Delay in Cape Town refuse collection

The City of Cape Town says residents who live in areas serviced by the Collections Depots in Mitchell's Plain and Woodstock can expect delays in their refuse collection over the coming days.

The Mitchell's Plain Collections Depot closed on Wednesday, 20 May 2020, and the Woodstock Collections Depot was closed since Monday, 18 May.

This comes after two staff members have tested positive at the Woodstock Collections Depot and one staff member has tested positive at the Mitchel'ls Plain Collections Depot.

The City of Cape Town says two of the staff were office-based, and one staff member was part of the refuse removal crew. It added that as a result of the positive cases of COVID-19, the facilities will remain closed for approximately three days until deep cleaning and disinfecting have been completed. This includes disinfecting the facilities and vehicles.

Those who have been in close contact with the staff members are self-quarantining.

The City Council says services in affected areas should be able to resume from next week.

Residents who live in the affected areas are requested to bring their bins back onto their properties, and only bring them out on the next scheduled removal day.

The City says excess refuse that cannot fit in the wheelie bins can be bagged and placed next to the bin for removal.

Done By: Mitchum George

Some MyCiTi routes suspended due to COVID-19 case

Some MyCiTi services, majority in the inner-city, Hangberg and Hout Bay routes, will not operate on Friday, 22 May 2020. This is to allow for the deep cleaning of buses and facilities after staff members from one of MyCiTi’s vehicle operating companies tested positive for Covid-19.

MyCiti says these measures are being taken to ensure the safety of passengers and staff.

In a statement, the bus company says, the affected staff members are being isolated and receiving treatment and support, working closely with the Department of Health.

The following routes are affected:

• 101 Vredehoek  to Civic (clockwise)

• 104 Oranjezicht to Sea Point

• 105 Sea Point via Fresnaye to Civic

• 108 Hangberg to Adderley

• 109 Hout Bay via Imizamu Yethu to Adderley

• 111 Vredehoek to Civic (anti-clockwise)

• 113 Upper Kloof Street to Waterfront

Services are expected to resume on Saturday, 23 May 2020.

Done By: Mitchum George

Singabalapha granted interim interdict for prevention of harassment and removal

A group of people occupying a pavement outside the old age home, Arcadia Place in Observatory, were given fines of R300 & R1000 by Law Enforcement Officers on Wednesday. This comes after they contravened the City's by-laws by having their camps illegally set up on the pavement.

There are 21 tents and shacks, with over 60 occupants including children, women, and elderly people

The group, known as Singabalapha (We Belong Here), occupied the space in September 2019. The home is earmarked for demolition so an upgraded facility can be built in its place.

The City of Cape Town says they attempted to resolve the situation by ‘’affording the occupants an opportunity to remove their belongings and clear the sidewalk, but to no avail.’’

Law Enforcement officers arrested a man who was taken to Woodstock Police Station where he was given an ultimatum that he would be charged and locked up if he did not sign the by-law fines notice. He was eventually released when he signed the notice. Officers also issued 21 fines in terms of the ‘Streets and Public Places By-law’.

Meanwhile, the Cape High Court granted an interim interdict to the Singabalapha Informal Settlement by preventing the City of harassing the occupants and also by not removing the squatters.

The application for a permanent interdict will be held on 3 June 2020.

Done By: Mitchum George

Positive COVID-19 taxi driver faces attempted murder charges

A 35-year-old taxi driver is facing attempted murder charges after he was stopped in a vehicle checkpoint on the R61 in Beaufort West on Thursday, transporting about seven passengers. The taxi was enroute to the Eastern Cape. The driver, who had apparently tested positive for the virus after taking a test on 30 April 2020 on the N2 Tsitsikamma roadblock in the Eastern Cape, was duly informed on Wednesday by the testing authority, of the outcome of the test.

Police spokesperson, Novela Potelwa said the driver, seven passengers and three other persons in an accompanying vehicle were transported by police and traffic officials back to Cape Town where they are in a quarantine site.

Potelwa added that the police and traffic officials who escorted the driver and passengers back to Cape Town would undergo the necessary monitoring in line with COVID-19 protocols, as a precaution.

She said the police would ensure the driver is charged and appears before a court of law after consultation with the department of health officials.

Potelwa pleaded with citizens to respect the rules of the law, warning that police officials will track those who break the law and ensure they are brought to book.

Done By: Mitchum George

Golden Arrow Bus Services extends product validity

Golden Arrow Bus Services are up and running on Friday, 8 May 2020.

This comes as many commuters were stranded yesterday morning after a group of drivers would not allow buses to depart at the Arrowgate depot, as a result of ''rumours and misinformation''.

Later the afternoon, Arrowgate Depot services resumed, but this time services at Phillipi and Southgate depots got interrupted.

In a statement, Golden Arrow says it follows strict and rigorous health and safety protocols, which is enforced by government regulations, and their own risk assessment stategy.

Meanwhile, the bus company have put in place, for commuters, an automatic extension on all products that had unused rides on them as a result of the lockdown.

GABS says the automated fare system will first use the unused rides from the expired product before deducting any journeys from newer products. These new products will also be extended to ensure that passengers do not lose out on what they have purchased as a result of lockdown restrictions, adding that this will be valid until the end of July.

Done By: Mitchum George