| Cape Town and New York reunited as airline resumes flights | The city first welcomed the maiden direct United Airlines New York to Cape Town flight on 16 December 2019, after much effort from the City of Cape Town | <p>(Photo credit: Justin de Reuck, United Airlines)</p><span><p><br>The city first welcomed the maiden direct United Airlines New York to Cape Town flight on 16 December 2019, after much effort from the City of Cape Town, Western Cape Government, Cape Town Tourism, and Airports Company South Africa, which has helped facilitate Wesgro’s Air Access project. </p><p>The route was suspended a few months after its launch in March 2020 due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/BestUAPlane02Dec2021.jpg" alt="" /> </figure></span><span><p>‘This is a special occasion – a day where we can welcome back United Airlines flights from New York to Cape Town. It was heartwarming to see a plane full of excited American tourists ready to explore and enjoy Cape Town, after a 20-month hiatus in flights. This is why it gives me great pleasure to say that today, we are “United” once more, said Mayor Hill-Lewis.</p><p>Covid-19 has had a significant impact on livelihoods and families. The tourism industry is a core part of our local economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs. </p><p>‘As the Mayor of this beautiful city, I have said that we will focus all our work on growing the economy and making Cape Town the easiest place to do business in Africa. I look forward to seeing this route flourish and connect more people to each other, and help grow a stronger, resilient relationship between our two cities,’ added Mayor Hill-Lewis.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/LastGroupUA02Dec2021.jpg" alt="" /> </figure></span><span><p>Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, said while the travel bans are disappointing, the City with its partners, will continue to work hard to reverse these restrictions to see the return of international airlines and all its travellers who were so keen to visit Cape Town. </p><p>‘A few weeks ago, we launched a destination marketing campaign in New York and other major cities showing the diversity of experiences and the beauty that Cape Town offers. This route between North America and Cape Town opens travel and trade opportunities that stand to be of significant benefit to our economy.</p><p>‘Tourism and aviation are crucial drivers of employment and the economy in Cape Town. In 2019, the airport helped funnel just under R14 billion into the metro while supporting over 28 000 jobs. We are determined to grow the aviation economy once more, to increase business and leisure tourism, and connect Cape Town to more countries,’ said Alderman Vos.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/CeremonialWelcomeUA02Dec2021.jpg" alt="" /> </figure></span><span></span><span></span><p>Service delivery accolades and the travel awards which we have received like being named the World’s Leading Festival and Event Destination 2020 and Africa’s Leading City Destination and others in 2021 by the World Travel Awards, are evidence of the attractiveness of the city on a global level. </p><p>These awards are expected to boost Cape Town’s resilience when it finally emerges from the effects of Covid-19.</p><p>Cape Town is the gateway to the Western Cape and the African continent, and has the infrastructure, the scenery, the human capital and a favourable exchange rate to further build upon its reputation as a must-see destination. </p><p>The City of Cape Town is committed to doing everything possible to keep this city and South Africa open to protect the livelihoods of our residents. The tourism and hospitality sector needs every ounce of support we can offer.</p><p><br>Caption 1: The United Airlines aircraft makes its way to the docking terminal after landing at Cape Town International Airport.</p><p>Caption 2: (From left) To welcome tourists disembarking from the aircraft are Cape Town International Airport General Manager Mark Maclean, Western Cape Minister of Finance David Maynier, WESGRO CEO Wrenelle Stander, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth Alderman James Vos, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, Economic Officer at the US Consulate in Cape Town Neal Turner, United Airlines Western Cape Business Development Manager, Gayle Bannatyne and Information Officer at the US Consulate Tyler Hacking. </p><p>Caption 3: The United Airlines aircraft is given a ceremonial water cannon welcome to Cape Town International Airport after landing.</p><p><br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2021-12-02T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Identikidz will ensure child safety at 16 beaches over the festive season | The Identikidz programme has been well received and grows in popularity | <span><p>‘The Identikidz programme has been well received and grows in popularity. Last year, more than 30 900 children were tagged at the participating beaches and 11 children were reunited with their families. </p><p>‘The statistics do not compare to previous years due to the lower beach turnout, but we are still very happy with the number of parents and caregivers who actively seek out the Identikidz registration hubs when they arrive for their day at the beach. The project has developed quite a following and is just one more way in which the City is trying to ensure our residents’ safety. While the responsibility of care remains with the caregivers, it is heartening to know that there is an extra layer of protection for our youngest bathers,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/identikidz1.jpg" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span><span><p><br>On priority days, teams will ensure that children who arrive at the beach are registered and are issued with an armband with the contact details of their parent or caregiver. </p><p>Should the child be separated from their family, this helps City staff or the police to reunite the child with their family. </p><p>In the event that a child’s family is not found by the end of the day, the child will be handed over to the Western Cape Department of Social Development.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/identikidz2.jpg" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>'I want to encourage adult beach goers to register their children at the participating beaches as soon as they arrive. Children can become disorientated in unfamiliar surroundings or with a large number of people around, or they could simply wander away. An Identikidz armband could save all involved a lot of trauma, anxiety and stress,' said Councillor Van der Ross.</p><p>The project will run over 16 days, subject to Covid-19 regulations: </p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">15, 16,17 ,18,19, 25, 26 and 31 December 2021. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23 January 2022 on 14 of the 15 beaches </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Maiden’s Cove – only 26 December and 1 and 2 January 2022</div></li></ul><p><strong>Beaches where parents and caregivers can find Identikidz staff are:</strong><br>Muizenberg, Fish Hoek and Strandfontein in the south; Gordon’s Bay, Strand, Monwabisi, Harmony Park, and Mnandi in the east; Big Bay, Sea Point and surrounding area, Silverstroom, Camps Bay, Lagoon Beach, Melkbos Strand, Millerton Beach, and Maiden’s Cove in the north.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/identikidz3.jpg" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span><span></span><span>‘This is a time of fun and for families to spend time together. Help to make this festive season an enjoyable time for everyone. Keep an eye on young children and make sure they’re registered with Identikidz,’ said Councillor Van der Ross.<br> </span><p><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2021-12-01T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Road rehabilitation work along Jakes Gerwel Drive continues | The City will not tolerate the attempts by a few individuals to stop critical projects through extortion and intimidation | <p>‘The City will not tolerate the attempts by a few individuals to stop critical projects through extortion and intimidation. The Jakes Gerwel Drive project was delayed recently, but I am happy to hear that the contractor has been back on site since last night, and will be accompanied by law enforcement to ensure that work continues smoothly. Our aim is to complete a substantial part of the roadworks in time for the builders’ holiday. The safety of our road users is our top priority and we will not allow a few community members to keep us from completing this stretch of road.</p><p>‘Jakes Gerwel Drive is one of our busiest roads and a key transport link. The rehabilitation work will improve its condition and lifespan and improve the travel experience for all road users, especially those from surrounding suburbs including Langa, Bonteheuwel and Epping. Roadworks are still happening only after hours between 20:00 and 05:00 in the morning,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Councillor Rob Quintas.</p><p>The contractor started night work at the beginning of November. The work process involved removing the existing road layers to a depth of about 340mm and replacing it with a specialised material that was created using recycled asphalt and a small amount of bitumen. This recycled asphalt material is then exposed to traffic for a few days before it can be paved over with asphalt. Approximately 25 000m3 of recycled asphalt will be used in this road rehabilitation, significantly reducing the need for virgin, less sustainable, construction materials on this project</p><p><strong>Going forward the programme is planned as follows:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Work will continue on the northbound carriageway until mid to late January 2022, with short sections of the recycled asphalt material being constructed each night and an asphalt surfacing layer being placed over this every fourth or fifth night. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">The contractor will then carry out some patching work between Viking Way and the N1 of the North bound lane until late February 2022. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Thereafter the contractor will move to the southbound carriageway for patching work between the N1 and Viking Way until about March 2022</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Lastly the main roadworks on the southbound carriageway will be undertaken between Viking and Blue Gun until about mid-May. </div></li></ul><p>The City of Cape Town’s Transport Directorate commenced with this rehabilitation of Jakes Gerwel Drive between Blue Gum Street and Viking Road project in March 2021. The work is scheduled to take another nine months to complete, pending unforeseen delays and inclement weather.</p><p>The project also includes minor improvements to the sidewalks and repairs to guardrails, which benefit pedestrians along this stretch of road.</p><p><strong>The City asks that road users continue to assist by:</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Reducing travelling speeds</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Paying attention and adhering to road signs</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Being vigilant in and around the roadworks area</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Looking out for uneven road surfaces</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Being mindful of construction workers</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Factoring in extra travel time</div></li></ul><p>All lanes will be affected, but only one lane in each direction at a time. Work areas will be demarcated to regulate traffic flow, and to assist pedestrians. Residents are urged to park their vehicles in demarcated areas in order not to obstruct the maintenance work.</p><p><br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2021-12-01T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Helderberg Nature Reserve boasts new green environmental centre | The setting of the reserve on the slopes of the Helderberg, overlooking False Bay, makes it an ideal location to teach communities in and around Somerset West about the Western Cape’s plant and animal kingdom and our impact | <span><p>The City’s aim with this facility was to ensure that alternative construction methods and sustainable design thinking was demonstrated in the building in order for it to function as extended environmental education tools in the centre once completed. </p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/helderberg1.jpg" alt="" style="width:885px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>Construction of the centre commenced in June 2020 and the contractor is currently completing the final touches to the building. If all goes as planned, the project will be completed later this month.</p><p>Many of the conventional materials and methods used in the construction industry have a negative impact on the environment. They carry a high embodied energy, and water and waste footprint in their construction. The City decided to use this project as an opportunity to ensure that environmentally responsible material is used. </p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/helderberg2.jpg" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>‘The new Helderberg Environmental Centre is a magnificent building that I have personally been eager to see as I knew the project would provide a practical example of what a green City facility can look like. The centre is a successful case study of green construction methods that could benefit other new municipal facilities in the future. The material selection and construction techniques of this project increased the semi-skilled job opportunities for residents in the Helderberg area over the past 18 months, which resulted in 32 additional EPWP workers employed on site. These opportunities would not have been possible without implementing these green construction practices. This center provides the perfect setting for the various environmental education programmes the City’s nature reserves offer various schools and interest groups,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/helderberg3.jpg" alt="" style="width:898px;" /> </figure></span><span></span><span><span>The design of this holistic sustainable facility considered a number of components such as:<ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Waste</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Functionality</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Ecology</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Thermal impact</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Ground, waste and storm water impact</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Light pollution </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Reducing carbon emissions. </div></li></ul><p>Some of the sustainability features of the new HEC includes the impressive tyre retaining wall; eco brick wall and the integrated water treatment system, which includes the four chamber underground Black Water Treatment System.</p><p>In order to demonstrate alternative construction methods, the design showcased three approaches where waste was used in the wall construction. The concept for the enclosure is based on two curved walls, one fitting into the other and were constructed as follows: </p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">The inner curved wall and foundations were constructed from rammed earth and repurposed building rubble</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">The outer curved retaining wall was constructed from repurposed tyres. Building rubble and Ecobricks made from plastic bottles filled with plastic waste were used to fill the tyres for the wall. A total of 830 truck tyres were used for the tyre wall, which is approximately 40m long and 3,4m high.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">The internal walls are constructed from Ecobricks. The ecobricks are made by filling and compacting plastic waste inside plastic bottles. The bottles were then stacked inside a frame to make the walls. Natural cob was also used to plaster over the ecobricks instead of conventional cement based plaster. </div></li></ul>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/helderberg4.jpg" alt="" style="width:869px;" /></figure></span></span><p>The three wall types showcase the principle of carbon burying. The materials that would otherwise become a burden in a landfill were reused and repurposed and given a new life . This new facility now serves as carbon sinks by sequestrating waste. The idea of repurposing and upcycling materials allows this centre to speak to sustainability. In addition, approximately 176 cubic metres of earth and recycled building rubble were used for the rammed earth walls and foundations as well.</p><p>The integrated water treatment system is noteworthy as it serves the new facility and solves the burden of the waste water generated by the existing facilities. Waste water from the new facility; the nearby restaurant; ablutions; the visitor's centre and rain water from the new facility are captured and sent to the underground black water treatment system. The black water treatment system takes waste water and passes it through a four chamber process before being stored in storage tanks for the flushing of toilets in the new facility and existing ablution blocks. This ensures minimum water usage and zero water wastage. The treatment system makes use of bacteria and microorganisms to break down solids and treat the waste water, a process that mimics nature without releasing harmful nitrates into the atmosphere. </p><p>‘The Friends of Helderberg have watched with interest over the past 18 months as the new HEC has taken shape, using various eco-friendly building materials and methods and look forward to it being used and enjoyed as a multi-functional centre in the years ahead,’ said Mrs Penny Clifton-Smith, Chairperson of the Friends of Helderberg.</p><p>This new facility is situated close to the parking and entrance of the reserve. It hosts a stage and has a clip-on bedouin tent, which expands the covered usable area of the facility to accommodate larger functions. </p><p>The centre will be available for use from February 2022. For more information please email: <a href="mailto:helderbergnature.reserve@capetown.gov.za" target="_blank">helderbergnature.reserve@capetown.gov.za</a></p><p><br><strong>End</strong><br></p><span><figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> </figure></span> | 2021-12-01T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
