Sub-council 12’s monthly meeting started off on a sombre note last week as councillors lamented the spate of child rapes and killings over the past few weeks and observed a minute of silence for DA councillor Xolile Gwangxu who was shot and killed in front of the Philippi East Community Hall last Wednesday night, following a party constituency meeting.
Among the topics up for discussion at the Lentegeur council chambers on Thursday June 22 were the continuing water crisis, lanes which are still a safety risk in some areas, the City of Cape Town’s backyarders’ programme, the Beacon Valley dunes, the naming of the sub-council, the drafting of an economic, coastal development plan for the False Bay coastline, from Sunrise to Monwabisi, and feedback from the City’s customer relations department on the C3 notification system.
Water restrictions
The City of Cape Town is preparing for the imminent implementation of further intensified water restrictions. The envisaged Level 4b restrictions would adjust the water usage target downwards to 500 million litres of collective water use a day. This comes as dam levels remain critically low, rainfall uncertainty great, and consumption levels still too high considering the need to start building reserves for the expected tough summer ahead. Dam storage levels were at 24.5 percent on Monday June 26. According to the City of Cape Town, dam levels are effectively at 14.5 percent. Sub-council 123 chairman Sheval Arendse is encouraging residents to use less than 100 litres of water a person a day. He said City’s Water Resilience Task Team has been set up under the leadership of the Chief Resilience Officer, to boost the City’s response to drought and to ensure that acute water shortages are avoided. Residents can contact the City via email to water@capetown.gov.za for queries or to report contraventions of the water restrictions or they can send an SMS to 31373.
Lane closures
Plans to continue the closing of lanes in Mitchell’s Plain were also discussed at the meeting. According to councillors certain lanes in the area have become crime hot spots. Eddie Andrews, mayoral committee member for area south and the councillor for Ward 78 (Westridge and parts of Portland) said he recently held a meeting with residents to identify the problematic lanes.
Solomon Philander councillor for Ward 79 (Eastridge, parts of Beacon Valley, the Mitchell’s Plain CBD, parts of Portland) said he needs more information about costing while Mr Andrews said he is awaiting feedback and wants timelines regarding the lane closures.
Backyarder programme
Officials also gave a presentation on the City of Cape Town’s backyarder programme, which provides for the installation of basic services such as water and sanitation to backyarders on City-owned property.
In Mitchell’s Plain such services are provided to backyarders in Tafelsig (705 installations) and Eastridge (318 installations). See story on page 4.
Beacon Hill dunes
A motion was submitted by Mr Philander to undertake a feasibility study for the Beacon Valley dunes behind Beacon Hill High School. Mr Philander said the private owner of the land is “keeping the City of Cape Town ransom”.
He said the City has a plan for the dunes and is requesting that the matter be solved.
Renaming of sub-council
Sub-council 12 is commencing the process of advertising their intention of recommending the change of the name of the sub-council to that of Wolfgat Sub-council.
The report of the naming of the sub-council will serve at the next mayoral committee meeting and then to the council meeting scheduled for August.
False Bay development plan
An information meeting to discuss the drafting of an economic, coastal development plan which will give clarity on what the economic, biodiversity and development potential is of the coastline was to take place last Thursday June 22.
The draft plan will subsequently be submitted to sub-councils 12, 19 and 10 for comment to enable onward submission to council for approval.
C3 notification report
The City’s customer relations department also did a presentation on the C3 notification system, saying of the 439 370 complaints they receive city-wide, 10 327 complaints emanate from Sub-council 12 with Ward 82 (Tafelsig) lodging the most notifications.
Sub-council 12, located at the council chambers in Lentegeur, off Merrydale Avenue, can be contacted on 021 444 8696 or email sub-council manager Alesia Bosman on Alesia.Bosman@capetown.gov.za
