A safe space for Subcouncil 3 was again a topic on the agenda at the Subcouncil 3 meeting held on Thursday last week in Milnerton.
The meeting was held on 18 May, where the quarterly progress report on the work of the street people programme unit was discussed.
The report serves to advise subcouncil of statistics and programme activities related to street people matters during the third quarter of 2022-’23. The issue was on the agenda for noting.
Joy Solomon (DA), Ward 113 councillor, said the matter relating to the safe space dates back to 2014. She said a taxi rank was at one point an option for such a safe space. “We understand there is a need, but where to put it, is an issue,” she said.
A glass building in Parklands Main Road is also an option.
Phindile Maxiti, Subcouncil 3 chair, said there is a need for a safe space and that the department of social development should be given the time to explore the options of suitable premises.
Clients screened in all wards
The area north street people programme conducted daily outreach programmes and after-hours social interventions to all wards with the intention of offering social assistance to all people living and surviving on the streets. During this period, the street people programme unit promoted the winter readiness programme to people living on the streets to secure shelter space and a warm meal during the cold winter season, the executive summary of the report reads.
According to the report a total of 64 clients were screened between January and March in Subcouncil 3. Of this number, only two clients were placed at a safe space shelter.
Anthony Benadie (DA), Ward 4 councillor, raised this matter with Mandisa Banjwa from the City of Cape Town’s directorate for community services and health.
Benadie wanted to know how many times officials must engage with street people before law enforcement can intervene.
He noted that of the 64 screened, only two accepted their help.
“It must be constant engagement with them. Legally we as social development must engage with them a few times before law enforcement can intervene because of the humanitarian aspect,” said Banjwa.
Street people assisted
All people that were engaged were offered social assistance, provided with information of where they can access services such as applications for identity documents, primary health care services and social grants.
The ongoing challenge of street children has also been addressed and parents of the children begging at many intersections in Subcouncil 3 have been informed about the dangers that their children are facing on a daily basis, the report reads.
The unit attended various forms of complaints related to street people.
In Subcouncil 3 a total of 463 complaints had been received between 1 January and 31 March, the majority of which originated from Ward 1 (227).
Meanwhile, a large number of potholes have already been repaired in Ward 1. According to one official, 1 150 m² of potholes have been repaired in Monte Vista alone.
The meeting was held in Milnerton on Thursday 18 May where the report on the structured programme on pothole repair work, as well as the programme on road resealing was discussed.
Erica Abrahams from the City of Cape Town’s Roads Infrastructure Management Department (RIM), said their unit is currently still busy with pothole repair work in Monte Vista (Ward 1) whereafter the unit will move to Edgemead (Ward 5). All of the resealing has been completed across Subcouncil 3.
The Urban Mobility Directorate: Road Infrastructure Management Department is responsible for the reactive and planned maintenance of all roads and stormwater systems. According to their report 55 roads in Monte Vista will be completed. Panorama has already been completed, as well as Bothasig.
Request for more contractors, funds
Cheryl Visser (DA), Ward 1 councillor, said although the work is currently being done in Monte Vista, her ward is big and the issue regarding potholes is a huge concern.
She said she foresees that it can take up to a year for the work to get done, especially considering that only one contractor has been appointed with a small budget to work with.
Visser asked officials if there is a possibility that the City can employ more contractors.
Abrahams acknowledged that it is a huge problem, but indicated that the unit “does what they can with the resources that they have” adding that there are other subcouncils that they also service.
Phindile Maxiti, subcouncil chair, said they need to have a separate engagement with the roads department to look at the issue of budget.
He said they also need to communicate this to the community and said that residents should also be encouraged to report potholes in their areas.
Repair work welcomed
Tyrel Painczyk, chair of the Monte Vista/Plattekloof Glen Ratepayers/Residents’ Association, said he is happy to see that pothole repair work is being done in the area.
“With winter on our doorstep it gives me great pride driving around Monte Vista and Plattekloof Glen daily and seeing the hive of activity of the various City departments working hard within the area.
“One of the many projects currently on the go is the pothole repair programme. At present there is a large team sweeping through the area covering the streets, repairing, and filling potholes before the winter rains arrive.
“Currently Serrurier, Visagie, Camoens, Tulbagh, Imhoff, De La Fontein, as well as the Boulevard service roads are being completed with the team working almost seven days a week until dark each day.
“We work very closely with our councillor (Cheryl Visser) in keeping our area in tip top shape and have nothing but gratitude for all the work done. We do however continue to urge residents to play their part and continue to log C3 service requests for potholes that have not yet been attended to and I am certain that they will be actioned.
“We look forward to this project being completed within the very near future and do hope that our resident appreciates all the efforts that has gone into this process,” said Painczyk.
Pothole challenges in Dunoon
Meisie Makuwa (ANC), Ward 104 councillor, said at the subcouncil meeting that she too faces a similar challenge with regards to potholes.
She said often the C3 service request is closed, but when she visits the site, the repair work has not yet been completed.
Two officials from the City’s Urban Mobility Directorate, Robin Janse and Gilbert Titus, indicated that one private contractor had been ambushed when he visited the area to do the work.
A case has been opened with the police. Makuwa said she had not been made aware of this.
