WID 2024 roundup & safety tips for the festive season
As 2024 draws to a close, the Wynberg Improvement District celebrates a year of notable achievements in making Wynberg a cleaner, safer and more vibrant community. And, we share our festive season safety tips for businesses and all those going on holiday this season. Finally, we have some important reminders from our Wynberg Improvement District Board and a notice regarding the Community WhatsApp Groups.
Urban Cleaning Success
This year, our urban cleaning and management efforts have continued to be a priority across our City Improvement District. Thanks to the tireless work of our team, our streets and public spaces remain clean and well maintained. Improved waste management, rapid response to urban defects, and efficient service delivery have all contributed to creating a cleaner environment for residents and businesses.
Looking Ahead
“Despite a tough economic climate, rising costs and ongoing service delivery challenges, we’ve stayed focused on delivering high-quality services,” says Gene Lohrentz, Managing Director of Geocentric Urban Management. “The achievements in urban cleaning and continual focus on crime prevention in deploying ever more safety officers this year are a testament to this commitment. We’re eager to continue this momentum into 2025.”
Geocentric, a partner in managing CIDs for 15 years, proudly oversees 13 of the 54 City Improvement Districts (CIDs).
The WID Board and Geocentric management team are dedicated to innovative and effective approaches to service delivery, ensuring Woodstock remains a thriving, inclusive community for all. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in these endeavours. Here’s to a safe, clean and prosperous 2025!
Improving Accessibility and Active Mobility: Open for Comment
The City of Cape Town continues its commitment to building a more inclusive and sustainable transport system with two key initiatives: the Draft Universal Access Policy and the Draft Walking and Cycling Strategy. The Universal Access Policy focuses on addressing barriers faced by people with disabilities, the elderly, children, female passengers and others with specific needs, aiming to create transport infrastructure and services that enable independent travel for all.
Complementing this, the Draft Walking and Cycling Strategy repositions walking and cycling as primary, safe and sustainable modes of transport. By shifting from the term “non-motorised transport” to “active mobility,” this strategy emphasises human-powered travel and updates previous plans, such as the 2016 Cycle Strategy. Both initiatives align with the City’s Integrated Development Plan, Comprehensive Integrated Transport Plan, and Climate Change Strategy, highlighting a vision for Cape Town as a people-centric city with equitable access to opportunities.
Public input on these drafts is invited until 13 December 2024 for the Universal Access Policy and 14 December 2024 for the Walking and Cycling Strategy. Comments can be submitted online at www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay, via email at UrbanMobility.CT@capetown.gov.za (references 110242504 and 110242503, respectively), or in writing at local subcouncil offices and libraries.
Stay Safe This Festive Season: Essential Tips for Business Owners in Cape Town
As the festive season approaches, it’s crucial for business owners to be proactive in safeguarding their assets, employees and property. With the influx of visitors to Cape Town and an uptick in crime and fire hazards, the holiday period can present unique risks. Ensuring your business is prepared will help prevent incidents that could disrupt your operations and damage your reputation.
Protect Your Business and Property
Security is paramount during the busy holiday season. Here are key tips to secure your premises:
- Maintain your security systems: Ensure gates, locks, security lights, alarm systems and cameras are in good working order. Regularly test alarm systems and surveillance equipment to prevent malfunction during peak times.
- Install and maintain adequate lighting: Exterior lighting serves both as a deterrent to criminals and essential for the detection of a potential intruder by security. Connecting outdoor lights to timers and motion sensors can also help you save on your power bill.
- Hire professional security: Invest in reputable security services or armed response teams. Being part of a local neighbourhood watch group or staying connected with your area’s WhatsApp groups can help you stay informed about security incidents nearby.
- Fire safety: Regularly check your fire extinguishers and train staff on fire safety procedures. Make sure your fire alarm system is operational and plan regular fire drills. Keep flammable materials stored safely and ensure electrical systems are maintained to reduce the risk of fires.
Retail and Business Operations
The holiday season often brings increased foot traffic to businesses. Here’s how to keep your store safe:
- Panic buttons and surveillance: Position static panic buttons in strategic areas such as cash offices and storerooms. Install and maintain security cameras to eliminate blind spots.
- Observe opening and closing hours: Be especially vigilant during opening and closing hours, as these are prime times for opportunistic crime.
- Cash deposits: Avoid predictability when making cash deposits. Vary the days, times and locations to reduce the risk of criminal activity targeting your business.
- Secure your property: Ensure that all access points are secure, including all security gates, roller shutters, doors, windows, security bars and locks, and do a complete perimeter check that these are in working condition and properly locked when you leave the premises.
Employee and Customer Safety
- Employee verification: Always verify new staff with proper identification, proof of residence and references from previous employers.
- Monitor stock and cash: Regularly check inventory, equipment and cash floats to ensure there is no theft or mismanagement.
- Train staff in emergency procedures: Ensure your staff knows how to act in case of an emergency—whether it’s a robbery, fire or medical situation.
Read more business safety tips
Safety on the Roads
As a business owner, you and your employees may be commuting more often during the holidays. Here are key road safety reminders:
- Vehicle checks: Ensure vehicles are regularly serviced and equipped with essentials such as a spare tyre, jack and emergency warning triangle.
- Be cautious on the roads: Be aware of the higher risk of intoxicated drivers during the festive period. Always keep your phone charged in case of emergencies, and take regular breaks during long drives.
Stay Vigilant
In addition to securing your business, it’s essential to stay vigilant against road crime and ATM theft:
- Prevent road crime: Remain aware of your surroundings, especially when stopped at traffic lights or in unfamiliar areas. Keep valuables out of sight, and lock your doors when driving.
- ATM safety: Only use ATMs in well-lit, secure locations. Be cautious and aware of anyone loitering nearby, and never share your pin with anyone, even if they appear to be an official.
Emergency Contact Details
It’s always a good idea to keep emergency numbers on hand in case of any incidents:
- SAPS (South African Police Service): 10111
- CID Security (Geocentric 24-hour control room): Call 021 565 0900 (for Public Safety Emergencies)
- City of Cape Town Disaster Management: 107 / 021 480 7700
- Metro Police & Traffic: 0860 765 423
- Community WhatsApp Group: Stay connected to the local WhatsApp group for real-time updates on emergencies and security alerts. Important information regarding the WID WhatsApp Groups below.
Reminder to ALL WID property owners from the Board
On 1 September 2024 the Wynberg Improvement District’s boundary officially grew to include 19 additional streets in Wynberg plus a short section of Constantia Main Road. With the influx of approx 700 new property owners added to the Wynberg Improvement District, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all WID property owners of the following:
Rubbish Bins
Please do not place your rubbish bin out until the morning of your collection. Rubbish bins are a magnet for drawing individuals into the neighbourhood overnight and create a circumstance that puts vehicles parked on the road overnight at risk and increases the potential for opportunistic crime. Bins can be used to access your property as well. Please do your part to mitigate potential opportunistic crime in the Wynberg area.
Logging Service Requests/C3s
If you see that something requires City of Cape Town services, please log a C3 yourself via 0214807700 or by going onto the CoCT website at www.capetown.gov.za.
On capetown.gov.za follow these easy steps:
- Report a Fault
- Create Service Request
- Search on a word that fits your issue – ie pothole
- Use the dropdown menus to further identify the issue
- Write a description of the problem. Be very explicit about the issue and location. Please include the street name and suburb.
- If you have a photo, it must be less than 2 MB. You can crop it using your phone and that will generally reduce the size. If it is the proper size for uploading, upload it.
- Provide your contact details and choose whether you would like to be notified of status via email or sms.
- You will receive a reference number, please keep this for followup.
If you have logged a request via the website you should receive notification regarding status. When the issue has been addressed it will be marked as closed.
If your issue is not addressed within 7 days, please provide it to the WID manager for followup.
WID Community WhatsApp Group – Important Notice from the Board
Dear WID Property Owners,
Please be aware of some changes that have taken place with regard to the WID related WhatsApp groups monitored by the WID Control Room and various WID management personnel. There are now 2 different groups covering properties within the WID area:
- WID Business: for business owners in the WID area
- WID Residential: for residential property owners in the WID area
This change will make the management of concerns and dispatching of public safety patrol officers in the WID area less cumbersome, as currently the Control Room must monitor several groups at once, with various overlapping spaces.
If you are a property owner in the WID, please fill out the form on the link below to be added to the appropriate group.
Please note: All information will be kept confidential and only used for the purposes of WID related business. All WID associated personnel (admins, management and board members) are bound by the POPI Act.
Thank you for your patience in our transition to a more efficient system for the control room, public safety officers and property owners.
Nancy Krisch
WID Board Member
WID WhatsApp Group Protocols
24 HR Control Room 021 565 0900 – Geocentric CID Community
Group Description:
This is a group for emergency communication to the WID Control Room only.
Group Protocols:
- No chatting Please do not reply to messages unless relevant to the emergency in progress. All unnecessary chat messages will be deleted.
- The WID mandate is public space only. Security matters on private premises call your security company or SAPS at 10111.
- Re Service Requests. The WID officers will identify and report issues in the public space that require attention. As active citizens you are requested to log your own service requests when you notice issues in your immediate area by calling 0214807700 or under ‘Create a Service Request’ (AKA C3) at www.capetown.gov.za please be sure to document the reference number given.
- Unresolved service requests may be sent to Cllr Langenhoven after 24 hours (in the case of Electric or Water issues) or WID re street lights, potholes, etc after 3 days.
- Except for the Control Room, and Board member Nancy Krisch, Admins on this group are Geocentric Mgmt following what is taking place in Wynberg Please do not write to any of these admins privately
- No photos of faces may be posted on this group. It is against the rights of the individual. You may share photographs or video footage of concern with WID Mgmt or Board member Nancy Krisch.
- Cases must be opened at SAPS If you have been victimised or your property has been maliciously damaged you must open a case with SAPS.
- You may write to WID Mgmt at info@wynbergid.co.za
As we close out the year, let’s work together to ensure a safe and secure environment for businesses, employees and customers. Prioritising these safety measures will help you protect your business and create a positive, secure atmosphere for all who visit or work in the city.
Stay vigilant, stay prepared, and here’s to a safe and prosperous festive season!
