Media Alert: Arrangements for Athlone Cooling Towers Viewing Area

Arrangements have been made to create a viewing area for the media on Sunday 22 August to witness, photograph or film the demolition of the Athlone cooling towers at 12:00.

Space will be made available for approximately one hundred and fifty (150) members of the media and ten (10) outside broadcasting vehicles at the Clyde Pinelands Sports Club at the end of Ringwood Drive, Pinelands. Part of this terrain lies just outside the 300 m exclusion zone and offers a good view of the two towers. A small part of the terrain is within the safety exclusion zone and will be cordoned off.

There will also be a separate viewing area at this site on the day where the Mayor will host guests and the contractors responsible for the demolition. Accredited media will be able to interview relevant role players at this area.

Media are requested to RSVP for this event for planning purposes, as there is limited space.

Please RSVP to media@capetown.gov.za by no later than Thursday 19 August at 12:00

A maximum of three people from each organisation will be allowed to accredit to have access to the viewing area. This is to allow as many organisations as possible the opportunity to witness the demolition.

Please provide the following detail with your RSVP:

• Name
• Organisation
• Role in organisation (journalist, photographer, cameraman etc.)
• Will you require space for an outside broadcasting vehicle?

Successful applicants will be informed by means of a confirmation e-mail.

Accreditation can then be collected from the Media Office, 5th Floor, Tower Block, Civic Centre, on Friday 20 August between 07:00 and 16:00.

Practical arrangements:

• 1. There is very limited parking available at the site, therefore media are requested to park at legal parking spaces in Pinelands and to walk to the Clyde Pinelands Sports Club.
  2. Please arrive very early on the day - parking in Pinelands is limited and when the area is full Traffic Officers will not allow any cars into the area, whether you have accreditation for the viewing area or not.
  3. The site is an open field and there is no electricity available - please bring your own generator if needed.
  4. There will be ablution facilities and water points, and media will receive light snacks.
  5. In the case of outside broadcast vehicles, no additional branding will be allowed, as no commercialisation of the event is allowed.
  6. It is imperative that all media obey and respect the safety arrangements in place on the day. Anyone who enters the 300 m exclusion zone will be arrested. No parking or pedestrians are allowed on freeways and this will be strictly enforced.

Issued by:
Communication Department
City of Cape Town