CBCRA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
HELD at Camps Bay High School on 7 November 2022 @ 18:00
1. WELCOME
Good evening and welcome to the 2022 AGM of the CBCRA where, hopefully, the ravages of Covid-19 are mostly behind us and that we can meet in person again.
It would be appreciated if you would do your membership fee payments at the desk with Mary Lloyd and Ann Caras. Our sincere thanks to both ladies who give so generously of their time to assist the CBCRA.
Alternatively, this can be done online.
Tonight, the CBCRA welcomes the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Ald Geordin Hill-Lewis, who has graciously agreed to address this meeting, with a view to outlining his thoughts and visions for Cape Town whilst also taking questions from the floor.
A warm welcome also to our local Councillor, Nicola Jowell, who has tirelessly served this community over the past year. As always, there will also be detractors, but the Exco can personally attest to the dedication that Nicola has shown toward our community and the hard and often thankless work that she does.
We also welcome Darryl Colenbrander and Maria le Roux of the City’s Coastal Management Branch, who will report back on the City’s investigation of the marine outfall plant on Camps Bay beach.
Also here tonight is Alan Marsh, the chair of the CPF and Louise Cooke of the CBCSI.
As with last year, we will dispense with all but the most important business of an AGM, so apologies that the meeting will be more report-back in nature but allowing for more time to discuss matters with the Executive Mayor.
2. APOLOGIES, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
2.1. Apologies: Nick Taylor, Brenda Getz.
2.2. Minutes for AGM held 29 November 2021 were posted on the blog. These were proposed by Alma Horn and seconded Chris von Ulmenstein. No one objected. Minutes were approved.
3. EXECUTIVE MAYOR ALDERMAN GEORDIN HILL-LEWIS REPORT (GHL)
Mayor GHL thanked everyone for the turnout and thanked Cllr Jowell for her work and efforts to date.
What is he trying to achieve?
- GHL stood for Mayor so that he could set the example of what is possible. He wasn’t happy to accept poor service delivery and failures. We should never accept loadshedding. We somehow celebrate when loadshedding goes down levels. He believes that can get positive things done. Wants people of Cape Town to feel a sense of positivity that the future is sustainable and positive.
- GHL wants a City that is inclusive, caring, responsibly run, professional civil servants and invests in infrastructure.
- The City has the wherewithal, assets and attractions.
- Cape Town is the only City in SA that has a growing rates base which helps on the asset side of the Balance sheet.
- What makes us anxious about SA and what can the City do about these things? We are making things sustainable, but have to get people jobs and out of poverty.
- CPT has incredible assets but we haven’t achieved breakout growth. Biggest handbrake is loadshedding which is due to political and bureaucratic reasons. We don’t set our bar on the rest of the country. We should have no loadshedding in CPT within 3 years by reducing reliance on Eskom by 20%. City already amended policy whereby businesses can get paid for giving power back to the City and by mid-2023 this will also include residential properties.
- Crime and safety also top of mind. SAPS is primarily responsible for crime fighting but they in a state of decline partly due to financial constraints. Much of national debt goes to servicing debt and not crime fighting. SAPS are working without many resources, e.g., bulletproof vests, ammunition, vehicles). SAPS only gets their firearm relicensed every 5 years while Metro Police does this every year. City has invested R1bn together with the Western Cape government to roll out 1300 Law Enforcement and Metro Police officers. This model is working. Violent crime in CPT is down in all major hotspot areas over an extended period (past 3 or 4 quarters). The Mayor asked Metro Police head what was needed. They want crime fighting technology rather than more officers. A new unit has just been rolled out which will have all vehicles kitted out with cameras (license plate recognition) and officers will have bodycam’s as well. Within 1st hour of the rollout, arrested someone with stolen vehicle. This technology will be rolled out to all officers. Also have drone technology which can have eyes anywhere within 4 minutes. City has also just appointed their first Chief Technology Officer.
- City wants control of the train / rail system. National government also seems to want this, but National Department of Transport is dragging its feet.
- Infrastructure: CPT invests the most in SA but still nowhere close to enough. Infrastructure needs to keep up with migration and inward growth. It does look like there is adequate investment in the pipeline and next year this will double. The City has “petrol in the tank” in terms of finances to fulfil these investments, but we must be able to deliver on time and in budget (already spent R30m on upskilling project management and infrastructure support).
- Water and sewerage: Budget for sewerage and water has quadrupled. Busy securing water supplies (aquifer drilling). Also increasing Bergriver/Voelvlei dam capacity. Alien cleaning around dams happening. Water recycling plant will be the biggest in the world in 5 years’ time. Desalination will be a last resort.
- Cleanups: Mayor GHL is very keen on cleaning up the City. There must be no litter. We need to show pride in our City. People need to see benefits and therefore take more care in the City. Mayor GHL has attended beach cleanups, like the one done in Camps Bay in May 2022.
- Homelessness: Refer link to article in Daily Maverick
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-07-10-cape-town-mayor-hill-lewis-wants-to-shift-approach-on-homelessness-from-law-enforcement-to-care-intervention/
No one can be removed from any structure without Court order due to PIE Act. The current judgment operating in the City of Cape Town is that the City must provide alternative accommodation in the vicinity, but no one knows what “in the vicinity” actually means. It seems as if everyone is passing the parcel around with regards alternative accommodation, i.e. the City believes this should be a local government issue and local government believes it should be a National government issue. The City is trying to re-integrate homeless with Safe Spaces (part of the “Give Dignity” campaign). More Safe Spaces are going to be rolled out (spending +-R155m). This will include 2 hot meals per day, job placement opportunities, substance addiction support, id book support and other interventions to assist homeless. Every homeless person in our area has been visited and details have been obtained. Only 28 homeless people have taken up offer of assistance out of 161. The main reasons for refusing assistance is twofold, namely there was no couples accommodation and accommodation for families with children (this is now being offered) and secondly use of narcotics is not allowed (this can never be allowed). The City concluded many interventions and now will approach the Courts with the message that they have tried everything and now need the Courts support to force the homeless to take up shelter. We must all support and encourage the “Give Dignity” program. All money from this program goes to support the shelters. This will be a safer place for the homeless to stay.
Questions & Answers:
- CW asked about the Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT). The MPT is made up of mostly planners, architects and planning officials and appointed by Municipal council. Elected Municipal Councillors are excluded from being Members of the MPT. Municipal planning is a local government function ito the Constitution of SA. National government has told municipalities that elected Councillors should not be members of municipal planning tribunals. Will you (as Mayor) support a position whereby elected municipal Councillors are allowed to become members of MPT’s. In your opinion, would that improve democracy at a local government level?
Mayor GHL: Yes, he would support elected Councillors being on MPT’s. Councillors are currently allowed to speak at MPT meetings. He continued by saying that all Camps Bay matters that comes before him, he reads carefully and takes legal advice since he knows Camps Bay is a litigious area. He tries to take appropriate balance between both parties. - Anthony Pamm: Wanted to know who enforces accountability in the City and whether there was an ability and willingness to enforce accountability.
Mayor GHL: GHL has read many e-mails that Mr Pamm has sent over many years and has taken legal advice. Just because Mr Pamm doesn’t like what is reported back to him doesn’t mean that he is being fobbed off. Mr Pamm needs to take his own legal advice, but from the City’s perspective, Mr Pamm needs to move on. - Paul Jacobson: Evictions of homeless taking up to 2 years. Visible policing needed. Where are the 100 Mayoral LE officers?
Mayor GHL: The evictions of homeless is a lengthy process due to the PIE Act. Focus of LE is the CBD, but it is meant to be shared. There were extra LE along beaches (especially weekends and Valedictory weekend). GHL wants to top up the deployment but needs to check financing. - Robert Bloomberg: SAPS station has reduced from 48 people to 28 people and there is talk of making it a satellite station (part of Sea Point). There have been 4 muggings, 2 attempted muggings and 1 attempted abduction from CBHS. Residents pay local security to assist in the area. If the SAPS station does go (and become just a satellite station) then we would rather have Metro Police using the space. We need 24/7 Police patrol on the beaches. Cllr Jowell assisted with problems on Clifton 4th beach this past weekend. There are 55 000 vehicles per day x average 4 people per vehicle which equals 220 000 people per day therefore we need 24/7 beach patrol.
Mayor GHL: Acknowledges challenges with SAPS. It is the City’s plan to roll out dedicated beach patrol and more metro police and LE (need vehicles, firearms, staff, training). Highway patrol has just started which is currently 30 strong and will grow. It is intended that something similar will happen with beach patrols. - Question was asked about loadshedding, Homeless sleeping in toilets and Taxi problems.
Mayor GHL: GHL has zero confidence that Eskom will be able to achieve what is needed to put an end to loadshedding. The City will need to plug the loadshedding gap. PIE Act is the law so City can’t do illegal evictions. But the City can monitor the toilets and homeless can’t take occupation in toilets. With regards the taxis, the City has highway patrols which is impounding taxis regularly. Fees for the release of the taxis is now far higher than before since new Bylaws were passed. The City is actually running out of space for impounded vehicles. They have now bought a vehicle crusher. - Question posed by a gentleman who moved back to Cape Town after being away for 28 years. He previously tried to help homeless by offering to pay for them to buy stuff from Pick ‘n Pay. This caused some chaos. His question was what growth rate the City can expect and how we can reduce the timelines to achieve the growth required and also reduce expenses.
Mayor GHL: Growth is currently at +-1.5% but population growth is about 2.5% so everyone is actually getting poorer. GHL wants to at least keep pace with population growth. This will only be possible if we can get electricity under control. - Question asked about immediate (short term) plans to reduce settlements
Mayor GHL: City recently got a successful eviction in 2-3 months for 19 people settlement (which is small). We hoping this is an important precedent, but it may be different when it is a 600 people settlement. Immediate plan is the Court process. The current court case is between the City and SAHRC/EFF. The City won the counter-spoliation application. It is also very important that as soon as anyone sees City Land (or any Public Property) being set up / structure erected thereon, then contact the City asap. This will be treated as a priority 1 call (i.e. Emergency call) then LE must act immediately. Contact # is 107 from a Landline and 0214807700 from a cell phone. - Cindy Nel: She noted that the homeless are being supported by the Community. She asked about paid parking on Victoria Rd and also moving the taxi rank which is currently in front of Pick ‘n Pay.
Mayor GHL: He confirms that many homeless are being supported by the Community and the homeless are spending R200-R300 per day on their addictions. The City is trying to get the homeless the help they need. Cllr Jowell will respond regarding paid parking and taxi rank. - Doug Cherry: He raised the issue that Mossel Bay has plenty of gas offshore which should reduce or eliminate our reliance on Eskom. He is also concerned about developers abusing planning laws. CW also commented about the developers wanting Title Deed restrictions removed/stripped. CW is of the view that Camps Bay should remain primarily a single residential neighbourhood (or at most dual dwelling) and the exploitation of removal of Title Deed restrictions should be stopped. CW mentioned that almost all Title Deed removal applications are granted.
Mayor GHL: Total are looking at Mossel Bay gas. This would certainly benefit CT tremendously. With regards developers and removal of Title Deeds, GHL says that he tries to have a balanced and fair approach and tries to be reasonable. He does look at all Camps Bay matters that get to him very closely. He mentioned that last week he declined an application and within 24 hours he was served Court papers from the Developers. - David Raad: What is the plan with the pump station and how safe is the ocean water? What is the latest with the Maidens Cove Development that was proposed some years ago?
Mayor GHL: GHL acknowledges that many of the pump stations around CT are in bad condition. The City has allocated R650m for upgrades. He isn’t sure how much of this is for the Camps Bay pump station but it is relatively small (Langa pump station is the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere). With regards the Maidens Cove Development this isn’t going to happen anytime soon. - With regards the ocean water, Darryl Colenbrander from the City Coastal Management Department (been with the City for 15 years) discussed this. He mentioned the various independent studies that were done which were submitted to various Committees. It was recommended that these studies be made available to the Public. The studies were focused on the impact on Marine Biodiversity and Coastal Water quality. The results were that they don’t exceed acceptable limits. The recommendations from the reports were that pre-screening should be improved so as to reduce the impact of the Marine Outfall. He is happy to engage with the Community. Per CW, the CBCRA consulting specialist Professors will check the data and revert.
4. COUNCILLOR REPORT BACK (NICOLA JOWELL (NJ))
Councillor NJ gave a much reduced feedback since many topics were dealt with by Mayor GHL and there were time constraints.
4.1 Paid parking on Victoria Rd
Paid parking on Victoria Rd was discussed by CBCRA a few years ago (before Covid). This went out for tender. The rate would be a recreational rate therefore not as expensive as other areas. Currently the Ignisive supported stewards are part of the Community project and are making a positive difference.
4.2 Taxi rank
With regards the taxi rank relocation, this is being looked at. The CBCRA has raised this. There is also an increase in Law Enforcement (LE) which has helped to remove some taxis. MyCiti bus should also be part of the discussion. May need extra busses.
4.3 Safety & security
Extra 100 LE officers doing well and some deployed regularly in the ward. Valedictory weekend went well due to extra LE. Clifton says that order seems to have returned and things are better and safer. LE can’t replace SAPS, but having visible LE officers helps.
4.4 Social development
Provide job opportunities for homeless so they don’t go back to the streets. PEP project provided R18m for NGOs to create jobs, accommodation and give social and psychological support, the ward is benefitting from this project. This is for things like street cleaning, park maintenance.
4.5 Cleansing
Cllr Jowell thanked Chris von Ulmenstein for her regular cleanups. The plan for the upcoming season is to have additional shifts working especially on the busy days. Some previously homeless people are now employed as part of the subcouncil cleaning team. They helping with “hidden” and hard to reach areas. Mowing of the grass is also a big issue due to change of contractors.
5. CHAIRMANS REPORT (CW)
One of the most pressing issues in Camps Bay (and, in fact, the entire City) is that of the large influx of homeless people into the area, which includes day strollers who arrive purely to beg and the more sinister criminal element who take advantage of the situation.
The CBCRA is a community based organisation and it can only assist the various law enforcement agencies where it can and support the civic security groupings such as the CPF and CBSCI as far as possible, insofar as criminality is concerned.
However, it can – and must – address the social issues.
Theresa Massaglia, the CBCRA Manco member for this portfolio, is spearheading the community effort to deal with homelessness.
I cannot even begin to quantify the amount of time, effort, resourcefulness and sheer courage that this takes but together with the CPF chair, Alan Marsh and various other role-players, the Ignisive brand has been born and is showing tremendous progress and could be a working model in dealing with this problem for the entire metropole.
6. HOMELESS, SOCIAL ISSUES AND IGNISIVE (TM)
6.1 Ignisive introduction
With thousands of visitors on our beaches and businesses every day, we have a responsibility not only to our residents but visitors and employees/businesses. Ignisive was co-created between CPF, CBCRA and CBCSI as the conduit to facilitate social upliftment strategy for collaboratively dealing with symptomatic and systemic issues on the street. Ignisive acts as a conduit facilitating effective delivery between Government Entities (CoCT/Province/National) and NGO’s. It must align with Safety/Security and Social Development teams to best assess any situation on street as not all on street are homeless. Ignisive doesn’t duplicate efforts or work in silos and believes in authentic collaboration regardless of role or rank in the community.
Acknowledges A+ (Positive Action) Team. The ‘we’ referred to is thus the A+ (Positive Action) Team, namely Alan Marsh, Ryan Rudy, CBCRA, CPF, CBCSI, Cllr Nicola Jowell, Inspector Collwal, Captain Chandler, Sergeant Bester, Fiona Bosch, along with support from Province Alfred De Vries and Andrea Castle and various NGOs, like U-Turn and StreetScapes. While largely self-funded, Ignisive is grateful for sponsors CBCRA, Nox Property and others that have now pledged to support. Ignisive works proactively not only reactively and serves the greater good of the community.
Through the Community Steward Project, Ignisive is able to immediately help reintegrate someone away from living on streets. It create opportunities for rehabilitation, skills development and employment opportunities. It aligns with safety teams and helps reduce crime on the beachfront (according to SAPS statistics). With a strict code of conduct the teams understand their responsibilities to the public and proactively support reduction of crime, cleanliness and customer service.
6.2 Ignisive Highlights
Re-branded from CwC and launched ignisive in Kalksteenfontein with their Councillor and SAPS Bishop Lavis.
Focus on keeping kids in school/off street
- Moonmoth (Stoan and Andrea) assisted with this journey and website
- Camps Bay Primary donated bus load of Sports kit to school
- R25 000 worth of Stationery donated to Kalksteenfontein Primary
- Eyesight tests with global organization One Sight
- Table Mountain and Red bus with Kalksteenfontein children
- Initiated and hosted Street Children meeting with Provincial Social Development, ACVV and other key stakeholders.
- Uplifted 13 children from street in June 2022 and no return to our streets yet.
- Those currently making their way back to street are in high school/over 18 (Principal joined us in identifying children)
- Representation on WCSCF Board
2nd year of Community Steward project
- They’ve helped reduce beachfront crime and provide valuable input
- Helped with lost property and other service delivery
- Launched Employability Skills Programme and first stage graduation next month
- CoCT library did basic computer literacy training with Stewards
- Guest speaker/Manager from Woolworths inspired Stewards with his story
- Lunch/snacks provided by PnP and Woolworths (Susan Rabinowitz also sponsored)
- Sunday Soups for Stewards made and served by community members
Steering various donation drives to Safe Space and shelters
- Virgin Active Head Office donated truck load of stationary
- Tony Stern (South Beach) donated 18 mattresses to Ons Plek (shelter for young women)
- Attended various workshops and meetings led by Mayco member Patricia van der Ross and Social Development meetings through CoCT Councillor
- Initiated workshop with Cape Mental Health
- Victim Empowerment Volunteers
- Partnered with Khulisa and U-turn PEP funding
6.3 Gaps (Especially over festive season)
More Field Workers to assist with adults on street. Social Workers presence essential in dealing with kids/families on street. Shelters for families, like Somerset West. Mental Health focus and wider psychiatric support
6.4 Ignisive goals
- Scalable model but require active support from businesses and government.
- Reintegrate more people on street through a night shift Community Steward Programme
- Introduce Beach Stewards to support reduction in crime/cleaning and create enterprise development opportunities.
- Launch awareness campaign to #igniteResponsibly: ‘I love Camps Bay’ branded gear (Verve/Mountain Falls Water and Veldskoen Plakkies) where proceeds go to Ignisive cause.
- “ignite Responsibly” brochures in all Guest Houses/Businesses.
- Social Development presence over festive season
6.5 Ignisive overview
- Work with symptomatic and systemic issues.
- Common denominator for ANY community is safety/security (basic fundamental need), which includes job and food security
- Not everyone operating on street is homeless, various reasons from street
- Substance dependencies is a major reason for remaining on street. This is unfortunately further enabled with handouts.
- Mental health has a huge impact on decisions made on street and substance abuse further affects the psychological state of the person on street and this unfortunately leads to further poor decisions and sometimes detrimental consequences.
- While we cannot criminalize the homeless, however criminals do lurk amongst the genuine homeless, who while they may be harmless can be affected by crime.
7. Environment (CvU)
When CvU started picking up litter in Camps Bay almost 3 years ago she could not have thought that picking up litter could be seen to be sexy – it felt like a thankless task, and her friends were embarrassed to walk with her and were worried that they would catch COVID! Receiving a City of Cape Town Civic Award last year and walking in a clean Camps Bay every day has made it all worthwhile.
Who do we have to thank – Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, 27 May 2022, record turnout of 77 persons filling 145 bags, with his #springcleancapetown and ‘Let’s keep Cape Town Clean, together’ campaign.
In the past 12 months we have filled 600 bags with litter as a Community of Camps Bay residents doing Beach Cleans once a month, and on public holidays and hot weekend days.
Gift and Joy have cleaned litter hotspots throughout the year, 295 bags full, at vagrant structures and sleeping places, on Camps Bay Drive, corner Tree and Geneva Drive, along Victoria Road in Balie Bay, at the Symmonds Field, and at the Pump Station. A total of close to 1000 bags filled in the past 12 months.
CvU started a Camps Bay Clean What’s App Group a year ago, which has grown to 72 members, reporting Litter Hotspots, announcing Community Clean ups, providing feedback about clean ups, and requests to the City of Cape Town to assist with more difficult clean ups.
The Cleansing Department of Cape Town is gearing up for the Festive Season, with teams of morning, afternoon and even evening cleaners, clearing bins and cleaning the lawns and beaches. Ricardo Thompson with his assistant Rafeeqah and Mr Goliath are doing a fantastic job for Camps Bay in responding to requests for morning and afternoon cleaning issues. Ten additional green litter bins will be added to the Tidal Pool area. CvU is delighted to hear that bins will be numbered so that she can report damaged bins.
Thanks to our hands-on Councillor Nicola Jowell for participating in clean-ups and for assisting in applying for another 2000 bags. To the Ratepayers Association and Harcourts Atlantic for a monthly fee to pay Joy and Gift. To the members of our community who have donated cold drinks and energy biscuits, as well as gift vouchers, for Gift and Joy. To The 41 Restaurant for supplying a beverage to each beach cleaner and a Burger prize to the person collecting the most litter. And to I Know a Guy recycling and Clearer Conscience Recycling for their support.
And last but not least for our community support in reporting litter hot spots and for participating in clean ups. We hope to count on you to assist cleaning up at the end of the day on the three Festive Season public holiday days and on hot weekend days. THANK YOU
8. Planning (CW)
CW only had time to highlight 1 current item, but more information can be found on the website https://campsbayratepayers.blogspot.com/ and at the bottom of these minutes – or by contacting CW directly.
8.1 22 Sedgemoor Rd
CW showed an image of the building on the screen with red lines highlighting where the building is in contravention.
The High Court application to interdict this monstrous development was successful. Without laboring the point, the approved plans to which the developer was constructing his building, differed from the original land use planning application that was approved.
The City is compelled, in terms of the uniform rules of court, to provide the full record of how this strange anomaly occurred. The answer we received from the City officials is that the file is lost!
Well, luckily, the CBCRA has all the relevant documentation in its possession – other than how an application approved by the City mysteriously morphed into a completely different approved plan.
This will be another matter for the Mayor.
CW did ask the Mayor “How it is possible that plans with precise setbacks now no longer has setbacks?” We will wait for a response from the Mayor.
9. Election of Office Bearers
Nick Taylor has unfortunately resigned from the Manco due to work commitments. He continues to support the cause and I thank him for the time he afforded the CBCRA.
All other members currently serving on your Manco have agreed to remain for the following year.
CW expressed his personal gratitude to all these hard-working and selfless individuals who freely give of their time to protect the uniqueness of our beautiful village and suburb. I’m sure that all present here tonight will join me in thanking the Manco.
As always, new members are welcome and there is a great variety of tasks to tackle. Any nominations from the floor?
Two volunteers after the meeting: Leonard Giuricich and Aleksander Ruzicka
Manco is made up of the following members:
Chris Willemse (Chair) - Ward Committee and Planning
Richard Bendel (Vice Chair) - Membership and Finance
Johan van Papendorp – Planning & Environmental
Alma Horn - Membership and PR
Michael Smorenberg – PR
Theresa Massaglia – Social Development
Chris von Ulmenstein – Environmental
10. FINANCE (PRESENTED BY RICHARD BENDEL)
Richard Bendel presented very briefly the signed audited Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2021. These are available online. The following main points were discussed:
- On the trading side (Income statement), the subscriptions received was R55 010 which is slightly up from the previous years’ amount of R49 950. Some of the members pay for 2 years.
- On the expense side, the only major expense related to Community outreach of R34 650 which relates to Ignisive (Theresa’s homeless and social development NGO) and also Environmental issues (cleanups).
- The profit for the current year was R14 893 which is down from R68 928.
- On the Balance sheet side, the association had cash of R303 896 of which R86 189 was earmarked for the Beachfront hotel.
- The liabilities were R14 700 which comprised of prepaid subscriptions.
- The accumulated reserves were R289 196.
- In summary, the Association, as at 31 December 2021, was in a healthy financial state although we are reliant on subscriptions. It was noted that during the 2022 year to date, funds were used for the Community outreach projects as well as legal fees so at the time of the AGM we had under R100 000 in cash.
11. CHAIRS REPORT AND PLANNING MATTERS (CW) – NOT DISCUSSED DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS
11.1 Valuations
We have had no indication of when the new property valuation will be done or released. It would appear as if the many GV2018 appeals have resulted in a lower, more realistic valuations.
11.2 Beachfront parking
The promised implementation of curbside parking control by the City never materialized. This after 3 or 4 years! However, events have overtaken the City’s lethargy, as Theresa detailed in her report.
11.3 Environment
Chris von Ulmenstein reported the meeting on her efforts and collaborations in cleaning up litter in the suburb and on the beaches. It is a responsibility that rests with all Camps Bay residents and visitors but appears to rely on the hard work of a few.
11.4 Marine Outfall Plant
The CBCRA continues to oppose the City regarding the millions of litres of raw sewerage that it pumps into the bay at Camps Bay on a daily basis. As reported previously, the City had always denied any damage to the environment and is satisfied that the system of dumping pollutants into the sea is sustainable despite the contrary opinion and established facts by all academics in this field.
I can report that the new executive of Mayor Hill-Lewis has taken a different approach and has requested the CBCRA’s legal opinion on the matter. We will be pursuing this matter with the Mayor and relevant Mayco member.
It will be a long road but it has to start with the City accepting that the problem exists.
11.5 Cell masts
As previously reported, the City planners have allowed almost unrestricted installation of microwave equipment in Camps Bay. Probably the worst case is the Marine Heights block in Upper Tree Rd. The CBCRA has been making representations to the planning authorities for years now, without success. The CBCRA advised affected neighbours to take this matter to the High Court, which is the only institution that can force the City to properly govern, and a case was brought before the Western Cape High Court in early 2021 by an affected neighbour and the CBCRA to have this illegal equipment removed. Delaying tactics were employed by the cell mast operators but the application was heard in August 2021. Unfortunately, the presiding judge (Deputy Judge President Goliath) did not make a final determination and the matter has been held over until the City had considered the latest application by the owner of Marine Heights, Egbert Hering and the various cell mast operators, which includes Vodacom and Cell-C.
What has transpired since the last update is that, finally, the City has refused planning permission for the masts and in October, the City issued a compliance order to the owner to remove the equipment.
This removal to be completed by 30 November 2022.
11.6 Theatre on the Bay
The upgrade to the Theatre on the Bay precinct has proceeded to the completion of the piazza on the seaside of Link Street. The next phase will incorporate the war memorial, for which Cllr Jowell has made funds available through her ward allocation.
Our thanks to Manco member Johan van Papendorp for his tireless efforts and the support of Pieter Toerien of the Theatre on the Bay. Ann Caras has also been instrumental here, in her tireless search for the original plaque names.
I would strongly urge all residents to visit the precinct and take in a show at the Theatre.
11.7 Maidens Cove Development
It was reported at the 2020 meeting that although the City claimed that it had “listened to the people of Cape Town” and abandoned its proposed development of Maidens Cove. However, the previous Mayor had confirmed to the CBCRA that it was on the cards again.
As previously stated, the CBCRA, along with the CBOA and the Maidens Cove for All group, will keep a close eye on this proposal and will remain prepared to counter any threat to the suburbs of Camps Bay and Clifton from the City of Cape Town.
11.8 Planning matters
11.8.1 Hotel on the beachfront: This application for a 101-room hotel on the Place on the Bay site, which received 76 individual objections but was still approved by the Municipal Planning Tribunal, is still pending after the appeal to not allow the parking departure (to allow 58 parking bays in lieu of over a hundred), was upheld.
Clearly, the developer is hoping – or maybe just waiting – for the City to alter its P1/P2 parking regulations, which will allow large developments without any on-site parking requirements.
11.8.2 5 The Meadway: This matter also remains as is! A fresh application was submitted in February of this year but we haven’t had any feedback from the City. In summary, the newly constructed building on the site has been interdicted from any further work or occupation and all planning permission for it has been set aside by the WC High Court.
The taxing of the court costs will be heard in February 2023 and the objective thereafter is to seek the demolition of certain illegal portions of the building. As previously reported, the shocking conduct of certain City officials in facilitating the illegal work was referred to the City and nothing came of it – as always. The CBCRA will take this up with the Mayor to see if he is willing to require the officials to conform to legality.
11.8.3 96 Camps Bay Drive: Yet another application to build a block of flats on a single dwelling property has been submitted by the developer, to which the CBCRA and neighbours have objected. I think that this is the 4th application for exactly the same proposal.
We expect the MPT and City planners to approve this application, so there will be another appeal to the Mayor’s Planning Appeal Panel.
Again, we thank Leon van Rensburg for his strong legal input.
The CBCRA is not giving up the fight to limit development in Camps Bay to residential homes and not allow flats.
11.8.4 23 Francolin Rd: The CBCRA was instrumental in bringing an application for the setting aside of the planning permission by the City for a 4-storey building at this address. The developer, probably sensing the inevitable, opted to settle by demolishing the entire top floor.
Again, we will raise the completely dubious planning permission, granted by the City officials, with the Mayor.
11.8.5 In general, it would appear as if the MPT regard the praedial rights in our title deeds as mere annoyances and remove them at will. The CBCRA research has shown that the MPT almost always remove title deed restrictions in the face of strong, motivated opposition. If the City shows no interest in this undermining of our property rights, we will consider a legal challenge.
MEETING CLOSED AT 21:00
