Welcome to the CRRA ~
Conserving Constantia’s rural and cultural landscape for all.
Promoting and safeguarding the interests of ratepayers and residents.
NOTICE OF THE 70th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the 70th Annual General Meeting of Members of the Constantia Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association will be held on Tuesday 24th November at (5:30 for) 6:00pm at Groot Constantia Wine Tasting & Sales venue, Constantia.
Refreshments will be served after the formal proceedings
Things happening in the Valley!
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
MEDIA RELEASE
What residents need to know about registration and inspections of alternative water systems
The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Department is currently running a programme inspecting boreholes and well-points that will continue until the end of June 2021. Compliance requirements are in place to safeguard drinking water quality in the general network, and ensure sustainable use of groundwater. Read more below:
Private boreholes and well-points have become much more common in recent years due to our experience with drought. While groundwater is a useful resource that can be used for a range of purposes, offsetting demand on the drinking water supply, it is important that alternative water supply systems are safely installed. If these water sources are incorrectly connected to the shared water supply system, it could lead to a negative impact on human health.
‘The City thanks residents who tapped into groundwater resources as part of the broader effort to offset reliance on the potable supply during the extreme scarcity during the drought. It is, however, critical that alternative water installations do not contaminate the drinking water supply, and that this finite resource does not become depleted.
‘The City is supporting these objectives by conducting city-wide inspections at properties with registered well-points and boreholes, to ensure that alternative water supply systems have been safely installed in accordance with the City’s Water By-Laws, SANS codes of practice and the City’s guidelines for the installation of alternative water systems. If these installations are not compliant, and/or the correct backflow prevention device has not been installed, it can result in untreated water contaminating the municipal drinking water supply, resulting in water quality incidents and related health risks,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.
The National Department of Water and Sanitation (NDWS) is the custodian of groundwater resources, and residents who wish to take water from an underground water resource are advised that National Legislation (the National Water Act) applies. If they are unclear on these regulations, we recommend that they please contact the regional office of the National Department of Water and Sanitation (NDWS) for guidance on applicable authorisations.
The NDWS has gazetted a notice requiring that all borehole and well-point water use is to be metered, and for this information to be submitted to the National Department of Water and Sanitation via metering@dws.gov.za on a regular basis. This will assist DWS in ensuring this water source is used sustainably. The City is not the custodian of the resource and does not have authority to enforce the requirements, but supports regulations that protect this finite resource and the health and safety of residents.
Inspections in terms of City by-laws started in October 2018 and should be completed by the end of June 2021.
‘Once the installation has been verified to be compliant by the Water Inspector, he or she will issue the owner with a Certificate of Approval (COA) which is signed by both parties. The original copy will be handed to the homeowner,’ said Alderman Limberg.
Homeowners can verify the water inspector’s identification and request that the inspector produce his or her City ID card, which includes their contact details as well as the contact details of the Supervisor and/or Manager.
Residents who would like more information on alternative water sources and the rules and regulations which apply are advised to consult the following documents:
· Water By-law at www.capetown.gov.za/waterregulations
· Guidelines for the Installations of Alternative Water Systems
· Summary Guide to Alternative Water Installations
· Risks of Groundwater Quality Pamphlet
Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town
Southern Draft District Special Development Framework Meeting 15th April
The City has approved eight district plans that seek to apply the development requirements of the Cape Town Municipal Spatial Development Framework to spatial development in the Cape Town municipal area. This is currently in review and the public are invited to comment on key phases.
An evening Skype Meeting (virtual meeting) is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 15 April at 18h00 and the discussion will be on the Southern Draft District Special Development Framework.
To join the meeting on the night please see link below (which you may have to copy and paste into your web browser): -
Join Skype Meeting - meet.capetown.gov.za/celesrene.allies/DHQT5MJ7
Trouble Joining? Try Skype Web App - meet.capetown.gov.za/celesrene.allies/DHQT5MJ7?sl=1
Join by phone
+27214447999 (Civic) English (United States)
+27214003499 (Civic) English (United States)
Find a local number
Conference ID: 28984616
For more information please see below:-
www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/planning-portal/Spatial-Plans-and-Frameworks/spatial-de...
The CRRA is pro-actively working behind the scenes to establish a garden waste drop-off facility much closer to home similar to the old Ladies Mile facility which was closed – Constantia residents can support our efforts by joining the CRRA www.crra.co.za
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
22 MARCH 2021
MEDIA RELEASE
Limited space for garden greens at drop-off facilities until further notice
The appointment of a contractor to perform garden greens chipping at a number of drop-off facilities is still pending. During this time, the City is attempting to accommodate garden waste as far as possible at drop-off facilities, but space is limited. At times when these facilities have reached their capacity to stockpile garden waste, residents may be asked to take garden waste to Coastal Park or Vissershok landfill sites. Alternatively, residents are encouraged to take their garden waste directly to these landfill sites. Read more below:
Residents, and especially landscaping contractors, are advised that space is limited to stockpile garden greens at the following drop-off sites as there is currently no greens chipping service available on site:
· Woodstock
· Hout Bay
· Kommetjie
· Mitchells Plain
· Gordons Bay
· Killarney
· Tygerdal
· Wynberg
The City is working to minimise inconvenience as far as possible by transporting the stockpiled greens from drop-off facilities to the landfill. Capacity at the facilities is limited, however, and customers may be directed to Coastal Park and Vissershok landfill sites as alternative facilities.
It is expected that it will take approximately two to three months for a replacement contractor to be appointed to provide the chipping service at these sites.
To reduce the risk of sites reaching capacity, residents and businesses are requested to please dispose of garden greens at landfills wherever possible.
Any inconvenience is sincerely regretted.
For more information or for queries, please email wastewise@capetown.gov.za
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Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: media.account@capetown.gov.za
www.crra.co.za
Alphen Centre, Constantia Main Road, Constantia. PO BOX 68, Constantia, 7848. Tel/Fax: 021 794 4388 Email: info@crra.co.zaThe CRRA is working on a garden refuse plan
Plan to create ’circular waste economy' in Constantia valley - Constantiaberg Bulletin
www.constantiabergbulletin.co.za
From kitchen waste and organic matter from supermarkets and restaurants to compost that goes back into Constantia’s soil. A group of local residents and a civic organisation are trying to get a green waste and composting ecosystem project off the ground in Constantia. They believe that kitchen was...Circular compost economy in our own garden. Nothing green gets taken offsite. Chipped, onto the compost, and back onto the garden. Very satisfying and just feels right. And it saves so much on removal and buying [sub-standard] compost.
Lovely and warm and composting in preparation for a spring feed.
Hopefully you get it right. We have a small private enterprise just outside Durbanville which creates jobs.
Outcry over Constantia Village tree pruning - Constantiaberg Bulletin
Outcry over Constantia Village tree pruning - Constantiaberg Bulletin
www.constantiabergbulletin.co.za
These indigenous karee trees in the western end of Constantia Village car park were given a full top cut by the mall’s pruning contractor. A plea has gone out from TreeKeepers – a tree-conservancy group – to stop the “horrendous mutilation” of indigenous trees by Constantia Village. Meanwh...The other tree issue at the mall are the mature trees at the smaller centre where the standard bank is. They had their roots severed when the levels were dropped around them for the parking lot. They are in small planters and survived for a while like that, but in the last few years the irrigation has not functioned and they are dying a slow death. Krige Trees were employed there a few weeks back to remove one dead oak and deadwood from the crowns of the others. They are in a bad way.
Experts would not prune the canopy of our shade umbrella trees , like that, shrubs yes not trees.
There are idiots in this area who for some reason don’t like trees 🙄. Need to inform themselves about the connection between rainfall , forests climate change etc.
A bit harsh.
City encourages residents to complete online Baboon Questionnaire
The City of Cape Town encourages residents living in baboon-affected neighbourhoods to complete the online Baboon Questionnaire. The closing date for participation is Monday, 8 March 2021. Read more below:
The questionnaire has been, and is still available online at: bit.ly/CCTBaboons.
Cape Town is well known for its chacma baboons. Many of our residential areas are near natural environments where these baboons thrive. Some of the troops keep their distance from humans, while others sometimes venture into the urban environment, and residential neighbourhoods.
We encourage residents who live in areas close to the baboons’ natural environment, and may be affected or encounter baboons, to please complete the questionnaire. The feedback we receive through the questionnaire will provide us with valuable information and insight and will be considered when making improvements to the City’s Urban Baboon Programme.
The Urban Baboon Programme is aimed at keeping baboons in their natural environment and out of urban areas as far as possible. It is in the interest of the safety of the baboons and residents that contact and conflict between people and baboons are minimised.
It will take about 20 minutes to complete the questionnaire and, importantly, the City will not disclose the identities of those who participate to third parties.
The link to the questionnaire was sent on 14 December 2020 to approximately 11 200 residents who are living in neighbourhoods adjacent to baboons’ natural habitat. The City used the e-billing database to identify these residents – i.e. by extracting residential addresses.
We have received considerable feedback to date, but it is possible that some residents still want to participate. This is a reminder to these residents to please complete the questionnaire by Monday, 8 March 2021.
The City also wants to inform residents that we are engaging other spheres of government, notably SANParks and CapeNature, about the Urban Baboon Programme. These engagements are also aimed at improving collaboration and decision-making on an operational level.
‘We will provide the public with an update on the outcome of these engagements in due course, once all parties are ready to do so. Also, progress reports will serve before the City’s Mayoral Committee in coming weeks. In the meantime, I want to thank those residents who have already completed the questionnaire for setting aside the time to do so. We value your feedback,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.
End
Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt, Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 5154 or Cell: 084 224 0023, Email: marian.nieuwoudt@capetown.gov.za (please always copy media.account@capetown.gov.za)
Please re-locate all baboons from the entire peninsula to a safe natural habitat, for instance Sanbona Private Game Reserve near Montagu.
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
9 FEBRUARY 2021
MEDIA RELEASE
What residents need to know about delays in refuse collection and area cleansing services
Residents are reminded that the City of Cape Town is currently experiencing delays in the repairs and maintenance of Solid Waste vehicles. This is unfortunately resulting in delays in both formal refuse collection in wheelie bins and area cleansing services across the metropole. Every effort however is being made to ensure that these services return to its normal schedule. Read more below:
The City is continuing to focus its efforts on restoring the collections and cleansing services to its normal schedule while following due legislative process related to the repairs and maintenance of vehicles.
Solid Waste vehicles follow an intensive servicing programme due to the high demand on the service, which clears approximately 200 000 bins per day.
‘Wherever possible, the City is carrying out vehicle repairs in-house, and the functional fleet is being stretched. However, Solid Waste trucks, also known as compactors, are specialist vehicles, so its maintenance and repairs need to be referred to vendors as the City does not have the in-house capacity or resources for this work. Every effort is being made to expedite these processes, where possible, so that the repairs and maintenance can take place as soon as possible. This includes Supply Chain Management appointing temporary additional capacity to assist with the processing of purchase orders. Eight new compactors have not been delivered, as we receive these from overseas and lockdown has caused delays as well. Much work is being done to improve processes.
‘The Solid Waste Department has mobilised resources from all over the city to address these delays and are fully committed to restoring services to normal in the fastest possible time. The team has set ambitious targets and hopes the situation will improve by the end of February where residents should start noticing an improvement.
‘We want to thank our refuse collection crews who have been working tirelessly, including weekends, where necessary, to ensure that bins are being serviced and area cleansing services continue.
‘We also want to thank our residents for their patience and understanding during this time. The City sincerely regrets any inconvenience that may be caused,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.
What to do when there are refuse collection delays during this period
Every effort is being made to ensure that refuse is collected on the scheduled day, however should this not be possible, residents should take their bins in at 21:00, and bring them out again the following morning at 06:00.
If not collected on the scheduled day, it will generally be collected the following day. In exceptional cases where even this is not possible due to various issues, residents should please bring their bins out every day until it is collected (including Saturdays and Sundays).
This should be repeated until the refuse is removed. If your bin is not out when the vehicle is in the area, it will unfortunately not be serviced.
The City sincerely regrets any inconvenience that may be caused.
Residents are reminded of the following:
· Please do not resort to illegal dumping if collection delays cause refuse to build up to the point where it cannot fit in the wheelie bins.
· Where possible, practice home composting. This will allow further space in the bin during this period. Visit www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Activities-and-programmes/Cleaning-and-recycling/home-composting... on how to do home composting.
· Please consider separating your recyclables – glass, paper, cardboard and plastic, etc- which can be taken to one of the City’s drop-off facilities.
What to do when bins are stolen
Stolen bins are replaced free of charge.
Residents need to submit the following to the City:
· Affidavit signed by a commissioner of oaths or SAPS
· Their account number, address, contact details
Submissions can be done:
· in person at a Walk-in centre or cash office or housing office
· Emailed Wastewise@capetown.gov.za
More information is available here: www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Municipal-services/solid-waste/Apply-for-a-new-wheelie-bin...
Logging service requests:
Residents are encouraged to submit service requests for Solid Waste Management using the following channels:
· General Call Center: 0860 103 089
· Online: www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests/
· Email: Wastewise@capetown.gov.za
Residents should please always remember to take note of the reference number provided.
For more information on City services, including revenue offices, please visit this link.
End
Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town
From Carol Belinda Bew
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
24 FEBRUARY 2021
MEDIA RELEASE
Residents requested to reduce water consumption this weekend
The City’s Water and Sanitation Department will be shutting down production at the Faure Water Treatment Plant temporarily to enable maintenance and repair work on a bulk water pipeline this weekend. Read more below:
Cape Town residents are requested to please minimise non-essential consumption of water this weekend due to work taking place on the 2400mm Faure bulk water pipeline.
The Faure Water Treatment Plant, which is one of the major treatment plants supplying the city, will be offline from Friday 26 February at 14:00 until Sunday 28 February at 14:00.
Arrangements have been made to step up production at the Blackheath Water Treatment Plant to compensate while Faure is offline, and residents should not experience any significant disruption of water supply as a result. However, there may be slight changes to the taste and colour of water coming out of the taps during changeover of supply. This is no cause for concern, and water remains safe to drink.
The work involves the replacement of a 1800mm diameter valve in the vicinity of Ithemba Labs, Eerste River, as well as the repair of two scour/draining valves on this main pipeline that conveys water from the Faure water treatment plant.
The request for residents to reduce consumption while work is under way is a precaution to minimise strain on the system while one of the major treatment plants are offline.
The Stellenbosch municipality has also been informed to prepare for this as a portion of their drinking water is supplied from this bulk water main.
The City sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused, but it is imperative that it maintains its water supply infrastructure to benefit its consumers.
End
Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: media.account@capetown.gov.za
The Influx of Street People and Land Invasions in Constantia
The CRRA ExCo are extremely aware of the significant increase in the number of ‘street people’ in Constantia over the past several months and of course the associated proliferation of informal structures. We are also aware of the various criminal activities that have been linked to so-called ‘squatter camps’. The increase in the number of street people has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 lockdown regulations (no evictions permitted) and the release of 6000 ‘low risk’ prisoners from Pollsmoor in April.
The Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID) have been very effective in addressing similar issues in the CBD and for this reason a combined CRRA/Constantia Watch delegation met with their senior management. There was a constructive exchange of ideas and two important conclusions were drawn:
Firstly, there is a need for a Displaced Persons Unit (DPU) in Constantia. The City are planning within the next few months to set up a DPU in each Sub-Council, however SC-20 covers a very large area from Rondebosch to Westlake. The CRRA/ Constantia Watch intend to collaborate with them on this and possibly have a sub-DPU dedicated to Constantia. This of course will require funding.
Secondly, the main reason why street people have established in Constantia is because the public provide resources (i.e. money, food, clothing, building materials etc.) Councillor Liz Brunette recently published the following on this:
Give Dignity | Give Responsibly to Night Shelters and Safe Spaces for Street People
Since lockdown in March and the release of 6000 prisoners from Pollsmoor Prison, the number of street people, criminals and gang members camping on public open space in Constantia, Wynberg and Plumstead has escalated.
The National Government’s Covid-19 Regulations do not allow the City’s Displaced People’s Unit and Law Enforcement to move street people who invade City property in defiance of the City’s Streets and Public Spaces bylaw.
Non-profit organisations have taken the City to court for removing land invaders on City property in the Metro, which limits the action that the City can take to move street people off public land.
Safety & Security’s Displaced Peoples Unit and Law Enforcement, accompanied by Social Development’s Street Peoples Unit, conduct operations every week, and offer social assistance such as bed space at shelters. However, in many instances this is refused.
If street people refuse assistance from the City then Law Enforcement cannot force them to leave the area, nor can they confiscate personal belongings and tents.
Illegal actions such as lighting fires, burning tyres and plastic, urinating and defecating outside residents’ homes and businesses, making a noise late into the night make the neighbouring residents and businesses lives a misery.
Street people discourage residents from shopping in our business districts, which facilitates the urban degeneration that the City is striving to turn around.
The big problem that Law Enforcement are facing is that members of the community supply tents and food to the homeless, which encourages street people to live in the area and makes the task of relocation so much more difficult.
Community members are strongly encouraged to channel their generosity to organizations that provide a comprehensive service to people living rough on the streets and in the greenbelts.
This aligns with the City’s ‘Give Dignity’ strategy and promotes a ‘hand up’ rather than ‘hand out’ philosophy.
A list of organizations that provide services to street people is available on request.
For more information please contact Sherry-Lee at SherryLee.LaMohr@capetown.gov.za
Footnote: Constantia Watch suggest using the U-Turn voucher system: homeless.org.za/vouchers/
homeless.org.za
Vouchers provide more than food and clothing, they are tickets to support and rehabilitation services for a journey to employment (see FAQs below for more info). Each pack costs contains 5 vouchers and costs R100. Purchase your vouchers online and we’ll post your pack to you. Alternatively, purcha...Something of interest...
www.news24.com
While the mention of “Cottage No 4” will likely elicit a look of puzzlement on most faces at present, the Constantia Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (CRRA) hopes that the building will in future become known as a place to go to learn about theCovid-19 testing made easy.
If you have been exposed and want to get tested for peace of mind, Epicentre ( epicentre.org.za/contact-us/) offer a convenient service with minimal queuing and quick (24 hour) results.
The CRRA, as a registered Conservation Body, has been asked by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) to comment on their intention to have 10 Kramats declared as National Heritage sites.
Three of the 10 are situated in Constantia (Spaanschemat River Rd, Klein Constantia Rd and Buitenwerwachting farm). The letter from SAHRA can be found on the following DropBox link: www.dropbox.com/s/3bgg8w7p2jlziv0/Kramats%20-%20SAHRA%20Notification%20Letter.pdf?dl=0
If you would like to comment, please send to manager@crra.co.za by 15th December 2020.
View the issues we are discussing & add your own comments
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PLEASE DONATE TO STREET CLEANING:
R200 pays for one cleaner per day!
Council have an extended PublicWorks Programme which allows for some cleaning of the main roads, but as you can see from the amount of litter everywhere, this is not working and despite our best efforts, Council will do nothing further. SO HOW CAN YOU HELP US TO SUSTAIN THE CLEARING? SNAPSCAN THIS CODE ON THE LEFT!!
Simply scan this code into your Snapscan application on your phone and enter an amount to donate.
The Future of Constantia is in your hands.
