News Highlights from City of Cape Town Council Meeting of 31 October 2007

• Council elects new Deputy Mayor
• Morgan's Village in Mitchells Plain gets 490 houses
• City approves land lease for Nyanga housing
• City sells Khayelitsha land for children's home
• City/banks affordable housing plan gains momentum
• Disaster Risk Management gets R2,5m specialised vehicle
• R2 million expansion of disaster management centre
• City approves R13 million electricity upgrades
• City renews green partnership with German city
• City joins forces with Province on bursary scheme
• Cape Film Commission gets R1,4 million
• Cape Minstrels celebrate centenary
• City provides land for NSRI base at Kommetjie
• City finances in healthy state
• City scraps more than 800 by-laws

The City Council has elected Cllr Grant Haskin of the ACDP as the new Executive Deputy Mayor after Cllr Charlotte Williams resigned the position to take up the Chair of the Athlone subcouncil. (C89/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Cllr Dirk Smit
Tel: 021 400 1287
Cell: 083 377 0556

The Cape Town Community Housing Company (CTCHC) is to develop Morgan's Village I, II and III for the subsidised and 'GAP' housing market. The City Council has already approved the transfer of land for Morgan's Village I and II. On completion of the development, including Morgan's Village III, a total of 490 homes will be available to people earning between R2 000 and R5 500 per month.(C06/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Cllr Dan Plato
Tel: 021 400 1304
Cell: 076 832 5505

Basil Davidson
Housing
Tel: 021 400 3048
Cell: 084 200 0924

The Ilinge Labahlali Housing Co-Operative will lease about 24ha in Nyanga for 30 years to provide affordable housing for residents of Peninsula Beverages, Bonita, Eskom, Frankipile and Watertite hostels. They will rent the land from the City of Cape Town at R150 per annum and develop 274 self-contained two and three bedroomed housing units in these hostels. These units will be for people with incomes of up to R3 500 per month. (C08/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Cllr Dan Plato
Tel: 021 400 1304
Cell: 076 832 5505

Pogiso Molapo
Housing
Tel: 021 400 2422
Cell: 084 308 0495

The City Council has sold 8 500m2 of land at Dyani Crescent in Khayelitsha to the Homestead for R110 500, for the development of a home for street children. The development will accommodate 75 children and a community centre. The building will also provide staff accommodation and office space. (C24/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Cllr Simon Grindrod
Tel: 021 400 1298
Cell: 084 200 6060

Will Anderson
Property Management
Tel: 021 400 4701
Cell: 084 739 9988

In a national first, Council has approved, as part of a City of Cape Town/Bank Co-operation Agreement, the alienation of 20 land parcels to three major banks for the development of affordable housing. These land parcels are to be developed for 2 543 housing units for the GAP market focussing on people earning R3 500 to R7 000 per month. Standard Bank will purchase 13,8ha in Wallacedene and 15 000m2 in Elsies River. Absa is to obtain 0,9ha in Maitland, 1,8ha in Rugby, 2,9ha in Southfield, 6 681m2 in Maitland, 8 521m2 in Thornton, 2 900m2 in Hanover Park, and 2 254m2 in Sybrand Park. The Nedbank land parcels are 6 623ha in Ottery, and 1906m2 in Silvertown. The total selling price of the land is R37,8 million. Proceeds from the sales will be used by the City to acquire land for subsidised housing development. (C25/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Cllr Dan Plato
Tel: 021 400 1304
Cell: 076 832 5505

Mr Hans Smit
Housing
Tel: 021 400 2873
Cell: 084 443 1000

The City's Disaster Risk Management Centre is to get a specialised emergency response vehicle of R2,5 million. The vehicle will improve the City's capability to respond rapidly to disasters affecting vulnerable communities such as informal settlements. (C50/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Pat Adams
Emergency Services
Tel: 021 590 1720
Cell: 084 800 0733

Wilfred Solomons-Johannes
Disaster Risk Management,
Tel: 021 597 5001
Cell: 084 711 7709

Council has given the green light for a R2 million expansion of the disaster management centre in Goodwood to accommodate additional staff as a result of the City's restructuring process. (C51/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Pat Adams
Emergency Services
021 590 1720
Cell: 084 800 0733

Wilfred Solomons-Johannes
Disaster Risk Management
Tel: 021 597 5001
Cell: 084 711 7709

The City of Cape Town is to upgrade its electricity infrastructure by almost R13 million to meet demand caused by rapid expansion. The City Council has approved R2,5m for service connections, R3,2m for connection infrastructure in the north, R5m for connections infrastructure in the east, and R2m for connection infrastructure in the south. (C61/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Cllr Lionel Roelf
Tel: 021 400 1303
Cell: 083 640 3022

Mike Hyde
Electricity Services
Tel: 021 918 7066
Cell: 084 621 3345

Council has approved the renewal of its International Local Agenda 21 Partnership agreement with the City of Aachen in Germany. It was established in 2000 by the former City of Tygerberg and updated in 2004. The main purpose is to promote sustainable development through projects, exchanges, networking, and raising awareness. An official Aachen delegation is to visit Cape Town on November 15 to sign a revised agreement. (C66/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Cllr Marian Nieuwoudt
Tel: 021 400 1307
Cell: 084 224 0023

Kobie Brand, Strategy & Planning
Tel: 021 487 2293
Cell: 084 200 0110

The City Council has supported a proposed joint venture agreement for external bursaries between the City, the provincial government and private sector organisations. The City's involvement, which is limited to disciplines such as engineering and the built environment, will take effect in the 2008 academic year. The total cost to the City will be about R900 000, based on the average of R45 000 per bursary per annum for 20 students. This is in addition to the City's existing external bursary scheme. (C69/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Cllr Belinda Walker
Tel: 021 400 1314
Cell: 083 629 8031

David Beretti
Corporate Services
Tel: 021 400 5050
Cell: 084 611 2424

The Cape Film Commission is to receive R1,4 million from the City of Cape Town to develop the film industry in Cape Town and the Western Cape as a globally competitive film destination. The Cape Town film sector has contributed R3,5 billion to the country's gross domestic product in 2005/06. The total turnover of the Western Cape film industry was estimated at R2,65 billion of which 77% (R2,03bn) was generated in Cape Town. (C70/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Cllr Simon Grindrod
Tel: 021 400 1298
Cell: 084 200 6060

Carol Wright
Economic & Social Development
Tel: 021 483 9023

Cell: 084 900 0154

The annual Cape Minstrels Carnival is the biggest community driven cultural event in the country. The event consists of the Malay choirs, Christmas choir bands, 'nag troepe', the minstrel marches on New Year's Eve and 'Tweede Nuwejaar' throughout the city, and the annual minstrel competitions during January and February. The 2007/08 festival will mark the centenary celebration of the carnival. The City will provide funding for security, emergency services, fencing, toilets, water points, electricity, and other City services such as traffic control and law enforcement. The City Council has supported the review of the 1996 agreement with the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association, bearing in mind that there are splinter minstrel groups. (C71/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Cllr Simon Grindrod
Tel: 021 400 1298
Cell: 084 200 6060

Albert Webster
Economic & Social Development
Tel: 021 400 2955
Cell: 084 555 5730

The City of Cape Town has waived the purchase price of R155 000 to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) for a piece of land at Van Imhoff Road, Kommetjie for the development of a sea rescue base. The NSRI must provide a guarantee of R250 000 to replace the ablution facilities on the site. (C79/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Cllr Marian Nieuwoudt
Tel: 021 400 1307
Cell: 084 224 0023

Will Anderson
Property Management
Tel: 021 400 4701

Cell: 084 739 9988

The City of Cape Town's finances are healthy. The capital expenditure for the first quarter of the financial year which ended on September 30, stood at 85%, whilst the operating expenditure for the same period recorded 76%. The operating revenue for the same quarter stood at 90%. (C85/10/07)

Media enquiries:
Cllr Ian Neilson
Tel: 021 400 1306
Cell: 083 306 6730

Mike Richardson
Finance
Tel: 021 400 3265
Cell: 083 629 1236

Council has approved a new by-law to scrap over 800 redundant by-laws dating as far back as the 1800s. Two objections against the scrapping of these by-laws were registered during the public participation process. The City will inform the objectors that there is adequate provision in current legislation to address their concerns. (C86/10/07)