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Full Programme for Cleaning and Maintenance Team

Tidying, de-weeding, removing of graffiti and more 

In Tygervalley, the Cleaning and Maintenance team of the TVID makes a visible difference in a number of ways that certainly bring about a positive change and improvement.

Amongst other things, the team deployed to cut the branches of trees hanging over into the street and the sidewalk, where it had become difficult for pedestrians to walk and for cars to see the traffic lights on the corner of Durban Roadand Bill Bezuidenhout Street.  

cutting of overhanging branches 1 cutting of overhanging branches 2

Some of the other tasks they performed, were the following: 

  • On 24 February 2018 they were deployed to cut the grass and to de-weed at Sportica Street. 

de-weeding 2

de-weeding 3

de-weeding 4

de-weeding 5

de-weeding 6

  • On 6 March the team were deployed to remove all graffiti in the area. 

graffiti 1 graffiti 2 graffiti 3 graffiti 4 graffiti 5 graffiti 6 graffiti 7

  • On 8 March they were tasked with repairing the paving in Carl Cronje Street close to Santam and at BP Garage in Durban Road.  

repairing of paving 3 repairing of paving 4 repairing of paving 5

Working hand in hand with the City of Cape Town, the TVID Maintenance Team cleaned the drains in preparation for the rainy season during winter.  

cleaning of drains 1 cleaning of drains 2 cleaning of drains 5 cleaning of drains 4 cleaning of drains 3

On 16 and 26 March 2018 the City of Cape Town’s Cleansing Department replaced 9 green bins on Edward Street with new ones, as well as replacing the inners and strapping the green bins in the area. 

replacing of wheelie-bins 1 replacing of wheelie-bins 2 cleaing of drains 5

Also during the course of March the City of Cape Town’s Traffic Signal Maintenance Department installed new cables for traffic lights on the corner of Willie Van Schoor Street and Bloemhoff Street (see accompanying photographs). 

installing of new cables by CCT

Illegal Dumping 

One of the most unpleasant tasks for the TVID Cleaning and Maintenance Team is when they are deployed to pick up illegal dumping, especially if is as messy as depicted by the photographs taken at the back of Spar in Willie Van Schoor Street. 

illegal dumping 1 illegal dumping 2 illegal dumping 3 illegal dumping 4

Mr Dave Blackbeard sets a Worthy Example

Dave BlackbeardAlthough all hands involved with the various tasks to improve Tygervalley are willing and busy, Manager Clifford Oostendorp says it is a pleasure to present Dave Blackbeard as one of the best workers in the TVID team. 

He says Dave is always on time. “We start at 08:30, but when I arrive at the office at 07:00 in the morning, Dave is here already getting the bags and all that they are going to use for the day.” He says Dave is the one always filling in the TVID cleaning report, keeping the place clean and willingly going the extra mile. 

On 29 March 2018 at about 18:00 Dave was robbed at the ATM whilst drawing money. He was hit on the shoulder with a stick, all his clothes were taken, as well as his cell phone, bank card, his ID document and the money he had drawn. 

Mr Oostendorp says the reason for telling this story is because notwithstanding the fact that Dave still lives at a shelter in Bellville and had no money to buy food or clothes to wear for the whole Easter weekend, and without his employers knowing anything about what had happened to him, he still came in on the 3rd of March 2018: “There was Dave, ready for work, in pain, still hungry and still wearing the same clothes. I gave him a copy of his ID and asked him if he wanted to go and sort out his matters and go to the doctor, but he said no, he wants to work. 

Dave, you are an example to all of us!  

Plenty of Action on Public Safety Front

TYGERVALLEI FINALThe TVID Public Safety Officers patrol the area on a 24-7 basis and behind the scenes work tirelessly to secure the area better. Here are some of the recorded incidents: 

In recent months we have had a few incidents of theft from motor vehicles.  Our Public Safety Officers received a call from the security at Virgin Active parking about a suspicious car.  The occupants appeared to be busy with remote jamming. Our Public Safety Officers approached the vehicle but they left the area immediately.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to shopping trolleys and wheelie bins and when a group of people appeared suspicious in  Durban Road, we cautioned them and confiscated the trolley which was returned to the rightful owner. A wheelie-bin was also confiscated from a person on Durban Road.

Our officers responded to a call from the security at Tyger Manor, where a man had hit a lady, taken her phone and run away. The person was caught and the SAPS came to the scene, but she decided not want to lay a charge.  

In a separate incident, Public Safety Officers engaged with individuals sleeping on a public open space at Carl Cronje Street behind the Bellville Velodrome. The officers cautioned them and requested them to leave the area. TVID Cleaning and Maintenance Team were deployed to remove all litter and clean the area. 

An incident involving theft occurred when a woman was caught with stolen goods while she was on her way to a vehicle with registration CEY 32214 that was parked in the parking area of Mr Price Sport at Sportica Crescent Tygervalley, where she had obviously intended hiding the stolen goods. When apprehended, the woman confirmed that she was not alone and that the other people involved had run away, including the driver of the getaway vehicle, which was a blue Renault Clio. 2x Mr Price Sport jackets to the value of R449,99 each with Mr Price labels were found in their possession. Two of the women were arrested inside the store.

The City of Cape Town draft Budget 2018-2019 comment period is open

The City of Cape Town draft Budget 2018-2019 comment period is open
Dear Cape Town residents and businesses

The draft Budget 2018-2019 is available for comment until 16:30 on Friday, 4 May 2018.

A budget of R 49.1 billion will be spent in the metropolitan area to ensure that services are maintained, improved and expanded, that capital projects are rolled out and that the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is implemented.

The effect of the unprecedented and continuing drought is a strong theme and has influenced many factors, including tariff increases and reviews in tariff structure.
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2016-2017 Budget highlights: Created 45 370 EPWP job opportunities; invested R 3.7 billion (2015/16: R 3.3 billion) in repairs and maintenance; installed 1 747 subsidised electricity connections; provided 676 new taps and 2 085 new toilets to informal settlements; achieved 69,86% employment rate of people from employment equity target groups at the highest levels of management.

Highlights from Annexure A:

  • An allowance of R 76 million for indigent relief.
  • Introduction of a fixed service charge for both water and electricity.
  • Planned capital expenditure includes R 5 billion for Informal Settlements, Water & Waste. Services, R 1.7 billion for the Transport & Urban Development Authority and R 1.1 billion for Energy.
  • Simplifying the steps of the water and electricity tariff from six to four.

The proposed average rates and tariff increases for 2018-19 are shown the table below.

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Important things to remember:

  • The City does not make any profit on the sale of water or electricity.
  • The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) approved an average percentage price increase of 5.23% to Eskom for the 2018-19 financial year, which translates to a 7.32% increase for municipalities.

Frequently asked questions:

W57 | STATEMENT BY EXECUTIVE DEPUTY MAYOR: ALD. NEILSON: Let’s keep our water-saving focus Team Cape Town

CITY OF CAPE TOWN

 

20 MARCH 2018

 

STATEMENT BY THE CITY’S EXECUTIVE DEPUTY MAYOR, ALDERMAN IAN NEILSON

 

Let’s keep our water-saving focus, Team Cape Town

 

As at Monday 19 March 2018, our collective consumption over the past week was 565 million litres of water per day. Unfortunately, usage has increased by 54 million litres per day from last week’s record low of 511 million litres per day. Nevertheless, we are confident that our water users will again shatter water use records in the weeks ahead. Read more below:

 

Our dam levels have shown only a slight decline of 0,3% to 22,7% . This is the lowest decline in dam levels this year to date. This can likely be attributed to somewhat lower evaporation rates and small amounts of rainfall, especially in the Steenbras Dam area.

 

We will continue to monitor the water usage trend to see whether the increase in consumption is a once-off occurrence or whether there is another underlying reason that would need to be addressed.

 

Level 6B water restrictions are still in place. Water pressure reduction remains in place, water management devices continue to be installed on the connections of high water users and the bills based on 6B tariffs are reaching consumers. It is essential that we all continue to save water.

 

All water users are reminded that the City is still required by the National Government to reduce water usage to 450 million litres per day in order to stretch the available water supplies through the rest of the year. This equates to a reduction of 45% from normal usage. We are currently hovering at just below a 40% reduction. A sustained collective push is now required to reduce consumption by just 5% in order to achieve our target.

 

We will continue to drive our initiatives to reduce water consumption. This will include advanced pressure management, the installation of water management devices at the properties of high water users and proactively implementing advanced water restrictions and associated tariffs to encourage behaviour change.

 

If all Capetonians join us by keeping their consumption down to 50 litres of water a day, or less, we will avoid having to take more drastic actions.

 

Please visit www.capetown.gov.za/thinkwater for all water-related information, including Level 6B restrictions and FAQs about Day Zero as well as tips to lower usage even further.

TVID Takes Matters in Hand

Tygervalley can be assured of a dedicated and comprehensive service being rendered by the TVID (Tygervalley Improvement District), as can be concluded from a report on activities in the area during the past few weeks. 

On the Public Safety front there was a large amount of activity that can set the area’s tenants and residents at peace. 

TVID Urban Safety Team

The public safety officers regularly patrolled within the TVID to secure the safety of the businesses and 

the public. Some of the responsibilities executed, were the following: 

Engaging with all people in the public space to ensure that everyone is aware of our presence and activities. This is done in conjunction with and in support of law enforcement who oversees such activities.  If something suspicious is found, Law Enforcement Officer and or SAPS acts accordingly 

Most of the security activities involving engagement with the public, appear in Havenga Street, Durban Road, Willie Van Schoor Street, Edward Street and Carl Cronje Street. 

According to TVID Manager Clifford Oostendorp, the reason for this is that beggars, bin scratchers and car guards moving from Bellville to Durbanville or from Durbanville to Bellville pass through the Tygervalley area.  

Examples of engaging with the public are the following: 

  • TVID Public Safety Officers engaged with a suspicious-looking man who was in possession of a “tik lolly” on the corner of Oakdale Street and Durban Road. Officers confiscated the item, gave him a warning and removed him out of the area. 
  • On Durban Road officers engaged with a person who had in his possession an undisclosed amount of City of Cape Town blue refuse bags. Our officers confiscated the bags and removed him out of the area. 
  • On 25 October 2017, Public Safety Officers engaged with intoxicated vagrants who were loitering in public in front of Virgin Active, Sportica Road. The persons were cautioned. (See photos) 

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  • Officers also engaged with suspicious-looking men who were in possession of knives on Carl Cronje Street. (photos) 

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  • Persons begging for money at Edward Street, Willie Van Schoor Street, Durban Road and Bill Bezuidenhout Street respectively, were cautioned
  • Various suspicious-looking persons were stopped and searched in Edward Street. 
  • On Edward Street, public safety officers engaged with illegal car guards.
  • People scratching in bins at Misspell Street, Durban Road and Sportica Street respectively, were cautioned and requested to leave the area. (photos) 

bin-scratching 4 bin-scratching 1 bin-scratching 2 bin-scratching 3

Geocentric Launches New App

“As Geocentric we are very proud to launch our new mobile phone reporting application,” said Gene Lohrentz of the urban management company recently. “This is another way in which we are enabling our CID business and property owners to interact with their City Improvement District Management. Geocentric Reporting App 2

“We want our CID contributors to become part of our family by interacting with us about issues they might encounter.  The mobile application makes that possible on the devices most people have with them every day.” 

The Geocentric app allows users to easily report issues in the City Improvement Districts managed by Geocentric Urban Management based in South Africa.  Currently the areas covered by this Application include Beaconvale Industrial Area, Elsies River Industrial, Glosderry, Maitland, Salt River, Somerset West CBD, Stikland Industrial, Strand CBD and the Tygervalley CBD.  

With this application users can report urban defects, crime incidents, public safety issues and general comments.  “We will acknowledge your report and provide you with feedback throughout the process.  We will also send you ‘Alerts’ of problems in your CID area, such as water leaks or power outages and we can even send crime alerts and safety tips to your mobile phone. 

The Geocentric Reporting Application is Free of Charge 

Simply install it and register as a user when using it for the first time.  If you need any help, please contact support@geocentric.co.za 

Geocentric Reporting App 1

Let’s get started! 

  • Simply download and install the App from the Google Play or Apple App Store  
  • Register as a user, using the app when you open it for the first time 
  • We will send you a confirmation email and you will have to activate your app by clicking on the activation link in the email – this is to ensure we are dealing with people and not spammers. 
  • Go to your email and verify your email address 
  • Log in and you are ready to go! 

Urban Management Trolley Introduced

The Geocentric Urban Management Trolley Project was initiated in 2017. 

The aim of the project is to provide urban cleaning and maintenance teams with a platform to improve their daily tasks, assist with moving of equipment and tools and enable recycling while performing their tasks. 

A few design considerations were introduced into the design of the trolley including 

  • The ability to move heavy loads of litter or recycling from one point to another without effort or potential injury 
  • Create high visibility for the cleaning and maintenance teams 
  • Have quick and easy access to tools and equipment 
  • The ability, even when fully loaded, to easy ascend and descend kerbs and sidewalks 
  • Be able to separate waste as they work to support the recycling initiative 

To achieve some of these design principles, Geocentric looked at simple solutions from other designs, for example, the stair-climbing suitcases used by so many travellers.  By scaling up the design for the urban management trolleys, we could produce a sidewalk and pavement climbing trolley where the urban management worker needs minimum effort to get onto and off pavements to perform their duties.  

(See photos of step 1, 2 and 3 illustrating this concept.) 

step1

step2

step3

The trolleys were also designed to be pushed from any side with key tools located in the middle so that it is in fact easy to use it for a two-man team operation.  On each side of the trolley a plastic tool box allows storage for small tools. 

Recyclables like tin cans, glass and plastic bottles are collected by the urban management workers throughout the day as they clean the streets and public spaces and at the end of each day they separate the items into baskets whereafter Geocentric recycles the items. 

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This is another way in which we make CID operations more sustainable and environmentally friendly as we prevent a vast amount of waste from simply going to landfills. 

trolley 5 trolley 6

Geocentric have rolled out these trollies in the Elsies River and Beaconvale City Improvement Districts and plan to roll them out to all the other CIDs under Geocentric management through the course of 2018. 

 

Cleaning Team Multitasks

The task of the TVID’s maintenance and cleaning team is to clean within the TVID in order to sustain a fresh environment. The following duties were recently completed within the TVID: 

  • Cutting of grass and de-weeding at Havenga Street, Misspell Street and Durban Road respectively. 

See ‘Before’, ‘During’ and ‘After’ pictures to illustrate:

BEFORE

Before 3 Before 2 Before 1

 

DURING

During 1 During 2 During 3

 

AFTER

After 3 After 2 After 1

  • TVID Cleaning and Maintenance Team was deployed to empty green bins in our area. 

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  • The Cleaning and Maintenance Team was also deployed to clear and remove illegal dumping in the TVID area. (See ‘Before’, ‘During’ and ‘After’ pictures.) 

BEFORE

illegal dumping (before)

 

DURING

illegal dumping (during)

 

AFTER

 

illegal dumping (after)

  • The team also re-aligned and painted bollards and street signs at Durban Road, Edward Street, Willie Van Schoor Street and Antrum Park respectively. 

bollards 1 bollards 2 bollards 3 signs 2 signs