Appointment of Service Provider for Baboon Management in the Cape Peninsula

CITY OF CAPE TOWN - MEDIA RELEASE - 26 JANUARY 2009

The Nature Conservation Corporation were confirmed as the successful tenderer for the provision of a baboon management program on the Cape Peninsula at a meeting of the City of Cape Town’s Bid Adjudication Committee yesterday(Monday 25 January). This is for the period 01 February – 30 June 2010.

Only two tenders were received, with that from Hlathi Security Services being declared invalid as they had not complied with the rules of the tender process.

The amount awarded was R2 149 479.16, which included VAT and a contingency of R100 000.00. It covers a range of tasks and responsibilities in relation to the employment and management of baboon monitors and other related tasks.

“I am pleased at the outcome of the tender process,” says Cllr Marian Nieuwoudt, Mayoral Committee Member for Planning and Environment. “The Nature Conservation Corporation has performed well over the past six months and there has been a marked decline in baboon/ human incidents. Their re-appointment ensures that there is continuity.”

“I am especially pleased at the technical and financial support we have received from our colleagues in National and Provincial Government, recognising that baboon management is a joint responsibility. While it is essential that baboons must be conserved to retain their role in our unique biodiversity, let us not lose sight of the value they have for the tourism industry, which in turn boosts the local economy, in addition to the social benefits of the monitoring program, which provides employment for over 50 persons”, she added.

“While all the parties are working towards the finalisation of a Baboon Management Protocol, this is a step in the right direction to find a lasting solution for the management of baboons and human conflict. It is also essential that a policy and legal framework is compiled for the management of the areas adjacent to the mountain to prevent conflict,” she concluded.

Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Cllr Marian Nieuwoudt, Tel: 021 400 1307 or Cell: 084 224 0023
Stephen Granger, Manager: Strategic Projects, Environmental Resource Management Department, Tel: 021487 2236 or Cell: 084331 863

City of Cape Town raises its concerns at NERSA hearings

CITY OF CAPE TOWN - MEDIA RELEASE - 20 JANUARY 2010

Alderman Ian Neilson, the City of Cape Town’s Executive Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, today presented the municipality’s concerns regarding Eskom’s application for a tariff increase to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), during one of NERSA’s hearings conducted in the Good Hope Centre.

NERSA is currently conducting country-wide hearings on the application from Eskom for an electricity price increase over the next three years. These hearings are held in addition to the call for written submissions on the tariff increase.

The City of Cape Town had already submitted comments to NERSA on Eskom’s application for a 35% tariff increase per annum over the next three years. The City’s submission is one of approximately 300 submissions received by NERSA.

During his presentation today Alderman Neilson raised four additional concerns to that made in the City’s written submission regarding Eskom’s planned tariff increase. His concerns related to:

· The rate of Eskom’s infrastructure investment,
· The effect of Eskom’s cross-subsidisation of its tariffs,
· The impact of artificially suppressing tariffs; and
· The impact of the NERSA process on municipal tariffs.

Neilson warned against an abnormally high infrastructure investment to increase generation capacity at Eskom, to the detriment of investment in other services or infrastructure and in other spheres of government.

If investment in infrastructure is not balanced across all services, the shift of funding away from investment in other services would cause these services to hinder future economic growth, he said.

In addition to this concern, Neilson said that the middle-income consumer is being hard hit by tariff increases and must carry the burden of Eskom providing lower rates for key industries and indigent people. Neilson noted that it is important to provide indigent people with affordable electricity, but said that this cannot be to the detriment of middle-income consumers. “If cross-subsidisation is not addressed, local authorities’ consumers end up with a triple subsidy load, as indigent municipal consumers must also be cross-subsidised in addition to Eskom’s indigent consumers.” The large commercial customers of Eskom must also assist in carrying the cost of cross-subsidization.

Neilson also warned that tariffs for the poor or those using a smaller amount of power must not be artificially suppressed, as this can cause a large gap between low usage tariffs and moderate usage tariffs. People who just miss the cut-off for low income households face a massive increase in their electricity bill. In this way, certain consumers will be forced to change their lifestyles due to this steep step-tariff increase.

He went on to say that NERSA must not use the Eskom application to also rule on local authorities’ tariff increases. There is significant existing local government legislation that deals with tariff setting processes and NERSA must adhere to the requirements of these legal processes, which are seperate from those of Eskom.

A copy of the City’s 13 page submission is available on request. Please respond to this e-mail or contact the Media Section on Tel: 021 400 3719


Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town

Media enquiries: Ald Ian Neilson, Executive Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 1306, Cell: 083 306 6730

FIRGROVE AND SOETVLEI FIELDS - UPDATE

Wednesday, 2nd December 2009

Robin Carlisle is the MEC for Transport and Public Works in the Western Cape Government. At the AGM of the Constantia Property Owners Association on 10 November 2009, Mr Carlisle made three statements about the Firgrove and Soetvlei Fields:

1. OWNERSHIP OF LAND: The Provincial Government is the owner of the land and is managing it accordingly.

2. PROPOSAL FOR HOUSING: The proposal for low income housing on the two fields, as presented by the previous Western Cape Government at a public meeting on 23 October 2008, has been shelved.

3. FUTURE USE OF THE LAND: Any future use of the Firgrove and Soetvlei fields will be explored in consultation with the residents who live in the surrounding area. [It is for this reason that the Steering Group of residents continues its work, engaging with stakeholders on a solution that will have far-reaching benefits.]

We shall continue circulating information via emails as the process unfolds.

Huge Risk for Providers of 2010 Accommodation

Hotel, bed and breakfast (B&B) and home owners looking to provide accommodation to the estimated 500 000 visitors during the 2010 World Cup are opening themselves up to huge potential risks by failing to take out appropriate insurance cover..

Clint Harker, Head of Insurance at Pinion Insurance Brokers, an Aon Group Company, says that South Africans should not necessarily assume that they are covered for incidents and events that occur while renting out their homes to visiting soccer fans.”Clients face the real possibility of being sued by foreign visitors and not having any covers to meet the ensuing expenses.”

Harker points to a recent case in which a client was sued by an American family for well in excess of R20 million due to a liability claim against a South African citizen.
Harker says it is possible for people renting out their primary residences and holiday homes during the tournament to obtain liability cover that is not normally available on traditional personal lines policies.

Harker also advises that B&B and private individuals could benefit by specifying their cover for the duration of the tournament.

“It is important to be aware of how costly disruptions to services due to unforeseen circumstances could be during the four weeks of the tournament,” says Harker. Owners of hotels and B&B’s should assess whether they are covered for loss of revenue due to instances such as cancellations, staff stay-aways and failure of essential equipment such as air conditioners or heaters.

“Arranging cover for this will be particularly important for B&B’s and hotels in congested areas of Cape Town and Johannesburg; especially areas close to the soccer stadiums and fan parks, where parking is likely to cause congestion and possibly blocked entrances of premises.”
Noise pollution throughout the tournament is also likely to become a problem for establishments in areas close to major events. “Some insurance policies already include cover for noise pollution from the premises within 500 meters of the establishment. These policies may even include cover for the death or hospitalisation of “key members” (a spouse, manager or partner) of a business. However, it is dangerous to assume that these eventualities are automatically accounted for.”

Harker recommends that anyone offering accommodation during the tournament should consult with their insurance brokers to clarify whether their policy will cover them for all eventualities.

Save Our Seas White Shark Centre

About this image: this photograph was taken on 28th September 2006 by the Save Our Seas White Shark Research Team while visually tracking a large white shark first identified by the Fish Hoek Shark spotter on that day the research team were at Seal island when they got a call from the Fish Hoek shark spotter that a large white shark had just entered Fish Hoek Bay.
No swimmers were in the water at the time as the law enforcement and shark spotters closed the beach while the shark was in the bay.
[photograph used with permission from Alison Kock of the Save Our Seas Shark Centre.]

Shark Attack on Fish Hoek Beach - January 2010

It is highly regrettable that, within hours of the “Shark Activity” media release, a bather was fatally attacked by a shark at Fish Hoek beach. South Peninsula subcouncil extends its condolences to Mr Skinner’s family and friends. Increased shark activity has been observed for some while by the successful Shark Spotters program, and media releases to that effect released since early December. Unfortunately, as can be seen by the “Shark warning Dec” release and “Adherence to Shark Spotters warnings Dec”, not all bathers have reacted sensibly to their warnings. An extensive review of the attack and preventative measures is being conducted by the City, the findings of which will be made public. At the same time, we appeal to all our local organisations to spread the message contained in the attached media releases for all beach users to familiarise themselves with the Shark Spotters flag system, and to take seriously warnings from them. Regards Cllr Demetri Qually Chairperson - South Peninsula subcouncil DA Councillor - Ward 64 Office 021 784 2001 Fax 0865 760 582 Cell 083 629 1326 Civic Centre, Central Circle, Fish Hoek, Private Bag X1, Fish Hoek, 7974.

City Service Delivery on track despite economic downturn

CITY OF CAPE TOWN - MEDIA RELEASE - 16 NOVEMBER 2009

After three years of record infrastructure investment in Utility Services the residents of Cape Town need have no fears that their municipal services will be curtailed says Alderman Ian Neilson, Executive Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Finance.

“In fact, the proposed investment in Utility Services (Water and Sanitation, Electricity and Solid Waste Management) this year, despite the restructuring of the City’s budget, remains an all-time record and will significantly add to the capacity of the City to enhance its service delivery,” Neilson said.

“Projects have not been cancelled; they have only been rescheduled, on average by a few months, to match available funding. This is to ensure that the City does not face the more undesirable risk of inadequate cash flow that is required for continuing operations,” Neilson said.

The existing municipal service delivery levels will be maintained. The City is reprioritizing the manner in which it implements key projects and striving to do more with less. Austerity and prudent financial management will be compelling themes in a new City management approach based on a determination to protect ratepayers from unaffordable tariff increases. Services also need to enhance their revenue collection and sharpen their pencils so that the delayed projects can be proceeded with as soon as possible.

The budget allocations to the Utility Services Directorate has doubled in the past few years - from R960 million in 2005/6 to R1.8 billion in 2009/10. A total of R3.2 billion has been invested in utilities infrastructure in the intervening three years.

“Despite the fact that the City is re-phasing 17% of capital projects for Utility Services, the budget is still the highest recorded thus far,” Neilson said.


End

Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town

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