEM%20Club%20Network%20on%20Faure%20New%20Water%20Scheme%20and%20water%20recycling%20plans_3.jpg" alt="" style="width:861px;" /></figure></span><p>The City is committed to ongoing public engagement around the NWP and to build awareness and confidence in the safety and benefits of the new water projects. </p><p>For more information on the City’s Water Strategy, view <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/Cape%20Town%20Water%20Strategy.pdf" target="_blank">Cape Town Water Strategy.pdf </a>. </p><p>The Water and Sanitation Communications and Partnerships team, looks forward to joining the next Level Up Labs Programme this Saturday, 15 February 2025, to continue the conversation and further explore the science behind the new water projects. </p><p><br><strong>About the STEM Club Network </strong> <br>The STEM Club Network was initiated by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) in collaboration with the Cape Town Science Centre (CTSC). It promotes and supports science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) clubs through extracurricular programmes in schools across the Western Cape. Currently over 230 clubs operate within all eight educational districts, catering to primary school learners (grades 4-7) and high school learners (grades 8-11). Schools interested in joining can register their STEM clubs through the programme. </p><p><br>Caption 1: Teachers from the STEM Club Network at the Level Up Labs workshop, where the City shared details about the Faure New Water Scheme.</p><p>Caption 2: Kaashifa Aziz (City Project Manager for the Faure New Water Scheme) presented an overview about the progress made towards implementing water reuse in Cape Town.</p><p>Caption 3: Amicia Canterbury (STEM Clubs Network Project Manager) and Anele Viti (City Water and Sanitation Head: Community Engagement), discuss roll-out of the school education and awareness programme for the New Water Programme.</p><p><br>End</p><span><figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> </figure></span><span></span><span></span> | 2025-02-11T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
Refuse collection in eastern parts of the city temporarily delayed | Refuse collection in eastern parts of the city temporarily delayed | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Solid%20waste%20education%20resources%20Header%20Image.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | The City of Cape Town’s Urban Waste Management Directorate would like to inform residents that refuse collection in the eastern region of the city is temporarily being delayed | <p>It is expected that this will result in delayed collection of refuse throughout the region, which includes the Somerset West/Gordons Bay, Khayelitsha, and Kuils River areas. Please find a map of affected regions here.</p><p>Residents in affected areas are advised to bring their bins inside if collection has not taken place by 21:00 and place them outside again each morning until the service is completed.</p><p>The City is actively engaging with staff and their representatives so that services can resume in the soonest time possible. </p><p>The City apologises for the inconvenience and assures residents every effort is being made to resolve this matter as soon as possible and resume services.</p><p><br>End</p> | 2025-02-10T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
City bolsters enforcement presence in Nyanga | City bolsters enforcement presence in Nyanga | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/City%20news.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | The City’s Fire and Rescue Service responded to a fire at approximately 22:30 and found multiple vehicles alight. | <p>The City’s Fire and Rescue Service responded to a fire at approximately 22:30 and found multiple vehicles alight.</p><p>Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire at 23:40.</p><p>‘It is unlikely that the torching of vehicles in Nyanga was accidental - SAPS is investigating a case of arson. Also, this turn of events comes just weeks after a deadly shooting at the rank that resulted in more than a dozen arrests. The City will support SAPS with as many resources as we have at our disposal. It is imperative that this incident is investigated speedily, and if anyone is to blame, that they are brought to book, so that calm can be restored in Nyanga. That taxi rank is a vital node for thousands of people daily – we have a duty to ensure that they are able to go about their lives without fear of a repeat of events of recent weeks,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.</p><p>In general enforcement efforts over the past week, the City’s agencies made 290 arrests and issued 61 293 fines for various traffic and by-law transgressions.</p><p>Law Enforcement officers made 189 arrests and issued 4 852 fines for various transgressions.</p><p>Their Metro Police counterparts made 69 arrests and issued 4 414 fines.</p><p>On the roads, Traffic Officers made 32 arrests – 16 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 10 for reckless and negligent driving and six for various other offences including possession of a stolen vehicle, presenting false documentation and assaulting an officer. </p><p>Officers executed 1 020 warrants of arrest, impounded 219 public transport vehicles and recorded 52 027 offences.</p><p>In the emergency call-taking environment, the Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 722 incidents over a 48-hour period this past weekend.</p><p>This included 92 fires, 110 cases of assault, 65 domestic violence incidents, 231 noise complaints and 53 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.</p><p><br>End</p> | 2025-02-09T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
Cape Town leads SA cities on jobs growth over last decade | Cape Town leads SA cities on jobs growth over last decade | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Cape%20Town%20Competitive%20Advantage%20Factors%20Headers.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | We’re encouraged to see Cape Town’s jobs growth outpacing other cities based on a new research report | <p>‘We’re encouraged to see Cape Town’s jobs growth outpacing other cities based on a new research report. This is no accident – it is built on the back of stable good governance and infrastructure investments far exceeding that of other cities. With growth, must come the opportunity to lift more people out of poverty and into employment over time. While there is plenty more to do, we are glad that in Cape Town the prospects of finding a job shine brighter than in any other city,’ said Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.</p><p>The report notes that, ‘Cape Town’s recent employment growth has been more robust and resilient than the other metros, as well as being somewhat faster’, according to the report by Prof Ivan Turok and Dr Justin Visagie of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), entitled Striking disparities in employment across South Africa: Evidence from a new spatial database.</p><p>While Cape Town’s jobs growth has managed to keep similar pace with its fast-growing population, overall jobs growth in SA’s cities has been lacklustre in the last decade according to the report.</p><p>The main sectors driving Cape Town’s jobs growth have been retail and wholesale services, call centres, security, finance and insurance. </p><p>This new jobs data, drawn from SARS tax records, corroborates the most recent Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force survey for Q3 2024, showing that Cape Town retains SA’s lowest broad unemployment rate with 1,76m people employed and over 300 000 jobs added since Q1 2022. </p><p>‘The City continues to run targeted initiatives and campaigns to support our high-growth industries, which is evident in the growth in services, such as call centres over the last decade. More than R6,4 billion in investments and over 15 000 jobs were directly secured in 2024 via the City’s support to 11 Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) across sectors such as business process outsourcing (BPO), technology, clothing and textile manufacturing, and marine manufacturing. Looking ahead, my priority will be the rollout of the Productivity Efficiency Programme to assist companies, as well as the Business Retention and Expansion Initiative across the city’s industrial nodes to drive further job-creating economic growth,’ said Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.</p><p>In contrast to Cape Town’s stability, the spatial tax research report cites ‘political instability, mismanagement and dysfunction in key metro municipalities have been major problems’. The report further emphasises the Covid pandemic as being ‘a serious setback everywhere’. </p><p>The lack of national government funding for metros is cited as ‘unfair and unreasonable’ given the rate of population growth ‘without substantial state support for public infrastructure and essential services’. </p><p>Cape Town is rising above this challenge to invest a SA-record R39,5bn in infrastructure over three years, a plan the city expects to create 130 000 construction-related jobs alone, aside from the wider economic benefits of improved infrastructure. In 2024, the City released budget data showing it spends more on infrastructure directly benefitting lower income households than the entire capital budgets of other cities (R9bn, or 75% of budget in 24/25). </p><p>End</p> | 2025-02-09T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |