It’s been full steam ahead launching into 2024. As we look forward to the Easter break, we share our CID’s stats and achievements for the first quarter of the year.
Don’t forget to review the Draft National Business Licensing Policy before 31 March if you haven’t done so already. And, we remind you to stay safe on the roads over this busy holiday period.
Q1 2024 statistics
Have Your Say on the Draft National Business Licensing Policy by 31 March
Since 1994, a substantial body of new laws has emerged from all levels of government to fulfil the mandate presented by the 1996 Constitution. The journey towards a constitutional, democratic order began with the adoption of the Constitution in 1996 and has continued with the enactment of new laws and the amendment and/or repeal of old laws.
Part of developing new legislation and even amending existing legislation is the development of a policy paper that will inform the policy thrust and direction of the proposed legislation. The Department has developed the draft National Business Licensing Policy, which will inform the review of the Businesses Act of 1991.
Members of the public are hereby invited to send their comments to MMasoga@dsbd.gov.za or submit them by hand at The DTI Campus, Department of Small Business Development, 77 Meintjies Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria, Block G Ground Floor within 30 (thirty) days of publication of this notice. This means that the comments period is from the 1st of March 2024 to the 31st of March 2024.
It’s a busy time of year on the roads and we urge you to take extreme caution at this time. Check your vehicle before embarking on long trips, be sure to take necessary breaks as the driver, remain aware of other road users and never, ever drink and drive.
https://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Electrical-cable.jpg347462Adminhttp://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Wynberg-ID-logo-2300px-300x274.pngAdmin2024-03-28 10:47:212024-03-28 11:06:10Q1 update & review the Draft National Business Licensing Policy before 31 March
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 have 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.
https://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/cape-town-fires_creative-commons.jpeg7531400Adminhttp://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Wynberg-ID-logo-2300px-300x274.pngAdmin2024-01-16 16:26:002024-01-23 12:30:33Safety & fire during the hot, dry and windy Cape Town Summer months
It’s been another year of successes and tackling challenges head-on for the Wynberg 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 Wynberg 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 Wynberg in 2023. These urban beautification projects will be continued throughout 2024, in line with the goal of continuously upgrading our community.
2023 Wynberg Improvement DistrictStats
“Despite the challenges of a struggling economy, ongoing load shedding and higher fuel prices, the aim of the WID remained focussed on delivering top-up services to the public spaces of Wynberg throughout the year,” says Gene Lohrentz of Geocentric Urban Management, tasked with the delivery of our City Improvement District services.
The WID 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.
Proposed changes to the M3
Comment on the amended road plans to improve traffic flow along the M3 in Newlands by 13 December.
The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate has drafted a number of proposed changes to the intersections along the M3 in Newlands to improve traffic flow along this important road link between the Southern Peninsula and the Cape Town CBD.
They plan to alleviate the bottlenecks along the M3 between Upper Hillwood Road and Newlands Avenue, and assist with the free flow of traffic along this section of the M3, by:
Removing two signalised intersections
Implementing three median closures and a road closure, among others
Reinstating a signalised pedestrian crossing at Upper Hillwood Road in Bishopscourt
Constructing a third southbound lane between Rhodes Avenue and Upper Hillwood Road, including upgrades to the side roads
Access more details on the proposed upgrades and submit your comment online at the link.
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 WID 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.
Come October, we hold our Annual General Meeting (AGM 2023) to review the year’s activities and begin our planning for 2024/25. We hope all our members can attend. Non-members still have time to register. The new City of Cape Town CID by-law and policy came into effect on 1 July and that is available to view online.
The recent bout of storms and cold fronts experienced in the Cape have certainly added to the work of the CIDs, in particular in the way of road maintenance and fallen trees. We’d like to remind you at this time to assist us in providing effective service by logging a service request for any faults encountered. More on this below. And if you missed our Spring updates, we have undertaken several urban beautification projects, adding greenery and cleaning up public areas of Wynberg, which you can read about in our August blog. Otherwise, read on for more on the above.
SAVE THE DATE! Our AGM 2023 is coming up
At the forthcoming Annual General Meeting for the Wynberg CID, all stakeholders are invited to a review of the year’s activities and planning for 2024/25.
Resolutions presented at the AGM can only be voted for by bonafide members. All non-members wishing to take part must be registered before 5 October.
Monday, 16 October 2023, 10:00 The Methodist Church, 72 Church St, Wynberg RSVP to info@wynbergid.co.za.
New CID By-law Policy
The new CID by-law policy came into effect from 1 July, which serves “To provide for the establishment of City Improvement Districts; to provide for additional rates; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.”
The City of Cape Town’s by-law and policy regarding the establishment and management of City Improvement Districts has gone through several iterations over the years since the concept of a CID was first tested in the year 2000.
The latest revisions of the by-law and policy comes as more than 50 CIDs are now in operation.
https://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AGM-Save-the-Date-Wynberg.png10801080Adminhttp://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Wynberg-ID-logo-2300px-300x274.pngAdmin2023-09-26 16:23:482024-05-14 14:51:36AGM Save the Date, logging a service request & new CID by-law
As we move into Spring, we review our initiatives to landscape, green and keep clean the Wynberg CBD to improve the urban environment for residents, businesses and visitors to the area.
We also remind you to save the date for our upcoming AGM on 16 October at 10am. Venue to be confirmed. Subscribe to our newsletter in the footer below for updates.
Greening the Wynberg area
The Wynberg Improvement District seeks to create an inviting urban environment for all of the people living, shopping, working and visiting the Wynberg CBD. For this reason, the WID explored different ways to improve the landscaping and greening of the Wynberg urban environment.
Over the last two years, the WID placed tree cages around all the newly planted trees close to the library and Magistrates Court. In addition, the area was made more user friendly with the addition of wooden benches for seating and more plants to beautify the urban environment.
As part of our latest project, we have placed large pots along the wider sidewalks in Main Road, planted with plants to further green and enhance the urban landscape. Fortunately the WID also acquired a water trailer this year to assist with the watering of plants in pots throughout the area.
Wynberg subways now reopened
The safe movement of pedestrians is very important to the WID management. The Wynberg CBD is a highly congested area where pedestrians, buses, taxis, commercial vehicles, and cars often compete to cross the same area. In addition, the railway line dissects the greater Wynberg area even though people still need to move from one side of the line to the other. Until the COVID pandemic, this movement was facilitated in part by several subways facilitating movement underneath the railway line and linking both sides of Wynberg for pedestrian use.
After some months of planning, these subways are now once again being reopened in a partnership between the City of Cape Town and the WID. After cleaning and repainting the subways, the WID will assist the City in monitoring these areas and will lock the subways at 19:00 each night and open the subways at 07:00 on weekdays.
The subways will remain closed on weekends.
Wynberg ID water trailer
The Wynberg ID is constantly exploring ways in which to improve the urban environment. One of the most frustrating aspects is the tendency for people to use secluded corners and sheltered alleyways to urinate. This creates a very unhygienic and negative bad-smelling impression of our walkways and sidewalks.
Similarly, acts of illegal dumping often contain household waste with leaking content.
Both issues needed serious action from the WID. Although, in partnership with the City’s sanitation teams, they provide water spraying activities in the WID area, they cannot get to all the places needing this attention.
The WID commissioned the fabrication of a 1500-litre water trailer this year and equipped it with a high-pressure pump and hose system. This new addition to our arsenal of tools allows the WID team to hose down and clean small areas and sidewalks with the high-pressure water.
In addition, the high-pressure water trailer provides the opportunity to clean some of the green public litter bins in the area. The water trailer can also be deployed to water some of the potted plants that we have placed in the WID to beautify the area.
https://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/potted-garden-4.jpg9601280Adminhttp://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Wynberg-ID-logo-2300px-300x274.pngAdmin2023-08-20 17:00:052023-08-20 17:08:50Spring cleaning and greening for Wynberg Improvement District
As the chilly and wet winter season approaches, it’s time to prepare ourselves for the unique challenges and delights that it brings.
From the brisk air to the rain-soaked streets, Cape Town winter demands our attention and readiness. Here, we explore practical tips to help you navigate the winter months with ease. From maintaining your home and business’ functionality to prioritising safety on the roads, these essential suggestions will ensure you’re well-prepared to go with the flow this winter. Let’s dive in and discover how to make the most of the wet season while keeping everything running smoothly.
https://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cape-town-storm-rain-Mark-Seath.jpeg640960Adminhttp://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Wynberg-ID-logo-2300px-300x274.pngAdmin2023-05-25 17:56:302023-05-25 17:56:31Are You Ready to Go with the Cape Town Winter Flow? Essential Tips for a Smooth Season + Loadshedding Updates from the City
2023 is well underway and as we embark on a year that promises to elevate our Wynberg Improvement District to new levels, we’d like to introduce you to our core team and provide some essential reminders and updates from WID and the City.
As always, our focus remains on developing a safe, accessible and welcoming urban ecosystem for all workers, visitors and community members in our district. We are firmly committed to supporting the property and business owners in our locality, and our aim is to build upon last year’s successes by strengthening and enhancing our services.
Some roads in Wynberg are proposed for full or partial closure to vehicular traffic to accommodate the Wynberg road couplet scheme previously approved by Council.
The road couplet will use Brodie and Main Roads to create a set of parallel one-way streets that will double the road capacity for general traffic, cater for future MyCiTi services and help revitalise the Wynberg central business district.
The approved concept design of trunk routes for Phase 2A of MyCiTi’s bus service will enable safe, quality, rapid and direct public transport linking Wynberg with Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha and Claremont.
As part of the detail design, several roads are now proposed for full or partial closure in order to accommodate the road couplet.
Join us at a public information day listed below or visit www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay to find out more and comment from 20 March to 5 May 2023.
Date: 18 April 2023 Venue: Wittebome Civic Centre, Wynberg Time: 14:00 – 19:00
Date: 20 April 2023 Venue: Alphen Centre, Constantia Time: 14:00 – 19:00
Date: 20 April 2023 Venue: Alphen Centre, Constantia Time: 14:00 – 19:00
https://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20230316-Leaflet-W6-Couplet-map.png758525Adminhttp://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Wynberg-ID-logo-2300px-300x274.pngAdmin2023-03-25 07:22:472023-03-25 07:22:47Have your say! Proposed permanent road closures and bus stop locations in Wynberg
The City of Cape Town The City of Cape Town has developed a concept plan for the major refurbishment of the Wynberg public transport interchange (PTI). The plan is now available for public comment until 9 December 2022.
The current facility, situated in the vicinity of the Wynberg railway station, is rundown and stretched way beyond its capacity with nearly 48 000 commuters, 1 500 minibus-taxis and GABS buses making use of the PTI on a daily basis.
‘The proposed concept plan gives the public an idea of how the City intends to upgrade the PTI with two new minibus-taxi facilities, two MyCiTi stations, walking and cycling lanes, and upgrades to surrounding roads to improve traffic flow. We intend to invest a substantial amount in the upgrade which will have an immediate impact on the Wynberg CBD and surrounding neighbourhood. This will spur much needed rejuvenation in conjunction with the provision of world-class public transport facilities,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.
Artist impressions of what the Wynberg public transport interchange could look like, once the construction has been completed. The map indicates the proposed new locations and layout of the public transport services, and surrounding streets.
The concept design for the refurbished PTI proposes two minibus-taxi facilities:
The new and upgraded facilities will be located to the north and east of the Wynberg railway station
A new facility with two levels, to be located between Brisbane Road and Morom Road, bordering Wetton and Broad Roads. The ground level of the facility will be for minibus-taxis serving the Cape Town CBD and the upper level will be for minibus-taxis serving the metro-south east
An upgraded single level facility, located between Ottery Road and the railway line, will be for minibus-taxis serving destinations in Grassy Park and the South
Two new stations for the future MyCiTi service, located along Station Road, and a realigned Sussex Road, will be constructed
Drop-off and pick-up points for GABS buses will be provided
‘We want to create a Wynberg PTI that is modern, functional, efficient, convenient, safe, dignified and clean and where commuters can easily transfer between the different modes of transport, from passenger rail to minibus-taxis, GABS, and the MyCiTi service.
‘The current PTI is in a poor state, partly because of a lack of investment in prior years, and also because the facility is not nearly big enough to accommodate all of the commuters and operators using this space. The surrounding transport infrastructure – these are the roads and walkways – is old, and insufficient for the traffic volume, be it for pedestrians, or vehicles.
‘The proposed concept design aims to address all of these challenges, while at the same time making provision for the roll-out of the MyCiTi service to Wynberg within the next few years. I encourage residents, commuters, operators and business owners to submit their comments on the proposal and to join our effort in giving this part of Wynberg a significant capital injection,’ said Councillor Quintas.
Facts about the proposed refurbishment of the Wynberg PTI:
The new and upgraded facilities will be located to the north and east of the Wynberg railway station
Will cover an area of approximately 25 000m², with additional bus and walking and cycling lanes, road upgrades, hard and soft landscaping
Will add sufficient capacity to accommodate the current and projected demands for public transport users and operators
Will include holding areas for minibus-taxis between peak-hour periods
Will include offices, washing facilities, ablutions, security and cleaning services for the minibus-taxi operators
Will include ablution facilities and universally accessible walkways and ramps for commuters, covered loading lanes and waiting areas
Will ensure commuters can seamlessly and conveniently transfer between passenger rail, minibus-taxis, GABS, and the MyCiTi bus service
Will improve general safety and security through design elements, and additional lighting
Will include facilities for traders on the ground floor and first levels to coincide with pedestrian movement – thus, having the traders where the most visitors are. A trading plan will be developed by Economic Development, in conjunction with the local traders
Will include a MyCiTi station and holding bays on both the east and west side of the Wynberg railway station and Prasa railway tracks
Will include holding and loading bays for GABS
Proposed upgrades to surrounding roads:
The vehicle underpass under the railway tracks and its access ramps will be turned into a pedestrian only-zone
The existing pedestrian underpass under the railway tracks to the south of the railway station will be upgraded
Maynard Road between Main and Station Roads will be pedestrian friendly
The link between Morom and Station Roads will be closed at Church Street
Sussex Road, past the existing eastern taxi facility, will be realigned to allow more space for the new eastern minibus-taxi facility
The northern end of Sussex Road will be realigned into Bexhill Road to facilitate access to the Wynberg Mosque
The realigned intersection of Sussex and Ottery Roads will be signalised
The intersection of Morom and Wetton Roads may be signalised, pending further investigations
A west-to-north right-turn lane will be added to Broad Road at the Broad and Brisbane Roads intersection
The realigned Sussex Road will be a one-way southbound, reserved for buses
Maynard Road, currently a one-way westbound, will be converted to a one-way eastbound
Church Street, between Main Road and Station Road, currently a one-way eastbound, will be converted to a one-way westbound
Currently, due to the capacity constraints, minibus-taxis are obstructing walkways. However, the new PTI will provide holding facilities and the whole area will be turned into a pedestrian-friendly environment with universally accessible walkways with design elements to improve safety and security, and additional lighting.
The proposed one-way road conversions, and upgraded intersections will assist with traffic flow, and smooth the road-based public transport services to ensure efficient operations.
‘The minibus-taxi operators will greatly benefit. Each operator from the West-North; West-South; and East, will have their own dedicated operations area, with their own facilities and dedicated entrance and exit routes. There will be sufficient space for ranking, drop-and-go, and parking between peaks. This over and above facilities to meet, rest, and so forth. I encourage the minibus-taxi industry and operators to keep on engaging with us about the proposed plan. It is our intention to provide new facilities that will bring order and flow to minibus-taxi operations, which will save operators and commuters time and money.
‘Furthermore, the investment will have a positive impact on local businesses, and all other visitors using the roads or pedestrianised areas. As this rejuvenation expands, the whole of Wynberg sets to benefit, inclusive of local residents and property owners. I want to assure all that this concept design is not final. We will consider all comments and proposals that we receive from stakeholders and residents, and interested and affected parties in coming weeks, and use this in finalising the detailed design,’ said Councillor Quintas.
If all goes as planned, the detailed design should be concluded by the end of 2023.
https://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Wynberg-PTI-4.png500800Adminhttp://wynbergid.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Wynberg-ID-logo-2300px-300x274.pngAdmin2022-12-06 14:33:412023-03-25 07:24:05Proposed major revamp of Wynberg public transport interchange
