Issues needing attention - how to approach Council

Issues needing attention - How to approach the city council in an efficient way and get an efficient response:

Please refer to the  website below to make a Service Delivery Request /C3, by computer or smart phone:

or SMS 31373 for any City / Council related problem:

This works well for  repairing broken streetlights, electricity outages, water leaks, potholes, missing road signs and manhole covers and  has had fairly good response from the city in solving them.

https://www.capetown.gov.za/en/ServiceRequests/Pages/default.aspx

It’s on  the main City Council website, about the third tab from the bottom, Service Requests

This data is electronically recorded and a reference number supplied (It’s important for residents and ratepayers to keep this reference number) so that can be followed up/'tracked' to city (CCT), but moreover it's also, electronically logged, and then mapped by a Geographic Information System (GIS) and discussed by the Metro Police to formulate strategies for responses, used in budget allocations by the City, city audits, etc.

New Year’s Day chaos at beaches

Law enforcement was visible as people splashed around in Camps Bay's icy cold water. Photo: Tracey Adams

Cape Town - Thousands flocked to beaches across the Western Cape on Wednesday to celebrate the start of the new year, but for one family the day in the sun ended in tragedy when a five-year-old boy drowned in a tidal pool at Buffels Bay.

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesman Craig Lambinon said the child and his family – from Site C in Khayelitsha – were visiting Buffels Bay in the Cape Point Nature Reserve. After their meal, the boy went for a swim.

“Members of the public had happened upon the child floating face down in the water, and a while later had recovered him from the water before initiating bystander CPR and raising the alarm.”

In Kalk Bay Harbour, a 54-year-old woman from Delft was found floating face down in the water. Rescuers could not resuscitate her.

In the Langebaan Lagoon, an NSRI patrol boat came across two children, aged 8 and 9, drowning in the Bay Hall area. They were pulled from the water.

The rescuers revived the children, but their conditions were serious but stable, Lambinon said.

On Camps Bay beach, a woman in her 20s was pulled from the sea after nearly drowning. She was given help and taken to hospital.

An hour later, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, Metro EMS and Cape Medical Response teams were called out to Kalk Bay Harbour to attend to what they were told was a drowning. When they arrived they found a man had fallen into the water and hit his head on rocks, but had been pulled out. He was taken to hospital.

Meanwhile, racers taking part in the Trans Agulhas boat race had to be rescued after running out of fuel.

The competitors in the “world’s toughest inflatable boat race” had set out from Pringle Bay, with Gordon’s Bay the destination.

However, after some racers failed to turn up, NSRI patrol boats and a Skymed helicopter were dispatched to find them. One boat was found in Camps Bay.

“We suspect they ‘misnavigated’ and ended up quite some distance from their intended destination,” said Lambinon. Another boat was found just off-shore from Muizenberg.

Camps Bay was swamped with sun-seekers on Wednesday, resulting in traffic jams. About 9 000 sunbathers took to beaches and 14 000 flocked to swimming pools.

Although the seaside suburb is known for its beachfront restaurants, most were closed on Wednesday.

“They find it’s impossible to trade because it’s simply too congested. There’s no parking, the road is gridlocked – it’s impossible to do a normal day’s trading,” said one source.

At one point on Wednesday, traffic from the north was backed up as far as Sea Point, while the outgoing traffic was backed up down Geneva Drive because of congestion on Tafelberg Road. At about 5pm a taxi rolled near Kloof Nek.

One store that did open was Pick n Pay, and late on Wednesday afternoon security sources said a crowd had “tried to storm the building”. Pick n Pay had limited the number of shoppers in the store at any one time, and crowds had tried to force open the doors.

“It’s total madness, you cannot believe it,” said local guest house owner Chris von Ulmenstein. “This is not the picture we should be showing to the world.”

But the head of the Camps Bay Community Policing Forum, Bernard Schafer, disagreed. “There’s always only a small criminal element which tries to… get away with things, but for the most part everything seems to be fine.”

kieran.legg@inl.co.za
dylan.oktober@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

http://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/new-year-s-day-chaos-at-beaches-1.1627832#.UwR-AZFWwpE

All hands on deck for beach ‘pilgrimage’

People come in their thousands from across the city in overloaded taxis and buses to beaches, say communities. Pictures: Matthew Jordaan.

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Cape’s beaches beckon visitors
Cape in top gear for safety
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Let’s celebrate Black Beach Day
Cape Town - While some Capetonians avoid the beaches at all costs on Boxing Day, many residents come in their droves from across the city for a day of fun in the sun.

This annual “pilgrimage” means that popular beaches such as Camps Bay, Muizenberg and Kalk Bay will be packed with people who often don’t get to enjoy the city’s coastal attractions.

Richard Bosman, City of Cape Town executive director of safety and security, said an estimated 200 000 people were expected on city beaches on Boxing Day (Day of Goodwill).

The city does have a festive season plan to ensure that revellers celebrate in a safe and clean environment, but residents in Kalk Bay fear that the lack of law enforcement at the harbour’s beach may encourage anti-social behaviour during peak season.

“People know there’s no control on that beach and they come in overloaded bakkies and taxis,” said Tony Trimmel, chairman of the Kalk Bay and St James Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association.

He described the influx of “thousands” of people to the beach at this time of the year as an annual “pilgrimage”.

The beach used to be cleaned and patrolled by the city council, but these services have dwindled now that it is managed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Trimmel said.

Harbour staff collected more than 300 bags of litter after last year’s Boxing Day festivities, but Trimmel said the council refused to take the bags away. The state of the beach was “shocking”.

He said the community was trying to put a plan in place to control access to the beach, as well as and the consumption of alcohol over the festive season.

Bosman said the beach was part of the harbour, and it was therefore the harbour master’s responsibility to provide services.

Meanwhile, Camps Bay ward councillor Beverley Schafer has asked for reinforcements at the Blue Flag beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton, ahead of Boxing Day and Tweede Nuwe Jaar.

She said the city was expecting at least 10 000 people to gather on Camps Bay beach.

Chris Willemse, chairman of the Camps Bay Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association, said that they had come to expect the large influx of people into Camps Bay on December 26 as something that happened once a year.

“It's a festive time. Obviously parking is a problem and getting everyone out of Camps Bay is also a bit of a problem.”

Willemse said people sometimes stayed on the beach until 3am waiting for their transport.

Some people find Cape Town beaches too full and go further afield.

Although the city has moved into the “festive season” stage of its peak season planning and there will be increased visibility and “sustained” deployment of law enforcement to the main beaches until January 4 Schafer felt that some of the busier beaches were still understaffed.

Law enforcement would be bolstered by auxiliary volunteers.

There would also be undercover informal trading police on the beaches to stop illegal traders from selling pirated goods.

anel.lewis@inl.co.za
Cape Argus
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/all-hands-on-deck-for-beach-pilgrimage-1.1626541#.UwSAbZFWwpE

Cape’s beaches beckon visitors

Cape’s beaches beckon visitors

Clifton s Blue Flag Fourth Beach is a must-see but there is no access for the physically disabled. Picture Leon Lestrade

It’s beach weather, the holidays are here for most of us, and visitors are arriving in droves.
And beachgoers are spoilt for choice in a city which boasts eight Blue Flag beaches, a status which assures strict safety, amenities, cleanliness and environmental standards.

Recent concerns over water quality do raise issues, but the advice from Belinda Walker, mayco member for community services and special projects, is for people to be alert for warning signs posted in the event of problems.

Weather plays a vital role, and Walker explained that water quality varied according to circumstances, including run-off from stormwater outlets and river pollution.

“Poor water quality can at times be attributed to rainfall events which wash pollution down the stormwater system and rivers. These are often short-term events and, due to the high energy nature of the sea, the pollution dissipates and clears relatively quickly.”

The Blue Flag beaches, which account for a significant proportion of the total of 41 in South Africa, are Clifton 4th Beach, Bikini Beach, Mnandi, Strandfontein, Muizenberg, Silwerstroomstrand, Llandudno and Camps Bay.

A quick list of their special qualities includes:

• Clifton’s Fourth Beach is a definite must-see for anyone visiting Cape Town, despite its icy waters. Due to the narrow and winding steps down to the beach, there is no access for the physically disabled.
• Bikini Beach, reportedly named after the tiny bikinis worn by students at the nearby Stellenbosch University, is sheltered from the southerly winds of summer, and is close to the Gordon’s Bay Harbour.

• The 3km stretch of Mnandi Beach offers visitors a kiosk, braai area and a tidal pool, and is watched by 16 lifeguards. There is parking for more than 400 cars.
• Strandfontein Beach boasts the biggest tidal pool in the southern hemisphere. Waters around the area are usually warm, but it can get very windy in early summer.
• Muizenberg Beach, despite its limited 200m stretch, offers entertainment for the whole family. The nearby Muizenberg Pavilion offers children a waterslide, an outdoor swimming pool and a mini golf course. The family can also enjoy a meal from any of the surrounding restaurants.
• Silwerstroomstrand is a resort on the West Coast, about 10km outside Atlantis. Visitors and holidaymakers can rent a bungalow or stay at the nearby caravan park.
• Llandudno, described as one of Cape Town’s most picturesque beaches, with Judas Peak and Klein Leeukoppie on either side of its edges, is best known for its sunbathing or sundowners. The nearby Logies Bay boasts a bit of history as its caves were once used by the Khoisan people.
• One of Cape Town’s most well-known beaches for its pristine shore and tranquil waters, Camps Bay remains a popular spot for local and international visitors, and plays host to the Summer Festival.

Walker said the city would be looking to add more Blue Flag beaches from among its remaining 62 contenders. Only 24 of the beaches have lifeguards on duty during the peak season.

“The eight blue flags are of international standard, and we are working towards increasing the number. Generally, the state of Cape Town beaches is good, but there is always more that can be done, and we are working continuously towards this.”

She warned too that thanks to Cape Town’s “highly-populated urban environment”, some pollution of beaches was inevitable.

“Where this occurs, City Health will signpost any beaches not suitable for swimming,” she said, but added that this was “a rare occurrence”.

City authorities, meanwhile, urged those visiting beaches where lifeguards and shark spotters were present to always be aware, and listen to any warnings given.

kowthar.solomons@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/cape-s-beaches-beckon-visitors-1.1625534#.UwR-W5FWwpE

Crack down on beach boozers

More than 600 litres of alcohol have been seized on Cape Town's beaches since the start of December.

“That's nearly triple the amount compared to the same period last year,” said Jean-Pierre Smith, member of the mayoral committee responsible for safety.

“The city is committed to providing a safe environment for residents and visitors who use our beaches this festive season.”

He said the disorderly conduct associated with excessive alcohol usage made beaches unsafe and unpleasant for others.

“In addition to this, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol is one of the leading causes of drowning. We will continue to confiscate alcohol on beaches in order to make our beaches safe for everyone,” he said.

The city has a by-law prohibiting the introduction, possession and consumption of liquor on beaches.

Offenders would have their liquor confiscated and receive a written notice to appear in court, with a fine of R500.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/crack-down-on-beach-boozers-1.1624307#.UwR-W5FWwpE

Historic Camps Bay Post Card

Refuse Removal and Waste Recycling

December 2013

Refuse Removal and Waste Recycling

We at Waste Control (a Division of the SA Metal Group) are responsible for the removal of both wet (kitchen) refuse and dry (recyclable) waste from all residents and the majority of businesses, schools and institutions across the Atlantic Seaboard from Bantry Bay to Hout Bay.

We were awarded the tender as your service provider from the City of Cape Town in January 2012. Our major goals were (and still are) as follows;

1. Ensure that our compactor vehicles for wet waste and recycle vehicles never miss a collection on the day allocated to them
2. To have a permanent supervisor in the area who is able to communicate with residents should they wish
3. To operate the most modern (new) vehicles to ensure minimum environmental noise and oil spills
4. To never work out of the hours of 6am to 4pm (this is a huge challenge over the festive season however due to congested traffic and servicing 30% more residents)
5. To market the concept of separating and packing of recyclables in the free Waste Control plastic bags that we provide to households and institutions etc. At present an average of 78% of residents participates in recycling, the highest in the Western Cape and in fact the country.
6. To constantly upskill our drivers. They have a one week advanced training course on an annual basis. 
7. To ensure that our runners (collectors) are fit, have no criminal records, are dressed smartly and appropriately and utilize the correct legislative protective wear at all times
8. Our staff is obliged to greet and wave at any resident they come across.
9. Our employees are not allowed to accept gifts from anyone.
10. To man our call centre for complaints 24/7 and respond immediately. In nearly two years we have not received more than 30 complaints or queries
11. And lastly and most importantly, to ensure when all your residents return from school lifts, work or other chores, there is no refuse in their streets or outside their homes. It is our mission to give all the residents the opportunity to view their pristine community at all times without any eyesore clouding their vision.(especially if the black wheelie bins have already been taken back into the households)

Whether we have met these objectives only your residents and business people can judge but as a resident of Camps Bay myself, when I see our vehicle collect my waste and recyclables on the minute at 6.30 am every Tuesday, I feel a huge amount of gratitude and pride in our employees and am fairly confident that waste or refuse removal is a problem that no one ever has to deal with in our community whether they be in a leadership role or are just “the man/woman in the street”. That is how it should be in a modern safe suburb.

As an aside we were also contracted to service the Deep South Peninsular for 3 years until we were awarded the Atlantic Seaboard tender. To this day we still receive letters, e mails and phone calls pleading with us to return to be their service contractor. The ratepayers also protested when the tender was awarded to another company but to no avail. The city has a policy of awarding a private waste removal company only one area at a time. I hope this changes in late 2014 when our tender terminates. It really has been a pleasure to work in such a magnificent part of the Cape Peninsular and we would like to continue our relationship with you. (Although the Deep South was also so picturesque) But I digress.

For the festive period please can you advise all your residents, businesses, visitors and institutions; (in fact these are policies we have throughout the year)

1. Not to give any of our staff “Xmas boxes” We provide our staff with bonuses for their commitment and dedication.
2. Explain to all your visitors through your visitors info centres, neighbourhood watches, notice boards etc to participate in our recycling programme
3. To stop bergies and the homeless to scratch in refuse bags. It is the most arduous task for our staff to collect broken bags from say the Clifton steps and bring them up to the road. This is soul destroying work
4. Visitors and residents should be told of their collection days. They should not put out their waste the evening before the collection day. The perfect time is between 6am and 6.30 am on collection days especially in the summer. We cannot afford a fly infestation in our suburb. In this way people do not party too hard as they need to be up early to put out their bins and bags.
5. Residents should wash their black wheelie bins with disinfectant weekly
6. We are not allowed to collect grass, branches, rubble, broken glass, disused furniture and/or garden clippings. Either residents can dispose of these at the City Garden Refuse Camps throughout the City or call 
7. When it is windy secure the bins and bags to ensure that they do not fly all over the streets.
8. We will be collecting refuse and recyclables throughout the festive season including Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and other public holidays.

Lastly it is deeply distressing that you have the website of our opposition who has nothing to do with refuse removal or recycling on the Atlantic Seaboard on the CBRRA website. Please immediately change this. Our websites are www.sametal.co.za and www.wastecontrol.co.za where there is further information simplified for all. Please add it to yours.

We wish you a peaceful, relaxing and non windy festive season..

I have copied in our ward councilor into this e mail as well.

Important contact details

Waste Control Operations;
021 507 8700
Supervisor; Elliot Ndinisa;
071 906 5028
Director; Jonathan Biderman-Pam;
083 653 7126
City of Cape Town;
086 010 3089

Please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns, complaints, questions or maybe even a compliment or two although we are driven to perfection in our commitment to you and don’t expect affirmation for achieving our goals.


Yours faithfully

Waste Control

Jonathan Biderman-Pam
Divisional Director