Tag Archives: City of Cape Town

City of Cape Town urges Minibus-Taxi industry to refrain from violence and disruptions

Taxi violence in the city centre this afternoon led to the City of Cape Town issuing the following media statement:

‘CITY OF CAPE TOWN

1 AUGUST 2023

MEDIA RELEASE

City urging minibus-taxi industry to refrain from violence, disruptions

The City of Cape Town notes the intention from SANTACO in the Western Cape about the implementation of possible stay-away action later this week or early next week. Unfortunately, minibus-taxi operators this afternoon already blocked roads around the Station Deck minibus-taxi facility, preventing MyCiTi buses and other vehicles from exiting the central business district via Nelson Mandela Boulevard and the N2 highway. Law Enforcement is currently on the scene. The City wants to issue a stern warning ahead of this potential strike by the minibus-taxi industry in Cape Town to refrain from violence, attacks on other public transport operators, intimidation, and traffic disruptions. Read more below:

‘We know from hard learnt experience that strike action is often marked by intimidation of non-striking public transport operators, threats, violence and destruction of public and private property. We respect the right to peaceful protest and strike action, however, I want to make it very clear that the City will not tolerate any thuggish behaviour. We will hold SANTACO accountable for any losses and damages. The general public has equal right to get to work to earn a living and provide for their families. I am calling on all working within the minibus-taxi industry to please remain calm, and for SANTACO to resume efforts of constructive engagement soonest,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

SANTACO withdrew from engagements with the City and the Western Cape Government (WCG) last week.

‘The City and the WCG sent a joint letter to SANTACO with proposals to address some of their concerns, among which the impoundment of vehicles that are operating illegally without operating licences, or contrary to their licence conditions. I urge SANTACO to return to the negotiations so that we can resolve these issues in a peaceful manner, in the interest of all operators, the industry in general, those employed by the industry, and most importantly, the thousands of commuters who rely on minibus-taxis to get to and from work,’ said Councillor Quintas.

If need be, the City will apply for an interdict to protect human lives and public and private property.

The illegal blockade in the CBD during the peak hour period this afternoon is an indication that should the strike go ahead, it may have an impact on the MyCiTi N2 Express routes between the Civic Centre MyCiTi station and Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha in particular, and to a lesser degree on other routes operating across Cape Town.

The City will make operational decisions in the interest of the safety and security of commuters and employees. We will closely monitor routes and Law Enforcement will conduct regular patrols.

As a precautionary measure, MyCiTi commuters and those relying on the minibus-taxi industry for commuting are advised to anticipate delays in coming days, and to plan accordingly.

We will keep the public informed as best we can in coming days.

End

Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town

Media enquiries: Councillor Rob Quintas, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Tel: 021 400 7197 or Cell: 082 042 3502, Email: Roberto.Quintas@capetown.gov.za (please always copy media.account@capetown.gov.za)’

Camps Bay Clean Community Beach Clean: 30 July

Camps Bay Community Litter Clean on Sunday 30 July🌴🐠🐳🐬🦤🐡🐟🌴

Please join our Community Beach Clean, on Sunday 30 July, from 11h00 – 12h00. We meet opposite The 41 Restaurant.

Please bring members of your family and friends and colleagues, wearing gloves. We will provide bags.

The 41 Restaurant offers complimentary Fitch & Leedes beverages for each participant. It also offers a prize of two Burgers for the person collecting the most litter.

We welcome learners in joining us for their Community projects.

Please assist us with donations so that we can appoint Joy full-time on weekdays from August.

LETS KEEP CAPE TOWN CLEAN, TOGETHER 🌴💚

Chris von Ulmenstein
🌴Camps Bay Clean💚
Camps Bay Ratepayers Association
0825511323

WhaleTales Blog returns from its sabbatical

I wrote the last post on my Blog almost a year ago.

A number of factors led to my writing silence. The dominant one was the time and energy it took to buy a house and sell my apartment in EbbTide, both in Camps Bay, the market conditions being difficult in 2022 going into this year. I had almost daily viewers in my apartment, requiring cleaning, and standing outside during the viewing, all in all an overall disruption to my writing flow.

I had lived in EbbTide for almost five years, a Hell Hotel in which the other three apartments were permanently let on an AirBnB basis by its owners Rhode Snyman, Sacha Jack, and Magali Seguilon. Owners of and clients renting the apartments had no respect for my need to sleep during reasonable evening hours, partying in the early hours of the morning, driving in and out of the garage with squealing tyres, and using the noisy lift at all hours of the day, the lift shaft being next to the bedrooms in the building. Every noise disturbance in the building was communicated to the other Trustees, but fell on deaf ears, often received with abusive replies from them.

An incident in the building led me to finally seeing the light, coupled with new neighbouring apartment owner Tristan du Plessis moving in with two labradors barking continuously, especially when he went out at night and left them at home alone. I realised that nothing would ever improve in the building, something I was hopeful I could achieve but the continuous barking of the dogs was the final straw. The final conclusion was that I could not endure living in a Sectional Title apartment, being a minority Trustee outvoted on a three to one basis continuously, and that I needed to buy a freehold house in which I have full control. The reduction in rates and taxes as well as no longer having to pay an exorbitant levy meaning a saving of R14000 per month was a no brainer.

Through luck and perseverance I found my dream house one street parallel to that of the apartment, with two bedrooms, a sizeable garden with 15 olive trees, an abundant lemon tree, a passion fruit creeper, gooseberries, many lavender bushes, and flourishing origanum and thyme. My two cats and dog were in lockdown until a fence and electric fence could be completed, so that the cats could be kept safely inside the property and anybody else outside!

It has taken almost three months to unpack, to find my bearings in the house, to repair many maintenance deficiencies in the house, and to tackle the garden, one or two minor maintenance issues still needing to be completed.

I am planning to broaden my Blog scope in including writing about my work in keeping Camps Bay litter free, and including more tourist related content, having been a very busy Tourist Guide during summer.

Thank you for your patience and support over the 13 years of my Blog.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog, Cell +27 0825511323. www.chrisvonulmenstein.com Facebook, Twitter, @chrissy_ulmenstein

My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide (Facebook, Instagram)

My house
My lemon tree

Sweet Service Award goes to the City of Cape Town, Sour Service Awards goes to EbbTide Apartment 201!

 

The Sweet Service Award goes the City of Cape Town’s Cleansing Department, which cleaned up beaches between Bakoven and Blouberg today on Reconciliation Day, litter having washed in from the ocean. Part of the clean-up will have been done in the thunderstorm and rain earlier today, making it even more appreciated!

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