Geocentric Archives

Welcoming 2024 – Let’s Create A Better Tyger Valley Together

Working together with residents, local businesses and urban management specialists to create a rich urban environment where the Tyger Valley community can thrive, we – the Tyger Valley Improvement District – welcome 2024 with the new challenges and opportunities it will provide. Together with the City of Cape Town, our partners, outreach initiatives and you, we will continue to strive towards reinvigorating our urban environment.

Aligned in our collective mission, we are committed to cultivating a thriving urban ecosystem that is safe, accessible and inviting to all the workers, visitors and community members of our district. We are unwavering in our commitment to the property and business owners of our area and intend to consolidate and elevate our services based on the successes of last year.

Please feel free to contact us at any time with queries or concerns and be reminded of our 24-hour security control room number for public safety incidents.

For Public Safety Emergencies Contact

24-hour Geocentric Control Room: 021 565 0900

Let’s embark on this journey together, embracing the challenges and opportunities that 2024 presents, as we collectively shape the future of our Tyger Valley community. Together we can create a stable, safe, clean area that is prosperous for our community both economically and socially.

Safety & Fire During the Hot, Dry and Windy Cape Town Summer Months

Cape Town fire season occurs from November through May. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe.

Cape Town is notoriously prone to wildfires that occur in natural vegetation when it is hot and dry in the summer months, which coincide with the windy season – creating ideal conditions for wildfires to occur and quickly get out of control. This season has already been earmarked to be the worst fire season in 8 years.

Cape Town fires are particularly common in the Table Mountain National Park due to the natural conditions in our fynbos ecosystem. But, homes and businesses are not exempt from danger, as any fire can spread quickly and far – up to tens of kilometres from the source. It is most important to keep your home, family and business safe, protecting life and property, as our urban living spaces share a boundary with the national parks in many parts of Cape Town and the Western Cape.

By 18 January 2024, there had been a total of 22 new fire incidents, with SANParks firefighting teams demonstrating swift response and effective containment. This influx has occurred particularly in the southern section of Table Mountain National Park, in Kalk Bay, Oceanview and Red Hill areas, as well as in the north of the park, in the Signal Hill and Pipe Track areas, posing significant risk to the communities living adjacent to the park, particularly with hot temperatures and strong wind conditions being experienced.

Fire Safety Precautions & Interventions

In Cape Town, there are various organisations in place to manage fire safety and interventions that should be taken, both to avoid fire and to control it when it happens.

Home and work checklist for fire safety

Always have a “grab bag” with your important documents in it such as birth certificates and passports.
Make sure that all your insurance documents and other important documentation are backed up securely to the cloud.
Assign tasks to family members or staff such as placing pets or kids in the car and driving them to safety at a friend’s house out of smoke danger.
Run fire drills so that everyone is prepared in an emergency.
If you need to stay and help fight fires, cover your head, nose and mouth and protect your eyes with goggles. Wear good shoes and gloves.
Wetting the roof and gutters can stop hot ash from burning the roof.
Keep grass cut as short grass helps slow down fire.
Keep a hose pipe rolled up and ready to put out fires.
Keep a fire extinguisher in kitchens and train staff or family members how to use it.
If you volunteer on the mountain in a wildfire, take a spade – this helps to beat out fire or throw sand on smouldering grass tufts.
Always remember, your safety is first and if you are not properly trained, call for assistance.

Each year, the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service contracts the use of two Huey helicopters and a Cessna 182 spotter plane to support its firefighting efforts. These aircraft allow for mountain wildfires to be combated in inaccessible areas that pose a serious risk to property and life.

For the first time since using the aerial appliances, they are now branded this season, clearly identifiable as City resources.

Emergency & Contact information

Fire and Rescue Service Department

24-hour emergencies:

Telephone: 107 (landline) or 021 480 7700 (cellphone)

General fire safety enquiries:

Telephone: 021 590 1971 / 021 590 1975

To report a fire in the Table Mountain National Park

Please call:

Hotline: 086 110 6417 or
The City’s Regional Fire Control No: (021) 590 1900
Newlands Fire Base: Tel: +27(0) 21 689 7438

Fire Prevention Tips

There are simple preventatives we can all pay heed to – such as not lighting a fire or braai on a hot and windy day, and never extinguishing a cigarette out of doors, such as out of a car window, in grass or when hiking.

For property owners, ember-proofing any area requires the removal of all flammable plants up to 7m from a building, as well as overhanging branches. Checking and cleaning gutters and roofing for debris is important too.

Other interventions that you can implement on a larger scale include considering your construction materials if you are remodelling and supplementing them for fire-resistant alternatives. You should also ensure full continued compliance with all local and national fire safety codes and think about installing fire protection systems such as overhead sprinklers.

Unfortunately, despite all the precautions, a fire can happen to any size business at any time. That is why protecting your employees and your property should be a top priority. Following the above steps will help you avoid any fires breaking out and minimise fire-related damages. While there may be no such thing as truly “fireproof,” these guidelines are an excellent starting point for safeguarding your business.

Resources

Western Cape Government

City of Cape Town

Sanparks

Fire management – Table Mountain National Park Fire Management Plan

Facebook

Facebook group: Firewatch Cape Town

January 30, 2024/by tvidcoza

Our Area Improvement Projects, Our Safety Initiatives, TVID news, Up for Your Review

Tyger Valley Improvement District 2023 Roundup

It’s been another year of successes and tackling challenges head-on for the Tyger Valley Improvement District. As part of our renewed commitment to public safety and urban cleaning and management, we persist in leading the way toward the continuous improvement of Tyger Valley as a thriving residential and business hub.

Our CID team has increased their presence on the ground, resulting in improved statistics across the board for 2023. We’ve driven more kilometres in our patrol vehicles, engaged with more members of the public and attended to more service requests and urban defects than ever before. We’ll continue with this increased presence in the community in 2024 and the years beyond.

This year, with 51 CIDs now in operation in the City of Cape Town, the new CID by-law and policy has come into effect. Geocentric, who has now been working with city improvement district initiatives for more than 2 decades, is proud to be responsible for over 25% of the total CIDs in operation.

In addition to taking care of the public’s safety and urban cleaning, our CID placed a focus on greening areas across Tyger Valley in 2023. These urban beautification projects will be continued throughout 2024, in line with the goal of continuously upgrading our community.

2023 Tyger Valley Improvement District Stats

“Despite the challenges of a struggling economy, ongoing load shedding and higher fuel prices, the aim of the TVID remained focussed on delivering top-up services to the public spaces of Tyger Valley throughout the year,” says Gene Lohrentz of Geocentric Urban Management, tasked with the delivery of our City Improvement District services.

The TVID Board and Geocentric management team is committed to finding innovative, efficient and cost-effective ways to continue delivering on the vision for a safer, cleaner, well-maintained and vibrant community. We look forward to more opportunities to make a tangible difference in 2024.

Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

As the festive season approaches, it is essential to prioritise safety at this time, as crime, accidents and fire hazards are usually on the rise during the holiday period.

Being mindful of potential risks and hazards can help safeguard you, your business and your property – from road safety considerations to vigilance against petty crimes in crowded business premises to more serious crimes such as hijacking and robbery.

Along with keeping your personal safety in mind, if you are a business owner, it is imperative to be vigilant and proactive in implementing strategies that protect your assets, property and staff during the busiest time of year.

Prevention is better than cure. That’s why we urge property and business owners to make every effort to prepare their properties, businesses, staff and themselves against opportunists and criminals with our safety tips below:

Emergency Numbers

Quick access to relevant emergency numbers can be the difference between life and death. We have compiled a comprehensive list for you to save and share for easy access to these numbers.

Once again, our 24-hour security control room is always available for your public safety emergencies.

Whatsapp group info

If you’re interested in staying informed about our initiatives, as well as the newest developments in your improvement district, you can become a member of our TVID business WhatsApp group by:

• Sending a WhatsApp message to 081 869 8911.

• You will need to include your Name and Surname or the name of your business

• You will need to include your street address, which should be within the boundary of the CID

• We will add you to the relevant CID Community Group

Rules and regulations for communicating will be stipulated in the group.

December 11, 2023/by tvidcoza

Our Safety Initiatives, TVID news, Up for Your Review

Tygervalley Improvement District 2022 roundup & safety tips for the holiday season

2022 has been a year for celebrating successes for Tygervalley Improvement District and tackling new and ongoing challenges. We renew our commitment to providing top-up services to the City of Cape Town with a special focus on public safety, urban cleaning and management, continuing to lead the charge in the continual improvement of Tygervalley as a residential and business area.

As we round up 2022 following our recent AGM held in November, we recap on the year’s work, successes and statistics.

Tygervalley Improvement District’s achievements of the last year are a testament to the team’s commitment, experience and increased on-the-ground presence – led by the capable hands of Geocentric, who have been working with city improvement district initiatives since 2001 and responsible for a total of thirteen of Cape Town’s improvement districts from Salt River through to Strand, Tyger Valley and Wynberg.

“The rollercoasting aftermath of Covid lockdowns steadily calmed down in 2022, yet conditions remained difficult as significant increases in the cost of living and the continuous challenges of load-shedding remained at the forefront,” says Gene Lohrentz, director of Geocentric.

“In the face of these new challenges, the Tygervalley Improvement District board and management team have remained steadfast in our commitment to providing high-quality top-up services in Tygervalley. Embracing and implementing adaptability into our vision now seems entrenched in our day-to-day operations as well as our strategic thinking.”

2022 Tygervalley Improvement District

Stay safe this festive season

From increased fire hazards in Cape Town to countrywide holiday travel to seasonal crime spikes, there are many reasons to up our vigilance these summer months and to take the necessary precautions to stay safe.

Home and Work Checklist for Fire Safety

Ember-proofing any area, requires the removal of all flammable plants up to 7m from a building, as well as overhanging branches. Checking and cleaning gutters and roofing for debris is important too.
Always remember, your safety is first and if you are not properly trained, call for assistance.
Make sure that all your insurance documents and other important documentation are backed up securely to the cloud.
Assign tasks to staff and run fire drills so that everyone is prepared in an emergency.
If you need to stay and help fight fires, cover your head, nose and mouth and protect your eyes with goggles. Wear good shoes and gloves.
If you have access to water, wet the roof and gutters to stop hot ash from burning the roof.
Keep grass cut as short as possible as it helps slow the fire.
Keep a hose pipe rolled up and ready.
Keep fire extinguishers around that are regularly maintained and train your staff on how to use them safely and correctly.

Safety Tips To Prevent Property Crime

Ensure your property can be secured properly. This includes checking all locks, gates, doors, windows and roller shutters.
Ensure there are no gaps in your fence or perimeter wall or unintentional points of access to your business or home that may need additional security.
Make sure all bushes or trees close to your walls, gates and fences are trimmed, to avoid the possibility of intruders hiding or using them to access your property.
Adequate lighting around the perimeter of your property acts as a good deterrent
Connecting outdoor lights to timers and motion sensors act as an additional deterrent.
Have an alarm installed by a reputable security company with armed response.
The key to effective security lies in being able to detect a potential intruder before they gain access. Adding detection beams and sensors of electrical fences vastly contributes to property security
Ensure your alarm is in working order. Business and property owners should test their alarms at least once a month and should the system require servicing this should be arranged as early as possible.
Please ensure that all the key holder information is available and ensure that key holders are available and able to come out to the property should the alarm activate, and checking be required.
Don’t leave ladders, spades or tools outside as these can be excellent break-in tools.
Ensure that remote controls for automatic gates and garage doors are not left lying around.
Always be alert to vehicles or persons following you into your entrance or the parking area.

Road safety tips

Check your vehicle before travelling long distances – including tyre tread and pressure, oil and water, wind-screen wipers, headlights and brakelights and ensure your spare tyre, jack and emergency warning triangle are all intact and stored in your vehicle
Leave early to be prepared for road congestion during busy periods
Take breaks to avoid road fatigue which can cause accidents
Be aware of pedestrians particularly when passing broken down vehicles or public transport
Never drink and drive

Contact details

As the year draws to a close we remind you once again of our important contact details to report emergencies and incidents.

For Public Safety Emergencies contact our 24-hour control room

021 565 0900 – Geocentric Control Room

Emergency numbers

10111 – SAPS (South African Police Services)
107 – City of Cape Town Disaster Management

City Of Cape Town

General Enquiries: 0860 103 089 – Sms 31220 (Electricity)
Cable Theft: 0800 222 771
Roads And Storm Water: 0800 656 463 – Sms 31373
Metro Police & Traffic: 0860 765 423

Visit our Contact page for more details and capetown.gov.za for more City of Cape Town Emergency Numbers.

Join our WhatsApp Community Group

If you are curious about the work we do and want to stay up to date with the latest developments in your improvement district, you will be able to join our TVID Business WhatsApp group by:

• Sending a WhatsApp message to 081 869 8911

• You will need to include your Name and Surname or the name of your business

• You will need to include your street address which should be within the boundary of the Tygervalley Improvement District

• We will add you to the Tygervalley Improvement District Community Group

Rules and regulations for communicating will be stipulated in the group.

December 2, 2022/by tvidcoza

Our Safety Initiatives

meet our team

October 18, 2021/by tvidcoza

Uncategorized

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)

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

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)

February 22, 2018/by tvidcoza

Uncategorized

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.

“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

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!

February 21, 2018/by tvidcoza

Uncategorized

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.)

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.

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.

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.

February 21, 2018/by tvidcoza

Uncategorized

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

DURING

AFTER

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

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

DURING

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.

February 21, 2018/by tvidcoza

Uncategorized

Urban Renewal On-going

TVID’s Urban Renewal team has back to back responsibilities relating to the maintenance and beautification of the area, when necessary in collaboration with teams of the City of Cape Town.