Beach problems unpacked

https://www.atlanticsun.co.za/news/beach-problems-unpacked-18116646

By

 SINAZO MKOKO

 November 15, 2018

The issue of homelessness and street people was among the items on the agenda of the Ward 54 committee’s last meeting for the year.

The committee met on Thursday November 1 at the Green Point Athletic Stadium. The ward includes Sea Point, Fresnaye, Bantry Bay, Robben Island, Signal Hill, Camps Bay, Bakoven and Clifton.

Chairperson of the Camps Bay Community Police Forum (CPF), Bernard Schafer, raised concern about the number of street children on the beachfront. He said there have been attempted robberies at the beachfront in the evenings.

Mr Schafer also spoke about the lack of facilities at Bakoven beach.

“People are starting to flood in and the problem is that there are no toilets there and they relieve themselves in between rocks,” he said.

Representing Camps Bay businesses, David Raad, said lighting was another major issue on Camps Bay’s beaches. He said law enforcement on the beach was needed.

“Street kids are harassing people there, particularly the tourists and this is not good for tourism in this city,” he said.

In Sea Point, Seafront for All’s Lorna Levy said homelessness was getting out of hand in the area. She said regulars were now starting to put up structures.

Chief Operations Officer of the Sea Point CID, Heather Tager, touched on the traffic problems in Sea Point.

“It’s chaotic and becoming worse every day and it’s not just the taxi drivers, private drivers are also a problem. People are now driving through red robots in Sea Point,” she said.

Ms Tager said big trucks were causing traffic chaos on Clarens Road. She also raised concerns about residents who were not reporting crime to the police.

She said Law Enforcement officers needed to be given more power. “We had a recent armed robbery in the area and our law enforcement chased the criminals and caught them in Heideveld,” she said.

Camps Bay Ratepayers’ Association’s vice-chairperson Richard Bendel proposed a paid parking lot along Victoria Road to minimise the number of car guards.

Ms Levy also complained about the dog poo left on the beach.

“There are dispensed doggy-poo bags but still dog owners don’t pick up after their dogs,” she said.

Ward councillor Shayne Ramsay said she would lobby for more funding for Law Enforcement in the ward.

She said a Clifton and Camps Bay City Improvement District (CID) was needed.

Liquor confiscated on beaches

Alcohol confiscated on city beaches.

Law enforcement officers confiscated 176 bottles of alcohol at Clifton, Camps Bay and Maidens Cove, on Saturday November 10.

Twelve fines of R500 each were issued to offenders.

The City of Cape Town has warned members of the public not to bring alcohol to beaches as it will be confiscated and fines will be issued to the perpetrators.

Officers, who were on foot patrol, confiscated 33 hats, 19 baseball caps and 16 sunglasses from illegal traders.

Some of the illegal traders have in the past been found to be selling alcohol among their other goods.

The City says officers will be cracking down on those who don’t follow procedure in terms of the informal trading rules.

By Atlantic Sun

https://www.atlanticsun.co.za/news/liquor-confiscated-on-beaches-17865164

Huge Crowds on Atlantic Seaboard Beaches

Authorities are urging beach-goers to stay safe during the festive season

As the festive season is upon us and the days are getting hotter, hundreds of people find themselves at different beaches, particularly the Atlantic Seaboard beaches. 

The warm weather last week attracted hundreds of people to Camps Bay and Clifton beaches and according to Ward 54 councillor, Shayne Ramsay, there were many complaints from residents about illicit activities that were taking place at the beaches. She said people consumed alcohol which resulted in disorderly behaviour endangering local residents and their properties. 

Ms Ramsay arranged a meeting with concerned Clifton and Camps Bay residents and other City officials to discuss the best approach to managing huge crowds on the beaches before the peak season begins. 

The officials heard that while there were police officers on the beach, they were not doing anything about the violence, claiming that they were only three and needed backup. 

Residents said the problem starts at Clifton 4th Beach parking lot where lots of alcohol was being consumed before and after going to the beach in both taxis and private vehicles. The officials heard that there have been three events on Clifton recently, including the valedictory in very windy weather and none of them was well controlled. It was suggested that every weekend should be treated as an event and private security should be employed to monitor the beaches accordingly. 

Green Point CID and Clifton Lifesaving, Marc Truss, suggested there are only three options which are offered by Safety and Security: hire an auxiliary officer; hire EPWP workers or hire a Rent-a-Cop.

Arne Purves from the City’s Marine and Coastal Law Enforcement team informed the meeting that although the coastal management act ensures right of access to the coast by all people at all times that in Kalk Bay, they successfully manage the crowds by employing Rent-a-Cops to assist.

When asked about the plan to combat the alcohol problem at Clifton 4th beach, City’s mayoral member for safety and security, Alderman JP Smith said: “While this may be problematic at Clifton 4th and on Camps Bay, statistics have shown that alcohol on the beaches along the False Bay coastline is an even bigger challenge. So we are caught between a rock and a hard place in terms of ensuring equitable deployment in line with the level of enforcement required. Where possible, vehicles are searched when entering beach areas that have defined access points, but this isn’t always possible,”

Mr Smith said the process of fining offenders and impounding liquor is time-consuming as officers have to meticulously record the details of each confiscation. “In many instances, offenders are uncooperative – particularly if they are under the influence of alcohol. On really busy days, when thousands of people flock to the beach intent on bringing their alcohol with them, this process results in officers spending hours just writing fines and confiscating alcohol,” he said. 

Mr Smith said they take cognisance of the increase in visitors to the beaches during the peak season times. To accommodate the increase in visitors and its associated problems, a Festive Season Policing Operational Plan is conceptualised every year to ensure the safety of residents and visitors to Cape Town. “Additional staff from the specialised units and off-duty staff are brought in on overtime to assist the staff that are already deployed. This has the effect of multiplying resources. A zero-tolerance approach is adopted to all transgressions of the law,” he said. 

He said the extra numbers are meant to combat this problem but it is not possible to stop everyone if thousands of people can enter the beaches through many open points.

By Sinazo Mkoko

https://www.atlanticsun.co.za/news/huge-crowds-on-atlantic-seaboard-beaches-17837343

Developer withdraws for Maidens Cove / Clifton Development.

https://www.atlanticsun.co.za/news/developer-withdraws-17718763

By 

 SINAZO MKOKO

Just two weeks after the City of Cape Town announced its withdrawal to oppose the Maiden’s Cove review application brought by a number of residents in the High Court, the developer has now followed suit and thrown in the towel on the matter.

The application was filed by the Bungalow Owners’ Association (BOA) and others asking the court to review and set aside the City’s decision to sell and lease the City-owned land between the Clifton bungalows and Camps Bay.

The decision by the City was welcomed by the applicants and local ratepayers who were supporting the applicants.

The developer, a private company called K2015298271 South Africa (Pty) Ltd has now told the applicants that they would no longer oppose the application.

The chairperson of the Camps Bay and Clifton Residents’ Association (CBCRRA), Chris Willemse, said this was good news that the legal matter surrounding the “ill-conceived” action by the City appears to be heading for the only logical conclusion possible – the abandonment of the project.

“However, it is now critical to unpack the City’s actions that led to this mess and there needs to be transparency and accountability. Further, the wasted expenditure on this project must be quantified and those who authorised it must be held responsible, preferably personally,” he said.

Mr Willemse said various ratepayer organisations, civic groups and citizens have been clearly spelling out the problem with the proposal for years now.

“The CBCRRA – and indeed all of Cape Town — owe a debt of gratitude to the Clifton Bungalow Owners and the Maiden’s Cove for All, who relentlessly pursued this matter and were prepared to take the matter to the High Court, especially against an administration which has a deplorable record of using ratepayers’ money to fight against its own citizens,” said Mr Willemse.

A member of Maiden’s Cove for All (MCA)* , Janey Ball, said the effect was that they would go to court unopposed and have to settle costs.

She said they want a seat on the table on the new plan for the site.

Ms Ball said the proposed development would not be happening and the on the day of the hearing, the judge will issue an order of who pays what costs.

BOA’s Richard Summers said this was an equally significant development as the matter will effectively be argued in court on an unopposed basis. This means that the court will have regard for the BOA’s submissions when deciding whether or not to overturn the City’s decisions to sell off / lease the sensitive heritage area of Maiden’s Cove.

“Litigation is always uncertain but given the fact that the City had already effectively conceded that their process was flawed, it would have been extremely difficult for the developer to defend a decision which the City itself was unable or reluctant to defend,” he said.

The matter will now be set down for hearing at the High Court on Friday November 16 when the court will decide whether to grant the relief sought by the BOA, including overturning the entire tender process relating to the Maiden’s Cove site.

Win for maidens Cove for All

https://www.atlanticsun.co.za/news/win-for-mca-17516274

By

 SINAZO MKOKO

“Our public open spaces are precious. They should not be sold off to the highest bidder. Any development should fully respect the area’s heritage status and be for the benefit all the people of our city, not just to make a few rich people richer.”

So said the chairperson of Maiden’s Cove for All (MCA), Vanessa September, following the City of Cape Town’s withdrawal to oppose the Maiden’s Cove review application.

The application was filed by the Bungalow Owners’ Association (BOA) and Others asking the court to review and set aside the City’s decision to sell and lease the City-owned land between the Clifton bungalows and Camps Bay.

MCA is a non-profit organisation that was established in June this year to represent the broader Cape Town community in protecting and ensuring continued access for all to the public open space.

The office of the City’s mayoral committee member for assets and facilities management, Stuart Diamond, released a statement on Friday October 12 announcing its withdrawal to oppose the review application brought by a number of litigants in the High Court.

Until this past Friday, the City had opposed the review application. The statement said the City had subsequently, and after consulting senior counsel, decided against opposing the review application, which means it will proceed unopposed by the City.

“Over the past months, we have taken note of the concerns raised by residents, non-profit organisations, and others. These concerns relate to the impact the proposed development could have on Maiden’s Cove, and how it could affect those who frequently visit the area. We have heard their pleas, read their letters and opinion pieces, and reflected on their arguments,” read the statement.

The BOA has recently served a court order on the City and other respondents, compelling them to file their answering affidavits on or before Wednesday October 24.

In its application, the BOA was joined by MCA. The organisation aimed to stop the proposed development and wanted a public participation process where the City would include the voices of those who use the space.

MCA has welcomed the news and said they would be happy to liaise with the City on developing a democratic and community-friendly way of inviting active public involvement in relation to how Maiden’s Cove and similar areas could be improved.

“We are thrilled that the City has thrown in the towel before more citizens money and time were wasted on this ludicrous project,” said Ms September.

“There are some things that money can’t buy. One of them is the determination of ordinary people who have frequented the area for decades, not to forego their right to greater, not lesser, access to the sea.”

The chairperson for the Camps Bay and Clifton Ratepayers’ Association (CBCRA), Chris Willemse, said they were pleased with the City’s decision.

Mr Willemse said the community of Camps Bay and Clifton was grateful to the BOA and MCA for taking the matter to court.

“However, the City pulling out of the matter doesn’t stop the developer. If the City is to be taken seriously in consulting communities, they’d need to put the decision to sell the land on review and have it set aside by the court, otherwise, if they don’t do that, this would be a political step ahead of elections,” he said.

Richard Summers, the attorney representing BOA, said: “This is a watershed moment in the conduct of this case.

“Given the reasons informing the City’s withdrawal, the BOA – and the other Applicants – are cautiously optimistic regarding a positive outcome of this case. The fact remains that the entity to which the tender was awarded by the City is still on record as opposing the application. The entity in question K2015298271 South Africa (Pty) Ltd is due to file answering affidavits on or before October 24. Although the City’s volte-face is highly significant for the merits of the case, it remains to be seen whether the developer will follow suit.”

MJC Condemns Attack at Kramat Oudekraal

The caretaker of the Oudekraal Kramat was attacked by five armed men.

The Muslim Judicial Council has condemned the attack on the caretaker of the Oudekraal Kramat, near Camps Bay.

The man and his family were attacked by a gang of five armed assailants in their home at the Oudekraal Kramat in the early hours of last Tuesday.

The second deputy president of the Muslim Judicial Council, Sheikh Riad Fataar, said they were saddened to hear about the incident.

“We are deeply saddened upon hearing of the attack on those who preserve sacred burial sites in Islam,” said Mr Fataar.

“The increase of crime and gangsterism has led to the unsafe conditions at cemeteries and we call on the South African Police Service and the necessary authorities to fulfil their responsibility toward the protection of all communities. We pray for a speedy recovery for the caretaker and his family,” he said.

TheOudekraal Kramat, fondly known as the 99 steps Kramat, houses the remains of a prominent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Noorul Mubeen who was a political prisoner banished to the Cape in 1716 and incarcerated on Robben Island.

Policespokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel André Traut, said the matter was being investigated. “This office can confirm that the circumstances surrounding a house robbery in Oudekraal are being investigated, following an incident during the early hours of Tuesday morning at around 3.30 am.

“The three occupants of the house were attacked by a group of suspects who are yet to be arrested.”

By Atlantic Sun
https://www.atlanticsun.co.za/news/mjc-condemns-attack-at-kramat-17516278

10 CT beaches achieve Blue Flag status

Ten of the City’s beaches were given full Blue Flag status earlier today.

Blue Flag is an international accreditation which is awarded to beaches that display excellence through meeting 33 criteria covering four categories namely, environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management and safety.

Bikini Beach, Camps Bay Beach, Clifton 4th Beach, Fish Hoek, Llandudno, Mnandi Beach, Muizenberg Beach, Melkbosstrand, Silwerstroomstrand and Strandfontein Beach were awarded full Blue Flag status for the summer season period between Saturday December 1 2018 and Thursday January 21 next year.

Participation is voluntary and the accreditation status indicates that beaches are clean; have adequate ablution facilities and parking; are environmentally sound; are safe and secure to visit and adhere to international safety and tourism standards.

The City says the Recreation and Parks Department works hard to ensure that Cape Town maintains these standards, but needs the public’s cooperation to ensure that beaches are safe recreational spaces.

Safety and Security portfolio committee chairman Mzwakhe Nqavashe accepts the certificate for full Blue Flag status.

By Atlantic Sun
https://www.atlanticsun.co.za/news/10-ct-beaches-achieve-blue-flag-status-17453568