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Tuesday, 17 May 2011

Which Ward am I in?

The Demarcation Board has divided the City of Cape Town into geographic areas called wards to effectively manage service delivery. Wards are in turn represented by elected ward councillors, who interact with ward forums and the City as a way of bringing their respective community's concerns to Council's attention. Each ward councillor is also a member of a subcouncil and a member of a portfolio committee. There are 105 wards in Cape Town, with between 13 000 and 15 000 voters each. There are usually between three and seven neighbouring wards in a subcouncil.

Camps Bay falls in Sub Council 16 as indicated below:

SUB COUNCIL 16
Wards included: Ward 54, Ward 74, Ward 77

Contact details
Tel: 021 487 2055
Fax: 021 487 2208

Address:
Good Hope Subcouncil
11th Floor
44 Wale Street
Cape Town
8001
E-mail: subcouncil16.goodhope@capetown.gov.za
Chairperson:
Demetri (Taki) Amira

Manager:
Marius Coetsee

Ward Councillors:
Alderman Jean-Pierre Smith (Ward 54)
Marga Haywood (Ward 74)
Vivienne Margaret Walker (Ward 77)

PR Councillors:
Mluleki Enoch Mbonde
Mawonga Labase
Demetri Amira

CAMPS BAY is split into two Wards, namely Ward 54 and Ward 74.

The split runs along the following road from the ocean:
From Victoria next to the Camps Bay Club following
The Mead,
left into Central,
right into Tree
left into Geneva
right into Woodford
left into Cramond,
right between Erf 22 and 4,
across Medburn,
across between Erf 21 and 23,
left into Camps Bay Drive, to the neck.

All residents on the Sea Point side of this split is included in Ward 54 and all residents on the Hout Bay side of this split is included in Ward 74.


Voting District View Finder

For more information on your voting district, please visit the Election Committee website at http://maps.elections.org.za/vsfinder/ where the boundaries are clearly allocated.


Final Party and Ward Candidate lists drawn up

Final party and ward candidate lists for the 2011 elections
12/04/2011

The Electoral Commission (IEC) announced today that the candidate lists for the municipal elections on 18 May 2011 have been finalised. This is the outcome of the nomination process where political parties and independent candidates -
• Submitted their nominations before 17:00 on 25 March
• Were advised by the Electoral Commission (IEC) of shortcomings where identity documents were not submitted or where acceptance of nomination forms by candidates were still outstanding; and
• had until 17:00 on 8 April to rectify these shortcomings

The Chief Electoral Officer, Adv Pansy Tlakula, said that the nomination process have been complicated to some extent by some intra-party disputes which resulted in a number of last minute court applications with the last judgement only being passed within the last hour before the closure of nominations.

There are 121 parties that will be contesting the elections as opposed to 97 parties in 2006 and 79 in 2001. The number of candidates is 53596 compared to 45179 in 2006 and 30477 in 2001. Of the 53596 candidates 29570 are party ward candidates and 23278 are party proportional list candidates. The number of independent ward candidates also increased from 667 in 2006 to 748 in 2011. The increases in nominations are an indication of a broadening in electoral participation at local level and is very encouraging as for as the entrenchment of democratic processes are concerned.

There are only two (2) wards country wide, namely one each in the Great Kei (Komga) and Lukhanji (Queenstown) municipalities that are uncontested, whilst 11 wards were uncontested in 2006.

“There is a slight improvement in the gender distribution of candidates with the percentage of women candidates having increased from 35% in 2006 to 37% in 2011. This remains a disappointing outcome,” said Adv Tlakula.

There are unfortunately a larger number of nominations which did not meet requirements on this occasion than in 2006 when 932 candidates were disqualified. The number of nominations that did not meet the set legal requirements is 2313 for one or more of the following reasons:
• Not registered as voters
• Not registered in the municipality for which nominated
• Copy of ID not submitted
• Acceptance of nomination not submitted
• Independent – list of signatures not submitted
• Independent – Nominators not a registered voter
• Independent – Nominator not on the voters roll for the municipality for which nomination is made
• Deposit not paid

Apart from these non-compliance issues a number of nominations were not accepted as it was attempted to submit them after the close of nominations or they were presented at a location other than the municipality which was being contested. Some of these cases are the matter of court applications and appeals and whilst the list of candidates have already been published it is therefore possible that once matters have been finally resolved amendment notices might have to be issued.

Only one party, the African National Congress, will be contesting all 278 municipal elections. The Democratic Alliance will be contesting 272 municipalities and the Congress of the People 220. The ward ballot papers with the most candidates are wards 24 (Bishop Lavis) and 79 (Beacon Value / Eastridge) in Cape Town with 24 candidates each. The party proportional list ballot paper in Cape Town with 32 parties is also the ballot paper with the most contesting parties.

The order of parties on the proportional list ballot papers will be determined on 13 April at an occasion where political parties well also sign a pledge to honour and promote the Code of Conduct for political parties. Printer proofs of ballot papers will shortly thereafter be submitted to municipal party liaison committee’s for sign off by ward candidates and political parties. With the elections only 37 days away it is a mammoth logistical undertaking to print the ballot papers for the 4275 contested wards and the 460 proportional ballot papers for local and district councils.

The next milestone on the election timetable will be Friday 15 April 2011 when voters can start submitting applications for special votes because they either cannot visit their voting stations on voting day or are infirm or disabled. The IEC will shortly make full details available as far as the subject is concerned.

Full details of candidate lists will be published on the IEC website shortly as well as in the Government Gazette.

ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Pretoria
12 April 2011

For media interviews: Please email requests to
spokesperson@elections.org.za



For media enquiries, please contact Kate Bapela on 082 600 6386.

The Value of the Vote

The ratepayers of Cape Town are once again being asked to vote a City Government into power on 18th May 2011. The Greater Cape Town Civic Alliance, comprising over 100 civil society organisations active within the City of Cape Town, wishes to impress upon our citizens the value of their vote. It is probably one of the most precious possessions held by any citizen. We say, it is not to be taken lightly; it is not to be squandered easily and it should not be lent to those seeking office without serious thought about the value and impact of your vote.

The GCTCA believes that the local government elections should be about putting people in power who can ensure a safe, well developed, liveable environments for us to live in. We believe that the elections should be about putting in place a city government that will ensure that all citizens will be able to look proudly upon a city that is a home for all, where rich and poor can live in harmony, where resources are shared equitably and the where sustainable communities are built. We believe that this election should also be about clean air and respect for our cultural and environmental heritage.

It is not about power, but about people. It is about clean streets, proper street lighting, adequate storm water and sewerage systems and affordable property rates.

We call on Capetonians in the City of Cape Town to use their vote sensibly. We urge people to consider the issues that affect our daily lives and vote accordingly. We urge people to look past the badge and the election rigmarole and consider carefully the person whom you wish to represent you. Your vote is precious, use it wisely.

PHILIP M BAM, VICE CHAIRPERSON: GCTCA

(Extract from the insert "The Value of the Vote" by Philip Bam on the GCTCA Website http://gctca.org.za/the-value-of-the-vote)


CBRRA Financials 2010

These 2010 financials have been signed off by Manco and submitted to the auditors for final approval.

Click on each image to enlarge or click ‹‹here›› to download a PDF of the financials.












Minutes of Public Meeting 7 March 2011

CBRRA MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC MEETING
held on 7 March 2011 19h00 at The Rotunda, The Bay Hotel, Camps Bay

1. ATTENDANCE

PRESENT: Chris Willemse, Johan van Papendorp, Gus Millner, Sandy van Hoogstraten, Alma Horn, Brenda Herbert, Trudi Groenewald, John Powell, Michele Harvey, Chrissie Phillips

2. APOLOGIES

Colin Harvey


3. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
3.1
The Chair welcomed everyone and extended a special welcome to Ward councillor Marga Haywood, Taylor Jackson, the head prefect of Camps Bay High School and his delegation of prefects, Arthur Shepherd, Bernard Shafer and Simon Kneel of the civic security cluster. Thanks were also extended to Maree Brink, Johannes Lategan and Hester of the Bay Hotel for their hospitality.

3.2
The Chair extended best wishes to Val Cleland for a speedy recovery from illness. Val has been a tower of strength to MANCO over the years that she served on the committee.

3.3
The Chair's report would deal with the new members on MANCO. CBRRA will strive to provide a new vision and proposed synergy with school and sporting bodies.

3.4
The Chair's report would also deal with the fall-out from the Harrison case, in which the CBRRA was unsuccessful.


4. SPEAKER Sandy van Hoogstraten: Camps Bay Goes Clean
4.1
Sandy’s presentation to be attached


5. SPEAKER Taylor Jackson: Head Prefect Camps Bay High School re involvement in CB Goes Clean
5.1
Taylor introduced himself and prefects

5.2
Taylor said the school would run an environmental awareness campaign with Sandy van Hoogstraten of CBRRA.

5.3
They would educate the community on recycling , have guest speakers for talks, launch a green committee and sell 'green genies' at a reduced price

5.4
Two green genies were raffled. Winners: John Powell and Matthew Bater

6. SPEAKER Bernard Schafer: Proposed fencing of Little Glen
6.1
Bernard introduced himself on behalf of the 'fix-up project' initiated by the community surrounding the Little Glen.

6.2
Bernard spoke about the cluster of security bodies, these being: Camps Bay Watch, CBCPF and the CBCSI and the fix up projects started by the community surrounding the Glen. He said that fencing the Glen conjures thoughts of elitism but the ecological problems, litter, illegal dumping, security and 'out of sight, out of mind' necessitated monitoring. Builders are dumping and conning the community into taking rubbish for them and putting it into the Glen. Criminals are also using the Glen as an escape route, it is all too easy to get into and out of properties in this area. Managing and monitoring will not restrict access to residents but make it safer, particularly at night. Fences will initially have a 1.2 m opening and later be gated. Keys will be available to residents and gates will only be locked at night. Botanical experts have been involved to prevent damage to green areas and making the fences aesthetically pleasing.

6.3
Questions from the floor:
Colin Carter noted his concern that he didn't want to find gates locked and private people managing them. Dawn and dusk monitoring - who's responsible? Residents don't want to feel they are living in an enclosed area and
wanted to be assured that it would be environmentally friendly. Resident also don't want to see a slow erosion of access points being closed off.

Bernard’s response:
Bernard agreed with the sentiments expressed by Colin. Fencing (Beta type) to blend in with vegetation (same colours and lasting for 30 years with low maintenance). Fencing will be below road level where possible. There are no immediate plans for gates to go on openings to little Glen and in time will only be at night. Residents wishing to walk in 'dead of night' would have a key. It would be preferable to have monitoring.

Colin Carter’s response:
Part of the problem is that papers print conflicting reports which doesn't help in clarification.

Sandy van Hoogstraten’s response:
Sandy suggested planting thorny roses and also to fix and clear steps making walking more easy.

7. CHAIRPERSON’s REPORT: Chris Willemse
7.1
The Chair introduced the new members, Michele Harvey, Colin Harvey, Sandy van Hoogstraten and Gus Millner. Their qualities and their roles were commented upon and they were wished every success for their time on Manco. He also noted that Jane Bodin had left the committee and thanked her for her contribution in taking the minutes.

8. SPEAKER: COUNCILLOR Marga Haywood
8.1
Margo welcomed everybody and said she would go through the main problem issues as follows:-

8.2
The first issue was the rates and taxes, particularly how the city has done the valuations. This is still not resolved. The poor areas will be subsided by the ratepayers as decided by parliament and the constitution. The intention that 60% of the rates should be spent where the rates are paid is being investigated. The point was made that the "local area" means the ward and not the City.
It is accepted by the City of Cape Town that allocations such as fire fighting, etc are part of the budget for Camps Bay but there's lots of space to manoeuver a substantial spend on the area.

8.3
Electricity has almost doubled. The main reason for this is that National Government did not invest when they should have done.

8.4
Negatives:
  • Vagrants and anti social behaviour and littering
  • Neighbours: Views and privacy
  • Events and noise pollution
  • Dog walking, horse riding (Hout Bay)
Positives:
  • More local input into the prioritising of budget expenditure.
  • The redevelopment of Camps Bay beach had been approved years ago but had fallen by the wayside. It had now been recommended to the full council.
  • The budget was the biggest capital item prioritised.
  • Repairs to steps at Maidons Cove.
  • Received request for R900,000 for the national park including irrigation systems and plants.
  • Road and storm water infrastructure along Victoria Road had seen some repairs
  • Waste removal
  • There were two big fires on Victoria Drive and the success in the fire fighting had very positive feedback

8.5
She will go as a committed representative with John Powell and Chris Willemse to see the deputy mayor regarding the court action costs

8.6
In the new demarcation process, the Hout Bay ward has lost 1500 voters to Sea Point. She stressed the point that if you want control on how your money is spent then you must vote.

9. FINANCE – John Powell
9.1 John to attach report

10. PLANNING – Chris Willemse
10.1 Chris to attach report

11. QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
1.1
Question 1 (Michael Williams): What is the final financial implication of the legal fees owed?
Response (Chris Willemse): R75,000. If the city prosecute their cost order, then it will be substantial.
Question 2 (Bernard Schafer, to Marga Haywood):
  • Residents are complaining of electricity readings being 5-6 times above normal and sometimes 100's and thousands of rands more. Surely pre-paid customers should have a discount as there is less administration, etc.
  • Cleaning and removal of rubbish is a massive problem on the verges, sides of the roads in Camps Bay and Clifton. Residents' sponsored clean-ups result in the removal of at least 10 truckloads a month. What can we do?
  • The beach verge needs to be clear for emergency and life guard services. Vehicles constantly damage the grass and pole barriers. They need 3 registered areas left, right and centre of Camps Bay for these vehicles.
  • Need feedback for special liquor licenses for guest houses. Specific categories should have licenses
  • Bakoven has a severe sewerage crisis. Needs meeting with departments regarding raw sewerage getting onto Bakoven beaches.
Response (Chris Willemse): Will report back as most matters are currently being addressed.
Question 3 (Jane Bodin): Jane Bodin read a prepared statement admonishing the commitee for not always following the exact letter of the CBRRA constitution. She also wished the new members well.
Question 4 (from the floor): What are Manco's thoughts on Jane's statement?
Response (Chris Willemse): Jane had submitted a lengthy document to Manco regarding governance, most of which was based on incorrect perceptions on her part. Clearly, there is no suggestion of impropriety and minor procedural issues are bound to occur in an overworked voluntary organisation. In reality, Jane's problems were related to personality differences with the committee.

The chair thanked everyone for attending.
Meeting closed at 21h00.

Minutes AGM 19 August 2010

CAMPS BAY RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF THE CBRRA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD AT THE ROTUNDA BALLROOM, CAMPS BAY AT 7-30 PM ON 19 AUGUST 2010
1. Welcome and apologies
Chairperson Charles Wells welcomed all to the meeting and thanked the Rotunda hotel for its kind hospitality.

Apologies : Jane Bodin

Present : 75 persons per the attendance record.

2. Chairperson’s report
Chairperson Charles Wells covered the following items :
Commended and thanked the Management committee for its continuous efforts and commitment which involved many hours of hard work. Sincere thanks are especially due to Dimitri Karakondis for all his hard work while on the CBRRA Manco
He asked that more residents become involved in CBRRA affairs on an active basis - the committee urgently needs new members and for R 200 pa, CBRRA distributes a wide range of advice
Activities during the last year included :
Removing illegal changerooms from the beachfront
Assisting ratepayers to reduce their accounts
Removing signage
Cleaning up The Glen, The Little Glen and public spaces – thanks also to residents who were active in this respect
Dogwalking hours on the beach survey and recommendation of revised hours
Co-ordinated beach events
Alerted the Council and buyers to the historic worth of the stone cottages on Geneva Drive
Prompted the Council to donate trees for planting in Camps Bay
Assisted schools in their efforts to renew their sportsfields leases
Supported Camps bay medics including donations
Representation on the Camps Bay Community Poilce Forum and Liquor Licensing committee.
Registered as a non-Profit Organisation
Cutting road verges aat the right time if the year
Upgraded CBRRA’s ITconbtacts, including the blog (± 7000hits in its first year), the website, Twitter and Facebook
Membership (at 25% of the amount of families) could be much better
and members are requested urgently to pay their subscriptions – only three quarters of the registered membership have paid their 2010 subscriptions and we are rebilling the non-payers shortly
Please encourage your friends and neighbours to join CBRRA
Bernard Schafer of the CBCSI reported on the establishment of the newly-founded Social Workers project with a donation of R 40 000 from Blues Restaurant - the aim of which is to look at and tackle the vagrancy problem in Camps Bay. He also referred to the newly reformed Camps Bay Business Forum.

3. Approval of 2009 AGM minutes
Proposed by John Powell, seconded by Alma Horn - carried unanimously. Matters arising were dealt with within the following items.
4. Election of Manco members for 2010 11
The existing Manco committee was re-elected en bloc plus new member Michele Harvey
5. Speaker on Cape Town Tourism
Mariette du Toit spoke on the manner in which Cape Town Tourism had dealt with and learned from the whole FIFA World Cup experience, which had been a very successful project for CTT.
6. Camps Bay Community Medics
Leigh Goldschmidt of CBCM outlined their current activities and capabilities and thanked CBRRA and residents for their ongoing support. CBCM is still looking for a permanent base in this area from which to operate.
7. Financial report
The audited financial report has not been finalized and will be presented at the next CBRRA public meeting
Cash in hand in December was R 4864,00 and at present is ±R 23 000,00 after further income and payments. The outstanding loan to
three lenders is R 77 500,00 after recent further repayments
±R 40 000,00 of subscriptions remain unpaid
8. Cllr. Marga Haywood
Cllr. Haywood emphasized that the first port of call for complaints and enquiries in respect of the Council was the Council officials, not her – she being our political representative to whom officials reported.
Matters of policy should currently be forwarded to her and Cllrs. Smith and Amira.
The new Ward boundary after next year’s municipal election between Camps Bay and Sea Point will be from Victoria Road up Geneva Drive / Camps Bay Drive to Kloof Nek.
This means that Camps Bay will be served by two Councillors in future
The public now has input on the manner in which the City spends its budget
Cllr. Haywood has inserted the upgrading of the main Camps Bay beachfront and the proposed Fulham Road bypass onto the City’s long
term budget
9. Rates
John Powell referred members to his article in the Atlantic Sun in respect of their current dealings with the City Valuations Department.
Transfer fees for properties sold after the valuation date but which had not had the valuation finally agreed after an objection would be based on the new valuation and not on the requested lower value if an objection had been lodged but not finalized..
If an objection has not been finalized, do not pay the rates amount newly billed but negotiate with the Valuation Department to pay the old rates bill plus say 10% until the objection has been finalised.
10. Energy
Roger Trythall and Wouter Roggen presented an illustrated talk on ensuring energy security, resource conservation and environmental resource managemnt.
11. Dogwalking Survey feedback
The following proposal was put on the CBRRA blog for residents and the public to respond to :
CBRRA’s proposal is:
ITEM 1: DOGWALKING ON THE MAIN CAMPS BAY BEACH:

SUMMER: 01 November to 30 April
a. Dogs only on leashes - 6 pm to 5 am
b. Dogs not on leashes - 5 am to 9 am
c. No dogs allowed on beach - 9 am to 6 pm.
WINTER: 01 May to 31 October
d. Dogs only on leashes – 3 pm to 6 am
e. Dogs not on leashes - 6 am to 11 am
f. No dogs allowed on beach - 11 am to 3 pm
As a further initiative we wish to gauge your reaction to the following proposal:
ITEM 2: DOGWALKING IN THE GLEN:

All areas except The Glen picnic area:
a. OFF LEASH: ALL HOURS
The Glen picnic area:
b. ON LEASH: Saturday & Sunday 12h00 to sunset.
c. OFF LEASH: All hours except the abovementioned.
There was a gratifying 83% support response to the above proposals and it was accepted at this meeting by those present.
Trudi Groenewald and John Powell are to submit this to the Ward Forum to take matters further.
12. Planning
Chris Willemse reported and first thanked Charles Wells on behalf of CBRRA and its members and the public for his great leadership and contribution this last year as Chairperson of CBRRA.
Departure etc planning applications are currently at about three per month as compared with four a week three years ago.
There have been eight legal agreements this year organized by CBRRA between it, applicants and affected neighbours in respect of planning applications.
“The Crystal” development remains a serious problem – now having been declared complete and inhabitable by occupants in spite of still, in CBRRA’s opinion, being illegal.
At a recent meeting with Cllr Nieuwoudt, Piet van Zyl and Ossie Gonsalves, Cllr Nieuwoudt has promised CBRRA a Declarator on this matter.
The Concourt judgement in the Harrison case appeal is still awaited.
13. Any other matters and questions from the floor.
None
14. Date of next meeting.
Still to be decided and announced.
15. The meeting ended at 9-45 pm