Deadline for Applying for Rates Rebate Extended to 31 October 2009

CITY OF CAPE TOWN - MEDIA RELEASE - 27 AUGUST 2009

Are you, as property owner, struggling to make ends meet?
Is your current monthly income R8 000 or less and are you older than 60 or disabled?

To provide relief in the current economic climate, when increasingly people are facing the re-possession of essentials such as homes and vehicles, when rising prices of fuel, electricity and food are forcing all but the very rich to cut back on necessities, the City of Cape Town has implemented compassionate policies that will bring some measure of financial aid to those who need it most.

A rates rebate, which is implemented on a sliding scale of 10% - 100% was made available during June 2009 to registered homeowners whose total household income is R8 000 a month or less, where the occupants are aged 60 years or more, or if they are the recipients of a disability pension/grant.

To maximise the benefits of this policy and make sure that enough people know about it, the City has extended the deadline for applications from 31 August to 31 October 2009.

"The City wants to register everyone who qualifies for the rates rebate, so that the relief measures we have put in place can restore their dignity and take away the increasing fear of impending poverty," says Alderman Ian Neilson, Deputy Executive Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Finance.

"We call on community organisations to encourage potential candidates to register with the City," he said. Neilson pointed out, however, that everyone who qualifies for the rates rebate will have to re-register annually and prove that the circumstances which enabled them to benefit from the policy still apply.

“Anyone who turns 60 within the City’s financial year which runs from July 2009 until June 2010 and to whom the other conditions such as income and disability apply, qualifies as a beneficiary of the rebate,” says Trevor Blake, Director: Revenue. “The rebate will however be implemented on a pro rata basis.”

Various rates rebates are also available to bona-fide farming operations, non-government organisations, public benefit organisations, religious organisations, health and welfare institutions, educational institutions, historical monuments, charitable institutions, sporting bodies, cultural institutions, youth development organisations and animal protection organisations.

For more information, please call the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089 or visit your nearest municipal office.


End

Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town

Media enquiries: Alderman Ian Neilson Tel: 021 400 1306 or Cell: 083 306 6730

Trevor Blake, Tel: 021 400 9988 or Cell: 084 433 5727

City Acts Against Illegal Businesses

CITY OF CAPE TOWN - MEDIA RELEASE - 27 AUGUST 2009

Anyone thinking of starting a business from home should first check with the City of Cape Town to find out whether the zoning scheme regulations for their area allows this activity.

The City’s Planning and Building Development Management (PBDM) Department is responsible for enforcing compliance with the zoning scheme regulations created in terms of the Land Use Planning Ordinance no 15 of 1985. These regulations define what properties can be used for.

The PBDM Department has recently increased the staff complement in its Land Use Enforcement Section. Thirty seven personnel have already been appointed out of an eventual 40 who will be allocated to different districts.

The department uses an eight district model and four enforcement regions, each comprising two districts. Each region will be headed by an Enforcement Coordinator. At present, one Enforcement Coordinator has been appointed and three people are acting in the remaining positions.

The Enforcement Section’s staff are guided by a Land Use Enforcement Policy which was adopted by the Planning and Environment Portfolio Committee (PEPCO) and came into force on 01 January 2009. The approach taken is to ensure people cease an activity which contravenes the zoning scheme regulations until such time as the land use rights are in place.

The process is complaints-driven and once a written complaint is received, it will be investigated and if necessary, a notice will be served. Transgressors are given deadlines and if they fail to close down in time, the matter is prosecuted in the criminal courts. If the prosecution is successful, the Land Use Planning Ordinance allows the Magistrate to impose a fine of up to R100 000.00 or a term of imprisonment.

Cheryl Walters, the Director:PBDM, says, “While the department is dependent on the criminal court process, which can take a long time to complete, it has nevertheless achieved notable successes since the enforcement policy was implemented eight months ago. In excess of 500 cease unauthorised business notices have been served, 286 unauthorised businesses have closed down and in 32 court cases, 29 guilty verdicts have been handed down and fines imposed”.

“It should be noted that a prosecution will be instituted even if a person has, subsequent to the notice, submitted a land use application to rectify the unlawful land use,” she added.

Anyone thinking of starting a business from home should therefore first contact the PBDM Department’s district office to find out whether the zoning scheme regulations for their area permits this. If a home owner or tenant wishes to run a business or a crèche in a residential area, they will probably first need to apply for some form of permission from the Department.
Application forms for permission to use a property for a use other than the allocated zoning are available on the City’s website www.capetown.gov.za or at the eight district offices. Completed application forms must be submitted to these offices.

Should anyone wish to complain about an unlawful activity, they must lodge a written complaint on the standard complaint form by fax or e-mail with the Regional Manager’s secretary or at this stage, to the relevant officials detailed below:

Districts A & B
Cape Town & Blaauwberg area
Alma Stoffels: Regional Manager’s secretary
Tel: (021) 400 6442
Fax: (021) 419 4694
E-mail: alma.stoffels@capetown.gov.za

Farrel Smith: Technical Assistant
Tel: (021) 400 6407
E-mail: farrel.smith@capetown.gov.za

Charles Mcgrath: Acting Principal Admin Assistant
Tel: (021) 400 6500
E-mail: charles.mcgrath@capetown.gov.za

District C
Northern Area
Wilma Ludick: District secretary
Tel: (021) 980 6265
Fax: (021) 980 6179
E-mail: wilma.ludick@capetown.gov.za

Nico Lombard: Technical Assistant
Tel: (021) 980 6007
E-mail: nico.lombard@capetown.gov.za

District D
Tygerberg area
Antoinette Loubser: District secretary
Tel: (021) 938 8432
Fax: (021) 938 8509
E-mail: antoinette.loubser@capetown.gov.za

Eduann Howburg: Senior Technical Officer
Tel: (021) 938 8038
E-mail: eduann.howburg@capetown.gov.za

Districts E & F
Helderberg, Khayelitsha & Mitchells Plain Areas
Estelle Goosen: Regional Manager’s secretary
Tel: (021) 850 4386
Fax: (021) 850 4354
E-mail: estelle.goosen@capetown.gov.za

Shaun Manuel: Senior Technical Officer
Tel: (021) 850 4335
E-mail: shaun.manuel@capetown.gov.za

Districts G & H
Southern and Cape Flats areas
Anita Fabe: Regional Manager’s secretary
Tel: (021) 710 9410
Fax: (021) 710 8039
E-mail: anita.fabe@capetown.gov.za

Moosa Barnes: Senior Technical Officer
Tel: (021) 710 8261
E-mail: moosa.barnes@capetown.gov.za


End

Review of the 5 year Integrated Transport Plan

INVITATION TO SUBMIT COMMENTS ON THE INTEGRATED TRANSPORT PLAN

The City of Cape Town is in the process of reviewing and updating its current statutory Integrated Transport Plan (206 – 2011) and has appointed a consortium of specialist service providers to assist with its coordination.

The Integrated Transport Plan (ITP) is a holistic and overarching five-year plan for managing and developing Cape Town’s Transport system. The ITP is a statutory requirement in terms of the National Land Transport Transition Act (No. 22 of 2000). While preparation is also strategically aligned with the National Land Act (No. 5 of 2009) Process. The ITP must be updated each year in terms of legislation. It covers all modes of public transport, non-motorised transport, freight and movement of private vehicles, airports, ports, etc.

The ITP was taken through a second round of public consultation from mid November 2008 to the end of January 2009 in order to assist the technical team in the update and revision process. It is now being made available for public comments to ensure that the content is relevant and up to date before submission for approval, as required in terms of the Act.

This is your opportunity to:

· Identify any possible gaps/shortcomings in the revised ITP.
· Submit proposals on addressing any shortcomings.
· Provide feedback on the City’s progress, achievements and/or proposed strategies, action plans, Implementation programmes and priority projects that have been included in the revised ITP.

Please submit your written comments:

· By post to the ITP Public Participation Office, Attention Tamara North, P O Box 494, Cape Town, Telephone: 02 481 2400, Fax: 021 424 5588
· By email to Lindiwe.Gaika@af.aurecongroup.com or Tamara.North@af.aurecongroup.com


The full document may be viewed at your local library or at the South Peninsula Subcouncil Offices. You may also view the doc electronically on the City’ website: www.capetown.gov.za
Attached is also a response form on which you can list your comment issues or concerns.

The closing date for comments is Monday, 28 September 2009.

Contact Person: Subcouncil Manager (Desiree Mentor)
Contact Number: 021 784 2010/11

Graffiti Blitz and Plascons' New Wonder Product - Sunday 23 August 09

A great Thank you to all who participated in the Graffiti blitz on Sunday. Within 2 hours, the neighbourhood was cleared of all unsightly graffiti. Thank you to Adrian Jessop, Frenske Otzen, Andrew Pollock from Plascon, Michael and Isabelle Franzen, Ronnie Weber, Ann Coltham and family and Alison Thiel.

Plascon sponsored our anti-graffiti day and used the opportunity to launch their new product called PLASCON REMOVE-ALL. A 100% bio-degradable, water based solution that is neither a solvent, nor a stripper, it works within minutes.

“We hope that it stays clean for as long as possible,” Adrian Jessop noted. “But if the graffiti comes back, the artists won’t get much satisfaction. It is far easier for us to remove the graffiti than it is from them to paint it.”

Adrian Jessop demonstrates how PLASCON REMOVE-ALL works.

Spray the surface, leave for a couple of minutes and simply wipe away.

Ronnie Weber and stop-sign before Plascon RemoveAll...

Ronnie Weber and Stop sign after a couple of minutes of using Plascon RemoveAll.

Graffiti Busting Sunday - 23rd August 2009 - REMINDER

Thank you to all the residents who have identified areas in our community where graffiti has been spotted. A reminder of the details of Sunday’s Graffiti Busting.

Date – Sunday 23 August
Time – 3pm
Where – Welgelee Road, close to Firgrove Way
What is needed ? – 1 Bag Cement
1 x 5 litre Roofing Paint, Grey
Half a tin of White PVA
5 – 6 Bottles of Laquer Thinners
Cloths
2 tins of Q20

Plus – ladders, brushes, buckets, buckets or bottles of water, paint remover

We are being joined by Andrew Pollock who represents Plascon. Andrew has agreed to demonstrate ground-breaking anti-graffiti and gunk technology.
A 100 % bio-degradable and environmentally friendly product just launched in South Africa.

Please contact Adrian Jessop at 083 68 000 76 or adrianjessop@gmail.com for further details about Sunday. Please join us for a fun afternoon of cleaning up the neighbourhood

Graffiti Busting Sunday - 23rd August 2009

Please join us on Sunday afternoon, 23rd August 2009 to bust all the graffiti in the neighbourhood.

We'll meet at 3 pm at Welgelee Road [close to Firgrove Way].

We'd also appreciate it if you could contact us and let us know about any specific area where you may have noticed new graffiti. Contact Adrian Jessop at adrianjessop@gmail.com or
on mobile 083 68 000 76 for further information.

City Of Cape Town Media Release 3rd August 2009

Use less electricity – it ensures the supply and saves you money

After another round of national price increases for electricity, which came into effect at the beginning of July, many Cape Town residents are agonising over how to pay their higher electricity costs.

Alderman Clive Justus, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, says we can avoid most of the increases and ensure the continuity of our supply by making a concerted effort to use less electricity.

He said Capetonians have done well in the past year to reduce the overall demand for electricity by about 5%, but most of us can still do much more.

Residents should firstly be aware of the recently approved Council budget and tariffs for the 2009/2010 financial year and that, following a national determination, the price increase for electricity increased by around 34 % from 1 July.

“The peak demand occurs between six and ten o’clock in the mornings and again in the evenings. If we all try to reduce our power consumption, particularly at these times, then the possibility of blackouts will be significantly reduced and we will at the same time, save on our own electricity useage.

Geysers can be a substantial source of savings, particularly if they are insulated, because they lose very little heat if they are switched off during these peak times. At the same time, turn down the thermostat to a comfortable 55 degrees and don’t run hot water un-necessarily. Anything which comes out of the hot tap has to be replaced by putting cold water into the geyser and heating this takes a lot of your money,” he said.

Replacing tungsten filament light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) will substantially reduce electricity consumption. Furthermore, although they are more expensive than the tungsten filament light bulbs, the CFLs last much longer and quickly pay for themselves through electricity savings.

Alderman Justus said another way to make substantial electricity savings, is to fill the kettle with only the amount of water you need to use when you make tea, coffee or other hot beverages. “And how about putting a quilt or blanket over your knees and switching off those inefficient electric bar and space heaters when watching TV – after all, we keep warm in bed in winter by adding an extra blanket.”

“Capetonians responded magnificently when water-saving measures became imperative during the drought a few years ago and we need to be just as successful in reducing our electricity demand and our electricity costs now,” Alderman Justus said.

“If we all make the necessary effort now to reduce our electricity usage, the tariff increases can be minimised. What still looms over us, however, is the request by Eskom for further increases in electricity prices over the next few years,” Justus said.


End

Issued by: communication department, city of Cape Town

Media enquiries: Alderman Clive Justus, Tel 021 400 1206 or Cell 083 628 4136

City of Cape Town Media Release 3rd July 2009

City urges consumers to save electricity by monitoring consumption

As consumers brace themselves this month for an average electricity price increase of 33,5%, the City of Cape Town has urged households to save energy by monitoring their electricity consumption.

“By measuring your usage you can adjust your lifestyle to effect savings. For example, hot water geysers ‘guzzle’ electricity, but if you adjust the thermostat from 65C to about 55C, the energy savings are considerable,” says Alderman Clive Justus, Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services.

“Pre-paid meters and some of the older credit type of meters can be read daily to check the number of units being used. You can also monitor consumption through your monthly municipal account,” says Justus.

According to Don Early of Cape Town’s Electricity Services, the average domestic consumption is about 600 kWh per month.

“More affluent households average about 1 000 kWh per month, while consumption in informal housing areas is usually in the region of 90 to 150 kWh per month. These amounts will vary according to the size of a household, the usage of electrical appliances, and will be higher in winter than in summer,” says Early.

As from July 01, the City’s new domestic tariff for 600 kWh, has increased from R389,13 to R529,21. For 1 000 kWh, the price has gone up from R626.77 to R852,45. These figures include VAT.

“For low-income consumers, the City has introduced a ‘lifeline tariff’ increase of only 9%. Thus, the cost of 90 kWh has gone up from R22,55 to R24,58, and for 150 kWh from R84,58 to R92,17. These figures include VAT.

“Lifeline tariff customers who purchase 400kWh or less per month will continue to get an automatic free allocation of 50kWh,” says Early.

Commercial tariffs for small power users, large power users and very large power users have gone up by between 27% and 36%.

“These tariff increases only apply to the 550 000 electricity consumers in the Cape metropole who are served by the City of Cape Town. The other 140 000 consumers supplied by Eskom will experience different tariffs,” says Early.

Queries on the new tariffs can be sent to the Electricity Services new SMS line on 31220. The SMS of no more than 160 characters must contain the customer’s name, erf number, account number and brief description of query. Each SMS costs 85c. Alternatively, one can call the hotline 0800 220 440 or send an e-mail to frc@capetown.gov.za.


End

Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town

Media enquiries: Alderman Clive Justus, Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 1206 or Cell: 083 628 4136

Don Early, Head: Key Customers & Tariff Development, Cape Town Electricity Services, Tel: 021 918 7125

Integrated Development Plan Public Participation Process

SOUTH PENINSULA SUBCOUNCIL
Invitation to relevant stakeholders: IDP Public Participation Processes 2010/11

The City of Cape Town wants to use this opportunity to thank you for your continuous support in the Integrated Development Plan Public Participation processes. Your suggestions and contributions will once more enhance our IDP which will be measured against the current challenges that the City faces particularly in the light of the economic meltdown that affect all of our lives.

The City of Cape Town would like to review and enhance the current Integrated Development Plan (IDP) in partnership with Ward Forums and other relevant stakeholders by raising the awareness of the major socio-economic, infrastructural and environmental challenges facing the City.

Your organisation is therefore invited to attend a briefing session with officials from the City of Cape Town in order to:

· Clearly define the challenges facing the City of Cape Town
· Seek various solutions to challenges faced by the City
· Investigate risks and dependencies impacting on the City
· Examine suggested plans of action
· Discuss the allocation of resources within the City of Cape Town

This briefing session forms part of a series of engagements and will be held at:

Retreat Civic Centre on 2nd September 2009 from 7 – 9 pm

Fish Hoek Civic Centre on 3rd September 2009 from 7 – 9 pm

Your views and input will form an integral part of enhancing the content of the 2010/2011 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and can be submitted during October 2009 to:

South Peninsula Subcouncil Manager (Desiree Mentor)
Fish Hoek Subcouncil Offices
Recreation Road
Fish Hoek

Contact number: 021 784 2010/2011

OR

Email: idp@capetown.gov.za
Sms “idp” followed by your short comment to 31766

Please RSVP to Sandiswa Mankayi by no later than 19th August 2009 in order to make the necessary logistical arrangements.

Email: sandiswafaith.mankayi@capetown.gov.za
Tel: 021 784 2010

Baboons and Details of Service Provider

The name of the company who is the new service provider regarding Baboons,
is Nature Conservation Corporation [NatConCor].

It is headed by Mr. Dean Ferreira and the director in charge of this project is
Mr. Linden Rhoda.

The 24 hour HOTLINE number is 071 588 6540.

This number should be called in case you require assistance.

FIRGROVE AND SOETVLEI FIELDS - UPDATE

The Environmental Partnership recently distributed a notice to Interested and Affected Parties, stating that the Environmental Impact Assessment is 'on hold'.

What does this mean?

We understand that the Environmental Partnership is still under contract and the terms of the brief have not changed. However, the profile of the client (Provincial Government) has changed, and the ownership of the land is in dispute. Therefore, until such time as these factors are settled, the Environmental Partnership will proceed no further with the Firgrove/Soetvlei project.

Meanwhile, we continue to liaise with the Provincial Government, the City of Cape Town and other key constituencies who have a direct interest in the intended use of this land. Our goal is to assist in finding solutions that will replace the current uncertainty with confidence and long term benefits for all stakeholders.

thank you from the SPCA - blanket drive

Dear Residents

An appeal for blankets for the Grassy Park SPCA was sent out and the residents of Constantia Hills have managed to collect and donate 27 blankets and tins of dog food.

Lamees Martin is the communications and Resources Development manager at the SPCA and she has communicated the following to us:
“Thank you very much for organizing the much needed blankets for our animals – we continue to be uplifted by the unwavering support from caring and compassionate people like the Constantia Hills Residents. “

We have delivered the last blankets on Monday, 20th July. Thank you very much to each of you who have contributed. I know there are animals who are warmer now due to your generosity and kindness.