Thursday, June 25, 2015
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Flood warning for Cape residents
Cape Town - The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre late on Tuesday issued a flood warning for many parts of the province, including the Cape metropole.
In response, the City’s housing directorate urged residents in low-lying, flood-prone informal settlements to reduce the risk of flooding by raising the floor level of their homes.
Communities in flood-hit informal settlements were invited to contact the City’s call centre on 0860 103 089 to request sand to raise the floor of their dwellings to keep water out. If the roof of their home is leaking, residents can apply for flood kits from the City’s Informal Settlements Management team.
The City appealed to residents to help by:
* Clearing out drainage systems on their properties
* Moving to higher ground if they stay in a flood-prone area (for assistance with this they can contact the City’s Call Centre or the Informal Settlements Management team)
* Digging trenches around their homes to divert water away
* Reporting blocked drains, intakes and illegal dumping
* Waterproofing roofs, clearing gutters and removing dead tree branches
“The City’s human settlements directorate is working closely with communities and other City departments to, as far as possible, ensure that the residents whose homes are vulnerable to flooding are cared for,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Benedicta van Minnen.
The City advised that heavy rain, strong wind conditions in the interior and very cold weather can be expected over the next two days.
The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, said the concern was that the weather would not only lead to flooding but mudslides and fires.
“Some of the other associated risks during bad weather like this also includes mudslides, and informal settlement fires as well as severe cold made worse by the possible electricity challenges due to potential load shedding,” he said
Bredell has urged motorists and pedestrians travelling in the province over the next few days, to take extra caution.
“Care should be taken when crossing low lying bridges, or streams and rivers as floodwaters may be on the way.”
Provincial as well as municipal disaster management centres remain fully operational with officials on standby 24/7. These centres can be activated immediately should it be required.
Bredell stressed that communities should contact and cooperate with local authorities and emergency response personnel in the event of any emergency. He said the easiest number to call was 112, adding: “This number can be dialled toll-free from any cellphone.”
In case of emergency other relevant numbers to call are:
* Cape Winelands: Langeberg Municipality 0860 88 1111
* Eden District: 044 805 5071
* Central Karoo: 023 414 2603
* West Coast: 022 433 8700
* Overberg: 028 271 8111
* City of Cape Town: 107 landline or 021 480 7700
The City also attached the following flooding related tip sheet:
How can I prepare for a flood?
* Identify the risk in your local area.
* Prepare a home emergency plan, and identify risks around your home.
* Remove leaves (from downpipes or gutters) or any other items that can increase the risk of flooding in your area.
* Have an evacuation plan. Everyone in your family has to know where to go to find shelter.
* Prepare an emergency toolkit. This should include a first aid kit, torch and portable radio with batteries, candles and waterproof matches, drinking water, a multi-tool, whistle and emergency contact numbers.
What should I do during a flooding?
* Monitor current flood warnings. Listen to the radio for emergency warnings, evacuation advice and weather updates.
* Avoid entering floodwater unless it is necessary, and never underestimate the strength of floodwater, even if you are inside a vehicle.
* Follow all instructions from emergency authorities.
* Turn off all electricity and water and take your cellphone with you.
* Assist elderly and disabled neighbours.
What should I do after the flood?
* Before entering your house, wait until the water has dropped below floor level.
* Check with electricity and water authorities to know whether it is safe for you to use these resources.
* Be aware of contamination if water sources have been flooded; this could be unsafe to drink.
Contact these additional emergency numbers:
* 112 (from a cellphone) and 10177 from a landline.
* Report floods, blocked drains and service disruption to 0860 103 089.
* City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management Centre: 080 911 4357.
- ANA
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Cape Town Stadium: FIFA icon or albatross
Cape Town - An albatross around the necks of ratepayers, or a valuable and iconic asset? The Cape Town Stadium, running at an annual loss of about R40 million, was described as both during Tuesday’s full council meeting where it was agreed that the current management plan should be extended by a year to June 2016.
Councillors alluded to the recent Fifa corruption scandal during their debate on the stadium’s future, with Andre Fourie of the Freedom Front Plus saying that Fifa president Sepp Blatter took billions of rands out of the country, leaving Cape Town and other municipalities with massive bills for the stadiums that were built.
He said the consortium of Stade de France and the local SAIL Group pulled out if its management agreement with the city soon after the World Cup when it realised the stadium would never be filled to capacity.
Fourie said it was unlikely that the formation of a municipal entity to manage the stadium would be the panacea the city needed to make the facility financially viable.
“This albatross - despite the thousands that it cost the city to build - is costing ratepayers in unaffordable monthly operational and maintenance costs.”
Fourie said the only way the city could avoid any further financial loss was by selling the stadium to SA Rugby for R1.
“Acknowledge that the stadium was a mistake. Accept that you are not going to make it commercially viable without an anchor tenant. Cut your losses - and the albatross around the neck of Cape Town’s ratepayers - and offer the stadium to Newlands for R1.”
Demetrius Qually, of the DA, said that although the Fifa scandal had tarnished the World Cup legacy, the stadium remained a valuable and iconic asset.
There was also “justifiable” concern about the long-term viability of the stadium. However, the business plan being finalised, which included the lifting of restrictive environmental conditions, would make it sustainable.
“We are confident that the stadium and Green Point Urban Park can be both viable and financially sustainable,” said Qually.
Grant Haskin, of the African Christian Democratic Party, agreed that the management of the stadium had to continue without interruption while the business plan was being finalised.
But he said the city had been promising “stadium profitability” since 2009. “How then can one blame irate ratepayers for their calls to rather demolish the stadium instead of wasting their money? What was a proud moment in Cape Town’s history has become a furious embarrassment for the city and its people.”
Majidie Abrahams, of the ANC, argued that extension of the management arrangements without clarity on the business plan could put the city at risk of spending and losing money for another three years.
But mayor Patricia de Lille pointed out that the management plan had been extended to June 2016, and not 2018 as initially proposed, and included a condition that a progress report on the commercialisation of the precinct would be submitted to council in March next year.
Garreth Bloor, mayoral committee member for economic development, tourism and events, said the rezoning process was already under way. Demolition of the stadium was not an option, he said.
The city had been advised of 18 revenue streams that would generate a profit for the next 10 to 15 years.
This excluded any revenue that would come in from an anchor tenant.
He said the naming rights alone would secure between R5m and R10m in revenue for the city. The tabled revenue budget for the next financial year is R14m.
But Bloor allayed fears about the discrepancy between the stadium’s projected costs and income.
Although the tabled operating budget expenditure for 2015/2016 was R138m, limited commercial rights would bring this amount down to R34.2m. “The commercial rights process has already started. We will make it work and we will continue the (World Cup) legacy,” he said.
[like a mountain goat skipping through the diaspora with donations...]
anel.lewis@inl.co.za
- Cape Argus
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Government is not concerned about it's citizens here is the proof.
- Financial Times London 08/07/2010
Naturally what followed was colluded stadia construction Cape Town cost R4,4 Billion and service delivery of toilets for 50,000 that remain locked up and maintained at R60 million cost per annum... and Blikkiesdorp
All I can say is #ITOLDYOUSO!
LONG AGO!
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