Tag Archive for: Wynberg Improvement District

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Winter Hope & Giving Back Responsibly  –  help combat poverty & inequality

International Mandela Day - 18 July

Winter in Cape Town is a time in which poverty and homelessness become heightened social issues, because of the extremely harsh weather conditions. At the same time, the annual Mandela Day initiative coincides, taking place this 18 July, helping to bring hope and support to vulnerable communities.

Indigent people in South Africa are an inherent part of the cityscape, with hundreds of thousands of people homeless and living on the streets.

It is well-known that cash handouts are not a good solution for supporting people living on the streets  –  as these often serve to fuel the problem by funding addiction and other negative or self-perpetuating behaviour.

However, most of us would like to help in some way to combat poverty and inequality. For this reason, it’s important to work with known NGOs, nonprofits or charities, who have built social infrastructures and relationships that have longevity.

MES Cape Town - Mould, Empower, Serve

Mould, Empower, Serve  –  how the City Improvement Districts are working with MES

MES Cape Town is a key partner in the mission to sustainably rehome the homeless across various City Improvement Districts. Their extensive network of outreach and social relief programs provides the vital reach and resources our CID needs. Additionally, their responsive help desk is always available to assist with the immediate and short-term needs of the homeless and unemployed community.

We work closely with MES to identify individuals for casual labour on specific projects. Their team actively scouts promising candidates, placing them with us each week on a probationary basis as one of our on-the-ground workers, fondly known as our “Green Ants”. For those who show dedication, we offer pathways for them to become supervisors and advance their training, making them valuable members of our workforce in a way that allows us to support their growth.

To ensure the funds generated through our partnership are used effectively, we pay stipends directly to MES, which helps cover their living expenses sustainably throughout their stay.

Winter Hope 2024

MES is running a WinterHope campaign until the end of July, in a mission to spread hope and warmth this winter, by gathering essential items such as warm clothing, blankets, and nourishing food supplies.

Visit MES @mouldempowerserve on Facebook, or @mesorgsa on Instagram, to see causes near you to support this winter.

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Notice for Application for the Proposed Boundary Expansion of the Wynberg Improvement District

WID boundary extension
  • At the WID Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 16 October 2023 the Members of the WID approved an amended business plan in support of the proposed boundary expansion, as required in terms of section 26(2)(b) of the City of Cape Town: City Improvement District By-law, 2023 (the “By-law”).
  • In terms of section 26(2)(f)(i) of the By-law, the AGM resolution referred to in paragraph 1 above (attached as Annexure A) is available on the WID website,
  • The proposed boundary expansion will include properties in the area. A map depicting these geographical boundaries is attached hereto as Annexure B.
  • In terms of section 26(2)(f)(ii) of the By-law, Additional Rate Payers (ARPs) in the WID were informed of their right to submit a written objection to the proposed expansion of the WID.
  • The WID is a Mixed-Use Improvement District with a rates base value consisting of less than 40% of residential property, in terms of section 26(2)(f)(iii) of the By-law, Council may approve the amendment if written objections are not received from at least, 50% plus 1 of ARPs of the WID.
  • In terms of section 26(2)(g) of the By-law, Following the public meetings held on the 16 November 2023 and 22 May 2024 the local community, ARPs and proposed ARPs were provided with a 30-day period to submit comments on the amended business plan. No comments were received.
  • The Application to amend the WID geographical boundary will now be submitted to Council for consideration.

KENNISGEWING VAN AANSOEK OM DIE VOORGESTELDE GRENSUITBREIDING VAN DIE WYNBERG-VERBETERINGSDISTRIK (WID)

  • By die WID se algemene jaarvergadering gehou op 16 Oktober 2023 het die lede van die WID ’n gewysigde sakeplan ten gunste van die voorgestelde grensuitbreiding goedgekeur, soos vereis ingevolge artikel 26(2)(b) van die Stad Kaapstad: Verordening op Stadsverbeteringsdistrikte, 2023 (die “Verordening”).
  • Ingevolge artikel 26(2)(f)(i) van die Verordening is die besluit waarna in paragraaf 1 hier bo verwys word op die WID-webwerf beskikbaar (aangeheg as bylae A).
  • Die voorgestelde grensuitbreiding sal eiendomme in die gebied insluit. ’n Kaart wat hierdie geografiese grense uitbeeld is aangeheg as bylae B.
    Ingevolge artikel 26(2)(f)(ii) van die Verordening is betalers van addisionele belasting (ARP’s) in die WID ingelig oor hul reg om skriftelik beswaar teen die voorgestelde uitbreiding van die WID aan te teken.
  • Die WID is ’n gemengdegebruikverbeteringsdistrik met ’n eiendomsbelastingbasiswaarde wat uit minder as 40% residensiële eiendom bestaan, en ingevolge artikel 26(2)(f)(iii) van die Verordening, kan die Raad die wysiging goedkeur tensy skriftelike besware van minstens 50% plus 1 van die ARP’s van die WID ontvang word.
  • Ingevolge artikel 26(2)(g) van die Verordening, na die hou van openbare vergaderings op 16 November 2023 en 22 Mei 2024, is die plaaslike gemeenskap, ARP’s en voorgestelde ARP’s ’n 30-dae-tydperk gebied om kommentaar oor die gewysigde sakeplan in te dien. Geen kommentaar is ontvang nie.
  • Die aansoek om die WID se geografiese grens te wysig, word nou vir oorweging aan die Raad voorgelê.

Annexure A

resolution

Annexure B

More information

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New law enforcement officers for Wynberg, Winter preparation, Wheelie Bin Safety and Expansion of the Wynberg Improvement District

CID wheelie bins

Our Wynberg team have been busy as always and we have an update from our managers to share regarding our new law enforcement officers in the area and other positive developments.

As we head into the colder months, we’re preparing you with some winter readiness tips to keep both yourself and your property safe. Additionally, we share some tips on keeping your wheelie bin safe so that you know it’ll always find its way back home.

Lastly, the proposal for the expansion of the Wynberg Improvement District is underway. Read more below.

On-the-ground Report from our CID Managers

Meet the Wynberg improvement district managers

Recently, we have seen the introduction of 16 Law Enforcement Officers being deployed into the Wynberg CBD.

These officers will be patrolling the CBD and policing a range of City By-Law infractions.

We thank the Mayor, Ald. Geordin Hill-Lewis, and Ald. JP Smith for their efforts in getting this deployment into Wynberg and trust that residents will give them a warm welcome.

We have seen the following results thus far:

Two arrests:

  1. Undocumented Person (Contravention of Immigrants Act)
  2. Possession of suspected stolen goods

5 different aspects were tackled under the following groupings:

  1. The Traffic Department running a Vehicle Control Point (VCP) on both Brody Road and Main Road.
  2. Foot patrols through the area in two groups.
  3. Inspecting the current tented camps in the Wynberg area, led by Inspector Ras.
  4. Roving patrols, led by Inspector Siyo, where Metro Police and Law Enforcement stopped and searched people.
  5. Foot Patrol with Alderman JP Smith, to introduce him to the problems encountered in the Wynberg Improvement District area, including the difficulties faced with the subways and drug-related issues.
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Safety & fire during the hot, dry and windy Cape Town Summer months

Cape Town fire

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. 

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Wynberg Improvement District 2023 Roundup

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 District Stats

“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.

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AGM Save the Date, logging a service request & new CID by-law

AGM save the date 2023

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.

View all AGM documents here.

AGM Details

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.

The by-law is available to download on our website here.

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First quarter 2023 updates & meet our WID managers

Wynberg City Improvement District

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.

Meet our Wynberg Improvement District managers!

Meet our Wynberg Improvement District managers! Senior manager Deon Manuel (left) and manager De Wet Beck (right) are committed to making Wynberg better for our community, working tirelessly in their key roles as our City Improvement District managers.
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Wynberg Improvement District 2022 roundup & safety tips for the holiday season

Wynberg Improvement District

2022 has been a year for celebrating successes for Wynberg 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 Wynberg 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.

Wynberg Improvement District
Wynberg Improvement District
Wynberg Improvement District
Wynberg Improvement District
Wynberg Improvement District
Wynberg Improvement District 2022
Wynberg Improvement District 2022
Wynberg Improvement District 2022
Wynberg Improvement District

Wynberg 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 Wynberg Improvement District board and management team have remained steadfast in our commitment to providing high-quality top-up services in Wynberg. Embracing and implementing adaptability into our vision now seems entrenched in our day-to-day operations as well as our strategic thinking.”

2022 Wynberg Improvement District stats

Wynberg Improvement District 2022 stats Public Safety
Wynberg Improvement District 2022 stats - Urban Cleaning & management

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

Read more

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 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 Wynberg Improvement District

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

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

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Update on our results for 2022!

In the last few months, we’ve been working hard on our most important goals all to make our community a safe, rich urban environment where our community can thrive. 

Here is what we have achieved so far: 

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Illegal Dumping: What It Is and How to Stop It

Did you know? That annually over 180 000 tons of waste are cleared from illegal dumping hot spots! That costs the city, and you as the taxpayer, a staggering R350 million a year just in clean-up. In other words, cleaning illegal dumping costs 20 times more than collecting waste from wheelie bins. That is why to create a clean, healthy and safe community we take our work tackling illegal dumping very seriously. 

“Illegal dumping is a severe problem that puts our community at risk of injury and illness and pollutes our ecosystem. In addition, illegal dumpsites can serve as magnets for other criminal activities,” says Gene Lohrentz, CEO of the urban management company, Geocentric. 

Here is what we have learnt when it comes to illegal dumping. 

What is illegal dumping?

Illegal dumping is the disposal of unwanted materials in inappropriate places. Be it household rubbish, building waste or industrial debris, improper disposal has disastrous effects on the environment, economy and community.

Our teams are dedicated to cleaning our community and have cleaned thousands of cases of illegal dumping in the last year!

Protecting Property Values

Our daily work with the City of Cape Town’s (COCT) Solid Waste By-law Enforcement Unit protects our district from plummeting property values. By cleaning, we keep our community member’s properties safe by preventing pest issues, blocked storm drains and plastic pollution.  

Clean streets don’t just look great, they also improve the value of properties. The study ‘Value of cleaner neighbourhoods’ found that residents will pay up to 57% more to live in a clean neighbourhood. By being part of the solution business owners can help protect and even increase the market value of their property and make their establishments more inviting for customers. 

Protecting Public Health 

Vermin are attracted to dump sites making these sites sources of disease and infection. Anyone near a dump site risks getting sick both from the hazardous materials dumped and from the diseases spread by rats. These diseases aren’t only formidable – they’re often fatal. Rat urine is responsible for diseases like Leptospirosis ( causing kidney and liver damage) and Hantavirus, a debilitating viral bronchial disease. Rats also gnaw at cables, transformers and electrics causing expensive damage to businesses.

By cleaning up this waste before it attracts vermin, we put a stop to these health hazards before they happen. 

Preventing Floods 

Water sustains life, but it can also cause widespread destruction, as we saw during the recent flooding in KwaZulu-Natal. As our most precious and essential resource we must treasure it – for if we don’t, we will suffer. 

Illegal dumping is a terrifying threat to the water management of our district. When it rains, excess litter is swept into drains and sewers, blocking them and causing trash flash floods. Flooding, and the infrastructure damage it causes, puts immense pressure on emergency services when they are needed most.

To make sure our city can handle the rain we collect all dumping regularly and clean the stormwater drains as part of our winter preparedness programme. 

Pulverizing Plastic Pollution

A large percentage of waste illegally dumped is plastic. We are well aware that its consequences are far-reaching, but we are tackling this challenge too. When possible, we sort the waste and recycle what we can instead of sending it all to a landfill. By sorting recyclables, we help reduce the waste in our waterways and create employment opportunities. 

We understand it’s almost impossible to recycle all waste. However, we also know that big things have small beginnings. We all make small changes to bring about positive collective transformation.  Where possible, we must all take the opportunity to recycle.

How You Can Help Combat Illegal Dumping?

The COCT provides the tools necessary to crack down on illegal dumping and needs citizens to get involved. By reporting dumping you help the City make improvements and encourage others to do the same. Plus, it’s an easy way to beautify your neighbourhood and help keep it safe.

Although the issue is vast, if we all play our part together, we can create a greener, cleaner future for ourselves and future generations.

If you spot something, say something!

To report illegal dumping in your community:

  • Call 0860 103 089 or email solidwaste.bylaw@capetown.gov.za.  
  • If you have the culprit’s vehicle registration number and/or can identify him/her you can shortcut the process and call 021 400 6157 

Contact details: 

If you have any safety concerns to report, please contact one of the following numbers:

·       10111 – SAPS (South African Police Services)

·        107 – City of Cape Town Disaster Management

·        021 565 0900 – Geocentric Control Room 

 

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