Province has faith in city's World Cup preparations



By Anél Powell

There is "absolutely no doubt" that the 2010 Fifa World Cup will take place in South Africa and Cape Town's preparations for the event will be "on time".

Provincial deputy director-general Laurine Platsky told the Cape Town Press Club the province had confidence in the city's readiness. "There is no plan B and there will be no delays."

Platsky said the city and the province had agreed on a strategic plan for the event and were working together on technical and infrastructural preparations. "We are fighting hard to make 2010 about (more) than politics."

With more than 150 000 people expected to visit the city during the event, security is a key concern.

Platsky said an additional R615 million had been approved to bolster policing in the run-up to 2010. An extra R640m would be spent on policing and security during 2010, and an extra 41 082 staff would be deployed.

Security measures would include CCTV cameras, area-specific policing and the realignment of the Metro Police.

"A lot is being done. There is no room for complacency."

Hooliganism, as seen in Europe, would not be a significant problem, Platsky said.

The economic benefits of the event had to be underscored. "It is not just a fluffy idea that it will increase tourism."

The strategy was to encourage visitors who attended the World Cup to extend their stays or return with their families.

Platsky said 50% of the accommodation being booked by visitors would be outside the city's municipal boundaries, in areas such as Paarl and Stellenbosch. The distance of many hotels from the city centre made adequate transport essential.

Platsky said extra trains would be available during the event, as well as coaches and shuttles.

Many hotels were, however, within walking distance of fan parks such as that planned for the Grand Parade, she said.

The World Cup was an opportunity to improve tourism and the hospitality industry.

"This is teaching us to deliver a quality project in budget and on time."

Platsky said the new Green Point stadium would be world-class and listed as one of the top such venues on the planet. Tenders for the operator of the stadium close tomorrow. Many of the tenders received were from overseas, Platsky said.

The high-tech R429m roof of the stadium is being made in Kuwait. Sections are expected to begin arriving in September.

The roof, a South African first, is to resemble an uneven bicycle wheel and rest on 72 columns around the stadium bowl.

The operating tender for the Philippi stadium, one of the official training venues, is to be awarded in the next two days.

# anel.powell@inl.co.za

Portsmouth, FA cup Champs, lap it up in Cape Town
Peter Raath Published:Jul 30, 2008




English FA Cup champions Portsmouth made a surprise visit to Cape Town this week, following their 2-1 defeat by Manchester United on Sunday night in Lagos.




Pompey are the second English Premier League side to visit South Africa this month after Manchester United played three matches last week.

They drew with Kaizer Chiefs at Newlands in Cape Town, beat Orlando Pirates in Durban and humiliated Chiefs 4-0 in Pretoria last Saturday.

Portsmouth, however, will not play a match here, but will consider the trip a pure training exercise.

Harry Redknapp’s team were persuaded to come to Cape Town by former Hellenic coach Richard Gomes, and spent Monday doing the wine route.

Yesterday, they had an intense training session in Parow, where Premier League runners-up Ajax Cape Town have a training centre.

A number of the squad were nursing injuries, including Nigerian duo Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka while Englishmen Glen Little and David James were also receiving treatment.

Many of the squad had never visited South Africa. But it was England goalkeeper David James’s third trip.

“It’s great to be back,” said James. “In 1994, I came to the country for the first time with Liverpool and played against Aston Villa, Cape Town Spurs and Kaizer Chiefs.

“I remember playing against Spurs at Newlands stadium in torrential rain.

“Earlier, we beat Villa at Ellis Park. On that occasion we met President Nelson Mandela. Then five years ago, England beat Bafana Bafana 2-1 in Durban,” he said.

Hermann Hreidarssor, the club’s Icelandic defender, who spent three years with Mark Fish and Shaun Bartlett at Charlton Athletic, was all smiles in the sunny weather.

“This is my first time in the country, but my wife did pay a visit to Mark Fish’s wife a while back,” he said.

James, Jermain Defoe and Sol Campbell were among a group of visiting players who were due to attend Ajax’s prize giving last night.

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Don't Dissuade 2010 Visitors

Hotel operators should not be short sighted and hike their rates to ‘cash in’ on the high demand for accommodation for 2010 as it will make visitors hesitant to return to Cape Town for fear of being ‘ripped off’.

So says Ursula Gray, Chief Executive of the new five star Cape Royale Luxury Hotel and Residence located close to the new Green Point Stadium.

She says demand for accommodation in Cape Town over the 2010 FIFA World Cup period is at an all-time high, and there may not be enough beds to host the estimated half a million tourists that will descend on the city in 2010.

More bed nights are being added through plans to dock cruise liners like the Queen Elizabeth II – which sleeps approximately 1 800 people. And many new hotels are currently under construction in the Cape.

But, some tour group operators say hotels are already starting to hike their prices for 2010 because of the high demand for room nights.

“As an industry, it is crucial that we think beyond the World Cup 2010. It should be seen as an opportunity to offer excellent value and to build long term relationships with our guests to encourage repeat visits to Cape Town,” she says.

“All 85 suites at The Cape Royale are fully booked for 2010 and we have heard that the majority of Cape Town’s hotels – including those still under construction – are in a similar position,” says Gray.

Gray notes that in 2001, Cape Town was identified by major international film production companies as offering excellent value for money and quickly became a preferred filming destination.

“As Cape Town became an increasingly popular filming and production destination, demand for accommodation began to outweigh supply. Many local operators tried to capitalise on the situation and inflated their prices to such an extent that the production companies started pulling out of Cape Town in search of better value destinations.

“It has taken nearly five years to rebuild Cape Town’s image as a destination which offers good value and excellent service. We should be careful not to make the same mistake twice,” she says.

Gray also mentioned that Cape Town will be a long-haul destination for most 2010 guests and that this could work in the city’s favour, provided it continues to offer good value.

“In Germany’s World Cup, the majority of the European guests had short term stays in the country – they would fly in for a specific game and depart the next day. Short-stay guests like these do not generate much tourism income for the city.

“However, Cape Town will be a long-haul destination for the majority of the guests we will host. These long-haul guests are more likely to stay longer, travel the region and as a result will spend more money.

“This will generate more tourism income for the city. But on the other hand, guests who have a longer stay will be even more acutely affected by price hikes. If their stay turns out to be more expensive than they anticipated, they will be reluctant to return,” concludes Gray.

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Executive Mayor Helen Zille officially opened the 'New' Central Library (today) Tuesday 29 July, in Cape Town. The library, which was previously housed in the City Hall, has moved to the site of the Old Drill Hall where it will re-open as a Centre of Excellence to the citizens of Cape Town on 1 September 2008.

Initial funding for the upgrade of the new library came from the Carnegie Corporation, when they awarded a $2 million grant to the City of Cape Town in 2004.

In a surprise announcement at the event, the Carnegie Corporation donated a further $2,495 million for the upgrade of the library over a three year period.

Councillor Shehaam Sims, Mayoral Committee Member for Amenities & Sport, said: "I am delighted by what has been achieved. A modern, state of the art library has been built inside the Old Drill Hall, which from a historical and architectural point of view, is one of the significant buildings in the city centre. The provision of this amenity, which can be used by Capetonians from all walks of life and social and economic backgrounds, is also a major contribution from the City to the regeneration of the Central Business District."

The bulk of the Carnegie Corporation grant was used to purchase books as well as computer equipment. The City of Cape Town, in turn, contributed R36.6 million for the refurbishing and upgrading of the library. This resulted in extensive changes to the interior of the Old Drill Hall. As it is a historic building, most of the changes have been to the inside of the building, including building a basement level to accommodate the Children’s Library.

Vartan Gregorian, Carnegie Corporation President, said: "The 'new' Central Library will be at the centre of the community. It will be a learning and a reading place, but it will also be a gathering place, a meeting place, a place where cultural events happen, where children sit in reading circles with other children of every race, ethnicity and class and where both children and adults are taught to read. Like all libraries, the 'new' Central Library will be a haven for retreat and a launching pad for the human imagination."

Gregorian continued: "Today we must remind the public that libraries are invaluable to those of us who are engaged in lifelong learning and cannot imagine an existence without something new to learn about and discover almost every day."

The library will offer free internet access on 40 computers as well as access to a wider selection of books than previously offered in the old library. It will also house a Professional Children’s Collection, intended for research purposes, an extended Art Library and Music and Performance Arts Library. An innovation will be the American Corner, which will house additional books and computers donated by the US Embassy.

The facility will also have a coffee shop, a bookshop, meeting rooms, seminar rooms, and an auditorium. The music library will have listening posts for CD’s and the DVD/Video collection will emphasise South African and African content. The book stock will have a similarly strong focus on local content, and it will be the only library in the city that will have reading materials in all 11 official languages.

Martin Pollack

2008/07/29

City of Cape Town

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31 Jul 2008 : City Achieves Record Capital Expenditure

PROVISIONAL figures for the 2007/8 financial year show that the City of Cape Town has spent a record R3,1 billion (78%) on capital projects for the year ending in June 2008.

The percentage spend is also a record for the city, despite the budget having increased dramatically from previous years. In addition, of the unspent portion of the 2007/8 budget, a further R0,62 billion of committed projects (e.g. awarded tenders) will be rolled over to the 2008/9 budget, bringing the total of spend and commitment to 94% of the 2007/08 capital budget.

This record expenditure has accelerated the key delivery platform of the Multiparty Government (MPG) of the City, which is to drive economic development through infrastructure provision. Major backlogs in water and sewage systems, roadways, solid waste removal capacities and electricity distribution systems have been addressed. Housing projects have progressed. Sports facilities, parks, libraries, clinics, cemeteries, halls and beach amenities have been expanded.

The 2007/8 capital spend is 3.3 times that spent annually when the ANC ran the city. The clear trend of improved infrastructure delivery since the election of March 2006 can be seen in the graph below.

The results underline the opening statement of Executive Mayor Helen Zille in her budget speech last year: "The prime objective behind this budget is infrastructure-led economic growth. Our job as local government is to ensure better roads, reliable electricity, adequate water and sanitation and a clean, safe public environment. By doing so, we offer the real opportunities our people need to improve their quality of life and we also encourage investment in our city. This in turn is the key to job creation, the single most important opportunity people need to escape poverty".

In response to these results, Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Cllr Ian Neilson, said: "The tremendous efforts of the past two years of rebuilding the City organisation, improving cash flows to our services, collecting consumer debts and better project administration, is paying off in a better serviced city. We need to keep the momentum of delivery up at these levels so that we can overcome the backlogs and unlock development further."

Pompey manager praises Ajax CT
Peter Raath Published:Jul 31, 2008

Back In Town: Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp poses with the English FA Cup, back in South Africa this week for the first time since 1952 when the famous trophy was brought by Newcastle - Picture: Alessandra Raath
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FA Cup champions Portsmouth turned on the class yesterday to beat Ajax Cape Town 2-1, then paid the local side a generous compliment.

“Ajax played some terrific football,” said Harry Redknapp, the manager of the English Premier League side. “They were quick and strong .

“ Looking at the talent, there must be some fantastic kids here in the country — it’s strange that you haven’t got many world-class players. ”

The match was played in wind and rain at Ajax’s training ground in Parow.

Playing slick and controlled football, the FA Cup holders opened the scoring early in the first half when Jermain Defoe chipped the advancing Sean Roberts. Three minutes later, former Portuguese international Pedro Mendes had the net bulging with a rasping shot from outside the area.

In the first half, Ajax’s Sameehg Doutie forced Portsmouth’s goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown to make a good save, and soon afterwards the home side should have scored, but the shot went over the top.

Portsmouth’s new signing from Liverpool, Peter Crouch, came on in the second half, but it was another substitute, Dipsy Selolwane of Ajax, who scored to give the home team a consolation goal.

After the game, Redknapp posed with the FA Cup, which was last seen in South Africa in 1952 — when Newcastle visited here after beating Arsenal 1-0 in the Wembley final.

Praise to Godzille! The woman puts the money where it should...not in her purse or the pockets of her friends!!

R6 billion West Coast Developments



Those who possibly thought that Gert Joubert, developer of the Cape West Coast Britannia Bay and Shelley Point projects, would by now be ready to retire and enjoy the sunshine at these exceptionally pleasant residential estates are way off the mark.

The truth, which became evident in an update given by Joubert recently, is that he sees the highly successful Shelley Point (where over 1 000 plots have been sold and a R1,5 billion worth of infrastructure including the clubhouse, hotel and 45 apartments have been created to date) as simply the launching pad for three further comprehensive projects, all of which will be on the St Helena Bay coast and within ten kilometres of each other.

“We see this area rivalling such traditional East Coast resorts as Plettenberg Bay and Hermanus,” said Joubert. “The main reasons for this are, firstly, that it is still possible here to build coast-related waterfront projects of the kind no longer possible on the East Coast and, secondly, we are only one and a half hours from Cape Town, on a road that is seldom, if ever, traffic congested.”

Joubert has initiated three new projects which together will have a sell-out value in the region of R6 billion – and could take ten to twelve years to reach completion.

First on the list are the final two phases at the 160ha Shelley Point estate. These will deliver 900 luxury apartments encircling a small bay, in which Joubert plans to build a small boat harbour and to create two islands, for each of which his team has designed 45 luxury dwellings designed (and priced) specifically for the international market. The 900 apartments already have planning approval and the approval for the remaining work could come through this year.

Joubert has stressed that his harbour designers do not want another Royal Cape Yacht Club or Club Mykonos with “taxi ranks” of boats moored side by side. When not in use the vast majority of boats will be towed up a hi-tech slipway and garaged in premises specifically designed fro this purpose. The facility will, therefore, be as ideal for the mobile ski-boat fraternity (who tend to go where the fish are running) as for long-distance yacht sailors.

“In particular,” said Joubert, “we do not want metres of concrete wharfs. The beaches will be kept and will remain open to all at Shelley Point.”

All buildings in this precinct, he adds, will be low-rise. “High-rise is not acceptable to us on any of our projects.”

Joubert’s second project on which considerable planning and sales progress has already been made, is the Sandy Point Marina, an inland marina that will be fed by an excavated channel from the St Helena Bay harbour. The marina has, as yet, not been launched but almost all 295 single residential plots inland (with an average size of 600m2) have been sold. Approval on the marina itself will probably come through before 2009, says Joubert, but he does not expect work to start until 2010.

Joubert’s third project is St Helena Views Waterfront. This is sited on the old Stefaan Estate (the Stefaans, who pioneered the West Coast opening up a two way trade with Cape Town, were in the first two-thirds of the 19th Century the richest family in SA). Old buildings on the estate, including the St Helena Bay Hotel, so popular in the fifties with Platteland folk, will be restored and arts and crafts people will be encouraged to settle and work in a communal area, which will have restaurants and B&Bs. 1 400 Erven are being developed here. Launched in March 2000, these plots are also now 95% sold out.

Joubert, who has recently returned from a property expo at Bahrain, in the Middle East, and who is now sending his sales team to explain his plans to UAE developers, said that he plans to put all three projects into one big package which would be large and bold enough to attract one of the Middle East’s mega-developers.

“We have everything going for us,” he said. “Middle Eastern developers have done wonders in creating resorts but these are almost 100% man-made – they are on barren coasts in barren deserts. By contrast, we can offer a huge range of animal, bird and plant life, a rich biodiversity and a climate that makes this place a paradise in comparison with many Middle East resorts where, moreover, the accommodation is often in high rise blocks cut off from their environment. Add to this the fact that our prices per square metre are half what they are paying and you will understand why I am totally confident that we can find developers to come in here.”

But, he adds, he does not foresee a start being made until 2010 – or thereabouts – by when all plan approvals will be in place and by when he expects the world economy to be on a recovery path from which SA will benefit.

Praise to Godzille! The woman puts the money where it should...not in her purse or the pockets of her friends!!


If she could only make sure that she build proper housing for the poor of CT. Its so disgusting and on the other side painfull to see all those shacks as you drive from the Airport to the CBD.

^^ It is unfortunate Pule, but people do not realise upcountry, that the ANC in this province despises the DA and rather than deliver to the poor, they'd rather fight the incumbent city administration. That is what happened to the N2 Gateway Project. The Nat'l government took it from the City of Cape Town and handed administration of the project to the provincial government. But our provincial government to too concerned about who supports Zuma and who supports Mbeki to build house (hence Rasool issue). Zille actually said a couple years ago when the N2 Gateway fight ensued, "I don't care who gets to build the houses, it's not about the political glory for us, just as long as they get built."

I actually know the woman and have her cell on my phonebook, when I spoke to her upon winning the mayorship to congratulate her, she said, "Well, now I try to get on with my job, and I'm so happy Cape Town gave it to me, but I sit and wait for the ANC to gun for me and try to unseat the administration again. I'm happy I got this post, but I know it's going to be a constant war to get anything productive done." Paraphrasing yes, but about the gist of what she told me over the phone in America.

I know about the story but the last time Zille said there will be a stage were they will have to use the land without authority as that's a political game and poor people are suffering. I'm expecting her to go as far as to the constitution court to fight for that land and help the poor.

If she could only make sure that she build proper housing for the poor of CT. Its so disgusting and on the other side painfull to see all those shacks as you drive from the Airport to the CBD.

Housing remains a provincial competency with the ANC allowing the city to do very little and delaying the release of land for city projects.
If anything its the ANC's fault.

Which brings one thought to mind... why on earth is District 6 moving so damn slowly. A vibrant, multi-racial, multi-cultural community that is well designed according to historic records and is of a medium density with residential, commercial and retail areas would do wonders for the urban fabric of the city bowl.

Lots of issues with land and people and politics. My dad has land there and has had to go to two meetings but is apparently is still not registered.

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31 Jul 2008 : City Achieves Record Capital Expenditure

PROVISIONAL figures for the 2007/8 financial year show that the City of Cape Town has spent a record R3,1 billion (78%) on capital projects for the year ending in June 2008.

The percentage spend is also a record for the city, despite the budget having increased dramatically from previous years. In addition, of the unspent portion of the 2007/8 budget, a further R0,62 billion of committed projects (e.g. awarded tenders) will be rolled over to the 2008/9 budget, bringing the total of spend and commitment to 94% of the 2007/08 capital budget.

This record expenditure has accelerated the key delivery platform of the Multiparty Government (MPG) of the City, which is to drive economic development through infrastructure provision. Major backlogs in water and sewage systems, roadways, solid waste removal capacities and electricity distribution systems have been addressed. Housing projects have progressed. Sports facilities, parks, libraries, clinics, cemeteries, halls and beach amenities have been expanded.

The 2007/8 capital spend is 3.3 times that spent annually when the ANC ran the city. The clear trend of improved infrastructure delivery since the election of March 2006 can be seen in the graph below.

The results underline the opening statement of Executive Mayor Helen Zille in her budget speech last year: "The prime objective behind this budget is infrastructure-led economic growth. Our job as local government is to ensure better roads, reliable electricity, adequate water and sanitation and a clean, safe public environment. By doing so, we offer the real opportunities our people need to improve their quality of life and we also encourage investment in our city. This in turn is the key to job creation, the single most important opportunity people need to escape poverty".

In response to these results, Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Cllr Ian Neilson, said: "The tremendous efforts of the past two years of rebuilding the City organisation, improving cash flows to our services, collecting consumer debts and better project administration, is paying off in a better serviced city. We need to keep the momentum of delivery up at these levels so that we can overcome the backlogs and unlock development further."

Capital Budget spend for 2007/8; % of budget
Budget: R 3,972,200,224; 100.0%
Actual spend by 30 June 2008 : R 3,102,579,590; 78.1%
Committed projects to be rolled over: R 621,223,043; 15.6%
Total Actual + rollover: R 3,723,802,633; 93.7%

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Two MECs dropped after cabinet reshuffling

July 31 2008 at 06:55PM

Two Western Cape MECs aligned to ousted provincial premier Ebrahim Rasool were on Thursday dropped from the provincial cabinet in a reshuffle announced by new premier Lynne Browne.

MEC for Community Safety Leonard Ramatlakane and MEC of Local Government and Housing Richard Dyantyi were dropped.

MEC for Environmental Planning and Economic Affairs Tasneen Essop, another Rasool ally, resigned.

While the rest of the MECs survived the reshuffle, a majority of them were shifted from their current portfolios.

MEC for Social Development Kholeka Mqulwana will now become MEC for Transport and Public Works; MEC for Sport and Cultural Affairs Whitey Jacobs will take up the Housing Portfolio; MEC for Transport and Public Works Marius Fransman will move to the Health Portfolio; MEC for Health Pierre Uys will move to the Environmental Affairs and Development Planning; and Education MEC Cameron Dugmore will take up the Sport and Cultural Affairs Portfolio.

- Sapa

Dyantyi was useless and remember behind an attempt to topple Zille. Ramatlakane is pretty ridiculous too. Pity about Essop.

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Four new appointments in Western Cape cabinet

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Premier Lynne Brown says Garth Strachan will oversee Finance, Tourism and Economic Development

July 31, 2008, 15:30

Four new appointments and five positional changes have been made in the new Western Cape cabinet.

New Premier Lynne Brown says Garth Strachan will oversee Finance, Tourism and Economic Development, while Yusuf Gabru has been appointed as Minister of Education. Zodwa Magwaza has taken over the Social Development portfolio and Patrick McKenzie makes a return as Minister of Community Safety.

The new Housing MEC is Whitey Jacobs, who has been moved from Sport and Cultural Affairs. Cameron Dugmore moves from Education to Sport and Cultural affairs while Marius Fransman, former MEC of Transport and Public Works is now Health MEC.

Kholeka Mqulwana, formerly MEC of Social Development has moved to Transport and Public Works. Pierre Uys has moved from Health to Environmental Affairs and Local Government, and Cobus Dowry retains the Agriculture portfolio.

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ID - ZUMA FACTION NOW IN CONTROL OF WESTERN CAPE FINANCES

31 JULY 2008- Cape Town ID Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Development and Tourism, Simon Grindrod, has questioned the creation of a new mega-ministry, under the auspices of Garth Strachan, in the Western Cape Provincial Government announced today.
Cape Town ID Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Development and Tourism, Simon Grindrod, has questioned the creation of a new mega-ministry, under the auspices of Garth Strachan, in the Western Cape Provincial Government announced today.

Strachan, a member of the pro-Zuma Skwatsha camp, has been named as the new MEC in charge of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism. Previously, Finance was combined with the Tourism portfolio and Economic Development combined with Planning and Environment.

Grindrod said:

'Premier Lynne Brown has finally decided upon her new cabinet after weeks of turmoil at provincial level.

'Brown must have had a huge fight on her hands because the Zuma faction now controls the finances of this province in the person of Garth Strachan.

'There have been massive concessions to the Zuma faction in this process, which reinforces our concerns about the province being remote-controlled by the Zuma camp at Luthuli House.

'Strachan is a member of the Skwatsha/Ozinsky camp, which means that the pro-Zuma faction has now seized the critical budgeting and finance powers of the provincial government.

'Clearly, those who control the purse-strings wield enormous power over which projects and programmes are supported. In this way they now have control over all other departments in terms of what is delivered and to which communities.

'This development is something that everyone in the province should be concerned about and the ID will monitor the implications of this very closely.'

ENDS

For media enquiries please call Simon Grindrod, ID Deputy Leader, on 084 200 6060

^^ On a lighter note... Lynne Brown is really not easy on the eyes!!! :nuts:

LOL I was thinking just that. Makes me happy I bat for the other team!

Tenders Received for Green Point Stadium

31 July 2008
SOURCE: City of Cape Town
Bids for commercial opportunities at the City of Cape Town's Green Point stadium were announced today after a tender process.
Bids were received from Investec Bank Ltd, Thebe Exhibition and Projects Pty Ltd and Intelligent Venue Solutions Pty Ltd in a joint venture as Stadium Management SA Cape Town and the Sail Group Ltd.

Bidders could make an offer to buy the naming rights of the Green Point stadium or tender to operate the multi-purpose facility after 2010 or bid for both opportunities.

The submissions will now have to be categorised according to the nature of the bid and then scrutinised for completeness, legal and policy compliance. No financial figures can be released at this stage.

The bids will be assessed by a Bid Evaluation Committee before the Bid Adjudication Committee makes an award. This process is expected to last some four weeks, but may be extended depending on negotiations with successful bidders.

The stadium is on track for completion by 15 December 2009. The multi-purpose facility, due to host eight 2010 matches, including a semi-final, will be suitable for rugby, soccer, events and concerts.

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Tender awarded for Philippi Stadium upgrade

By NOMANGESI MBIZA

Contract for Phase 1 of the Philippi Stadium upgrade have been awarded and, once the contractor has provided all the necessary guarantees, preparations which will see the stadium become a potential practice venue for the 2010 World Cup will begin.

Western Cape 2010 co-ordinator Laurine Platzky also revealed that they were putting out a tender for a tenant to operate the stadium for the next 10 years.

She said while there was a good chance that the Philippi Stadium would be used as a practice venue, an inspection date had been set for late in August.

Plans are in place to see local residents benefit from the upgrade and Platzky said they had stipulated that local labour had to be used as far as possible for the construction and subsequent operations.

The upgrade would offer the area an important opportunity to be put on the international map.

"Informal settlements need not be dangerous and off-limits and can be a welcome place to visit," Platzky said, adding that this was an important message, not only for Philippi but for all informal settlements.

A book, Cape Town and Western Cape Accommodation and Training Sites, will be launched on August 29, containing information about all the training sites and accommodation for 2010.

The book will also give all 32 competing teams the chance to consider Western Cape sites as locations.

The Philippi community is overwhelmed by the decision to use the stadium as one of the practice venues. "We are going to treat our visitors with respect. We will sell them African food so that they can have a taste of our country," said resident Nolufefe Qotoyi.

Are WP moving from Newlands? It would be a shame but would make getting to the games much easier!

Are WP moving from Newlands? It would be a shame but would make getting to the games much easier!

Investec sponsor WP and are determined to win the bid. From financially collapsed union to the wealthiest rugby union, in a stadium built for rugby with a sponsor ready to pay for the rights and operation of the stadium.

Updated: August 2008

Foreshore

Three Towers Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=648715)
Foreshore: CTICC Expansion and hotel (R730m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441384)
Foreshore: Roggebaai Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=599301)
Foreshore: SA Reit Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=600124)
Foreshore: Harbour Bridge, Roggebaai (R180m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=392685)
Foreshore: Canal Quay, Roggebaai (R220m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=409565)
Foreshore: Desmond Tutu Peace Centre (R140m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=370846)
Erf 9 and 10, Jan Smuts, Foreshore

Foreshore: CT Harbour expansion (R4,5bn) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=528903)
Amway House site
Media City Upgrade (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=512594)

Green Point

Green & Sea Developments (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=648236)
Jarvis House, Green Point (R300m)
Green Point: Cape Quarter Expansion (R100m)
(http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=532082)
Green Point: Cape Royale Hotel (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242106)
Green Point: World Cup Stadium (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=503967)
Green Point: Green Point Sport and Urban Park (R160m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=554842)


Waterfront

V&A Gateway Buildings (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=669380)
Waterfront: V&A Waterfront expansion (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=393361)
Waterfront:One&Only Hotel - R900m (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=275923)
Waterfront: Somerset Hospital site - R1 billion
(http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=567857)
Central

Portside 34F Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=656514)
Pepper Club (R360 million) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=662688)
Central: #4 Church Square (R20m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=454948)
Central:Piazza on the Square (R70m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242101)
Central: Holiday Inn Hotel (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=593479)
Central: New Hotel, Buitengracht/Wale (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=372933)
Liebenberg and Stander Building
Cnr Riebeeck/Bree – two sites
The Pulse (R600m)
T1, Strand/Buitengracht
Central: Strand on Adderley (R2,2bn (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=466130))
Golden Acre upgrade (R475m)
11 Adderley (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=652993)
Central: Oscar Pearse Hotel (R220m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=354996)
Central: Taj Hotel (new - R500m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242013)
Central: 106 Adderley commercial/retail (R300m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=497974)
Central: Cape Sun upgrade (R56m)
Townhouse Hotel/Plein Park upgrade
Citroen Building (R90m)
Oval Institute (R12m)
Malgas/Brian Porter site
D6 Homecoming/Sacks Futeran (R30m)
Creative House, Church Square

Central: Four Seasons, Buitenkant (R100m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=282375)
Temple House, Buitenkant
Parliamentary extension (R750m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=533496)
Central: Parliamentary residential complex (R1,2bn) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=533496)

Central: CT Station, phase one (R300m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441508)
Company’s Gardens upgrade (R1m)

Gardens


Wembley Square extension, Lower Gardens
Gardens: Orangerie, Lower Gardens (R180m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=410315)
Gardens:15 on Orange Hotel, Lower Gardens (R500m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=460439)


East City Precinct

Upper East Side (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=420304)
East City Precinct: The District, Woodstock (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=557017)
East City Precinct: Boulevard, Woodstock -R750m (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=548969)
East City Precinct:The Edge (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=601422)
Red Brick Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=522090)
Six (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=604196&highlight=six)

Drill Hall/CT Library

East City Precinct: City Hall (R81m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=583099)
East City Precinct:Good Hope Centre (R50-75m)
Salt River Market (R1m)

Public Spaces

Granary Building (R35m)
Greenmarket Square (R4m)
St Andrew’s Square (R8m)
Pier Place (R2m)
Harrington Square
Grand Parade (R23,5m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=651751)

Cape Town gets ready for Tall Buildings

A protocol for considering height departure applications for buildings in Central Cape Town is now being considered. It will guide the procedure and application requirements for the assessment of height departure applications for building developments. Tt has become necessary in the light of several "Tall Building" applications that are currently under review by the departments in the directorate.

Tall building applications are considered to be buildings above 60m.

Currently other "Tall building " applications exist apart from Portside and the Strand - Adderley developments. A Tall Buildings design Advisory panel has been established with three independent experts from an architecture, green building, urban design and heritage background. Specialists will assits this panel in all spheres including spatial planning and general infrastructure requirements.

The experts are Anya van der Merwe Miszewski (Van der Merwe Miszewski Architects), Martin Kruger (urban design and green building specialist) and John Rennie (heritage specialist).

Of course people on SSC will be some of the first to know about any other tall building proposals.

As I said under "Portside" thread, this is indeed some of the best news I've heard in ages. One definitely sees our problem, when Cape Town considers buildings above 60m's as tall! With the land in the CBD and Foreshore rapidly running out, it's only logical we finally start going skyward, obviously responsibly and not jeopardising the scenic assets we have. How'd you find this all out Super-Mo?

How'd you find this all out Super-Mo?

I beg your pardon.How dare you!

8aMfaZQ3qrI
watch 1:50

Big names in new bid for stadium
Toyah Lord



BIG PLAYERS are again vying for the rights of the Green Point Stadium: the new bids for commercial opportunities are in.

The City of Cape Town announced last week that the bids received were from Investec Bank Ltd; Thebe Exhibition and Projects Pty Ltd and Intelligent Venue Solutions Pty Ltd in a joint venture as Stadium Management SA Cape Town; and the Sail Group Ltd.

Thebe Exhibition and Projects, South Africa's largest black-owned tourism company, is hea?ded by Andisa Ditle, Godfrey Morley, Carol Weaving, and Jeffrey Squire, who lives in Llandudno and has over 20 companies, mostly to do with tourism. UK businessmen Andrew Moss and Adrian Pollen, as well as Mark Ransom and Russell Stephens, are the directors of Intelligent Venue Solutions.

Among the 11 directors of Sail Group is Bulelani Ngcuka, the first national director of Public Prosecutions and husband of de?puty president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

Also part of the directorship is Morne du Plessis, former South African rugby player and coach.

Pieter Cronje, the City of Cape Town's spokesperson for the 2010 Soccer World Cup tournament, has confirmed that Investec, Facilities Management Africa, Bustque, and The Consortium were the original bidders last year but as some of the bids were incomplete and not fully compliant, the city had to re-advertise for tenders.

"One of the bidders had several conditions and the city couldn't award such a conditional bid," says Cronje. This time around, bidders could make an offer to buy the naming rights of the stadium, or tender to operate the multi-purpose facility after 2010, or bid for both opportunities.

"The submissions are being ca?tegorised according to the nature of the bid and then scrutinised for completeness, as well as legal and policy compliance.

"No financial figures can be released at this stage," Cronje adds.

The bids will be assessed by a bid evaluation committee before the bid adjudication committee makes an award. This process is expected to last around four weeks, but may be extended depending on negotiations with successful bidders.

According to Cronje, the city is looking to appoint an operator that is "successful and experienced", and that can maximise the use of the stadium for its upkeep and that of the surrounding Green Point Common. "We want the stadium to pay its own way so that it doesn't become a burden for ratepayers," says Cronje.

The estimated completion cost of the stadium is sitting at R3,9 billion, of which the city has a R580 million shortfall. According to Cronjé, this is not an isolated situation. "It is a national problem which all the stadiums are experiencing due to escalating costs of raw materials and the overheated construction industry underta?king a multitude of infrastructure projects across the country."

Cronje, however, stresses that the city has a plan to close the funding gap.

This will be done through the following: the sale of the naming rights; any potential income from an operator; and the sale of some 250 corporate suites once the ope?rator has been appointed, as well as keeping an eye out for the most cost-effective construction solutions during construction without compromising safety, FIFA or environmental requirements.

The city has also negotiated with FIFA to gain a portion of the ticket sales for the various mat?ches.

And if this is not enough to bridge the gap, the city will approach national and provincial government for more funding.

The stadium is set for completion by 15 December 2009.

Central city residents 'need to triple' by 2014

A total of 400 000 people use Cape Town city centre daily. Of these just 55 000 live in the central business district. The remaining 345 000 spend valuable time commuting. With increasing volumes coming into the city centre and resultant traffic congestion every year, this commute is extended by an average of 10 minutes each way - a situation that clearly cannot be left unchecked.

Recently the Cape Town Partnership hosted a workshop to examine the problem of housing provision, especially affordable housing provision in the Central Business District (CBD), and craft a common vision. The first challenge the meeting addressed was the lack of residential accommodation in the Cape Town Central Business District (CBD) and the surrounding areas.

While significant residential development has occurred in the Cape Town inner city area, urban densities and residential densities, in particular, are still relatively low and fall short of our national and global competitors.

Densities recorded for world cities measured in people per square kilometre reveal opportunities for a massive increase in Cape Town's densities. New York has a density of 9 610, London 4 800, Berlin 3 810, Mexico City 3 700, Shangai 2 590 and Johannesburg 1 960 people per km2. By comparison in 2005 Cape Town's density was 1 252 people per km2 on the basis of a population of 3.1 million people.

Densification can contribute to the creation of good quality, efficient and sustainable urban environments in a number of different ways. It reduces the demands on land, already a scarce commodity in Cape Town. It reduces infrastructure costs. It reduces travel distances and associated costs. It also provides the thresholds needed to support the development of a viable 18-hour public transport system, something desperately needed to grow Cape Town's economy.

Higher densities, accompanied by increased population thresholds, create sufficient consumers to generate the development of economic opportunities, social facilities and services, and enable the cost effective provision and optimal use of infrastructure.

Ideally the inner city needs to triple its resident population by 2014. To achieve this it was agreed that the Cape Town Partnership should identify zones that could support much higher densities and residential development as part of its Central City Development Strategy.

This, with the city's recently published densification strategy, will facilitate increased provision of residential accommodation in the city.

Given the shortage of land within the CBD, a radius of 10km from the CBD is recommended as the target area for residential densification.

The second challenge facing Cape Town is the lack of stock that caters for lower income households. The cheapest rental in the study area is around R2 200 per month and the cheapest unit (excluding District 6) is around R500 000. Consequently very few of those who work in the city are able to reside in it.

The exclusion of the poor from the CBD is likely to become even more acute with rising interest rates which make it almost impossible to provide value for money for those earning below R12 000 without some subsidy and as urban spaces become more competitive.

In 2007, 50% of the world population resided in urban areas. It is estimated that by 2050, 75% of the world population will be living in cities. Already in 2005, urbanisation due to migration alone in Cape Town happened at a rate of approximately 38 525 persons per annum, implying that urban space will become more and more prime.

Left unchecked this competition will relegate the poor to the periphery of Cape Town away from urban opportunities and exacerbating urban expansion into the surrounding hinterland.

The question the Cape Town Partnership is asking is how to make Cape Town a residential hub that caters for the needs of both rich and poor.

Cape Town can draw on the lessons from Johannesburg, where derelict buildings have been converted into value for money units that offer a range of housing options for different pockets. Some buildings offer a room with shared ablution facilities, others a self-contained unit. The bulk of these units have been provided by not-for-profit organisations in partnership with the city council and the private sector.

Taffy Adler of the Johannesburg Housing Company said breaking through this barrier required:


A "can do" attitude from all stakeholders.


Access to free or very cheap land.


Access to sufficient and appropriate grant input, either in the form of direct grants or cross subsidies.


Long-term view of investment and returns on capital investment.


Commitment to robust and well made units that can accommodate the transient market.


A firm management approach while building trust with tenants and not making promises that cannot be honoured.

While Cape Town does not particularly have the problem and opportunity of derelict buildings, other opportunities exist. The Partnership has identified four key actions.

Firstly, there is a need for public education around the different forms of housing and the associated costs. Affordable housing is not profitable in the short term and therefore requires a long-term view of investment and returns on capital. Secondly, there is a need to identify and prioritise available public land for housing provision. Where possible this land needs to be clustered geographically to allow for economies. These need to be agreed on and protected from sale as part of government's efforts to raise funds.

Thirdly, Cape Town needs to unlock the projects currently on the books. The workshop heard that a number of affordable housing projects are in "progress" in Cape Town but are struggling to address the issues of this market at scale.

An overview of the policy context with respect to affordable housing in good urban locations demonstrates that some commitment on the part of the government to social housing exists in urban areas throughout the country.

Yet, this commitment is, among others, complicated by political pressure impacting on the allocation of funds earmarked by government's Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). Institutional delays in giving effect to agreements, delays in the release and planning of public land earmarked for affordable housing and affordability levels of prospective beneficiaries.

Fourthly, incentives need to be used to encourage higher densities and mixed use and income developments. Land use management tools are used across the world to encourage inner city revitalisation, urban development and densification. Cities such as Barcelona, Curitiba and Dublin come to mind.

In Cape Town the draft Integrated Zoning Scheme (IZS), the impending Central City Development Strategy (CCDS), the Urban Development Zone (UDZ) and the Densification Strategy for Cape Town provide policies and mechanisms through which the affordable housing agenda can be promoted.

Linked to the issue of incentives is the need to unlock the red tape that currently holds up developments. Here proposals included consideration of an agency that can assist the City to fast track planning and building approvals.


Boraine is the chief executive of the Cape Town Partnership, which hosted an Affordable Housing Workshop recently in a bid to find solutions to the challenges in the city.

I'm glad they're trying to curb urban sprawl by "densifying" the inner areas of the city. Soon, they'll probably be more apartment buildings and condo's going up in the inner districts. Hope to here more about this! :cheers:

love it love it love it,

Cape town had my heart and no she has my soul its clean, freandly, working, open, safe etc etc

We felt so at home there and feel vindicated by my decition to by the farma nd quite a bit of property there. We are hanging to move back and cant wait to settle on the farm in Paarl.

Will post more comments and there are a few negative things or things that can be improved , but so much to say about Sa adn CT in partiucular

Have you just got back from CT then? Glad you had a good time.

Yup I agree it is one of the cleanest cities I have been to: way cleaner than places like London NYC and Sydney.

When are you moving back? I can safely say you wont regret it: living in the Cape is just unbeatable!!

Was in Paarl a few weekends ago for a visit to Nederburg: you probably could not have found a more stunning spot in the whole world for you to have bought your farm.

i own the farm next door to the parderberg celler and we will be 25% grape and 75% olive farmers
back in 5 years when farm established cos first 5 years fok all happens in an olive farm.

About to start building our beach house at shelly point, cape is insane and wife loves it as its soooooo much like melbourne

Like Melbourne but way way more beautiful!!

agreed and foar an aussie to want to move to CT instaed of her own country mens there must be something going right there.

so much oppotunity with MENA firms which is where I see myself after I retire to CT in 5 years.

Ill take the melbourne comparison as a big big compliment.

Ill take the melbourne comparison as a big big compliment.

Second Robben Island Ferry to arrive in Cape Town

Komphela cashes in on ferry folly
NIC DAWES AND PEARLIE JOUBERT | CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - Aug 10 2008 00:00

Butana Komphela, the controversial chairperson of Parliament's sports committee, is the key empowerment shareholder in a new Robben Island ferry currently making its way from Naples in Italy to Cape Town.

The vessel, named the Adriatic Princess, was bought second-hand for R26-million by an obscure Bloemfontein firm in which Komphela holds an interest.

It is set for delivery even as the manufacturers of a brand new R22-million vessel, which began service on the Robben Island route recently, prepare legal action to recover what they say are outstanding payments from the Robben Island Museum (RIM).

The planned delivery from Italy, which has been kept secret until now, was confirmed by a manager at the island who has been involved in the process. But he declined to provide any details, referring queries to Marc Scholtz, marketing director at the company supplying the vessel, Mmamolanewane Accommodation Holdings.

The company has just one listed director, Johan van Heerden, but Scholtz says the company has 67% empowerment ownership, with Komphela holding a substantial interest.

Komphela did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but the companies register and his parliamentary declaration of interests support Scholtz's statement.

In the 2007 register of members' interests, Komphela disclosed a 9% shareholding in Upstream Global, which he said had a nominal value of R9-million. That company not only operates out of the same office as Mmamolanewane, but also shares a telephone number, staff and several shareholders.

Until July last year Komphela was a director of the Central SA Convention Venue, which is also closely associated with directors and shareholders of both Upstream and Mmamolanewane.

Scholtz said: "Buying this R26-million ferry fits into our business plans to get people to use Bloemfontein and Cape Town as business destinations.

"We are not boat people, but we do know about business. It made sense to tender for supplying the second ferry to Robben Island because we can then use the ferry to create two streams of income, one for ferrying passengers to the island during the day and a second for taking people on sunset-parties and cruises in the evenings.

"The board members of our company wanted to link Bloemfontein and Cape Town -- Bloemfontein as a convention destination and then … Cape Town for some leisure activity … One ferry is simply not enough for the demand and often businesses can't make bookings to go to the island."

The ferry, he added, is luxurious and equipped with a full bar and kitchen. "It's almost like the Spur with people sitting around a table rather than on chairs like inside an aeroplane [which is the case on] the current ferry."

As the Mail & Guardian reported last week, the existing ferry, which has been in service for less than two months, is also at the centre of controversy. Forensic consultants have alleged that Robben Island management were grossly negligent in their handling of the acquisition process, failed to extract penalties for late delivery and overpaid.

Farocean Marine, which built the existing vessel, has now briefed Cape Town law firm Fairbridges to prepare legal action to force RIM to pay up, according to two people familiar with the process.

It is not clear exactly how much the company believes it is owed, but an insider told the M&G it was approximately one-third of the total purchase price or roughly R7-million.

One legal strategy under serious consideration at Farocean, the M&G understands, is a bid to attach the ferry. This would once again disrupt the operations of RIM, which has been plagued for two years by interruptions caused by the controversy surrounding the ferry contract.

A third ferry -- a luxury powerboat for the use of VIP guests -- has been ordered from Original Boats, a company spearheaded by Johannesburg businessman Thabane Zulu and advised by yachting legend John Martin.

While the new boat is being built, the company is supplying Robben Island with the 17m Obsession leased from insurance entrepreneur Mike Daly.

Bruce Tedder, who was a partner in the original Robben Island Ferry Company, however, questions the operating logic and financial viability of the new vessels.

"It made sense for the island to buy its own ferry, and take control of that revenue stream. The operation is very profitable if it is properly managed, because there is no competition," he said.

But it made more sense to have two 150-seater vessels rather than 300 seaters, he argued. "That arrangement is much more flexible, and allows for maintenance, and adequate capacity," he said.

"I can't see how the VIP ferry can make any money," Tedder said.

"A new 15m to 18m powerboat will cost between R15-million and R20-million, even secondhand it would be about R8-million.

"To make it worthwhile you would have to net at least R2-million a year, which is impossible. They should just make an arrangement to have a suitable vessel and skipper on standby."

Langa surprised 'to be out of a job'

The suspended chief executive of the Robben Island Museum (RIM), Paul Langa, said this week that he arrived back from holiday to find "that I'm out of a job; that I'm regarded as a criminal and that the Mail & Guardian published really devastating information about me".

"I've not been told by the board that I'm under investigation. I will seek legal advice to find out what to do now," Langa said.

Carl Niehaus, deputy chair of the Robben Island board, however, confirmed that the top three managers of the island have been served with disciplinary hearing notices.

He said the matter will be dealt with internally and did not rule out criminal prosecution. "Further actions could be taken, but at this stage it's only against those three people," Niehaus said.

The three are Langa, Denmark Tungwana, the chief operating officer, and Nash Masekwameng, chief finance officer.

"The board regards these issues revealed in the forensic report very seriously because they have a direct impact on the profile of this World Heritage Site and the thousands of visitors who come to the island. We have to ensure that the history and legacy of the island is properly respected. This is very serious indeed," Niehaus said.

Marc Scholtz of Mmamolane-wane Accommodation Holdings which is supplying the vessel currently en route to Robben Island, said the company was "very concerned" about the reports of financial irregularities at the island. "We have requested a meeting with new managers. Luckily we've only had dealings with the supply chain manager," he said.

Vincent Shai, the manager in question, is one of the people accused of mismanagement in the forensic report. In a letter to RIM council chair Naledi Tsiki, Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan recommended that action be taken against middle managers accused of mismanagement. -- Nic Dawes and Pearlie Joubert

Sa's biggest cultural assets and one ALL tourists wants to visit is a joke and all about me me me by the ANC and its cronies. It seems self intrest is more important than the benifit to the country it seems.

Read in the ENG about an Aussie company invited to tender for the supply of boats and when they flagged they were not BEE, they were told no worries as they wanted the best , so this guy spends loads of money submitting a bid comming to Sa etc to be told he was disqualified cos he had no BEE involvement. So it was all about getting in bids thet actaull should never have been in order to make the "deal" work with an ANC cronnie

Lamborghinis and Mercedes Benz's for Cape Town cops???

Cape suggests bringing cops up to speed

By Lindsay Dentlinger

It would be unkind to suggest that the city's traffic officers are slow. But when you consider that their counterparts give chase in Lamborghinis in Italy, souped up Mercedes-Benz's in Germany and V8 muscle cars in the US, it makes the local speed cops look decidedly "Driving Miss Daisy".

Acting executive director of safety and security Heathcliff Thomas told the City of Cape Town on Thursday that the city's fleet paled in comparison to those in world-class cities.

He told the council's portfolio committee on safety and security that while Germany's traffic officers drove the world's fastest legal sedan - the Mercedes Brabus CLS Rocket with a top speed of 360km per hour - Cape Town's traffic officers had to make do with ordinary Japanese-made sedans.

Several European cities had Porsche 911 Carreras in their fleet, capable of going from 0km per hour to 100km per hour in four seconds. The city's officers managed a comparative 13,5 seconds in their "fastest cars".

The traffic department's fastest vehicles are Honda motorcycles. It is still waiting for delivery of three Volkswagen Golf GTIs.

In Thomas's slide presentation, the committee saw that countries such as Italy and Britain used the Lamborghini Gallardos; V8 Dodges and Chevrolets, Corvettes and Mustangs were the vehicles of choice in the US; Canadian traffic cops drove S-type Jaguars and Japan preferred the Nissan Skyline GTI R.

Initially shocked by suggestions that the city should consider acquiring a couple of these vehicles, the DA and ANC caucuses gradually warmed to the idea.

Committee chairperson JP Smith said the vehicles could form part of an incentive programme for local traffic officers.

"We may not be able to pay them top-notch salaries, but we can give them hope and make them feel like they are working with tools of the trade akin to world-class equipment."

Metro Police Chief Bongani Jonas said the Metro Police in Johannesburg enjoyed the use of top-of-the-range BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes, acquired through lease agreements.

The newest cars in the City of Cape Town's traffic department are Nissan Tiidas.

The DA's Pieter van Dalen scoffed at the idea of acquiring a sports car or two, saying the cars would not last and would be "smashed around Hospital Bend".

But the ANC's Depoutch Elese reckoned that criminals would realise that "the city means business" if they chased druglords in a sports car.

The NPP's Jameelah Daniels didn't think "faster was necessarily better", while the ID's Aubrey Robinson questioned whether they would also stand idle around the Paul Sauer Building (the Metro Police HQ), as was the case with other traffic vehicles.

The committee agreed, upon Smith's suggestion, that the city would enter into discussions with motor dealers as to whether they would be prepared to hire or sponsor such vehicles to the council.



* This article was originally published on page 1 of The Cape Argus on August 08, 2008

The Argus

Published on the Web by IOL on 2008-08-08 12:06:00
© Independent Online 2005. All rights reserved. IOL publishes this article in good faith but is not liable for any loss or damage caused by reliance on the information it contains.

Oooh, nice!

WOW!!

check this out..a huge online guide to the Western Cape.

http://www.tourismcapetown.co.za/index.php?digital_guide

FEWwzm53vlg

She is going to council to get APPROVED!!!!!

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Cape%20Town%20Developments/podscanalwalk4.jpg

^^ :applause:

CTICC Expansion Phase 2
R1.2 billion

- 10,000 sqm exhibition space
- On-site hotel
- Sky Roof
- Harbour/Ocean Views


http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/2010%20General/1-1.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/2010%20General/3-1.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/2010%20General/4.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/2010%20General/2-1.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/2010%20General/5.jpg

Is this on the other side of the Road? will there be a underground tunnel or a future skybridge linking the two?

CTICC Expansion Phase 2
R1.2 billion

- 10,000 sqm exhibition space
- On-site hotel
- Sky Roof
- Harbour/Ocean Views


http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/2010%20General/1-1.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/2010%20General/3-1.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/2010%20General/4.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/2010%20General/2-1.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/2010%20General/5.jpg

Another HOORAH! When are they demolishing the horrible building that stands on this site?

Not sure when but hopefully before end 2008.

Some more projects that will be unveiled for Cape Town on SSC in the next month. Stay tuned.

Swimming South Africa chooses Cape Town for International Aquatic Centre

The project includes:
- International Aquatic Centre for FINA Events
- Media Centre
- Adminstrative Centre
- Training Centre
- Spectator stands
- 4 star hotel
- Student housing
- Low rise apartments
- Commerical Component


http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Cape%20Town%20Olympic/newlandsswimming11modsksmall2.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Cape%20Town%20Olympic/newlandsswimming6mod.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Cape%20Town%20Olympic/newlandsswimmingmod1small.jpg

A few random bits and pieces from Wynberg. First, the Grand Central development - mainly residential, but pretty big for the area with multiple different buildings and some still to be started (last pic)

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc67/stevehanauer/Wynberg/17082008.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc67/stevehanauer/Wynberg/17082008001.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc67/stevehanauer/Wynberg/17082008003.jpg

And the Wynberg hospital getting a revamp (I presume - hope its not being turned into something else!).

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc67/stevehanauer/Wynberg/17082008005.jpg

Thanks. Maybe add them to the Claremont Developments thread.

Some more projects that will be unveiled for Cape Town on SSC in the next month. Stay tuned.

Ah, can't wait. I hope its more high rises.

City congratulates Cape Town Fashion Week for a job well done

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/82370128.jpg?v=1&c=MS_GINS&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19368FFB0B613D6DEB0E3F0C58638F18214E30A760B0D811297
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The City of Cape Town has earmarked R400 000 for the 2008 Cape Town Fashion Week, a premier event being showcased in the city this week. It has been a remarkable success with more than 150 international and local media attending the event with approximately 13 000 buyers and industry members attending over the course of the week. The City’s contribution has been applied towards the development of an emerging fashion industry around the event.

According to the impact study of last year’s fashion week, the event generated in excess of R35 million media coverage and much more in economic spin - offs for the local economy of Cape Town.

“The Cape Town Fashion Week is an event that helps position Cape Town as a global city and as one of the world’s leading creative centres. It is a key platform to help revive our ailing clothing and textiles industry. It is a major event on the international fashion calendar and forms an integral part of the City’s creative industries strategy. I would like to thank Paul Jackson of AFI, the organisers of Cape Town Fashion Week 2008 for a job well done,” says Cllr Simon Grindrod, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic, Social Development and Tourism.

The City’s contribution is being used to facilitate business linkages by setting up 60 targeted business appointments to view fashion collections at the event. It was further used to invite 140 national media, 60 photographers and 10 international media, ensuring maximum media exposure for Cape Town.

“The creative industry plays a major role in our local economy. The fashion industry, like the film industry, creates job opportunities and generates revenue for the region.

“Apart from assisting with business facilitation and media exposure, the City’s investment also contributes to the raising of the standards in our local fashion industry,” Cllr Grindrod said.

City congratulates Cape Town Fashion Week for a job well done

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A job VERY well done :cheers:

Yeah, I was there on Friday night... and even at 1.84m, I felt like a bit of a dwarf!:lol:

19 Aug 2008 : SA Braces for 2010 Tourism Onslaught

One of South Africa’s oldest and most popular wine estates, Boschendal, is bracing itself for an onslaught of tourists travelling to South African for the FIFA 2010 World Cup which kicks off on 11 June 2010. Two television crews from the BBC and Mexico recently visited Boschendal for documentary programmes being made on South Africa’s 2010 preparation, and both teams highlighted the degree to which the Cape winelands will be in the spotlight over the period to and during the World Cup.

According to Elisa Alanis, a journalist from Mexico’s Canal 34 Television Mexiquense who recently visited Boschendal on assignment in preparation for 2010, the South African wine industry could benefit tremendously from the World Cup.

“Not only in terms of the hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting the tournament for the one month of the tournament, but the international media coverage will give the South African wine industry exposure it has never had,” said Alanis.

“Most of the world does not even know wine is made in South Africa. Once they realise this during the broadcasts on 2010 and see the magnificent scenery and historical buildings, you will have an advantage on other wine countries. Trust me, with the international wine industry being as competitive as it is, other countries are envying you for hosting the World Cup. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for marketing your country.”

Boschendal, situated outside Franschhoek, already attracts 180 000 visitors a year, and according to marketing manager Ina Basson, this figure can double over the next two years.

“The eyes of the world may currently be looking east at the Beijing Olympics, but once the Olympic torch is doused, all eyes will be on South Africa’s preparations for the World Cup,” says Basson. “Over the past month Boschendal has hosted international television crews who are producing programmes on South Africa as a 2010 World Cup tourist destination. Media and commercial enquiries regarding the World Cup have suddenly

escalated and it is clear that the Cape wine-lands will be a major attraction for the more than one million international visitors to South Africa in 2010.

“Boschendal is therefore already beginning with contingency plans, part of which entails a new tasting facility to cope with the increase in wine-tasting traffic.”

Basson says that the potential impact of the 2010 World Cup on the Cape wine-lands is beginning to filter through.

“Cape Town is one of the major tournament venues. With the wine-lands being little more than 50 kilometres from the stadium, I can safely say that the local wine tourism industry will witness the kind of interest it has never experienced before,” she says. “Boschendal’s status as an international wine tourism destination with a long and colourful history, magnificent scenery and quality wines is beyond doubt. However, our professionalism in

terms of service and hospitality as well as our infrastructure will be tested to the limit.”

Basson said it is important that wineries in the Cape co-operate to ensure that expectations are realised and a broader strategy is in place to ensure that the wine tourism industry is set to make a sterling impression on international visitors.

“The 2010 Franschhoek-Stellenbosch Marketing Campaign, which was recently launched on Boschendal, is a welcome start to this co-operation.

We now all have to work together with all industry players to make the necessary strategic inputs necessary to utilise this fantastic opportunity.”

Hey hey

News just in, I'm sure we all remember the big hype and song and dance with Monopoly World Edition and the online voting in March. Well, Cape Town made it onto the board at place number 3!!! - behind Montreal (Canada) and Riga (Latvia). Montreal and Canada will take the places of the dark blue blocks, that being the "Eloff Street" and "Jan Smuts Ave" on the older SA version.

Cape Town beat the likes of New York, London and Sydney! LOL. :D Thanks to all true Capetonians who voted!

The World Edition of Monopoly will be released worldwide from August 26, and will be available in over 50 languages.

Here is a link - which also contains the results:
http://www.hasbro.com/games/kid-games/monopoly/default.cfm?page=News/Item&newsID=DB7DFA53-D56F-E112-458E61859535CD3D

Hmmm....not much to go on when googling. Oh well, knock yourselves out! :D

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/IMG_9669.jpg

^^ Looks like someone went "saturation" befok on the colour-attributes! :lol:

A nice video I found on youtube:

bURdkWrR28g

Flickr Photo Groups

Cape Town Cranes (http://www.flickr.com/groups/capetowncranes/)

Cape Town 2010 (http://www.flickr.com/groups/capetown2010/)

Foreshore

Three Towers Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=648715)
Foreshore: CTICC Expansion and hotel (R730m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441384)
Foreshore: Roggebaai Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=599301)
Foreshore: SA Reit Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=600124)
Foreshore: Harbour Bridge, Roggebaai (R180m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=392685)
Foreshore: Canal Quay, Roggebaai (R220m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=409565)
Foreshore: Desmond Tutu Peace Centre (R140m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=370846)
Erf 9 and 10, Jan Smuts, Foreshore

Foreshore: CT Harbour expansion (R4,5bn) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=528903)
Amway House site
Media City Upgrade (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=512594)

Green Point

Green & Sea Developments (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=648236)
Jarvis House, Green Point (R300m)
Green Point: Cape Quarter Expansion (R100m)
(http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=532082)
Green Point: Cape Royale Hotel (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242106)
Green Point: World Cup Stadium (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=503967)
Green Point: Green Point Sport and Urban Park (R160m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=554842)


Waterfront

V&A Gateway Buildings (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=669380)
Waterfront: V&A Waterfront expansion (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=393361)
Waterfront:One&Only Hotel - R900m (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=275923)
Waterfront: Somerset Hospital site - R1 billion
(http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=567857)
Central

Portside 34F Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=656514)
Pepper Club (R360 million) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=662688)
Central: #4 Church Square (R20m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=454948)
Central:Piazza on the Square (R70m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242101)
Central: Holiday Inn Hotel (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=593479)
Central: New Hotel, Buitengracht/Wale (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=372933)
Liebenberg and Stander Building
Cnr Riebeeck/Bree – two sites
The Pulse (R600m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=691640)
T1, Strand/Buitengracht
Central: Strand on Adderley (R2,2bn (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=466130))
Golden Acre upgrade (R475m)
11 Adderley (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=652993)
Central: Oscar Pearse Hotel (R220m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=354996)
Central: Taj Hotel (new - R500m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242013)
Central: 106 Adderley commercial/retail (R300m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=497974)
Central: Cape Sun upgrade (R56m)
Townhouse Hotel/Plein Park upgrade
Citroen Building (R90m)
Oval Institute (R12m)
Malgas/Brian Porter site
D6 Homecoming/Sacks Futeran (R30m)
Creative House, Church Square

Central: Four Seasons, Buitenkant (R100m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=282375)
Temple House, Buitenkant
Parliamentary extension (R750m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=533496)
Central: Parliamentary residential complex (R1,2bn) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=533496)

Central: CT Station, phase one (R300m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441508)
Company’s Gardens upgrade (R1m)

Gardens


Wembley Square extension, Lower Gardens
Gardens: Orangerie, Lower Gardens (R180m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=410315)
Gardens:15 on Orange Hotel, Lower Gardens (R500m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=460439)


East City Precinct

Upper East Side (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=420304)
East City Precinct: The District, Woodstock (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=557017)
East City Precinct: Boulevard, Woodstock -R750m (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=548969)
East City Precinct:The Edge (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=601422)
Red Brick Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=522090)
Six (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=604196&highlight=six)

Drill Hall/CT Library

East City Precinct: City Hall (R81m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=583099)
East City Precinct:Good Hope Centre (R50-75m)
Salt River Market (R1m)

Public Spaces

Granary Building (R35m)
Greenmarket Square (R4m)
St Andrew’s Square (R8m)
Pier Place (R2m)
Harrington Square
Grand Parade (R23,5m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=651751)

Descirption/Cost

Foreshore

Cape Town International Convention Centre Expansion: Phase 2 R 1,000,000,000.00
Harbour Bridge R 180,000,000.00
Canal Quays R 220,000,000.00
Desmond Tutu Peace Centre R 140,000,000.00
Cape Town Harbour Expansion R 4,500,000,000.00
Roggebaai Foreshore Building R 500,000,000.00
SA Reit Building R 600,000,000.00
Three Towers Building R 800,000,000.00
Convention Tower

Green Point

Jarvis House R 1,000,000.00
Cape Royale R 1,000,000.00
Green Point Stadium: 2010 FIFA World Cup R 4,000,000,000.00
Cape Quarter Expansion R 100,000,000.00
Green Point Urban Park R 180,000,000.00

Watefront

V&A Gateway Buildings R 500,000,000.00
One & Only Hotel R 900,000,000.00
Somerset Hospital Site R 1,000,000,000.00

Central

Portside R 2,500,000,000.00
Pepper Club R 360,000,000.00
The Pulse R 600,000,000.00
Golden Acre upgrade R 450,000,000.00
11 Adderley
Coral Hotel R 250,000,000.00
Oscar Pearse Hotel R 220,000,000.00
Taj Hotel R 500,000,000.00
106 Adderley R 300,000,000.00
Four Seasons R 100,000,000.00
Parliament Precinct R 1,400,000,000.00
Cape Town Central Station R 400,000,000.00

Gardens

Orangerie R 180,000,000.00
15 on Orange R 500,000,000.00

East City Precinct

Upper East Side R 100,000,000.00
The District R 260,000,000.00
The Boulevard R 750,000,000.00
The Edge R 42,000,000.00
Red Brick Building R 150,000,000.00
Six R 100,000,000.00
City Hall R 81,000,000.00

Total: R 23,866,000,000.00

SA hot destination for US tourists

Johannesburg - A recent survey by a top US travel magazine has revealed that American tourists rate Cape Town as their third favourite city in the world.

Thousands of tourists participated in Travel + Leisure’s 2008 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey, which placed Bangkok, Thailand, as the top city to visit and Buenos Aires in Argentina as the second favourite.

But numbers show that Cape Town in the Western Cape is not far behind. According to South African Tourism, in 2006 alone the province welcomed 145 211 visitors from the US. This was an increase of 19,64 % from the previous year.

The Americans also voted Singita Boulders Lodge in the Sabi Sands game reserve, adjacent to the Kruger National Park, as the top hotel in the world. Cape Town’s Cape Grace Hotel was placed 22nd in the same category.

As part of the poll, Travel + Leisure subscribers were invited to fill in a questionnaire and rate cities, hotels, islands, airlines, cruise lines, rental-car agencies, destination spas, hotel spas, tour operators and safari outfitters.

The different cities included in the survey were rated on characteristics such as the different tourist sights on offer, cultural and art attractions, eateries and shopping opportunities, and value for money.

The hotels were judged according to the rooms and facilities on offer, where they were situated as well as the restaurants and value of food offered by the establishment.

Other winners in the survey included Singapore airlines as the world’s best international airline, New York as the best city in the US, Hertz as the best car-rental agency and the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, as the world’s best islands to visit.

All the 2008 winners in the different categories will be honoured at an awards luncheon in New York City on 24 July.

Impressive growth

Tourism is booming not only in the Western Cape, but in the rest of South Africa too. This is in line with the global trend of all-round growth in the sector.

Statistics released by South African Tourism indicate that foreign tourist arrivals in South Africa reached a record high of 7.4-million in 2006, which represents a 10.3% increase on 2004’s figures and exceeds the estimated 5.5% average global growth rate in tourism.

This figure continued to climb as the number of foreign visitors in South Africa grew by 10% from January to May 2007. This positive trend is reflected in arrivals at airports, which increased by 4,4% during the first five months of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006.

how many seats a week are there between CT and the US (direct)?

Stade de France consortium to operate Green Point stadium
(FIFA.com) Monday 25 August 2008


The Stade de France is one of the world's most magnificent and breathtaking sporting arenas.

And it was announced today that some of the French flair and world-class management expertise at the Stade de France will also be utilised to help run Cape Town's beautiful Green Point 2010 FIFA World Cup stadium, one of the tournament's semifinal venues.

A consortium of the Sail Group and Stade de France was today named the preferred bidder to operate the multi-function Green Point stadium in Cape Town after the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Stade de France is a 80 000 seater stadium, one of the most successful and lucrative facilities of its kind in the world which played host to France's stunning 3-0 victory over Brazil in the 1998 FIFA World Cup final. Sail is the largest sport management company in South Africa.

The City of Cape Town will now negotiate a contract with the consortium by the end of October 2008. Once a contract is signed the operator will become involved before 2010 to ensure detailed design, planning and a seamless handover from FIFA at the end of the 2010 tournament.

"Finding an experienced operator was the most crucial element of this joint bidding process and we believe Sail and Stade de France are an impressive team with an exciting vision for the stadium," says Mike Marsden, Executive Director for Service Delivery Integration.

"They offer extensive experience and a successful track record in sport marketing, stadium operations and events programmes. This combination of international and local expertise is exactly what we were hoping for. We are confident of concluding a comprehensive agreement with them," said Marsden.

A bid was received from Investec Bank for both the naming and operator rights for the stadium, but the bid did not meet the tender requirements. The City is of the view that it would be more beneficial to offer the naming rights of the stadium once the operator is in place with a defined events programme.

Transnet statement on misleading Sunday Times article
John Dludlu, Transnet Limited
25 August 2008 17:52

Introduction

1. Yesterday, a Sunday newspaper, Sunday Times, published a false, misleading and irresponsible article on its front page under the headline: "Transnet Sold our Sea to Foreigners".

2. The article states that: "Transnet secretly sold prime Cape Town coastal land and a vast sea area when it offloaded the V&A Waterfront for R7-billion to investors from London and Dubai". This statement is false. The diagram included in the article states that Transnet sold an area of sea stretching from Green Point to Blauwberg Strand to Robben Island.

The sea area outside the Port of Cape Town as shown on the diagram is not owned by Transnet and could therefore never have been sold by Transnet and was in fact not sold. To state that it was sold, is a malicious misrepresentation. What was indeed sold were those properties already owned by the V&A Waterfront company and registered in that company's name. No other property, land or area was sold.

The article further misrepresents:

a. our obligations to the buyer of the V&A Waterfront under the terms of the sale agreement entered into with them;

b. the conduct of our officials in relation to MPs and executive members of the Government;

c. our engagement with public representatives regarding the Integrated Coastal Management Bill (ICM Bill).

3. We were not afforded an opportunity by the Sunday Times to comment on the article before its release. Had we been granted this opportunity it would have allowed us to present the facts and limit the embarrassment and damage that the article has caused to Transnet. This is particularly disconcerting in light of the fact that several weeks ago - when the matter was first reported in the media - Transnet issued a media statement clarifying the very same issues that are the subject of the Sunday Times article

4. We believe that prima facie the Sunday Times article is irresponsible and defamatory.

5. We have this morning briefed litigation attorneys to consider our case and whether the reporting constituted "responsible journalism".

6. In the meantime, we will be demanding an unconditional retraction of the article from the Sunday Times whilst reserving our right to take further action.

7. The following is a list of the factual inaccuracies as reported in the Sunday Times article.

a. Transnet did not "sell the sea to foreigners". In terms of the sale agreement, Transnet and the three retirement funds sold all of their shares and claims in V&A Waterfront Holdings to Lexshell 44 General Trading (Pty) Ltd and not any other assets. Lexshell is a South African registered company.

b. The sale of the V&A Waterfront to Lexshell did not include the "ocean area up to Robben Island". No land or sea areas were part of the sale transaction. The deal did not include "the transfer to the new owners of 22km of coastline and 90km² of sea, stretching from Table Bay to Robben Island".

It must be emphasised that the sea areas earmarked for reclamation under the Governing Agreement (the agreement signed between Transnet and the three retirement funds on 31 October 2001 relating to the restructuring of the V&A Waterfront) were identified in that agreement and are restricted to the sea areas immediately adjacent to the V&A Waterfront, as envisaged in the diagram attached to that agreement (reproduced and attached hereto as Appendix A1). These areas do not extend into Table Bay and do not extend to Robben Island, as suggested in the Sunday Times article.

c. At no stage has Transnet stated that it owns the sea, sea-shore and sea-bed in the terms reported. Transnet has stated that it owns the ports and the land and water areas within the ports by virtue of the Legal Succession to the South African Transport Services Act and the National Ports Act - the ports owned by Transnet are what it wants excluded from the ICM Bill - and DEAT has in fact agreed to this. The disagreement between Transnet and DEAT relates to the mechanism to achieve the exclusion of the ports.

d. The deal was not done "secretly". Transnet and the three retirement funds concluded the sale of their shares in the V&A Waterfront through a competitive bidding process which attracted significant local and foreign investor interest in the V&A Waterfront. All necessary governmental and corporate approvals for the transaction (including approval in terms if the Public Finance Management Act) were obtained. The board of directors of Transnet and the boards of trustees of each of the retirement funds approved the transaction.

The sale process up to the point of selecting Lexshell as the preferred bidder and concluding the sale agreement was overseen by two investment banks, independent legal advisers and an independent auditing firm acting as a governance and process monitoring consultant. At the public announcement of the Lexshell transaction during September 2006, Transnet gave full details of the sale process, the successful bidder, information about the bidder consortium, as well as salient terms of the transaction.

e. It is pure fabrication that "Transnet faces a potential R20-billion claim from Lexshell for failing to honour its contractual obligations". Transnet denies that it faces any such claim.

In terms of the sale agreement, Transnet and the three retirement funds sold all of their shares and claims in V&A Waterfront Holdings to Lexshell for approximately R7 billion. The sale agreement does not contain any warranties or undertakings in favour of Lexshell in relation to the reclamation of land as envisaged in the Governing Agreement; nor does it contain any warranties or undertakings in relation to the anticipated development of the V&A Waterfront.

f. Transnet did not "conceal the full details of the transaction from Cabinet when the deal was signed" or at any other point in time. Transnet obtained its approval in terms of section 54 of the Public Finance Management Act from its Executive Authority being the Minister of Public Enterprises. This is the normal process which is followed for the disposal of state-owned assets.

Transnet, the retirement funds and Lexshell agreed to make copies of the sale agreement and Governing Agreement available to the Western Cape Provincial Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Development. Following the Committee's winter recess, we are waiting for the Secretariat of the Committee to advise us of a date for a meeting with members of the Committee.

g. It is incorrect that Transnet has refused to reveal details of the sale agreement to Minister Van Schalkwyk or DEAT. Transnet is not aware of such a request from the Minister, but Transnet has given DEAT full details of the agreement on more than one occasion.

h. The main thrusts of Transnet's submissions on the ICM Bill are not mentioned at all, namely, the impact of the Bill on Transnet's ownership, management and control of the ports.

i. At no stage did either Transnet or Lexshell tell Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism that "they have an agreement for the transfer of vast amounts of South Africa's coast to foreign interests". This is not supported by the facts.
8. The balance of this statement seeks to assist the media to set out the facts in order to report the issues raised in the Sunday Times article accurately, fairly and in a balanced and informed manner. Accordingly, we attach the following appendices:
a. Appendix A - the background, the nature and scope of the arrangements that exist between Transnet and the V&A Waterfront in respect of the reclamation of land;
b. Appendix B - the nature and key terms of the sale concluded by Transnet and the Transnet retirement funds with the buyer of the V&A Waterfront;
c. Appendix C - the nature and purpose of Transnet's submissions and proposed amendments to the Integrated Coastal Management Bill (ICM Bill); and

For more information, members of the media are free to call me:
John Dludlu
Transnet Limited
083 676 1881
083 277 4774
John.dludlu@transnet.net

Property values look good in Green Point.

It seems Green Point residents are in for a surprise.According to a spokesperson for Anne Porter Knight Frank (APKF) property values in the area surrounding the new stadium have held up well and some have even seen an increase in value in the current market.

While most areas have seen a decline in value this area seems to be doing well, even after many residents in the area protested the construction of the stadium.Many are hoping that because of the Soccer World Cup in 2010 we will see a renewed interest in the areas surrounding the stadium by foreign and local tourists.

Cape Town is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the country with a wonderful atmosphere and vibrant people.Visitors love Cape Town for many reasons and there are definitely things to experience there that no where else can offer you.Hopefully this event and others like it will serve as a platform to present South Africa to the world as a great place for travel and investment.

If it does happen the property and real estate industry will see a rejuvenation in Green Point,Mouille Point and surrounds.Many renovations of old buildings are happening and this will also serve to revive the areas architecture.

Hopefully all goes well and we can invite the visitors in with open arms.It seems it can benefit our property market when we are hospitable.

Muizenber Renewal
Stephen Kihn



THE INFAMOUS peppermint-green Cape Sands buil?ding, opposite Muizenberg train station, will go under the hammer on 18 September.

Auction Alliance is holding the auction, and agent Kim Faclier says bids between R15 million and R20 million are expected for the vacant 2 000m2 property.

Johannesburg-based owner, Abdul Gardee, says the previous intention to redevelop the building into a premium frail care centre is no longer being explored. "We will try this first. I haven't made a decision yet if the auction isn't successful," he says.

Last year the derelict building, with panoramic ocean views, was put up for auction by Claremart Auction Group.

An offer of R17 million was declined by Gardee.

Esme van der Heever, of Seeff Properties in Muizenberg, is doubtful a similar offer is likely. "There is very little movement of stock in Muizenberg at the moment," she says.

Despite the prime location, Van der Hee?ver says a number of factors could adversely affect potential interest. She says should the building be demolished and rebuilt, it would need to be moved back three metres in accordance with the City of Cape Town's road widening scheme.

She added that if a buyer hoped to set the building up as residential premises, sufficient parking bays would need to be provided in accordance with town planning regulations.

"I don't know if there is space for that. If they were to go below the ground, they would have to excavate way down," she said. Van der Heever, like many in the community, is curious to see what offers are made and is hopeful that positive change is forthcoming.

"The building is an entry point into Muizenberg when you come from Simon's Town. If only it would be upgra?ded, it would make a difference," she said.

The Muizenberg Improvement District and the Muizenberg/Lakeside Ratepayers' Association are just two community organisations that support Van der Heever's desire to see change.

Ward councillor Demetri Qually has indicated that the city is investigating legal avenues to compel action.

On Thursday, contractors Ross Demolition started removing rubbish and rubble from inside the building. Brian Swartz, a contracts manager, says the company aims to remove most of the debris within the next two weeks. Swartz said no demolition work is planned at this stage.

Despite being "vacant" since the forced eviction of 23 migrant families on 1 July, stationed security guards have had their hands full dealing with opportunistic thieves brazenly stripping and removing copper piping from the premises.

Red Security has been overseeing security since the beginning of the month and says the incidents have died down since the introduction of a security dog.

"The canine has made a big difference," says André Powan, a marketing and business development executive for Red Security. "There have been some attempts lately ? usually in the evening, over Friday and Saturday."

While the building's fate hangs uncertainly in the balance, it is hoped that one of Muizenberg's ugliest landmarks will soon be a thing of the past.

Zille on the state of the city
Helen Zille
27 August 2008

Text of speech by Cape Town mayor to full council meeting August 27 2008

Speaker, I would like to welcome all Councillors, City officials, and members of the public.

During the recess and over the past few weeks there have been a number of important developments affecting this council which I will mention before we proceed with today's agenda.

Firstly, we have seen a steady decrease in the number of people seeking shelter in the wake of May's xenophobic violence.

The total number of people staying in community halls, private properties, mosques, churches and safe sites has dropped from 20 000 to 3200. Of these, about 2 200 are in the five safe sites, 100 in private venues, and 900 in community halls.

Following an agreement between the City and Province, this week we have started the process of closing the Silwerstroom site, where only 108 people remain, and the Soetwater site, where 600 people remain.

We have given the people staying in these sites the option of either being assisted with reintegration, returning to their country of origin, or moving to Blue Waters or Harmony Park. Youngsfield will remain open but will not receive additional people.

The City and Province have also agreed that by the end of the month all community halls will be closed.

Again, we will offer those affected a choice between reintegration, returning to their country of origin or going to Blue Waters or Harmony Park.

We have requested several hundred additional family tents from the UN to equip the remaining sites and provide more privacy for the people staying there.

And the Provincial Government is continuing its reintegration programme, with the City's support where necessary.

The full details of this process will be given at a media briefing at 13h00 this afternoon in the Civic Centre.

In consolidating shelter for displaced foreign nationals we are guided by last week's interim ruling of the Constitutional Court on the obligations of the Gauteng Government regarding displaced people.

The Court ruled that government has the right to consolidate safe sites and to take down individual shelters if these individual shelters have been evacuated.

In terms of the ruling, nobody can be forcefully moved from their shelter, unless for the consolidation of a camp or to be taken to a repatriation facility.

And the Court found that displaced people have to co-operate with government officials for "all administrative purposes", and may not canvas or recruit extra people to the shelters.

We understand that the representatives of displaced people and the government have been ordered to seek a way to assist the remaining displaced people with a view to closing the camps by September 30.

In this regard it comes as no surprise that the Treatment Action Campaign has dropped its case against the City of Cape Town and Provincial Government over the safe sites.

They never had a case to begin with, and it is disingenuous for them to claim that their change of heart resulted from the Provincial Government's publication of norms and standards relating to safe sites. The TAC was party to the formulation of these standards from the word go, and knew they were coming.

The City has reserved its right to pursue costs against the TAC for their groundless court action, which has wasted ratepayers' money.

A second important matter for this council's attention is the progress being made with the City's preparations for the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Anyone concerned about the Green Point stadium being a "white elephant" should have been reassured by this week's announcement of a preferred bidder to operate the stadium. The City selected a top-notch team of international and South Africa experts in a consortium of the South African Sail Group and the French Stade de France.

Stade de France is an 80 000 seat stadium, one of the most successful and lucrative facilities of this kind in the world. They have successfully hosted major events, entertainment spectaculars and world level matches in various sports codes.

Sail is the largest sport management company in South Africa, with expertise in event creation, sponsorship, hospitality, event management, rights commercialization and merchandising. This is just the right combination of international and local expertise and successful track records we were hoping to attract.

We have decided to postpone the awarding of naming rights until the operator is in place with a defined events programme.

A bid for stadium operator and naming rights was received from Investec Bank, but it did not meet the tender requirements. However, let me take this opportunity again to thank Investec, whose initial guarantee of R180 million made it possible for us to proceed at a crucial stage in preparing to build the stadium. They were absolutely correct in their estimation of the future value of this investment.

There are 652 days left until kick-off, and the stadium is on track for completion on 15 December 2009. We are putting the concrete seating on the last of the three tiers. By the end of September the main construction work will be finished and sub contractors will move in to complete the specialized work.

The major sub-contract is the high-tech roof, parts of which are now being shipped from the manufacturing plant in Kuwait.

Very specialized technology and expertise, not readily available in South Africa , was needed for this roof from a joint American/German supplier. Next month, we will start erecting the stadium roof.

Our Electricity Services have started installing high voltage underground cables in the CBD and Green Point in preparation for 2010. The 132kV cables will provide increased capacity and security of electricity supply to the area and will also supply power to the stadium. We are sorry about any supply disruptions that the installation has caused.

Apart from infrastructure work, we are also preparing our City's human resources for this event.

To help manage increased traffic, 35 Traffic Officers have been assigned specifically for 2010 and are currently in training. 125 Fire Fighters have been appointed and are in training, 180 new Law Enforcement officers will be appointed by June next year, 52 Disaster Operations Centre staff will be appointed by November 2008, and 107 new Call Centre staff are being appointed.

In addition, orders for the procurement of 9 new Fire Engines have been completed, and by November we are also expecting to take delivery of 13 additional vehicles for Metro Police, 23 for Law Enforcement, and 30 motorbikes for Traffic Services.

When councillors registered this morning, they were given our official Cape Town Host City lapel pins. Speaker, I urge them to wear these pins with pride. They are part of our campaign to build interest and enthusiasm as we draw closer to the big event.

Turning to today's agenda, this council will be asked to consider a number of items that support this Multi-Party Government's core IDP objective of infrastructure-led economic growth.

As we move deeper into a downward economic cycle, with higher interest rates and inflation, and slower economic growth, we need to maintain our focus on encouraging job-creating investment.

We must also focus on preparing our infrastructure to meet the increased demand that is likely to accompany the next upward economic cycle, which economists predict will begin within the next 18 months to two years.

A key item in this regard is today's proposal to approve funding for Phase 1A of a Bus Rapid Transit system for Cape Town.

Council will be asked to support the funding for the total project cost of Phase 1A, which is R1,321 billion, approximately R900 m of which comes from National Government, and R421 million from the City.

These funds will be used to establish bus lanes, procure shuttle buses, improve security and shelter at transport interchanges, and set up IT infrastructure.

The areas to be serviced under Phase 1A in line with our 2010 transport commitments will include an Airport link, the City bowl and the Atlantis Corridor.

We intend to have this completed by March 2010.

Council will also be asked to give in-principle support to the full implementation of Phase 1 (which includes links to the Helderberg, the Northern and Southern Suburbs) and to a further three phases over the next ten years, which will place over 75% of Cape Town's population within 500 metres or less of public transport.

We have some of the best transport minds in the world here in Cape Town to assist us in this landmark project, including Dr Lloyd Wright and the former Mayor of Bogota, Mr Enrique Penalosa.

Speaker, there are few initiatives that sum up the motives behind our IDP better than the Bus Rapid Transit system.

It will simultaneously free up developments throughout our city, allowing for greater economic growth and job creation, and it will improve everyone's access to these opportunities, especially the poor.

In addition to the support of this council, I hope that we will see continued collaboration with the taxi industry, which has everything to gain from getting involved.

In fact, all Capetonians stand to benefit from this project. In other cities where it has been implemented, BRT cuts down private car commuter times too, because it gets public transport ‘out of the way', into its own lanes. But the real purpose is to make public transport safe, convenient, clean and more affordable than private cars.

And as Mr Penalosa remarked in the media this week, reducing the number of cars on the roads is an important part of making a city ‘more humane and friendly'.

Our BRT initiative is based on the principle that infrastructure investment attracts further investment.

But we also need to make Cape Town a cleaner, safer city in order to attract capital and skills.

To this end, Council will be asked today to approve our annual Metro Police Plan.

The plan reflects our new focus on Specialised Law Enforcement, which has brought success in dealing with theft of scrap metal and land invasions, and is beginning to make inroads into drug dealing.

This year's police plan also prioritises increased attention to enforcing the law against so-called petty offences and public nuisances, in line with the ‘broken window' principle. We want to promote respect for the law in Cape Town , and respect among our citizens for each others' rights.

This, in any event, is the focus of municipal police services in terms of the Constitution, while the SAPS should be focusing on serious crime. In this regard I welcome the early successes of the SAPS War Room in the Western Cape . We co-ordinate our efforts. Our success on by-law enforcement is crucial for this so-called ‘high-flyer' policing.

The new recruits to our police services I mentioned earlier will help us to implement our police plan with increased efficiency.

And yesterday we opened a safety and security training centre - a first for the metro - which will help to build skills among new recruits and existing staff.

As you will see in today's agenda, we have also implemented much closer monitoring of the metro police performance in order to address persistent shortfalls in delivery and other problem areas.

These measures will help us to create a cleaner, safer city.

That does not mean we want to turn Cape Town into a nanny state, as one community paper put it last week.

In particular, we need to be wary of creating over-complex and unenforceable laws.

The recently proposed guidelines for perimeter fence heights and barbed wire will be put through extensive public comment and will also be considered in terms of their practicality by all of the relevant portfolio committees.

The same is currently being done with the draft by-laws around dog ownership, which seek to regulate in fine detail the gender of dogs owned.

We clearly have to strike a balance between maintaining an attractive public environment on the one hand, and unnecessarily interfering in the affairs of law-abiding citizens on the other.

Speaker, today's agenda also contains several key reports on the progress we have made over the past year in implementing our key IDP objective of infrastructure-led economic growth.

Although we are a long way from tabling our Annual Report, these early indicators are important for us to note, so that we can give attention to problem areas early in the financial year.

One of the most important indicators of our progress is the Financial Report on the last quarter of 2007/8.

The report reveals that we have again broken our own record for investment in infrastructure projects that benefit the public of Cape Town.

This year we have spent R3.1 billion on infrastructure, or 78% of our Capital Budget.

This is a huge improvement from the average R1 billion invested per year since the formation of the unicity in 2000 up until 2006.

It is also 50% up from the R2 billion invested in capital projects during the previous financial year, which represented a 77% rate of expenditure.

And this year we have spent nearly 95% of our operating budget.

This increase in infrastructure investment is one of the best indicators yet of improved efficiency in the City's overhauled administration.

Much of this also has to do with greater transparency and efficiency in our procurement system, which is the main delivery arm of the City.

This is reflected in a report in today's agenda on the performance of our supply chain management department.

In the financial year that has just ended, 431 tenders were issued and finalised- 24% more than previous financial year.

And the time taken to finalise tenders has been reduced by 15% from the previous year to just over 6.5 weeks.

We have also introduced a new electronic tracking system for all tenders, which will improve efficiency further by giving all City staff access to information on tenders and their status.

To our knowledge, we have also become the first South African local government whose Supply Chain Management Department has qualified for certification under the rigorous ISO 9001 international quality management standards.

We have therefore set a national benchmark for awarding contracts quickly, efficiently and transparently.

The importance of this can be illustrated with reference to the current problems around the sale of land in Table Bay by Transnet and the Provincial Government.

Whether or not we ever get to the bottom of this matter, the Cape Chamber of Commerce raised a fair point at last week's ‘business meets province' session when it asked why Province does not open its tender committees to the public in the same way as the City has.

This is one way to ensure that corrupt awarding of tenders is stamped out once and for all.

In addition to our financial indicators, a final performance review for the City during 2007/8 is also before council today.

It also shows progress in several areas regarding our strategic objective of promoting economic growth.

In particular, direct investment in Cape Town grew R1.67 billion in the period under review, exceeding our target of R1.6 billion.

10 177 job opportunities were created, exceeding our target of 9 500.

We also created 12 500 jobs through the Expanded Public Works Programme, a target we met by stamping out cronyism and patronage networks.

And we have exceeded our targets for cleanliness in the public environment and maintenance of parks.

While focusing on factors that promote economic growth and reduction of poverty through job creation, we are also making headway in extending opportunities and access to services to the poor communities of Cape Town.

We have met or exceeded all of our targets for the provision of basic services.

We have exceeded our target of providing essential services to the top 50 informal settlements on our list of 222 by the end of 2007/8.

We have met our targets for reducing infant mortality, HIV/AIDS infections and TB infections.

We have assisted 450 street people through partnerships with shelters, and established 20 local drug action committees, where we had a target of 8.

Of course, some crucial targets have not been met.

The reconfiguration of the Green Point Common in preparation for 2010 is still behind schedule, the result of a delayed Record of Decision from the MEC.

We have also fallen short of our target for delivering housing opportunities, providing 6 500, which is about 700 less than last year.

Although this is still double the average for the previous 5 years, the scale of our housing crisis requires us to do much more.

A number of steps have been taken in the housing department to address this, including rapid procurement of land and filling of vacant posts, and I am told we can expect a significant improvement in the year ahead.

In the interim, we are introducing other measures to assist with access to housing, including a proposed increase to the upper limit for those who qualify for the Public Housing indigent grant.

In the past, households with a monthly income below R1880 received this support.

Today we propose to make it available to households with a monthly income of up to R2880.

We are also proposing an increase the upper limit for those who qualify for GAP housing from a previous monthly household income of R7000 to R10 000.

Finally, our report indicates deteriorating water quality in the city's rivers and wetlands. In many cases water tests revealed ecoli and faecal coliform counts that exceed acceptable limits.

This is largely due to rapid urban growth and decades of underinvestment in infrastructure.

We are urgently addressing this with R280 million allocated for new wastewater treatment works in the current financial year, and similarly increased allocations for stormwater management in informal areas.

There are a number of other areas that need attention in our Performance Review, but these are some of the most critical.

I hope that some of the successes and positive results will keep our councillors and officials motivated to address these challenges.

We still have much work to do.

Speaker, I would like to finish by wishing all of our Muslim councillors, staff and their families Ramadaan Mubarak for next week.

I hope that the holy month of fasting strengthens your faith and your commitment to serving your communities.

We can all draw inspiration from your example of discipline and steadfast commitment.

I thank you.

This is the prepared text of the speech by Helen Zille, Mayor of Cape Town, to the full council meeting, Council Chamber, Cape Town Civic Centre, August 27 2008

such a inspirational leader! fixing cape towns problems through hard work.

:cheers: You Go, Godzille!

'War room' takes on crime
28/08/2008 13:11 - (SA)

Verashni Pillay

Cape Town - The Western Cape's "Crime War Room" has proved to be a success in its crackdown on serious crimes, police said on Wednesday.

The brainchild of Western Cape police commissioner Mzwandile Petros, the war room was established on May 12 to co-ordinate information from various police stations and streamline investigations from a central base.

Now in its third month, the war room has seen a spate of arrests. Sixty-five suspects were arrested in a 24 hour period between Thursday and Friday last week, on charges including hijackings and robberies. A further 153 were arrested over the last weekend, police spokesperson Captain Elliot Sinyangana said.

Police said the war room has improved co-ordination in investigations, and created an increased flow of information between various stations.

"Senior officers at the war room were mandated to focus on house and business robberies, hijackings, house-breakings, drive-way robberies, theft of motor vehicles and possession of unlicensed firearms," explained Senior Superintendent Billy Jones.

Improved morale

Sinyangana told News24 that the room, based in Cape Town's CBD, has improved morale across the province.

"It helps knowing there are people who are there to help when there is a problem in an investigation, so things don't have to stagnate," he said. "Everybody is working towards a goal and making sure that there is success and no delay."

The war room is set to run indefinitely, continuing to provide a support system to various police stations.

Meanwhile, Sinyangana said public support and the media had bolstered the war room's efforts, and thanked the public for their help in tracking down criminals.

Excitement, motivation and hard work were behind the war room's success, he added.

"The enthusiasm is there because now investigators at different stations feel there is 24 hour support," said Sinyangana.

I support Cape Town for 2020 Summer Olympic Games :colgate:

I support Cape Town for 2020 Summer Olympic Games :colgate:
Holy Crap! That came out of nowhere! We'll have to ask Helen Zille if we can spend another R35billion or so... :nuts:

I'm aware that Cape Town will bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games ; this decision will be made by the IOC just in 2013 but I have a very good feeling about this bid , the experience South Africans will have with the WC will improve a lot its chances for hosting this prestigious event ; also the IOC wants a breath of fresh air and go to a new frontier and Cape Town is serious about it (not like Rio's bid which is ridiculous :ohno: )

Holy Crap! That came out of nowhere! We'll have to ask Helen Zille if we can spend another R35billion or so... :nuts:

yip. games operations which needs to be raised from the private sector is about 2 billion dollars, so about R16 billion. Gvt will need to put in about 35 billion and the city probably 15 billion. Expenditure on venues suddenly seems so small. My current estimates at about R6.5 billion.

The city is too poor to even think about an Olympics at this stage. We'll end up bankrupt for wanting to be show-offs.

Actually the Cape Town economy is booming, so who knows what happens till 2013. Maybe 2010 will be our ticket to glory :) Well if Zuma doesn't come along....

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if the people of the Cape Flats have benefited from any of this? Are there any news articles or studies about the Cape Flats getting better?

The city is too poor to even think about an Olympics at this stage. We'll end up bankrupt for wanting to be show-offs.

not really. can you back it up by facts and figures? ive researched quite extensively around this topic.

And what has your research come up with? Montreal for one was financially left in tatters. Has you research included interviews with you favorite mayor, Ms Zille? She for one would tell you that anyone reckoning that Cape Town can really afford to stage an Olympics all by itself at this stage, must be out of his mind. Just look at how we already struggle to find finances & to keep up with the rising costs of the WC2010 construction. Having said that, WC2010 infrastructure would surely boost our capabilities of hosting the Olympics in the not too distant future. However, how much more expensive is the city going to become after hosting the Olympics? Barcelona for one has become ridiculously expensive because of its newly gained status as an Olympic City. I have a very strong feeling that a Games would alienate the vast poor majority of the city even further. Cape Town would simply become unaffordable for the majority of its citizens.

Cases in point.

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A) THE OLYMPICS IN MONTREAL

Montreal saw the 1976 games as a chance to build on the prestige that it had gained during the 1967 World's Fair, known as Expo 67, held in Canada's centennial year.
Montreal massively overspent on the Olympics, following Mayor Jean Drapeau's adage, The Olympics can no more lose money than a man can have a baby (a statement mocked in a political cartoon depicting him on the telephone asking for a "Morgentaler"). However, with rampant corruption, and lack of financial controls, Montreal did indeed lose money, over US$2 billion, when it was all said and done. In fact, the Quebec government — afraid the province would be humiliated internationally — stepped in at the eleventh hour and essentially put the entire municipal Olympic organizing effort under trusteeship. The facilities would likely not have been ready in time for the games had this not happened, a reality trumpeted by the provincial government in a series of "Because of Quebec, we've done it all!" TV commercials. The Olympic Stadium is still known colloquially as the Big Owe (a play on the stadium nickname, the Big O, for the shape of its opening). It's expected that in the fall of 2006, Montreal will finish paying its Olympic debt. 30 YEARS AFTER HOSTING THE GAMES

========================
B) A post-Olympic hurdle for Greece: the whopping bill
Last Updated(Beijing Time):2008-07-08 17:18

By Coral Davenport | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor

Greece defied skeptics to deliver a vibrant Olympics that may be remembered as one of the best. But in Athens, a steeper obstacle remains before the Games can be deemed a success: the staggering bill.

The Greek government has yet to give an exact figure on the cost, but with estimates at $9 to $12 billion, there's no question that these were the most expensive Games ever, an overwhelming economic burden on the smallest country to host them since 1952.

Greeks are hoping for the "Barcelona effect" - a surge in tourism similar to the one that followed the 1992 Barcelona Games - to help defray the massive debt. But many economists warn that Athens may end up experiencing something closer to the "Montreal effect." That city was plunged into such a financial slump after the 1976 Games that it won't finish paying off its Olympic debt until 2006.

"It's hard to say which will happen, between these two views," says Thanos Veremis, an analyst at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy. "With the high debt, and the slowdown in development, there could be a serious recession. But the Olympics also spurred Greece to improve infrastructure ... If the cost is forbidding, we will have to declare that the Olympics were a failure."

Estimates for financing the entire Games were around $1 billion, but due to the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the cost of Olympic security alone rocketed to an estimated $1.5 billion. And after the Greeks became bogged down in delays, they were forced to spend billions more over the three years before the Games, to do, as organizers have said, "seven years' work in three years' time."

Athens was saddled with massive preparations for its Olympic city. Known for its bad roads, airport, and mass transit systems, Greece built highways, a new airport, and a suburban rail system. Many point to this as the biggest benefit of the Games, noting that most of these projects would never have been started, let alone completed, without the Olympic deadline.

During the lead-up to the Games, development contributed to a booming economy. The country's average economic growth rate of more than 4 percent a year was well over the European Union average. As one of the poorest EU countries at the time, Greece was receiving hefty EU subsidies for development. But with 10 more nations now in the EU, those subsidies will be funneled to poorer countries.

With the end of major development comes the beginning of payback. Greece's public debt is close to 100 percent of its GDP and its budget deficit is now 3.2 percent, which breaches the 3 percent limit set by the European Commission. The EC has demanded Greece devise a plan in three months to reduce the debts.

Experts say that Greece is hardly unusual in having a post-Olympic hole in its pocket. "With the exception of Los Angeles, [in 1984], I can't think of any Olympics that were really a financial success," says Evan Osborne, a sports economist at Ohio's Wright State University.

Australian taxpayers are still paying off an Olympic debt from the 2004 Sydney Games that could cost them $32 million a year for a decade. Barcelona is still paying back a $1.4 billion Olympic deficit. And even the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002 left Utah with a $155 million deficit.

The burden could be even harder for Greece, says Osborne. He and other experts say it may be unrealistic to expect a Barcelona-like tourism boom to pay it off. "Barcelona was part of an overall boom in tourism to Spain. But since then, so much has changed in terms of international travel and security," says Helen Lenskyj, a sociologist at the University of Toronto who specializes in the Olympics.

In an acknowledgment of Greece's struggle to pay for the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee announced plans to cut the scale of the Olympics in the future. It proposed more than 100 recommendations to combat what it called the "gigantism" of the event, including cutbacks in venues and credentials, and said some of the measures will be implemented by the 2006 Winter Games in Turin.

Meanwhile, Athenians are preparing to tighten their belts for at least the next decade. City of Athens spokesman Dimi-tris Katsoudas is optimistic about the investment to his city, but echoes Greek officials throughout the government: "This was a gamble. For the final answer, you'll have to ask again in 10 years."

=========================

C) Ruined Athens Olympic Facilities a Warning to London
By MALCOLM MOORE, The Daily Telegraph | June 2, 2008

ATHENS — The buildings constructed in Athens for the Olympic Games four years ago are fly blown, closed to the public, and covered in graffiti, a forewarning of the possible aftermath of the London Games in 2012.

Of the 22 venues in the city, 21 are in a state of disrepair and under guard to prevent vandalism.

Athens spent more than $18 billion on staging the Olympics, slightly less than the current estimate for the London games.

The hangover from the games was tremendous. Greece was left with a national budget deficit of 6.1%, more than twice the maximum allowed under European Union rules.

The infrastructure, which was installed in such haste, has proven to be far too extravagant for the city. It is difficult to imagine there was ever much local interest in continuing to use the baseball, kayaking, fencing, and handball facilities down the coast at Hellenikon.

A few miles outside the city center, the sprawling Faliron complex that once hosted the beach volleyball and taekwondo competitions is deserted and a lone security guard has not been able to deter youths from spraying the walls with slogans.

Inside one of the buildings, puddles of water are dotted across the marble floor.

The baseball stadium was briefly used for football matches, until the organizers realized that the shape of the baseball diamond resulted in all the television cameras standing at the corner flag.

Elsewhere at Hellenikon, piles of rubbish are mounting behind heavily padlocked gates and electrical cables hang loose from the walls. On one bridge, every light fitting has been wrenched out, while crumbling concrete is ubiquitous, a sign of the speed at which the complex was built.

Just out of interest...if we aren't capable of pulling it off why did we bid for 2004 (and get mighty close to being host city)?

The olympics have enterred a new era of cheaper hosting. temporary stadia will be cheaper and we build for less and after the improvements of beyond 2010 we will have a city that only needs the stadia. the olympic village will afterwords become housing for the housing backlog. goverment backing?
no reason why super zille and super cape town and super SA cant pull it off without being a financial burden for 30 years. were anyway a stronger country than greece.

And what has your research come up with? Montreal for one was financially left in tatters. Has you research included interviews with you favorite mayor, Ms Zille? She for one would tell you that anyone reckoning that Cape Town can really afford to stage an Olympics all by itself at this stage, must be out of his mind. Just look at how we already struggle to find finances & to keep up with the rising costs of the WC2010 construction. Having said that, WC2010 infrastructure would surely boost our capabilities of hosting the Olympics in the not too distant future. However, how much more expensive is the city going to become after hosting the Olympics? Barcelona for one has become ridiculously expensive because of its newly gained status as an Olympic City. I have a very strong feeling that a Games would alienate the vast poor majority of the city even further. Cape Town would simply become unaffordable for the majority of its citizens.

So because of Grek failures and Montreals bills we are suddenly incapable?
Funding for the Olympic Games is both private and public. Government often underwrites the cost of venues. Cape Town's 1997 bid was based on a strong private backing that allowed it to guarantee many aspects of the bid.

Excuse me for not trusting your feelings, because by your theories and using your worst case scenario approach i.e. Wembley ,our 10 world cup stadia would be complete by 2014 and cost us R35 billion which we will pay off by 2032.

Whats the reality? 10 stadia on track for FIFA's deadlines, 10 stadia with overruns due to inflation and global prices that EVERY city or country faces not due to mismanagement of projects. It seems to me many South Africans believe we are somehow immune to prices rising or a slowdown in the global economy.

If Barcelona's weakness is its prices, then I say bring it on. That city was turned around and inside out. The Games can be poorly mananged and they can be well managed, just because Athens took 7 years to put a roof on a venue and Montreal decided to overspend does not mean Cape Town or Durban will.

On the alienation of the poor, many Olympic facilties were built due to the 1997 bid for communities even if they were scaled down, Grassy Park , Athlone, Turfhall, Khayelistha, Belhar, Bellville, Observatory. I've seen these and seen them in use, in many cases the first community facility/hall these communities ever saw. How would R30-40 billion of transport improvements due to hosting the Games alienate the poor?

The topic is not as shallow or black and white as you portray it to be. This is also the wrong thread for an Olympic discusion.

Tourism boss talks '2010'
29/08/08



VIEWED as important for hospitality businesses hoping to take advantage of opportunities during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, a meeting is to take place in Somerset West on September 11 at which Cape Town Tourism CEO Mariette du Toit-Hembold will be the guest speaker.

Hosted by the Helderberg branch of the Cape Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Du Toit- Hembold will speak about how businesses can prepare for the event that will bring a flood of international visitors to Cape Town.

In a statement promoting the meeting, Du Toit-Hembold says: "With less than two years to go to the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup and the eyes of the world upon us, there has never been a more opportune time in tourism.

"We must invest in solid, practical and firm principles of ethical behaviour, management and lifestyle, balancing the fragile state of our climate, communities, the natural environment with the need to grow the tourism economy to address poverty and unemployment," she says. "We have realised that in order to deliver upon our mandate and grow our tourism economy effectively, we have to implement smart, bold and creative business strategies."

Last month, Cape Town Tourism's mandate was extended to include destination marketing services for Cape Town.

Until now, the City of Cape Town had outsourced destination marketing for Cape Town to Cape Town Routes Unlimited.

"In essence, we will now be responsible for destination marketing as well as visitor services and industry support. As always, Cape Town Tourism will look at this as an opportunity to further strengthen brand Cape Town and ensure that Cape Town and its tourism experiences are best show-cased to the world," Du Toit-Hembold says.

The meeting takes place at the NH The Lord Charles hotel in the form of a networking breakfast, which starts at 08:00.

The cost, which includes breakfast, is R50 for members and R70 for non-members.

Business representatives keen to attend should book a seat by contacting branch co-ordinator Tom Kessler by September 9 on tel: (021) 851-2886 or email: tom@capechamber.co.za.

So because of Grek failures and Montreals bills we are suddenly incapable? I never mention we are incapable, we are too poor.

Funding for the Olympic Games is both private and public. Government often underwrites the cost of venues. Cape Town's 1997 bid was based on a strong private backing that allowed it to guarantee many aspects of the bid.The security budget for Atlanta was more than the whole budget for the CT2004 bid. Its laughable to think that CT can financially compete with a first world city. 2/3 of CT's population are struggling to make ends meet. It cannot be expected of these people to finance fancy dreams. Also, do you honestly believe that Raymond Ackerman (& other white businesses) would be as eager to jump on the financing wagon again, after his original bid had been hijacked by the ANC?

Excuse me for not trusting your feelings, because by your theories and using your worst case scenario approach i.e. Wembley ,our 10 world cup stadia would be complete by 2014 and cost us R35 billion which we will pay off by 2032. Once again comparing cashews (Pounds) with peanuts (Rands). The bill for the WC2010 is spread across the country, less of a burden on one city. Other cities would be reluctant to help financing a CT Olympic Games.

It seems to me many South Africans believe we are somehow immune to prices rising or a slowdown in the global economy. By no means. We struggle to keep up, as seen by the rising inflation figures. On the contrary we are aware of price fluctuations; and already the figures you are spewing out, are invalid.

If Barcelona's weakness is its prices, then I say bring it on. Sounds like Marie Antoinette's last words... someone with plenty, who doesnt care of the have nots. It is shocking that already more than half the city cant buy a Big Mac, and most have never set foot in a hotel room. What does this tell you about the costs of things in CT for the majority? I dont care about foreigners and costs of things in the first world. A city finds itself on very treacherous grounds if its population cannot afford it.

On the alienation of the poor, many Olympic facilties were built due to the 1997 bid for communities even if they were scaled down, Grassy Park , Athlone, Turfhall, Khayelistha, Belhar, Bellville, Observatory. I've seen these and seen them in use, in many cases the first community facility/hall these communities ever saw. Alienation in terms of affordability. Land prices have/ and still are soaring. a Teacher can't even afford to buy a house in this city anymore! What's the chance of squatter dwellers ever being able to buy a brick house? Fancy Olympic facilities are Wants and not Needs. They are not needed now. That's what's shallow


Anyway, moving on, as I cannot be convinced otherwise on this one. I like the Olympic idea, but it needs on the shelf for a while still.

Anyway, moving on, as I cannot be convinced otherwise on this one. I like the Olympic idea, but it needs on the shelf for a while still.

dude, if theres one thing i wont be accussed of is being a "have plenty who does not care for the have nots". Ive worked in these communities, built houses and seen the challenges people face and continue to face.

I don't mind you have your own opinion but not every event is meant to save the poor.

Every time I think about it I reach the conclusio that cape town could host an olympic games that leaves a legacy far beyond what anyone can dream of and at the same time solves so many of the problems we currently deal with its just that if cape town is to host such an event the whole concept of how it is hosted needs to be radically re thought

Every time I think about it I reach the conclusio that cape town could host an olympic games that leaves a legacy far beyond what anyone can dream of and at the same time solves so many of the problems we currently deal with its just that if cape town is to host such an event the whole concept of how it is hosted needs to be radically re thought
that process is beginning with temporary solutions to almost all venues.
the bid in 1997 had many many venues in all areas of cape town which sort of went against the overly compact games the IOC wants and cape town still reached 3rd place.

modular venues can also be relocated to a permanent site elsewhere. the 2004 bid also included modular home and temporary structures that would be relocated elsewhere. it had major nodes in philippi, belhar, athlone and many training venues spread around previously disadvantaged areas which exist today due to the bid.

^^ a thought or 2 I had about stadia and the olympics in cape town (btw this is something I actually spend alot of time thinking about) but if cape town were to host the olympics we could build a 80000 seater tempory stadium that is reduced in 1 20000 seater 2 10000 seater 4 5000 seater and a number of smaller stadiums/stands after the event this would leave 7 major venues for different comunities and a number of much smaller venues 1000 or 2000 seater which could be used for schools or clubs and still be integral to the comunity. Also as an idea if a practise athletics venue is built (Im not saying its needed) within the athletes villiage the moving of one of the 10000 seater nodes to that venue would leave you with an area which on top of having a huge influx of housing will also have a new stadium away from the "olympic Stadium".

Another point is that depending on how the athletes village is designed housing for 10000 atheletes could equate into houses for 20000 people post olympics.

An entirely different thought is that now that cape town already has 2/3 major football/rugby stadiums it could for the olmpics and beyond be feasable to consider roofing over newlands allowing it to be used as the major indoor stadium yet aslong as the roof can retract and the flooring used is tempry it would then become a coverd rugby stadium. possibly also making it more suitable for concerts due to its noise control

^^ a thought or 2 I had about stadia and the olympics in cape town (btw this is something I actually spend alot of time thinking about) but if cape town were to host the olympics we could build a 80000 seater tempory stadium that is reduced in 1 20000 seater 2 10000 seater 4 5000 seater and a number of smaller stadiums/stands after the event this would leave 7 major venues for different comunities and a number of much smaller venues 1000 or 2000 seater which could be used for schools or clubs and still be integral to the comunity. Also as an idea if a practise athletics venue is built (Im not saying its needed) within the athletes villiage the moving of one of the 10000 seater nodes to that venue would leave you with an area which on top of having a huge influx of housing will also have a new stadium away from the "olympic Stadium".

Another point is that depending on how the athletes village is designed housing for 10000 atheletes could equate into houses for 20000 people post olympics.

An entirely different thought is that now that cape town already has 2/3 major football/rugby stadiums it could for the olmpics and beyond be feasable to consider roofing over newlands allowing it to be used as the major indoor stadium yet aslong as the roof can retract and the flooring used is tempry it would then become a coverd rugby stadium. possibly also making it more suitable for concerts due to its noise control

Yes definitely things I have considered.

A temporary stadium would be continuing the trend from london 2012 to possible 2016 hosts chicago. I would prefer a 20 000 seat legacy for athletics which would become the national athletics high performance centre along with the new home for athletics south africa.


The newlands roof concept was part of the 2004 bid but transnet came on board and provided a proposal for two large arenas at culemborg. The roof would be temporary and would host two major sports as Atlanta 1996 did.

The Olympic village back in 1997 was great and included temporary components and would allow for integration with factreton. Of course back then the location was debated..but then came along Century City, now the fastest growing residential node in the province. I think it should be modified to allow easier integration with century city. In fact an entire Olympic Park at Wingfield would probably be integrated with Century City.

We're looking at about R6.8 billion for venues or less which is about R3 billion more than Green Point staduim costs.

Cape Town rising to the 2010 challenge



By Lynnette Johns

Building sites are blossoming all over Cape Town as infrastructure for the 2010 soccer World Cup gets on track and all but one of the major projects planned will be completed in good time.

The sole exception may be the rail link between the airport and the CBD. The South African Rail Commuter Corporation has set aside R850-million for the 4km link and it is procuring services before construction can begin.

Construction sites are busy, cranes dot the skyline, new hotels are going up, and work has started on better roads and upgraded stadiums.

Cape Town will host eight matches including a semi-final, and is gearing itself up for tourists before, during and after the tournament.

The official fan park on the Grand Parade is also being built
All roads will lead to the Green Point Stadium, which could soon get a new name. The stadium is the anchor for the entire 2010 provincial and city plan, which includes upgraded public transport, improved roads, pedestrian friendly walkways, increased emergency services and upgraded stadiums.

Eight hotels are being built in the city, which will supplement the existing 90 500 hotel beds in a two-hour radius of the stadium.

The safety and security plan includes hi-tech operation centres, additional staff, and a beefed up flying squad.

Plans are also under way to attract national soccer teams to make the Western Cape their home base for the duration of the World Cup, which kicks off in 650 days.

The provincial 2010 co-ordinator, Dr Laurine Platzky, said on Friday most of the projects were on track and people could see progress in the road works, such as Hospital Bend, and in the stadium works.

Work will shortly start on a 2,4km pedestrian walkway from Cape Town station via the Waterfront
"We are working hard to not only deliver a fantastic event, but to improve public transport for all beyond 2010," she said.

Platzky said work on the airport was on track, as was upgrading the Cape Town station.

City 2010 spokesperson Pieter Cronje said the stadium was 40 percent complete and was waiting for the components of the roof to arrive from Kuwait, Germany and Johannesburg.

The official fan park on the Grand Parade is also being built.

"The city is aware of eight new hotels, including the Taj, 15 on Orange, the Express Holiday Inn, the One&Only and two more in the Waterfront???, which will be completed in time for the World Cup," Cronje said.

Work will shortly start on a 2,4km pedestrian walkway from Cape Town station via the Waterfront to the stadium.

Work is also expected to start on lifting the Granger Bay circle near the stadium and its approach roads to provide a safe passage for pedestrians below.

Contractors have started working on upgrading the Philippi stadium, which will be a practice venue, and the nearby railway station, which is expected to become the second busiest station after Cape Town. Work is also continuing on the Athlone stadium, which will also be a practice venue for visiting teams.

Public transport has been identified as a legacy project and residents have been promised more trains, stations, rapid bus systems and easing congestion on roads like Hospital Bend and the Koeberg Interchange.

Plans for a bus rapid transit system from the airport into the city will be implemented soon.

The provincial government will soon start work on widening the N2 between the railway bridge at the foot of Sir Lowry's Pass and the railway bridge to the golf course.

The bridge on the N2, which crosses the Knysna lagoon, will be rehabilitated and widened in places to ease traffic passing through Knysna.

The city's 2010 co-ordinator Teral Cullen said benefits from the World Cup would include nine new fire engines, an increase in traffic and emergency vehicles, and additional posts in the city's emergency call centre.

No mention of BRT :(

No mention of BRT :(

work on Phase 1A begins this month. all the phases are in the cape town public transport thread.

work on Phase 1A begins this month. all the phases are in the cape town public transport thread.

I was meaning in the article I just think its one of the most important devolpments that has ever happened in ct

I was meaning in the article I just think its one of the most important devolpments that has ever happened in ct

thats called journalism in RSA

^^ true true

Btw there seems to be very little on the claremont urban renewal on ssc or am i jut missing it. I only ask cos I was looking for something on the werdmuller center

^^ true true

Btw there seems to be very little on the claremont urban renewal on ssc or am i jut missing it. I only ask cos I was looking for something on the werdmuller center
if im not mistaken there is a group on facebook.
apparently dhk are demolishing it for some development!!

if im not mistaken there is a group on facebook.
apparently dhk are demolishing it for some development!!

Yeah I read that they might be doing that (be a pity really - I dont particularly like it but it is rather important architectuarly) But I really cant see Mr Henstra (of DHK) been to keen on the demolition He clearly lauded it as one of the must see buidings in South Africa

On my point about Claremont there is however alot of other work happening there including the whole transport interchange and about 10 new blocks

Yeah I read that they might be doing that (be a pity really - I dont particularly like it but it is rather important architectuarly) But I really cant see Mr Henstra (of DHK) been to keen on the demolition He clearly lauded it as one of the must see buidings in South Africa

On my point about Claremont there is however alot of other work happening there including the whole transport interchange and about 10 new blocks

yip. not sure where to get updates though. perhaps request updates in the claremont developments thread.

Not sure how updated this list is.


Developments and building improvements continue apace

Development projects currently underway or nearing completion in Claremont, starting from the northern boundary extent progressing southwards:

1 SOUTHERN SUN NEWLANDS (erf 96983)
This R18m refurbishment project has been completed and the name of the hotel changed due to Southern Sun losing the Holiday Inn franchise. The hotel is anxious to secure basement parking to replace the bays which will be lost due to the development of the Boulevard. Ongoing refurbishments are planned for 2008.

2 ENGEN GARAGE (erven 50374, 50373 and 50371)
This building together with the forecourt have been redeveloped to incorporate Woolworths Foods, Steers, a Convenience shop, Corner Bakery and SterKinekor DVD rental, with a capital value of circa R12m.

3 MONTCLARE (PARAMOUNT TOWERS) (erf 58221)
This project includes a substantial residential element, a Virgin Active Mega Club gym and the new regional offices for Growthpoint Properties who are the owners of the scheme. The value of the project has ballooned to some R500m and it is anticipated that Pick n Pay will re-open for retail trading in August 2008.

4 PKF HEAD OFFICE (erf 55718)
This building was purchased by the auditor’s accountants PKF as a replacement to their current Protea Place offices.
Project value circa R12m.

5 SANCLARE (erf 140700)
This building is in need of substantial external renovation, however, the Irish owner is waiting for a major anchor tenant to be secured prior to completing the work. Market rumour is that the old Newlands Surgical Clinic, which was formerly in the Pick n Pay building, is relocating into space within the building. Project value circa R50m.

6 PANASONIC BUILDING (erf 55488)
This office and retail building fronting on to Dreyer Street has a development application for the addition of 10 duplex apartments on the roof. Project value +/-R15m.

7 THE CLAREMONT (erven 55572, 55573, 55599, 58248 and 55749)
This R300m residential and retail development has been successfully completed with good occupancy levels. The retail elements of the project achieved prices of in excess of R20 000/m2.

8 STONES BUILDING (erf 55499)
This building was recently acquired by New Property Ventures who will look to redevelop it when the leases expire in 2009.

9 MARKET TOYOTA (erven 58083 and 55503)
This R50m development was successfully completed in 2007.

10 INTABA (erf 118982)
This residential and retail redevelopment with a value of circa R150m has been completion with the residential owners taking occupation in late 2007.

11 CLAREMONT TERRACES (erf 118982)
This building was purchased from Property Partners by Atterbury and a major internal refurbishment of the block carried out, attracting office rentals in excess of R110/m2

12 VINEYARD HOTEL & SPA (erf 155543)
During the past two years the hotel has spent circa R40m on developing a spa, basement parking, a gym and pool area and remodelling the front of the hotel.

13 FRESH STOP (erf 57393)
This former bank and lawyer’s offices was purchased by local investor Charles Arton and redeveloped for Fruit & Veg City to open their flagship FreshStop premises. Development costs circa R15m.

14 ADULT WORLD (erf 55558)
This property was purchased by New Property Ventures, who will redevelop the property with an additional two floors of offices with the ground and first floor let for retail purposes to a shoe company. Development costs of the
project, which will commence in the second quarter of 2008, will be circa R35m.

15 STEERS BUILDING (erven 55509 and 5733)
This project commenced earlier this year and will comprise ground floor retail premises (let to Mr Price) followed by 3 floors of parking and 5 floors of offices. The New Property Ventures Group will occupy the penthouse and the remainder of the office space is at an advanced stage of negotiation with a single tenant.

16 CAVENDISH CONNECT and DREYER STREET (erf 57957)
This R135m development was completed in November 2007 with the retailers enjoying a successful first trading season in December 2007. Several new restaurants have added a welcome boost to this precincts’ culinary offerings.

17 STADIUM ON MAIN (erf 144003)
South Africas largest foreign owned call centre, Car Phone Warehouse, was successfully installed (R10m installation) in 2006. Of the 17 call centres they have around the world, the Stadium on Main operation, with 550 operators, is the groups leader.

18 ROSCOMMON HOUSE (erf 54358)
This property was purchased by Stadium on Main and redeveloped into two restaurant offerings for a total project cost of R8m.

19 STANDARD BANK GALLERIA (erf 148632)
Standard Bank recently renewed their lease for a further 5 year period and the common areas in the building have been refurbished at a cost R4m to seamlessly meld in with the neighbouring Cavendish Connect.

20 WARWICK PLACE (erven 56913 and 57113)
This building, owned by the listed property fund Acucap, was redeveloped with a R15m refurbishment which has seen the building transformed into a modern retail and office offering.

21 WERDMULLER CENTRE (erf 54472)
Old Mutual, the property owners, have submitted a demolition permit, which is subject to review by various parties.

22 SEVEN MILES SOUTH (erven 58077 and 54490)
This residential apartment block together with a car showroom on the ground floor - the first of several new apartment blocks in the CBD to be completed - was handed over to occupiers in mid 2007.

23 STANHOPE SQUARE (erf 161408)
This development was completed by Rand Merchant Bank Properties and sold to listed property group, Spearhead, in 2006.

24 BROOKE STREET (erven 55056, 55055 and 55070)
The existing Virgin Active is now privately owned and it is proposed that the owner Richard Brake, who is represented from a property perspective by Chris Hyland, will link up with Chris Wolf who owns the two residential properties formerly owned by Buchanan Boyes. This development potentially would be in excess of R200m in value terms.

25 STANHOPE CENTRE (erf 149119)
This property was recently sold to Atlas Properties, a listed property fund, for some R17m. The property has substantial undeveloped bulk.

26 CLAREMONT CIVIC PRECINCT (All erven between Bath and Wilderness Roads / Main and Railway line)
Phase 1 – Library Square – Completed – 4500 m2 offices / retail – Value R 65m
Phase 2 – Quadrant Square – May 2008 – 45 Apartments / Lifestyle Centre / retail – Value R 70m
Phase 3 & 4 – The Quadrant – July 2009 – 200 Apartments – Value – R 290m
This development is being carried out by Corevest (Pty) Ltd for the Claremont Library Development Company (Pty) Ltd and in value terms represents a total investment in commercial and residential properties of R 425m.

^^ Thank you very much. Most of it seems relativly current.

Okay, here we have Adderley Street:
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s347/alainkermis/Adderly2-print.jpg

Then Victoria Drive (Camps Bay):
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s347/alainkermis/VictoriaDr1-print.jpg

The Pier:
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s347/alainkermis/CTPiers1-print.jpg

Another one of the pier:
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s347/alainkermis/CTPiers2-print.jpg

Amazing how it has changed so much... :D

Yes

To think the pier today is a road called the Heerengracht, and the foreshore development from the Golden Acre to the current port Quay side have all been build on reclaimed land. This makes the current development in Dubai with man made islands look small.

Very few people realize that Strand Street (Beach Road) was named as such because it was on the beach. When the King and Queen of South Africa (and Great Britain) visited SA in 1947, his shipped still docked next to the pier.

The National Party Government after 1948, started the project to enlarge the city of Cape Town and reclaim all the land from Strand Street to the current Port. On this reclaimed portion the new station was build (unfortunately the old station was demolished).

Perhaps this comments put another perspective on the Sunday Times rumour that Transnet sold the right to develop the sea to the Dubai Investment company. Perhaps one day the attached ferry will no longer be needed as we will be able to drive to Robben Island...................

Just a thought.

I just read a few posts up that Philippi Station is to become the second busiest, after Cape Town. Does this person have any idea how large and busy Bellville Station is? 11 Platforms, with 100 trains between Bellville and Cape Town each way every week day.... So are they saying Philippi is going to top that? I'm sure even Mutual or Salt River are busier than Philippi.... I just don't understand these types of statements....:ohno:

I think Phillippi is bigger based on the number of users perhaps to and from the city. Not sure though.

http://www.cbn.co.za/images/cbn_logo.jpg

01 Sep 2008 : New MD Upbeat About Cape

KURT Schwechheimer is the new man at the helm of Grinaker-LTA Building Cape. This newly appointed divisional managing director is upbeat about the Cape building industry’s prospects for the foreseeable future.

Grinaker-LTA Building Cape, which is part of the JSE-listed Aveng Group, recently kicked off a R94 million contract to build the Pepper Club residential apartments in Cape Town’s CBD, while in East London, where the division is active in the low-cost housing market, its work on the Reeston housing project is continuing apace.

Ongoing, high profile contracts, such as the upgrade of Cape Town International Airport, the new forensic facility being built at Plattekloof for the Department of Public Works, Nelson Mandela Stadium and various projects at the Coega Industrial Development Zone in Port Elizabeth, remain the foundation of Grinaker-LTA Building Cape’s current order book.

In addition, the division is busy building the new ‘Special Youth Care Centre’ for the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape capital of Bhisho. This R230 million contract - with a contract period of 28 months - consists of the construction of some 40 single storey buildings in face brickwork and complimentary finishes. The buildings include 16 secure hostel blocks accommodating some 320 juveniles. This site, which was recently awarded a 5-Star Safety Rating, also won the MBA Safety Award for contracts in the R200 million to R500 million category.

Schwechheimer says the division’s order book has changed in recent years, to one in which the majority of contracts are from state and parastatal organizations, rather than private developers, which contributed the bulk of Grinaker-LTA Building Cape’s workload in the past. Despite this, however, the division continues to forge long-term relationships with companies like Aspen Pharmacare. Several projects have been undertaken for the pharmaceutical manufacturer over the years - including the R133 million contract to build a new pharmaceutical factory in Port Elizabeth - and others are underway and in the pipeline.

Along with its workload, Grinaker-LTA Building Cape’s employee complement has also grown – by approximately 40% in the last year. The division and its employees are committed to uplifting and developing the communities in which they work wherever possible. “We have forged an ongoing working relationship with Heaven’s Nest, a halfway house for children who have been abused, abandoned or affected by HIV/Aids,” Schwechheimer reports. “We have assisted with the upgrading of the home in Ottery, Cape Town, and the provision of their daily milk requirements. In Port Elizabeth, we are about to start a similar relationship with Quest School for autistic children.

“We are closely involved in a number of exciting educational initiatives, including the ‘Go For Gold’ project, which targets disadvantaged students from local communities in Cape Town and assists with the provision of life skills, mathematics training and work opportunities in the construction industry,” he explains. This year has seen Grinaker-LTA Building Cape give bursaries for further tertiary studies to three of the Go For Gold students. “We are also involved with the Further Education and Training (FET) College initiative, which provides support, bursaries and in-service training and work opportunities for Northlink College in Cape Town.”

Schwechheimer says that, like other industry players, Grinaker-LTA Building Cape is currently contending with challenges such as the volatile fuel and steel markets. “Resources remain a major challenge,” he says. Despite the challenges, however, he says that opportunities abound, and Grinaker-LTA Building Cape is well placed to capitalize on these. “Future growth in the industry will be driven mainly by infrastructure work such as schools, hospitals, rail, roads and prisons, as well as the major projects Eskom will be undertaking. The volume of residential work and hotels is expected to start slowing due to the current economic climate and the approach of 2010. Any new hotels that will need to be ready for the World Cup will have to start imminently in order to be completed in time for the start of the competition.

“Grinaker-LTA Building Cape has positioned itself to capitalize on these opportunities, particularly the proposed ‘Public Private Partnership’ Prisons, hospital upgrades and Transet expansion, as well as the nuclear power stations. We are currently in negotiation on a number of projects, including hotels and a turnkey factory. We remain confident that the market will remain buoyant beyond 2010,” he says.

Contract Contract Value Scope of works Date Completed

Vana Hotel
R 75,000,000.00
Construction of a 7 Storey Luxury Hotel with a Retail section
Current

The Orangerie
R 105,000,000.00
Two Luxury Apartment Blocks, One 7 Storeys and the other 5 Storeys, Both with Sub-base parking levels
Current

Roggebaai Square
R 210,000,000.00
12 Storey Office Block for multinational telecoms company
Current

The District
R 78,000,000.00
Luxury office block for a large media company.
Current

Stonehurst Close
R 40,000,000.00
New Development of 30 houses
Current

Canal Quays
R 110,000,000.00
New Development of 93 Apartments
Current

The Rockwell
R 140,000,000.00
Construction of Multi-Storey Luxury Apartment
2007

Thanks DK.

Cape Town is SA's entrepreneurial hub


Cape Town far outstrips the rest of South Africa in its levels of entrepreneurial activity, according to an international study analysing innovative development in 34 global cities.

The report, published under the Scientific Analysis of Entrepreneurship and SMEs as part of the SMEs and Entrepreneurship Programme, is the product of the examination of five years of Global Entrepreneurship Monitor research (GEM).

Mike Herrington, director of the UCT Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the UCT Graduate School of Business and the team leader of the GEM research in South Africa for the past seven years, said that the success in Cape Town shows the city has "a much higher level of knowledge, innovation and opportunity than elsewhere in the country".

Cape Town's achievement is considerable: the city is ranked at number one out of the 34 cities studied in terms of having an Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Opportunity Activity level greater than the national average. Cape Town's activity is registered as a colossal 190 percent higher than South Africa's national average, compared to 60 percent in Johannesburg. Additionally, it seems that success breeds confidence, as the city ranked at number one in the analysis of people's confidence in their own ability to start a business, 70 percent above the national average.

Herrington said the city's performance was the result of its urban development. He explained that there is "an interdependent relationship between certain characteristics of a metropolitan city... and the amount of entrepreneurial activity."

He said that talented people "prefer cities with attributes like tolerance, economic welfare and knowledge intensity." Cape Town, and to an extent, Johannesburg, have a greater propensity to promote entrepreneurial activity. - Staff Writer

Wow, those are some high numbers!

shows why cape town ''works''

Thats really encouraging Go Cape Town

Operation overhaul

Tammy Petersen



A COMPLETE overhaul of the 1 680 triple-storey council flats in Hanover Park is on the cards . R21 million has been set aside by the City of Cape Town to revitalise the dilapidated housing units.

Everything from leaking roofs to creaking staircases will be redone, with the two-year project kicking off later this month.

Manenberg will also see a drastic change in its housing units, as the area, along with Kewtown, Ottery and Heideveld, will also form part of the pilot phase of the city's project to upgrade its council flats.

Subcouncil chairperson Charlotte Williams says this initiative is "long overdue", especially in areas like Manenberg and Kewtown.

"Some people have been living in these terrible conditions for up to 30 years. There has been a desperate need for this and it's satisfying to know that this problem will now be ta?ken care of."

Hanover Park ward councillor Kenneth Lategan says the first goal of the project will be to appoint a community liaison officer who will work with tenants. Project mana?gers will be appointed to ensure that all residents' concerns are given priority.

"It will be the responsibility of this person (liaison officer) to ensure that every unit is inspected thoroughly and all concerns are listed and given proper attention. This person will ideally represent the people and assist in overseeing the smooth running of the project."

He estimates that this phase will take an estimated six months, "depending on the co-operation of the residents".

He says the contract will thereafter go to tender and encourages all local contractors to submit their tenders so that job opportunities can as far as possible be offered to residents of the courts. "However, the contractor will be selected totally on merit as we do not want a situation where substandard services will be delivered," Lategan says.

"The contractor will obviously come with their own team of labourers but it will also be added in the contract that local labour should also be given priority."

Lategan emphasises that residents should take more interest in the renovation: appa?rently, during two previous meetings ? the most recent being on Thursday 21 August ? less than a quarter of the residents attended.

"A notice was given to every court about the meeting, yet there seems to be an air of disinterest from the residents.

"I would like to appeal to everyone to be part of this process as they are probably going to be staying in these courts for the rest of their lives.

"The sad thing is that it will be those who were too lazy to give their input who will complain the most."

Cruise liners come to Cape Town
Queen Mary's inaugural visit to South Africa.


SOUTHAMPTON, England, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Cunard's two modern luxury
liners, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, will depart in January 2010 on their
World Cruises, continuing the line's rich tradition of offering the most
spectacular and historic World Cruises on The Most Famous Ocean Liners in the
World. Queen Mary 2's "Royal Route of Exploration" will chart a completely
new, Eastbound-Westbound route on a unique itinerary of 101 days featuring 19
maiden calls, three overnight stays (in Hong Kong, Sydney and Cape Town) and her inaugural visit to South Africa. Queen Victoria's 99-day "Voyage of
Discovery" circumnavigation includes 11 maiden ports of call, three overnights
(in Sydney, Hong Kong and Dubai) and three convenient U.S. embarkation
gateways: New York, Ft. Lauderdale and San Francisco. Guests who book by Feb.
28, 2009 receive an additional 10% off Early Booking Fares.


"On this pair of epic voyages, Cunard continues a storied tradition that
began nearly 90 years ago," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. "In
2010, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria will visit a combined 31 countries, 57
ports and 30 maiden calls, continuing our legacy of impeccable White Star
Service(TM), fine dining and unrivaled accommodations."


In addition to full World Cruises, the ships offer a wide range of Liner
and Segment voyages, which are now open for booking. These shorter voyages
are ideal for travelers who wish to explore a specific part of the world or
those whose busy schedules preclude an around-the-world journey.

NIC DAWES: NEWS ANALYSIS | CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - Sep 01 2008 06:00

The gleaming new parking facility at Cape Town's V&A Waterfront has an on-site Aston Martin dealership in a prime seafront position to let you know where you stand in the order of things. Its critics in V&A management call it the Garage Mahal.

Park your own grossly inadequate conveyance on the roof and you can gaze across Table Bay to Robben Island. Container ships slide by in slow motion: the ferry to the island, snarled up in court action and scandal, does not .

To your left is the Granger Bay marina with its flanking ridge of eye-wateringly expensive flats. On your right is the long wall of the east pier. But the controversial bit is right in front of you. Not the great sweep of ocean from Robben Island to Milnerton that the Sunday Times says Transnet has "sold to foreigners", but a much smaller divot kicked several hundred metres wide and deep into the coast.

There, where the Atlantic rollers spend themselves on jumbled dolosse, is what Transnet's exasperated CEO, Maria Ramos, calls a "dot" on the map of the bay that may be subject to reclamation.

Standing on the roof of the uncommonly well-situated garage, however, it is plain why a relatively small area is so important to the consortium of Emirati, British and empowerment investors who bought the Waterfront in 2006 for R7-billion.

This stretch of gravelly beach and ocean has since at least 2001 been earmarked by the V&A as "proposed reclamation area". Dump enough rocks and concrete here and you could build an armada of apartment blocks with uninterrupted and uninterruptible views north and west across the water.

Existing apartments along the Waterfront's much less spectacular inner basin regularly sell for prices around R20-million. One as yet-unbuilt unit has gone for R110million.

A developer who sold 500 flats on the reclaimed bit of Granger Bay at an average price of R20-million would gross R10-billion.

So it is unsurprising that the Waterfront's new owners are worried about legislation before Parliament that would curb private development on coastal public property.

Those owners are Dubai World, the investment arm of that emirate's governing royal family, London and Regional Properties, which belongs to a publicity-shy pair of brothers, and a hastily stitched-together consortium of local empowerment players.

The profitability of their investment hinges on the extent to which they can develop the Waterfront, and they have made it very clear that they intend to do so on a major scale. Following the 2006 Waterfront deal Dubai World said some 45% of development rights for the precinct remained unexploited.

The company's point man in Cape Town, James Wilson, spoke about reclaiming land in Granger Bay and building at least two plush new hotels. Whether the consortium has in fact bought the right to do so, or just the right to spend years entangled in environmental-impact and town-planning negotiations, is going to be the subject of controversy for years to come.

It is widely believed in the provincial ANC, among local property developers and on the opposition benches in the provincial legislature that the new owners paid way above the odds for the Waterfront. The theory is they were prepared to do so because they had assiduously cultivated local politicians and were confident that their well-connected empowerment partners could ensure favourable treatment of planning applications to build upwards and outwards.

Some credence was lent to this theory when the province, prodded by then premier Ebrahim Rasool, put up for sale the adjacent Somerset Hospital site, which is coveted by Dubai World for one of its hotels. Allegations quickly emerged that the process had been tilted to favour Dubai World and a flotilla of ANC-linked business people.

That is what the real battle over the future of the waterfront is about. Not the mythical sale of 22km of coastline and the seabed as far as Robben Island, but whether the new owners have purchased an exemption from proposed laws to limit privatisation of public seashore, and indeed whether they thought they could buy political support to circumvent existing planning rules.

Transnet says it is bound by the terms of sale only to try to ensure a legislative environment amenable to the proposed reclamation.

What others in provincial political and business establishments may have bound themselves to, if anything, we don't know. But if anyone promised a smooth open road for the concrete mixers and labourers, the fickle politics of the Western Cape will almost certainly ensure that they can't deliver.

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-09-...the-real-story

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-09-...the-real-story

this article has already been added to the V&A Waterfront Updates thread. thanks

Cape Town celebrates World Tourism Month
--------------------

By Luyanda Makapela

Cape Town - The City of Cape Town is pulling out all stops in celebration of World Tourism Month, concluding with World Tourism Day on 27 September.

In a statement released by the city on Friday, this year's theme, "Tourism responding to the challenge of climate change" supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goal to promote environmental sustainability by announcing 2008 as the International Year of Planet Earth.

This merges with the global campaign to implement the Davos Declaration, which builds on the tourism sector's key role in sustainable development, said Councillor Simon Grindrod, Mayoral Committee Member for Economics, Social Development and Tourism.

"Tourism is a key economic driver for Cape Town and the city's tourism department has lined up programmes aimed at growing local tourism by encouraging residents to discover the hidden gems within our beautiful destination," he added.

As part of its Integrated Development Plan, the councillor said, the city has adopted a new strategic area focusing on Energy Efficiency for a Sustainable Future.

Executive Director for Economics, Social Development and Tourism, Mansoor Mohamed said overseas tourists were interested in local people and their cultures.

"As a result, during Tourism Month, we will run awareness programmes aimed at educating locals on the importance of their local environment as a tourism asset and the need to support local initiatives," said Mr Mohamed.

Cape Town's tourism month activities kick off with a series of workshops, entitled "You and Responsible Tourism: 2010 and Beyond".

The first workshop for high schools takes place on 10 September at the Good Hope Centre followed by a workshop for tertiary students on 16 September in the Cape Town Civic Centre, and a community-based bus tour on 26 September.

Emerging Entrepreneurship Workshops from 22-23 September will highlight potential business opportunities in tourism, with particular reference to the 2010 World Cup Soccer Tournament.

On 27 September, there will be an Arts & Craft Sale at the Lookout Hill tourism facility in Khayelitsha, featuring products made by local crafters.

On 29 September, there will be a Langa walking tour, starting from Guga S'thebe as this is a community-based route facilitated by ten local guides to launch an authentic local tourism product. - BuaNews

SA city makes top ten list
8 September 2008, 13:54 Cape Argus

By Lindsay Dentlinger

Cape Town has been named as among the top 10 cities in the world on track to become a global sustainable centre by 2020.

The Ethisphere Institute on Monday ranked Cape Town among the cities which appear to be environmentally and economically sustainable and provides its citizens with a healthy quality of life. It is the only city in South Africa and the continent to make the list from an final shortlist of 20.

The other cities are Toronto, Hyderabad, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, New York, London, Frankfurt, Curtiba and Melbourne.

The Ethisphere Institute says the cities were chosen because they are large, cosmopolitan and economically significant centres which are preparing for the future, today.

"In a world of increasing population pressures and depleting natural resources, some cities are proactively adjusting their practices today, as well as implementing sustainable long-term practices," said Alex Brigham, executive director of The Ethisphere Institute.

"We are recognising these 'cities of tomorrow' today."

The Ethisphere Institute is a think tank dedicated to the research and promotion of profitable best practices in governance, business ethics, compliance and corporate social responsibility.

To determine which cities qualified, Ethispace weighted several factors including economies and populations - qualifying cities had to have a population over 600 000.

Cultural activities, universities and international acclaim were also taken into account to make sure the global sustainable centres were relevant and significant around the world.

They also needed a plan in place to shift to an environmentally sustainable path so that by 2020 they will be sustainability role models.

Cape Town has received acclaim for its energy plan developed in 2004 to help meet the growing energy needs of the city. This includes aiming to have 10 percent of homes using solar power by 2020, as well as to have 10 percent of the city's energy consumption coming from renewable sources in the same timeframe. Among Cape Town's strengths is being a top tourist destination in the world.

"Cape Town is enjoying economic growth that will likely continue through 2020 and beyond," says the report.

The Fifa World Cup in 2010 has been credited with jumpstarting Cape Town's sustainability goals.

But researchers also highlighted challenges for Cape Town, with poverty cited as the most notable.

"While much of the city is developing nicely, a good chunk of it remains in squalor conditions. This is a major obstacle," says the report.

"This is a major obstacle...."
I would rather say it's a challenge, which the city is working on. Well done Cape Town on a good performance.

surely there is some limit as to the number of top 10 lists Cape Town can be in.. :)

from monopoly to travel to sustainability to smart city to airport to places to see before you die!!

Its been a major year of awards!

Legacy projects looking good for 2010

Green Point Urban Park

While the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will bring international exposure and thousands of visitors to Cape Town, the real benefits of hosting the event will be felt long after the games have ended.

The main legacy projects include the new urban park, better public transport and facilities throughout the city, improved infrastructure and a growing economy.

Stadium and urban park

A multi-purpose stadium that will host many major events, and a reconfigured Green Point Common, which will be an attractive and accessible public space for sport and recreation.

Transport

This is the biggest legacy project for the city, and the improvements to the city¹s public transport infrastructure will be felt by most residents.

Highlights include improved road and rail networks; station upgrades; an Integrated Rapid Transport System; integrated ticketing; an airport bus link; major airport upgrade, and park and ride facilities, to mention a few.

Facilities

Apart from the Green Point Stadium and Green Point Urban Park, many other facilities in the city are also being upgraded. Philippi and Athlone stadiums are being upgraded to use as practice venues. Areas around fan parks are being upgraded. There is massive expansion at the V&A Waterfront, many new hotels are being built.


Infrastructure

Major upgrades of electricity and other essential infrastructure services are underway. More fire engines have been bought, more firemen, police and traffic officers are being trained, security and health services are being improved all to be able to cope with the influx of visitors, and for increased demand in the future.

Environment

Hosting a major event such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will have a significant effect on the environment, and making it as environmentally friendly as possible will make it a legacy project. A Green Goal website has been launched, outlining how to achieve the Green Goals.

Economy

The FIFA World Cup™ will bring significant economic benefits to the city and region. Major construction work is providing investment and jobs, stimulating the local economy, as will the influx of thousands of tourists.

The marketing and exposure opportunities offered by worldwide television coverage will also result in increased tourism and investment.

Social

As evidenced in Germany during the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, and more recently during the Beijing Olympics, hosting a major sporting event plays a great role in uniting a sometimes divided society. Residents will "buy in" to the event, and ensure its success. There will also be upliftment programmes, particularly in soccer.

http://capeinfo.com/cg/intro/newMast.jpg

En route for a new brand message for Cape Town
Link to learn more about the brand (http://capeinfo.com/cg/intro.php)

In 2003, the City of Cape Town and Provincial Government of the Western Cape spent some R6 million on a branding study. The result was the much-maligned Cape Town Routes Unlimited and "Cape Town & Western Cape" as the brand. Now moves are afoot to review the city's brand, and the public have been invited to participate and comment.

Responding to their new mandate for the City of Cape Town's destination marketing, Cape Town Tourism started reviewing brand Cape Town in relation to other top city destinations. A number of think tanks were held and a preliminary report published.

"It was clear that although Cape Town ranks among the top city destinations of the world, its brand image is fragmented, misunderstood and diluted. Countries, regions, states and cities, like large corporations, have begun rising to the challenge of communicating with power and persuasiveness. Furthermore, famous and successful cities are usually associated in people's minds with a single quality, promise, attribute or story. The competition amongst travel destinations is tougher than ever before. We cannot afford not to put out a confident and powerful brand message out to the world," says Mariëtte du Toit-Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism.

Iconic
Underwhelmed by a sense of "same-old, same-old", website capeinfo.com approached Mel Miller, a font of great ideas and communication excellence (and probably better known for bringing IMAX to SA), for his thoughts.

He cut through the clutter immediately with an inspired, "It has to be Iconic Cape Town"

"Cape Town is the brand," says Mel. "What Cape Town represents - what it has to offer and what it is known for - needs to be communicated instantly and effectively. The brand message needs to do that.

"We have so many memorable, recognisable and revered icons, it makes complete sense to capitalise on them. As a collective then, we can make one crisp, concise promise - Iconic Cape Town." (The issue is not about logos, slogans or complex strategies.) It's about simplicity of communication - "iconic" being the language and experience of our customers. (Operators at the rock face of tourism confirm this to be true. It's the conversation they have with visitors daily.)

CapeInfo set about testing the brand concept by updating its "Introduction to Cape Town" page. Iconic Cape Town is a powerful statement, a promise and, when one explores it fully, has the legs to carry the city to its rightfully unique position on the world stage. It is designed to work at a generic and a product level.

Iconic - not just visual
"Iconic" is rich with meaning, not just visual. One of the city's greatest icons is not primarily visual at all. Robben Island should be deeply ingrained in Cape Town's brand message with its iconic symbolism of "a triumph of the human spirit against the forces of evil, a triumph of wisdom and largeness of spirit against small minds and pettiness; a triumph of courage and determination over human frailty and weakness."

For many visitors, experiencing a genuinely warm welcome amid indescribable poverty while on a township tour is an iconic moment, so you should visit the new, surprising and inspiring "Introduction to Cape Town" page. It says it all but can grow to encompass much more.

However, it's public ownership that makes a brand great, so CapeInfo decided to publish the proposal, under Mel's guidance, with a public invitation to comment and vote.

Get involved!
Getting the public involved in the branding debate has been enthusiastically received by Mariëtte du Toit-Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism:

"I love Iconic Cape Town. It is simple, but powerful and tells the story of our city. Iconic Cape Town captures the diversity, richness, beauty, history and complexity of the city. But for a brand message to be truly effective and real, it must be embraced, shared and lived by the people of the city. If not, it is reduced to a meaningless strap line without soul. Cape Town Tourism looks forward to being part of the process and hearing what our fellow Capetonians have to say."

However, it's not only Capetonians who are invited to comment… it is important that the brand also works beyond the city, so comments from outside Cape Town welcome. Take a look at http://www.capeinfo.com/blog/, post your comments and vote.


Some of Cape Town's Awards

# One of the World's Top 10 Cities - US Travel & Leisure, 2005, 2006, 2007*
# » 8th Top City in the World - Condenast Readers' Choice Nov 2006
# » Favourite Foreign City - UK Telegraph 2004, 2005
# » #1 UK Long Haul Destination - UK Trends & Spends Survey 2003 - 2005, 2007
# » Ideal Travel Destination - Markinor-Sunday Times Top Brands Survey 2005
# » Best Travel Destination in Africa and Middle East - US Travel & Leisure Magazine 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
# » One of the World's 5 Bluest Sky Destinations - Expedia.co.uk July 2006
# » Boulder's Beach, World's Best Family Beach - UK Telegraph March 2007
# » Cleanest City in SA - DEAT Annual Cleanest Metro Awards March 2007
# » Top 10 World Food Cities - Lonely Planet Blue List 2008
# » Best Destination, Africa - World Travel Awards May 2008
# » Best City to live in: Africa & Middle East - Mercer Quality of Living Survey 2008

^^ Not forgetting: Top 10 World Sustainable Cities!!! :lol: Oh dear, what shall The Mother do with all her accolades!

top 10 airport

some of the worlds top 10 hotels

And some of you are actually living there. You lucky bastards !!! :wallbash:

Well... At the moment it feels like we live in the northernmost city in Antarctica 'cos the wind won't stop howling and the rain/sleet continues to pelt our province and the mountains will be white again tomorrow. But, the aftermath is always pretty and the other half of the year is almost always sunny! :)

With BRT and the improved rail system CT is gonna moved further up the ranks.

If I have time,I might be going to visit Green Point stadium for Blatter's inspection next week. Should be interesting.

Zille and Masondo make finals of World Mayor contest


South African Mayors Helen Zille and Amos Masondo have stood their ground against 820 mayors from across the world to claim a place among the 50 finalists in the 2008 World Mayor Awards.



Helen ZilleThe mayors of Cape Town and Johannesburg now need your vote as they compete against the mayors of cities like Paris, Miami, Shanghai and Rome in bringing the coveted award to Africa for the first time.



Launched in 2004 by City Mayors, a London-based online platform on urban governance, the award recognises mayors who espouse the qualities, skills and passion needed in making their cities amazing places to live, work, play and visit.



An ability to foster good relations between communities from different cultural, racial and social backgrounds has been highlighted by City Mayors as an important leadership quality.



Previous winners of the World Mayor Award include John So of Melbourne, Australia (2006), Dora Bakoyannis of Athens, Greece (2005) and Edi Rama from Tirana, Albania in 2004.



This year's list of 50 finalists includes 11 mayors from Asia, 10 from North America and 11 from Latin America, 15 from Europe, as well as 3 from Africa. The other African mayor is Omar El Bahraoui of Rabat, Morocco.



Amos MasondoCitizens of the world are invited to cast their votes online along with a comment on their mayor of choice. The editorial board will eventually choose the winner and runner-ups based on the number of comments received as well as the persuasiveness and passion of comments posted in support of a mayor.



City Mayors' profile on Helen Zille highlights her success in overcoming attempts by the provincial government to downgrade her office and an attempted coalition coup.



The website also describes her as an astute media operator, making mention of her Newsmaker of the year title earned in 2006.



Amos Masondo's efforts in developing the economy of the City of Johannesburg as well as his focus on the HIV/Aids crisis, infrastructure development and the build up the 2010 FIFA World Cup are highlighted in his profile.



Masondo was elected to a second term as mayor in 2006. In 2007 he became vice-president of United Cities and Local Governments, an umbrella organisation for municipal associations throughout the world.

City plans for growth by attracting skills and investment
R30 billion in new investments for central city


By Anél Powell

THE City of Cape Town expects a 9.5% growth in fixed investment in the next five years, with R30 billion in new investments for the central city.

Mayor Helen Zille, speaking at the annual conference of the Institute of Municipal Finance Officers yesterday, said the city promoted economic growth by "contributing to an urban environment that attracts investment and skills".

Public investments included the R2.5bn airport upgrade, R4bn being spent on the Green Point stadium and R4.2bn being spent on the harbour container terminal expansion.

The private sector was contributing to multimillion rand expansions at the V&A Waterfront, the Strand on Adderley and Old Mutual's construction of the city's tallest building on the Foreshore.

"Sound financial investment and clean and transparent handling of public funds in local government are crucial if we want to continue to improve this fixed trend," Zille said.

She said the mismanagement of municipal funds and corruption had to be checked, but local governments needed to find a balance between adequate controls and excessive red tape.

Legislation intended to curb corruption included "stringent and time-consuming" procedures that slowed down delivery processes.

Zille said some of the city's basic services, including wastewater treatment and roads, had not been serviced in 30 years.

At least 400 000 housing units were needed to meet the demand for formal housing. Demand was increasing by 16 000 units a year.

Zille said the city had managed to double the rate at which housing opportunities were delivered from the annual average of five years before 2006. More than 222 informal settlements were being upgraded.

Slow tender processes and financial transactions between 2000 and 2006 meant the city spent on average only 60% of its annual budget, Zille said.

This process had been streamlined and in the last financial year 431 tenders were issued and finalised, almost 25% more than in the preceding financial year.

Zille said the city spent R3.1bn on infrastructure in the 2007/2008 financial year.

The need for spending on infrastructure and other areas had made it necessary for the city to take "unpopular steps" like rates and tariff increases.

"Even after a substantial rates increase (last year), we need further finances to get ahead of the developmental curve in Cape Town with infrastructure investments," Zille said.

"Where we succeed in good financial management and good governance, we can accelerate our rollout of services and infrastructure."

Cape Town's tallest building to date is to be constructed on the Foreshore.

It will stand 137m above sea level and will cost an estimated R1,2-billion.

Located between Hans Strijdom Avenue and Mechau Street along Buitengragt, the structure will be more than twice the height of the city's existing tall buildings.

Old Mutual Property Group bought the Malgas site from the city in 1989 for R89-million.

Economic development and tourism mayoral committee member Simon Grindrod said the project would be the city's biggest development since the establishment of the V&A Waterfront.

The city's spatial planning, environment and land use management committee this week gave the green light for the development, despite concerns about the need for a departure from the height restriction of 60m.

Although the approval for a 137m-high building has been given, the actual structure could in fact be 10m higher if elements such as the lift over-run, cooling towers and water tanks are included.

The plans and application for height departures were referred back by the committee last month because of concerns about the height and the development's impact on traffic in the area.

There was also insufficient information about the building's design

City Bowl ward councillor Belinda Walker said she was concerned that the area would be overshadowed by high-rise buildings, as has happened in De Waterkant. She said the site would need to be well-managed during construction to ensure that the current traffic gridlock on Coen Steytler Avenue was not exacerbated.

A height departure of 133m above sea level was initially agreed to by the city's spatial planning and urban design branch.

But the advisory panel recommended, after negotiations between the architects and the city, that a height departure of 147m above sea level be granted.

The extra height on the building would be in the form of a decorative top structure that would be more appropriate for a building of this scale.

The panel said the tall structure would be "strategically located" at one of the gateways to the city.

The city has approved the height restrictions with several conditions, including a mandate for the owner to appoint a green building specialist to oversee the design and construction. The mixed-use development will comprise offices, hotel accommodation and retail space on a massive bulk space of 60 000m².

City economic, social development and tourism executive director Mansoor Mohamed said one of the conditions of the sale was that Old Mutual would prioritise the building of 564 residential units and a retail and commercial development in Khayelitsha.


SOURCE: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20080915053854601C443470

Confused I am..isn't Metlife still the highest at 150m? Lol...they are obviously talking about Portside here. :lol:

^^ The media is DUMB! Did say yesterday in the "Portside" thread that they're feeding the damn NIMBY monster. Portside is no taller than MetLife (with mast included) and is around the exact height as the mass of buildings around Thibault Square (LG Tower & ABSA etc.). Yes, it's double Foreshore height restrictions, but NOT double the height of other Cape Town buildings. They need to get their facts straight before uninformed NIMBYs and CEPA etc. get their unprogressive, spoiling teeth into this

Cape Town plans CBD developments worth R30bn
Chris van Gass

Cape Correspondent

CAPE TOWN — New developments amounting to about R30bn are planned in the Cape Town central business district in the next three to five years, of which two thirds are private sector investment, mayor Helen Zille said yesterday.

She said at the opening of the Institute of M unicipal F inance Officers’ conference that the Cape metro region as a whole was expected to see 9,5% growth in fixed investment in the medium term.

Zille said public investments included the R2,5bn airport upgrade, R4bn for the 2010 Soccer World Cup stadium, the R4,2bn container harbour expansion, R1,3bn for the first phase of the bus rapid transit system, and several billion rand more for road and rail upgrades.

Developments in the private sector include further expansion to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the Strand on Adderley development worth R2,5bn, the Media24 head office expansion, the Chevron expansion and Old Mutual’s Malgas building, which at 137m will be among Africa’s highest when finished.

She said the city’s latest quarterly financial report indicated that it had spent R3,1bn on infrastructure, or 78% of its capital budget.

This was a major improvement from the city’s previous annual average of R1bn and was also 50% up from the R2bn invested in capital projects during the previous financial year, which represented a rate of expenditure of 77%.

Zille said sound financial management and clean and transparent handling of public funds in local government were crucial if the city wanted to continue to improve this fixed investment trend. Conversely, corruption scandals dented business confidence in government leadership and if corruption was left unchecked, it opened the door to the criminalisation of the state — “where government becomes a patronage system, dispensing jobs, contracts and services only to members of the ruling elite and their cronies”, said Zille.

She said this severely discouraged investors and skilled professionals and lead to a rapid deterioration of services, infrastructure, and, “eventually, political stability”.

“However, we also need to find the correct balance between adequate financial controls, and excessive red tape, which slows delivery, and undermines our objective.”

She said she did not believe that the right balance had been found yet in SA.

SOURCE: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20080915053854601C443470

Confused I am..isn't Metlife still the highest at 150m? Lol...they are obviously talking about Portside here. :lol:

Metlife Centre cannot really be considered to be the tallest building as the 150m height includes it's mast. Without the mast the building's height is 120m, which is less than 1 Thibault Square (former BP Centre) which is 127m tall.

^^ The media is DUMB! Did say yesterday in the "Portside" thread that they're feeding the damn NIMBY monster. Portside is no taller than MetLife (with mast included) and is around the exact height as the mass of buildings around Thibault Square (LG Tower & ABSA etc.). Yes, it's double Foreshore height restrictions, but NOT double the height of other Cape Town buildings. They need to get their facts straight before uninformed NIMBYs and CEPA etc. get their unprogressive, spoiling teeth into this

Portside is taller than Metlife as it's height is purely structure. The mast on Metlife accounts for 30m of it's height as it is only 28 floors.

http://www.emporis.com/files/navimage/emp_com.gif

Building Name...............Height.......Floors...Year....Status
1. Portside.....................150 m........34.....2011....Approved
2. Metlife Centre.............150 m........28.....1993....Completed
3. 1 Thibault Square........127 m........32.....1972....Completed
4. Atterbury House..........119 m........29.....1976....Completed
5. ABSA Centre...............117 m........34.....1970....Completed

Any news on who's gonna take over the side of were Lehmans Brothers building was gonna be built.

Lehman's CT project in balance
Sep 16 2008 1:06PM
Joan Muller
Johannesburg - Another SA company that could be affected by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers is JSE-listed property fund Redefine. The US investment bank entered into a joint venture with Redefine in 2007 to develop a massive mixed-use precinct on the northern outskirts of Cape Town.

The 70-hectare site, which fronts onto the N7 freeway en route to Malmesbury, was bought for R500m, with a view to developing it into a multi-billion rand precinct similar to Cape Town's Century City.

Mike Flax, an executive director of Madison Property Fund Managers which is the asset management company of Redefine, said earlier on Tuesday that it is still uncertain whether the project will have to be put on hold.

Said Flax: "We are talking to our Lehman partners on a daily basis and at this stage we have been told it's business as usual."

However, he noted that the people who are running the Lehman Real Estate Fund, the private equity fund which is Redefine's partner in the Cape Town project, are uncertain of their future. "Things are quite volatile so we are keeping a close eye on developments."

Flax said they were already some way down the line in obtaining the necessary rezoning and environmental impact approvals for the project.

Plans were in place for 150 000m² of sq m bulk commercial space and 2 900 residential units. That would make the precinct roughly half the size of Century City.

Lehman is a major player in global real estate with commercial property interests worth $32.6bn (R265bn), according to news agency Reuters. Lehman entered the SA property market for the first time in 2007 through its tie-up with Redefine, SA's fourth-biggest listed property fund with a market cap of R5.6bn.

Market talk was that the US bank was keen to gain a sizeable exposure to SA via various direct and listed property investments.

It was, among others, looking to buy a stake in the Pangbourne Group's unlisted property fund Enigma, although that deal hasn't yet come to fruition. Lehman also owns small pockets of shares in a few of the bigger JSE-listed property funds.

From: news.24.com

Hope it doesn't fall through!

http://www.businessday.co.za/images/bdlogo01.gif
17 September 2008
Lehman’s SA venture likely to go ahead
Loyiso Sibali
Property Reporter

JSE-listed property firm Redefine Income Fund and US investment bank Lehman Brothers’ property joint venture in Cape Town is likely to continue despite the bank’s bankruptcy woes.

Redefine and Lehman entered into a joint venture last year to construct a mixed-use development. The development site, called Annandale, consisted of 70ha in Richmond, about 3km from the mixed-use precinct Century City in Cape Town.

Mike Flax, an executive director of Madison Property Fund Managers, which is the asset management company of Redefine, said yesterday neither Lehman nor Redefine would suffer any material losses should Lehman pull out.

Redefine owned 25% and Lehman Brothers held 75% of the company that had been set up to own and develop the site, said Flax.

The development would cost Redefine about R1,2bn.

He said Redefine had not committed any finances as yet to purchasing the land, and a new partner would be brought on board in the event of Lehman pulling out.

He said Madison would be forfeiting only future development fees on the project should the project be discontinued.

Flax said it was “business as usual” at the Redefine offices and the project had not been halted. They were still communicating with Lehman , he said.

According to Reuters, Lehman is a major player in global real estate, with commercial property interests worth $32,6bn.

Lehman entered the South African property market for the first time last year through its tie-up with Redefine, SA’s fourth-biggest listed property fund with a market capitalisation of R5,6bn.

Lehman, one of Wall Street’s biggest investment banks, has filed for bankruptcy protection as the US subprime mortgage crisis continues.

Zille and Masondo make finals of World Mayor contest


City Mayors' profile on Helen Zille highlights her success in overcoming attempts by the provincial government to downgrade her office and an attempted coalition coup.

The website also describes her as an astute media operator, making mention of her Newsmaker of the year title earned in 2006.



Until she can actually focus on one job (Mayor or DA Leader), Ole Two Hats shouldn't be up for this award.

Add to that the fact that she's half of the squabbling match between City and Province which is hampering service delivery to those who need it most.

A poor choice of finalist, I'm afraid. :ohno:

Until she can actually focus on one job (Mayor or DA Leader), Ole Two Hats shouldn't be up for this award.

Add to that the fact that she's half of the squabbling match between City and Province which is hampering service delivery to those who need it most.

A poor choice of finalist, I'm afraid. :ohno:

She's doing both jobs very well and this nomination proves that fact.

Secondly, where there's squabbling there's squabbling for a reason. This city has come a long way since her leadership began. Definitely getting my vote.

Until she can actually focus on one job (Mayor or DA Leader), Ole Two Hats shouldn't be up for this award.

Add to that the fact that she's half of the squabbling match between City and Province which is hampering service delivery to those who need it most.

A poor choice of finalist, I'm afraid. :ohno:

There's obviously a serious lack of understanding of politics here and how much the Provincial Government and ANC within the City of Cape Town has made her job almost impossible and at times made the city almost ungovernable.

Lest we forget, Cape Town received the best-run municipality award in SA, top 10 sustainable city in the world, city with best-kept infrastructure in SA... but I suppose Zille is still over-rated!!! :ohno: Reminder, the Provincial Government hijacked the entire N2 Gateway project and much of the housing developments from City control (about 2-3 years ago), so who's fault is service-delivery of homes then?

Given the political, social and economic challenges she's faced, she deserves this award. I believe your view will be very much in the minority in this forum. All of us here know development in the Cape inside out and know what hand she has had in making Cape Town as competitive and prosperous as possible given the circumstances.

Until she can actually focus on one job (Mayor or DA Leader), Ole Two Hats shouldn't be up for this award.

Add to that the fact that she's half of the squabbling match between City and Province which is hampering service delivery to those who need it most.

A poor choice of finalist, I'm afraid. :ohno:

Well I can say that perhaps not the best mayor, but even with her two roles she has done more in 1 year than Nomainda " I like to sit around all day" Mfeketo did during her entire term. I can say that with absolute certainty.

More importantly. Just glad you've joined.

Just a note.

Mr 6000.co.za has a highly entertaining and interesting blog at www.6000.co.za. A must read.

Well I can say that perhaps not the best mayor, but even with her two roles she has done more in 1 year than Nomainda " I like to sit around all day" Mfeketo did during her entire term. I can say that with absolute certainty..

That I would agree with.

And regarding the other comments, I would argue that it takes 2 to tango. Sure Rasool et al made her life tough. But she must have expected that. Their refusal to even sit down and try to get on with other is a big black mark against them both.
Furthermore, there is actually more to running Cape Town than encouraging building development (yikes!).

I'm just utterly fed up with hearing her being interviewed as DA Leader or City Mayor. Surely it shouldn't matter what post she is representing, her views should be the same. In addition, taking both positions is marking the DA as a "Cape Town only" party and will cost them in the election.
More importantly. Just glad you've joined.

Thanks. And thanks for your kind words about 6000 miles...

^^ The duell rolls might be bad for her party nationally but her management of the city has improved the city hugelly so as a mayor Im all for her.

That I would agree with.

And regarding the other comments, I would argue that it takes 2 to tango. Sure Rasool et al made her life tough. But she must have expected that. Their refusal to even sit down and try to get on with other is a big black mark against them both.
Furthermore, there is actually more to running Cape Town than encouraging building development (yikes!).

I'm just utterly fed up with hearing her being interviewed as DA Leader or City Mayor. Surely it shouldn't matter what post she is representing, her views should be the same. In addition, taking both positions is marking the DA as a "Cape Town only" party and will cost them in the election.


Thanks. And thanks for your kind words about 6000 miles...

With all due respect for Helen Zille and her coalition administration in Cape Town, I still think Patricia de Lille is a better leader. Lets hope that Pat runs for the Premiership next year. The ID, unlike the DA and ANC, is not a racially divisive party and represents a clean break with the past and with the polarisation that has come to characterise politics in the Western Cape. We'll see how the ID will trounce the DA in the Western Cape and become the official opposition in Parliament in 2009.

With all due respect for Helen Zille and her coalition administration in Cape Town, I still think Patricia de Lille is a better leader. Lets hope that Pat runs for the Premiership next year. The ID, unlike the DA and ANC, is not a racially divisive party and represents a clean break with the past and with the polarisation that has come to characterise politics in the Western Cape. We'll see how the ID will trounce the DA in the Western Cape and become the official opposition in Parliament in 2009.

Your idealistic views are easily dissolved with the things I could tell you about Mr. Grindrod and his time running a little waterfront hotel. I'm not into debating politics though.

The ID trouncing the DA in the Western Cape is not going to happen.

Your idealistic views are easily dissolved with the things I could tell you about Mr. Grindrod and his time running a little waterfront hotel. I'm not into debating politics though.

The ID trouncing the DA in the Western Cape is not going to happen.

Mr Grindrod couldn't run a 50m dash.

Until she can actually focus on one job (Mayor or DA Leader), Ole Two Hats shouldn't be up for this award.


Funny when people mention that - old Thabo seemed to manage head of the ANC + Country fine when he held both positions ... so do all the British Prime ministers...

With all due respect for Helen Zille and her coalition administration in Cape Town, I still think Patricia de Lille is a better leader. Lets hope that Pat runs for the Premiership next year. The ID, unlike the DA and ANC, is not a racially divisive party and represents a clean break with the past and with the polarisation that has come to characterise politics in the Western Cape. We'll see how the ID will trounce the DA in the Western Cape and become the official opposition in Parliament in 2009.
Yes it will be interesting to see if voters will have forgiven the ID for siding with the ANC in CT

seems like we have another....neeeeeeeew member

Funny when people mention that - old Thabo seemed to manage head of the ANC + Country fine when he held both positions ... so do all the British Prime ministers...




You think Thabo was doing a "fine" job as President until Polokwane, then?

Riiiiight.

I would disagree that your logic means that HZ is doing a decent job in both her posts. As I see it, she is definitely letting down the DA. Maybe she's short-timing the city too. I think she would do better in either job if she were not being spread so thinly.

Cape Town to boost fibre optic network

Lindsay Dentlinger 18 September 2008 at 11h00
Submit your comment

Cape Town's economic development directorate wants the council to allocate additional funds to accelerate the expansion of its fibre-optic network to Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, saying if it did not do so it would affect the growth of business in these areas.

Phase 1 of the project entails the laying of 202km of cable and connection to about 50 key municipal buildings, mostly in existing business districts of the city.

Phase 2 has not yet been approved but the plans are for the network to be expanded to parts of the city not served by modern telecommunications infrastructure.


The city plans to spend R400-million over the next five years on the first phase of the project.

But the city's economic and social development department said in a report to the mayoral committee that the city had planned the first phase to concentrate on saving the council on telecommunications costs while its potential wide economic development impacts had not been fully taken into account.

"As a result the network is concentrated around existing business districts and only passes through well-developed suburbs," said the report.

The network infrastructure would not immediately pass through Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain nor extend towards Atlantis and Brackenfell, which were under-served by telecommunications infrastructure.

This had a number of consequences, including that businesses in these areas do not have access to broadband telecommunications, limiting their efficiency and reducing the incentive for new investment into these areas. This also resulted in fewer jobs being created and people having to seek jobs in suburbs that are far away from where they live.

"Economic development is thus prejudiced in these areas, limiting their economic growth potential," said the report.

The city's economic development department believes that the impact of the city's broadband project can be greatly enhanced by extending the current project to include additional phases that will lay fibre optic through these less developed areas.

However, the report, which would have been discussed by the mayoral committee yesterday, was referred back to the directorate as it did not contain the actual economic implications of expanding the network to Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain.

seems like we have another....neeeeeeeew member
Been around for a while :) - just decided to say something now ;)

You think Thabo was doing a "fine" job as President until Polokwane, then?

Riiiiight.

I would disagree that your logic means that HZ is doing a decent job in both her posts. As I see it, she is definitely letting down the DA. Maybe she's short-timing the city too. I think she would do better in either job if she were not being spread so thinly.
I'm not suggesting that it is ideal that leaders of political parties also hold public office - rather that it is not abnormal. As for letting down the DA - yes she probably could be making more of a noise from that front ... but I would say that she is not doing as much as she could, rather than letting the part down.

I do not mined patricia...............But the party can not be trusted

I like the DA VIEWS
I think they are the most competent out of all the partys
An in my opinion I think it is the least racist party as it has representatives from all races in the party - black; pink ect. you name it
People have different views in this party as there are people from all backgrounds
which to me is very important for all people of south africa

HELEN ZILLE RULEZ

Another thing is that people choose to not vote as they do not think there is any point
That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard
If you living in this country; no matter what, you are going to be run by a government; Any where you go - Switzerland - you are still run by a government
So in that case THERE IS A POINT
So if you do not want to choose any party's available
Then look at what each one stands for AND CHOOSE ONE that suits you best

The saying goes like this: " If all politicians are assholes(which they are), choose the leastest assholes of them all "

^^ True... that's what voting is: "Choosing the lesser of two evils." :)

@kilps: you go to bishops? Then I know you

guys please get people to sign up. i was outraged when i saw a fellow uct student browsing our forums and telling me how amazing it is but had NOT signed up yet.

Cape Town Marathon field doubles!

The Nedbank Cape Town Marathon on Sunday has a field of more than 2 000 athletes in the 10km and 42,2km distances, an increase of 1 200 compared with last year's entants.

Top athletes from South Africa and neighboring countries have registered for the race and the course promises a faster time with ideal weather conditions.

Some of the athletes who have confirmed their participation include Coolboy Ngamule (CGA), Gilbert Mutandiero (ZIM), Kipkosgei Ngeny (KENYA), Sipho Ngomane (CGA) and George Ntshiliza (EPA).

The ladies' field includes Asrat Addis (ETHIOPIA), Samukeliso Moyo (KZN), Eunice Nhlapho (CGA) and Nomsa Tsethe (ATRA).

In the 10km category the following top athletes are scheduled to fight it out chasing the honours: Makhosonke Fika (WPA), Jeffrey Gwebu (AVT), Vladamar Kotov (WPA), Enos Matalane (AGN), Tshamano Setone (CGA), Boy Soke (AFS) and Frik Guys (CGA). Women: Nandipha Dwili (ATRA), Tebogo Masehla (AGN), Ntombesintu Ntshiliza (EPA), Violet Raseboya (AGN), Irvette van Blerk (CGA) and Zintle Xiniwe (WPA).

Number Collection for all preregistered athletes can be done at The Golden Acre on Friday between 1pm - 7pm, Saturday from 10am -7pm and Sunday 5am-6am. - Sapa

Cape Town Tourism unveils Cape Town’s Day

Cape Town - On the 27th of September 2008, in celebration of World Tourism Day, Cape Town Tourism is launching the inaugural CAPE TOWN’S DAY. CAPE TOWN’S DAY is a direct result from the recent Think Tank sessions Cape Town Tourism facilitated on brand Cape Town. The importance of Capetonians living their Brand was reaffirmed.

The purpose of the day is to get Capetonians to live and love their City.

“The City of Cape Town is thrilled to be a partner in CAPE TOWN’S DAY,” says Simon Grindrod, Mayoral Committee Member for Social, Economical Development and Tourism. “For destination marketing to be successful, brand Cape Town must be tangible to the people living within Cape Town and embraced, celebrated and expressed. Many barriers, both physical and psychological, exist that prevent Capetonians from really ‘living’ their City. We commend Cape Town Tourism and the tourism industry for this initiative and look forward to seeing CAPE TOWN’S DAY grow into a highlight day for Capetonians.”

Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism, is excited about the potential of a day dedicated to Capetonians. “CAPE TOWN’S DAY will become an annual highlight for Capetonians - a day when the tourism industry gives back to citizens and the sons and daughters of the Mother City can enjoy the benefits of living in one of the most iconic Cities on earth.”

“For the inaugural CAPE TOWN’S DAY Cape Town Tourism has gathered together hundreds of free tickets with the support of some of Cape Town’s most iconic attractions and experiences. We believe that by the next CAPE TOWN’S DAY we will have literally thousands of free tickets and even more special treats to give away to Capetonians,” says du Toit-Helmbold.

Some of the experiences up for grabs this year are:

* Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
* Kirstenbosch
* The Aquarium
* Monkey Town
* The World of Birds
* The City Sightseeing Bus
* The MTN Science Centre
* Township Tours, including a visit to the Arts and Crafts Sale at Lookout Hill
* The Southern Line ‘Hop on Hop off’ Rail Route
* Robben Island
* Cape Town Wildcards

CAPE TOWN’S DAY details will be communicated through radio and selected print media including newspaper advertisements and street pole posters.

On the 27th of September, Capetonians who have won tickets through radio competitions will redeem their free tickets from the relevant participating attractions.

Selected Cape Town Tourism Visitor Information Centres will also have specific activities planned for the public on CAPE TOWN TOURISM with great festivity, good food, wine tastings, giveaways galore, spunky Cape Town gear up for grabs and lots of fun on offer.

Pop in to one of the Cape Town Tourism Visitor Information Centres listed below between 9am and 1pm on the 27th of September and celebrate being a Capetonian with us!

* The Pinnacle Building, Cnr. Burg & Castle Streets, City Centre
* The Pavilion, Beach Road, Muizenberg
* 186 Main Road, Somerset West
* Willowbridge, 39 Carl Cronje Road, Belville

“We envisage ‘Cape Town’s Day becoming an annual event, encouraging Capetonians to become tourists in their own City, making sure that the people of Cape Town are not just living in Cape Town, but LOVING living in Cape Town,” concludes du Toit-Helmbold. CAPE TOWN’S DAY is OUR day!

Contact Nicole Moody on nicole@tourismcapetown.co.za or call (021) 487 6800 if you want to become involved, promote “Cape Town’s Day” and get access to free tickets to give away or just to support in any way you can.

Im still waiting for our new stadium to lower the value of the area as predicted by our 12 environmentalists.

Record price for Mouille Point apartments

A seaside apartment block in Mouille Point has been sold to a local developer for R55-million, a figure the sellers say is the highest price ever fetched through an auction in Cape Town.

The auction took place on August 29, and the sale was confirmed this week.

ClareMart Auction Group CEO Jonathan Smiedt said investors and developers from across South Africa had attended the auction of the Amalfi Building on Beach Road, Mouille Point, but the spoils had gone to a local developer who wanted to remain anonymous.

"This is a massive achievement, the biggest price ever achieved through an auction in Cape Town and dwarfs recent prices achieved in the area," Smiedt said.

"In these times it is good to see that there is still a healthy appetite by those in the know for prime re-development buildings."

The building is in the Green Point stadium precinct development.

Once this development is completed, Smiedt said, the building would be "surrounded by a world-class botanical garden and tree-lined avenue and will look over the manicured lawns of the adjoining Metropolitan Golf Course".

"Most importantly the building itself will stand at the entrance to the new Stadium gardens, the ocean and the walkway to the V&A Waterfront." - Staff Writer

Your idealistic views are easily dissolved with the things I could tell you about Mr. Grindrod and his time running a little waterfront hotel. I'm not into debating politics though.

The ID trouncing the DA in the Western Cape is not going to happen.

At least the Commodore Hotel maintained a five-star rating when Simon Grindrod was the manager although it was downgraded to four stars by the TGC after he left Legacy Hotels

At least the Commodore Hotel maintained a five-star rating when Simon Grindrod was the manager although it was downgraded to four stars by the TGC after he left Legacy Hotels

not his management skill but his character and relations with others.

not his management skill but his character and relations with others.

He's my man for Cape Town. In the 2011 local government elections, I hope Simon Grindrod becomes the next mayor of Cape Town. He doesn't come from the old school like Helen Zille, Tony Leon and other DA leaders.

What I like about the ID is that their approach to opposition which unlike the DA is not to lambast the ANC and engage in character assassinations of politicians. Helen Zille is also a Afro-pessimist who makes doomsday statements about SA and it's future.

The ID on the other hand will just tell it like it is just as they have done with the Armsgate scandal and other policy blunders of the ANC government and is not afraid of the ANC and has a track record of exposing corruption in government at the national and provincial levels.

The ID does not subscribe to the Western-oriented neoliberal economic policies of the DA in which the free market has free reign and we know that such policies have created a mess in the US and other countries. The ID favours a mixed economy where there is some state intervention in the economy to keep it stable and sound.

In Cape Town, the ID is not afraid of the DA eventhough it is the junior coalition partner (unlike the ACDP which says yes all the time) in it's brazen stance that at times is at odds with Helen Zille and the DA in the council. If it were not for the ID's position in council, the DA would not be in charge as it lacks a majority. That is something that is easily forgotten by the DA.

The ID is the biggest joke of a party in my opinion. Last elections that Patricia was running around with her loud mouth everywhere but you hardly hear from her these days. I'll never forget how Zille owned one of their representitives in a debate on TV around that time.

He's my man for Cape Town. In the 2011 local government elections, I hope Simon Grindrod becomes the next mayor of Cape Town. He doesn't come from the old school like Helen Zille, Tony Leon and other DA leaders.

What I like about the ID is that their approach to opposition which unlike the DA is not to lambast the ANC and engage in character assassinations of politicians. Helen Zille is also a Afro-pessimist who makes doomsday statements about SA and it's future.

The ID on the other hand will just tell it like it is just as they have done with the Armsgate scandal and other policy blunders of the ANC government and is not afraid of the ANC and has a track record of exposing corruption in government at the national and provincial levels.

The ID does not subscribe to the Western-oriented neoliberal economic policies of the DA in which the free market has free reign and we know that such policies have created a mess in the US and other countries. The ID favours a mixed economy where there is some state intervention in the economy to keep it stable and sound.

In Cape Town, the ID is not afraid of the DA eventhough it is the junior coalition partner (unlike the ACDP which says yes all the time) in it's brazen stance that at times is at odds with Helen Zille and the DA in the council. If it were not for the ID's position in council, the DA would not be in charge as it lacks a majority. That is something that is easily forgotten by the DA.

I dont mind you supporting a party of your choice, because thats your choice. But as I've said before if you knew the man your idealistic views of the ID and Grindrod would dissolve.

Now and again, the ugly political head is raising its head in our city treads. It's becoming more intense especially towards elections. We all have our opinions, but Guys please refrain from political debates, and ruining an otherwise good discussion thread. It's very unpleasant.

Went today to the CBD in Cape Town and, wow, is it changing and bustling. I walked from Thibault Square all the way along st georges and back through greenmarket. For bad weather, there were a lot of people which was a great sign of the CBD's improvement. And the architecture is amazing, the clash of the old and new. Also lots of cafes and restaurants such as vida cafe, especially along st georges. But the CBD was a bit barren at some parts, especially the foreshore area, and this showed me it will take some time until the CBD becomes a 24/7 residential and entertainment area with a reasonable density. I have hopes though :)

Btw they're opening a Capello in CT CBD! At the bottom of Atterbury House (Shell House) :)

And I also past Portside and guess what, they've begun demolition and earthworks already!!

Capello:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l103/eduardm2/19092008001.jpg
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l103/eduardm2/19092008.jpg

Now and again, the ugly political head is raising its head in our city treads. It's becoming more intense especially towards elections. We all have our opinions, but Guys please refrain from political debates, and ruining an otherwise good discussion thread. It's very unpleasant.

It affects Cape Town. It affects the city, its people and its future. Directly.
It is a Cape Town Discussion.

Sure, not everyone on here agrees on everything political, like they may agree on Portside being a "good thing" or the recent weather being "wet".
But that doesn't make it "unpleasant" or unnecessary or invalid.

And as for your election comment... well... durr! :weird:

It affects Cape Town. It affects the city, its people and its future. Directly.
It is a Cape Town Discussion.

Sure, not everyone on here agrees on everything political, like they may agree on Portside being a "good thing" or the recent weather being "wet".
But that doesn't make it "unpleasant" or unnecessary or invalid.

And as for your election comment... well... durr! :weird:

Forums are designed in such a way that we can create topics about whatever we want within certain boundaries of course. Considering we have the freedom to do this, I suggest you create another thread in order to discuss political matters.

This thread has been following a "template" for some time which has worked, so completely changing focus right now would be a bad idea.

Went today to the CBD in Cape Town and, wow, is it changing and bustling. I walked from Thibault Square all the way along st georges and back through greenmarket. For bad weather, there were a lot of people which was a great sign of the CBD's improvement. And the architecture is amazing, the clash of the old and new. Also lots of cafes and restaurants such as vida cafe, especially along st georges. But the CBD was a bit barren at some parts, especially the foreshore area, and this showed me it will take some time until the CBD becomes a 24/7 residential and entertainment area with a reasonable density. I have hopes though :)

Btw they're opening a Capello in CT CBD! At the bottom of Atterbury House (Shell House) :)

And I also past Portside and guess what, they've begun demolition and earthworks already!!

Capello:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l103/eduardm2/19092008001.jpg
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l103/eduardm2/19092008.jpg


Thanks!! please add to the Atterbury House thread unless you already have.

thanks again.

Why we need to go up in the world

By Lynnette Johns

A shortage of office and living space and the need to densify means high-rise buildings in Cape Town are necessary - as long as they are built in the right area of the CBD, says Andrew Boraine, head of the the Cape Town Partnership.

This week residents were up in arms after the council announced it had waived height restrictions for the Portside development, near the Waterfront, fearing high-rises would obliterate views and change the look and feel of the inner city.

When completed, Portside will be 150m high, equal to the Metlife Centre on the Foreshore but nowhere near the 223m of the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg.

Portside, which will consist of an office block and hotel and retail space, will be an environmentally friendly building. It should be completed by July 2011.

Demolition work has already started on the 3 500m2 property, the old Porter's Auto site at the foot of Bree Street between Hans Strijdom Avenue and Mechau Street.

Portside is a marker for the future development of the city, says Boraine. This will be appropriate development, rather than development at all costs. But he warns radical changes need to be made to realise a vision of a city where people live, work and play.

Simon Grindrod, the City of Cape Town's mayoral committee member for economic, social development and tourism, is excited at the thought that over the next 10 years more people will be able to move into the city to add to the growing vibrancy of the CBD. He says developments will have to be "higher and not wider" to make optimal use of the little available space.

Densification will also be a way of dealing with apartheid spatial planning to get people of all backgrounds and financial levels into the CBD.

City planner and heritage consultant Nicolas Boumann says it will be important to maintain the historic look and feel of Cape Town and to maintain the link between the sea and the mountain, but it is still important for the city to densify.

Boraine and Boumann say the city could see taller buildings in the future, but not of the order of the skyscrapers seen in cities like Chicago, New York and Dubai. Dubai will be home to the Burj Dubai, which when completed will stand at 818m, the highest building in the world.

Boraine says: "Cape Town has one of the lowest densities of any city on earth and this is not sustainable, either financially, environmentally or morally.

"We have to have a more compact city."

Both Boraine and Boumann anticipate the buildings, especially residential buildings, should not be higher than between 12 and 14 storeys. Boumann says residential buildings should be four- or five-storey walk-ups.

Every working day an estimated 360 000 people pour into the inner city, 120 000 using public transport and 240 000 by car. Only 55 000 live in the City Bowl area, which stretches from Green Point to Salt River and from the harbour to Higgovale.

The city and the partnership have divided the inner city into 20 suburbs, each with its unique features and historical background. Developments in each sector will have to be appropriate. But they are still working on how to have less expensive homes in the inner city.

Therefore building a high-rise in the heart of the old city - the Greenmarket Square area - would not happen, but a high-rise would get the go-ahead on the Foreshore, where most of the high-rises are.

Boraine says it would be foolhardy to mess with one of the world's best known skylines, Table Mountain, by indiscriminately putting up tall buildings.

Grindrod says he would like to see the private sector and government bodies hammer out plans and developments so middle-income families can afford to live in the city.

"One of the only ways to dismantle apartheid suburban planning is to set aside strategic development for the sole purpose of providing rent-to-buy apartments for working-class families. We in government need the courage to intervene in the market where necessary in terms of planning and development proposals to achieve social objectives."

Boraine agrees, saying in major cities planning laws have been changed to encourage mixed housing developments.

Mixed-use developments, with retail at ground level, offices higher up and residences on top, are one of the models the city favoured, say Boraine and Grindrod.

Does anyone from Cape Town want to take up for your city?

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=607027&page=30

Some people really think Cape Town isn't "developed". :ohno:

Trump to invest in Cape Town, Johannesburg and the Garden Route
September 22, 2008, 14:45

US property giant, the Trump Organisation, has announced a R5 billion investment deal in South Africa.

Donald Trump Junior made the announcement during a media briefing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town Today.

Trump Junior says the joint venture with local property company, Devland, will create developments in three major areas in the country.

“Naturally, Johannesburg is a business center for a hotel hub, Cape Town for its natural beauty, the Garden Coast - something of a resort type development. Those are the areas which we have focused on…”

^^ Heard him on the radio(fivefm news) saying he would like ct to be center of trumps operations in SA

Makes sense considering devland is apparently based in ct

^^ Heard him on the radio(fivefm news) saying he would like ct to be center of trumps operations in SA

Makes sense considering devland is apparently based in ct

Trump's son loves Cape Town.

http://www.cbn.co.za/images/cbn_logo.jpg

23 Sep 2008 : Capetonian Spearheads Trump Investment in Africa

Sector News
Property

Cape Town property visionary, Neill Bernstein, has secured an exclusive, ten-year property development deal with US megabillionaire Donald Trump which is expected to deliver hundreds of new leisure and residential products in SA in the next few months.

The 50:50 joint venture between Bernstein and the Trump Organization covers a mix of leisure, golf, hotel and residential condominium and condo-hotel developments all over South Africa and Mauritius. It is expect to create 300 000 square meters of saleable real estate worth around R5-billion in the first 36 months.

Bernstein, who was lauded for his brilliance when he launched the first timeshare scheme on the Sea Point beachfront, 20 years ago at the age of 24 which multiplied his investment tenfold, says “sleepy” SA will benefit from global creative thinkers who can help leverage its treasures.

Following the Sea Point venture, Bernstein went on to unlock the Cape Town foreshore by buying the ICS building and spearheading the foreshore precinct development which includes the Holiday Inn and Cullinan Hotels. This opened the way for the Cape Town Convention Centre and the rest of the foreshore office and lifestyle complexes.

In 1998 he bought Cape Town’s tallest building, number 1 Thibault Square, the award winning Revel Fox tower, and later the Golden Acre complex in downtown Cape Town, which he has on sold at high profit.

Bernstein says the partnership with the Trump Organization, which was sealed some weeks ago, already has several projects in the pipeline.

He says he first met Donald Trump in the early 1990’s but reconnected with the Trump Organization earlier this year when he visited New York and presented various projects and ideas to them.

Last week Bernstein took Donald John Trump Jr, the eldest son of Trump, on a tour of various projects in Gauteng and in the Southern and Western Cape.

“Donald Trump junior is mad about South Africa which he visited while still a college student and is extremely excited about doing business on the African continent,” he said.

The Trump Organisation is a diversified empire with interests covering hotels, resorts, residential towers, and golf courses in major US markets as well as South America and the Middle East. It owns 28% of Trump Entertainment Resorts, which owns and operates the Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza, and Trump Marina casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Together with NBC, Trump also owns the Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss Universe beauty pageants.

Donald Trump, world renowned as a flamboyant, modern-day “King Midas”, made his mark in Real Estate in New York where his properties include Trump International Hotel & Tower, Trump Tower, and 40 Wall Street.

Donald Trump, Jr, 31, is the eldest of the Trump children and works with his sister Ivanka and brother Eric and according to the New York Times, are among Trump’s best ‘apprentices’ ever. He cut his teeth in the Trump business on projects like the West Side Yards and Trump Place on Riverside Drive. Most recently his focus has been on the redevelopment of the old Delmonico Hotel, Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago project which were shown on the US version of the The Apprentice as well as the 45-storey Trump International Hotel and Tower in SoHo.

Bernstein says the Trump Organization started becoming a global brand over the past ten years when it expanded in two huge developments in Dubai as well as in Hawaii, Panama, Chicago, Vegas, Palm Beach and Miami. It also has other projects in the pipeline in Asia and the Middle East

“It makes sense for them to look at projects in Africa too. The organization has a great formula for success, enormous experience and an appetite for quality developments across the leisure, golf and residential spread. There is opportunity for all these in our market.

“The Trump formula translates perfectly across the world and for our projects in South Africa we are not going to reinvent the wheel. Consumers around the world want similar home comforts and the economies of scale make huge sense.”

“We envisage pitching our SA projects globally. Although 70% of our target investors are local, we see 30% at least, from other markets. The US market is relatively untapped as far as leisure and golf in southern Africa goes and there is huge opportunity to cross market under the Trump brand,” says Bernstein.

Bernstein this week moves to New York along with his family and will base Devland Holdings head office at Trump Tower.

omg, is trump coming to town?

CT food development to launch
2008/09/22

A new world-class hospitality development is set to launch in Cape Town later this year.

The Epicurean Food Emporium, which will be situated on the ground floor of The Rockwell in Green Point, is the creation of a one-stop marketplace and this concept also presents business opportunities for potential investors.

The Epicurean Food Emporium will have the convenience of a neighbourhood food market.

Comprising of various small units, The Epicurean Food Emporium offers potential tenants the opportunity to set up shop in a structured environment with the ease of ensuring huge capital investments. The entire vision is a dedicated food and beverage idea with over six restaurants and a retail area of approximately 15 food and beverage concept stores (10 - 40sq m).

Families and foodies alike can explore food halls offering a variety of custom-crafted culinary finds, gourmet delicacies, private label products and local organic produce. Freshly baked breads, homemade jams, chutneys, olive oils, pesto, fine wines, gourmet sandwiches, chocolates, ice cream, confectionary and international cheeses are just some of the foods on offer.

Other Epicurean Food Emporium features include an oyster and caviar bar, salmon bar, sushi & sashimi, a juice bar, a working winery with tasting rooms as well as various restaurants, which will feature an upmarket New York style steakhouse, Asian noodle bar, Lebanese restaurant, an Italian style café, and an Indian Restaurant and Cookery School.

The option of making buses available to transport patrons from major hotels to the site is being investigated. Ample parking will be available for customers with 24 hour security.

Plans for launching an Epicurean Food Emporium in Johannesburg are also in progress.

The venue is set to cater for approximately 3,000 people.

For more information contact Conrad Gallagher Consulting on 021 424 7490 or send an email.

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23/09/2008 01:53 PM - (SA)

Mouille Point hotel opposed

Toyah Lord

WITH the 2010 Soccer World Cup steadily approaching, the Good Hope Subcouncil is being inundated with applications for boutique hotels and guest houses - not only in the Atlantic Seaboard, but throughout the city centre.

Good Hope Subcouncil chairperson JP Smith says people are attempting to take advantage of 2010 by trying to capitalise on such investments, often at the expense of their neighbours. As a result, the Good Hope Subcouncil is having to "fight tooth and nail", says Smith.

One such example, which was one of the many planning and ren?tal applications opposed at the subcouncil's monthly meeting on Thursday, is an application for zo?ning departures for a proposed eight-storey hotel in Bay Road, Mouille Point. While the proposed development received a thumbs-up from council's Roads and Transportation Planning branches, as well as Heritage Western Cape, the Good Hope Subcouncil voted against it owing to its extensive list of departures and the numerous objections received.

According to Smith, the proposed development received 11 objections while close to 20 zoning departures were requested.

"A normal planning item solicits a maximum of six departures. The zoning scheme, in relation to the size of the erf, would allow for a maximum of three to four storeys, but not eight storeys," he says.

"There is nothing wrong with the development itself, but it is inappropriate for the size of the plot and far too extreme for the environment in which it is in."

In addition to this, it would also be in a residential area, and a hotel is "not appropriate" for the area, Smith adds.

Among the objectors were the Mouille Point Ratepayers' Association, Geoff Underwood of Planning Partners, Tommy Brümmer, Willem Bührmann of Willem Bührmann Associates, and Griffiths and Associates.

The proposed eight-storey hotel, which was to feature 45 bedrooms, was to be built across two properties at 38 Bay Road in Mouille Point. There are currently two houses on the properties, both of which are older than 60 years.

Forward Planning, which made the application on behalf of the owner, R&R Productions and Promotions (though the property is currently being sold to Anyname Property 5010 CC), made an application to Heritage Western Cape for demolition permits. One was initially refused, but it was later gran?ted after an appeal was lodged by the heritage consultant.

A record for demolition was granted on 13 November 2007. Ratepayers? association chairperson Marco van Embden says: "We objected to the development because of the many departures, not to mention that there were a whole lot of other objections. We didn't think it would be in the best interest of the environment, especially with all the development currently ta?king place in the area."

Tommy Brümmer, who objected on behalf of the residents at Mouille Sands, says their main concerns were parking and traffic congestion; one of the departures was to permit 40 bays as opposed to the 47 required.

Another objector, who asked not to be named, agrees, saying his client's main concern also pertained to the traffic and parking conditions, especially considering how narrow Bay Road is. He added that his client was concerned that it would be extremely difficult to control the access of non-clients into the hotel's bar and restaurant facilities.

Objectors did, however, agree that a scaled-down development would be acceptable, but not at the magnitude that is currently proposed. The owner of the erven has 21 days in which to appeal the subcouncil's decision, under the Municipal Act.

"We are aware of the fact that the applicant has the right to appeal, and it is likely that they will appeal," says the anonymous objector.

People's Post was unable to reach the owners, and could not ascertain whether they will appeal the decision, or whether they would be willing to down scale the proposal. Louise Seaward of their consultants, Forward Planning, refused to supply People's Post with the owners' details.

http://vne-resource.iol.co.za/22/images/breakingnews/site_header_1.jpg

Multibillion-rand property venture for Cape

September 23 2008 at 10:07AM

By Anel Powell

An exclusive ten-year deal between Cape Town's maverick property developer and the Trump Organisation is to deliver residential and hotel developments worth more than R5-billion to South Africa in the next three years.

Devland chair Neill Bernstein, hailed as Cape Town's Donald Trump, has announced a 50-50 joint venture with the Trump Organisation, which has been responsible for such developments as Chicago's 92-storey, $900-million Trump International Hotel and Tower.

Although the venture is expected to create at least 300 000 square metres of saleable real estate, details of the locations of the developments have not yet been released.





'I have little interest in rushing into new-build contracts'
Bernstein said he was eager to get started on projects, but he would not use the 2010 World Cup as a springboard. "It is madness to jump into projects based on a two-week event. I have little interest in rushing into new-build contracts."

Donald Trump junior, executive vice-president of development and acquisition for the Trump Organisation, has been in the country for the past week to assess development options.

Trump said he had his eye on "a couple of potential properties". But he would not rush to push any developments. "Quality is important, so if it takes longer, we will take our time."

The natural beauty of the country and the Trump Organisation's vision of a leisure, golf, resorts, residential and condo-residential developments were a "perfect fit".

Although the organisation would look at development possibilities in South Africa and the continent, Trump would make its "initial mark" in Cape Town.

'Quality is important, so if it takes longer, we will take our time'
Of the decision to expand the family's property empire into Africa, Trump said: "This is a continent (on which) we don't have any developments. Now is the time. South Africa is the central business hub for Africa. (And) we want to buy real estate when it is not at its peak."

Bernstein said property developers needed to be realistic about the economy. He said the biggest advantage of his Trump venture would be the flow of intellectual capital into the country's property market.

Bernstein, who has been involved in landmark property deals, including the sale of Foreshore land to open the way for hotel developments there and the Golden Acre, said Trump's involvement would bring in much-needed expertise about high-rise construction.

Property consultant and Cape Town Partnership chairman Theodore Yach said of the deal: "It is an affirmation of the quality of South African property."

The proposed development, as well as the announcement of such projects as Old Mutual's Portside on the Foreshore, would help to transform the centre of Cape Town into one of the financial centres of the world, Yach said. This was being done with local and international investment.

anel.powell@inl.co.za

This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Times on September 23, 2008

http://www.businessday.co.za/images/bdlogo01.gif

Posted to the web on: 23 September 2008

Trump stamps brand on SA property gems

Chris van Gass

Cape Corespondent

CAPE TOWN — The Trump brand of hotels and residential developments will soon be part of the South African scenery, with at least eight projects, including the possibility of a 250 to 300-bed luxury hotel, being considered in the Cape “soon”.

This would be part of a 10-year property deal clinched by local property “visionary” Neill Bernstein and US billionaire business maverick Donald Trump. The joint venture deal covers leisure, golf, hotel and residential condominiums and “condo-hotel” developments in SA and Mauritius. It is expected to create “saleable” real estate worth about R5bn in the first three years.
Bernstein, who 20 years ago launched the first timeshare scheme on the Sea Point beachfront as a 24-year-old and heads the Devland property group, said “sleepy” SA would benefit from global creative thinkers, who could help leverage the country’s property treasures.
Donald Trump Jnr, Trump’s oldest son, has been touring various projects in Gauteng and southern and Western Cape to assess new possibilities. The New York Times described him, his sister Ivanka and brother Eric, as among Trump Snr’s “best apprentices ever”. Donald Trump Jnr, spent time in SA as a college student and was “excited” about doing business on the continent.
One of his most recent projects was the $900m Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago, which featured on The Apprentice reality TV show.
Bernstein said the partnership with the Trump group had several projects in the pipeline, eight in the Cape. They could include a 250 to 300-bed hotel and a boutique hotel.
Trump Jnr said it was important for the Trump group to secure its branding in SA, which related to quality and luxury. Bernstein said: “The Trump formula translates perfectly across the world and for our projects in SA we are not going to reinvent the wheel.
“Consumers around the world want similar home comforts and the economies of scale make huge sense,” Bernstein said.
While the South African products would be targeted globally, it was expected 70% of the investors would be local and 30% from other markets.

''expertise in high rise developments'' - indication of what they are planning? would be stupid not to target the cbd .... btw what has baffeld for a while is why dont we get more international investments like the rest of africa is getting from china? were far better investments with a lot more stability! no massive international investments have yet happened. even the waterfront havent yet seen its bold dubai development?

the trump thing sounds promising. prefer this to some R25 billion "new city" in the middle or somewhere of nowhere.

''expertise in high rise developments'' - indication of what they are planning? would be stupid not to target the cbd .... btw what has baffeld for a while is why dont we get more international investments like the rest of africa is getting from china? were far better investments with a lot more stability! no massive international investments have yet happened. even the waterfront havent yet seen its bold dubai development?

Investors worry about land reform and the expropriation bill which is why they take their money to less stable countries for now like Sudan, Egypt, Angola. etc. while they stay clear of SA because of their fear of it becoming another Zimbabwe under Zuma. And their fears are not lessened by the militant talk of the ANCYL and Cosatu's nationalisation call either.

the trump thing sounds promising. prefer this to some R25 billion "new city" in the middle or somewhere of nowhere.

The problem is the infrastructure. SA must take care of infrastructural issues in existing hubs before it can plan new cities.

Donald Trump knows SA better than that. He's not a typical investor but one who can read between the lines and is willing to take risks. SA is not the only developing country where he is building these developments as he is building them in Turkey and Lebanon.

He is like Sol Kerzner, but on a grander scale worldwide.

as ive said before. prefer this to a R25 bn city within a city within a city.

Cape Town is the perfect nest for the Loeries

9 September 2008

After reviewing a long list of possible towns, Cape Town has been shortlisted as one of four venues to play host to The Loerie Awards in 2009. Cape Town will be competing with Margate, Sun City and Johannesburg for the honour of hosting this spectacular event.

“We‟ve held the Loeries in Margate for four years,” says Festus Masekwameng, Chairman of The Loerie Awards. “It‟s certainly a strong contender in the process, but the committee has received a lot of feedback from the industry as well as interest from other cities. We wanted an opportunity to evaluate a short list of venue options.”
A team from Cape Town under the coordination of Cape Town Tourism is hard at work on Cape Town‟s Bid for The Loeries.

A highlight on the country‟s design industry‟s calendar, the aim of the awards is to honour and celebrate the year‟s best work in a creative and inspirational environment. In the last four years, the awards weekend has run from Friday until Monday in Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, and included the two awards ceremonies. The ceremonies over the last years have been created in the mould of the MTV or Oscar Awards and attended by all communication specialists: including advertising agencies, designers, architects and marketers. The last awards were attended by more than 3 100 people – a recognition of The Loeries stature.

Responding with enthusiasm about the opportunity, Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism says: “Cape Town is the perfect venue for The Loeries. Cape Town has a well-established creative industry, a world-class tourism infrastructure and the lifestyle offering to position the Mother City as the creative mecca of South Africa. Hosting strategic events is an important part of our destination marketing strategy – a powerful platform to promote Cape Town, counter-act seasonality and create sustainable economic growth opportunities,” she added.
The role of The Loerie Awards is to recognise, reward and foster creative excellence. One aspect of this is to drive educational initiatives which increase awareness of the career and study opportunities available in the communications industry. In 2008, The Loerie Awards launched the „Seeking Creative Excellence‟ scholarship and has several other educational initiatives in place.

The bid to host the Loeries in Cape Town is fully supported by the City of Cape Town. “The Loeries offers great opportunities for economic development for Cape Town. Not only can we attach social development initiatives onto the event, we also recognise the event‟s commitment to developing students in the communications and creative industry,” says Simon Grindrod, Mayoral Committee for Social, Economical Development and Tourism. “The Loeries is also the perfect platform to firmly establish Cape Town as South Africa‟s Party Capital in the run up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”

The site earmarked for the main event is the East City Precinct with the Good Hope Centre as the central focal point.

Andrew Boraine, CEO of the Cape Town Partnership, commented on the significance of hosting the Loeries in Cape Town: “The Loeries is a huge opportunity for Cape Town. It will add to the regeneration of the East City, which is currently a site of significant creative industries clustering and a major part of the city‟s cultural hub. By attracting such a major event into the East CIty, our city can fast-track the redevelopment of the Good Hope Centre, and mobilise our creative community to engage with the Loerie‟s extensive programme of activities.”
“The opportunities linked to hosting The Loeries are endless,” says Grindrod. “Not only will it attract an estimated 5 000 visitors to our City, but it will create a platform for Capetonians to celebrate their City with the creative industry at large.”

The Loeries include a host of fringe activities like a media centre, VIP lounges set up across the host town, Saturday and Sunday after-parties including a line-up of SA‟s finest DJ‟s, the Battle of the Bands, beach activities, numerous agency parties, non-stop advertising show reels in cinemas and pre and post tours of the area.

“The economic and marketing benefits associated with hosting niche events like The Loeries are endless. We are able to attract a niche market, package our destination in such a way that visitors are encouraged to explore it beyond the obvious attractions and real opportunities for small to medium businesses can be created through dedicated event services like transport, catering, entertainment, technical support and cleaning,” concludes du Toit-Helmbold.

The Loerie Awards is the only award endorsed by the Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA), the Creative Circle (CC), the South African Graphic Design Council (Think), the Commercial Producers Association (CPA), the Digital Forum, and the Communication & Advertising Forum for Empowerment (Café).
The tender deadline is the last week of September, after which the Loeries Committee will review the pitches. A final decision will be made in October this year.

Cape Town is leading the pack on the Bizcommunity voting page, so join in and cast your vote on www.bizcommunity.com if you think the Loeries should come home to nest in the Mother City!
For further information or for comment, please contact Mariëtte du Toit-Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism, on mariette@tourismcapetown.co.za or 083 225 5955.

@ SA BOY Compare PE with Auckland what a joke, its actually PE vs that shit hole like Mankau or Hamilton or Palmerston North. Sydney why dident you compare Auckland with Cape Town?

Jesus Christ you are a dumb-ass, besides the fact that you can't even construct a sentence, little alone spell, only a moron will compare apples with pears. The reason I didn't compare AKL to CPT was to spare the Capetonians the embarrassment. I am not one of the stupid SA Forum members who buys into your blatant lies i.e. "I own such and such a property and I am such a big-shot here in Dubai" blah, blah, blah ..... the only reason you want to return to Cape Town is because you can't integrate and adapt to the local custom - wherever that may be :nuts:. And I can prove that you are liar, you say that you don't read the Shebeen anymore - really ? How did you know that I compared Auckland to Port Elizabeth you fucking useless tosser :lol:

@Dysan1 Dear SYDNEY, You have received a warning at SkyscraperCity. Reason: Wrong attitude ... I know in your own way you mean well, but all it is doing is adding to the hostility of the forum

Take your pathetic little warnings and shove it up your huge worn out ass. The only reason that you are still in South Africa is because you won't be able to make it in the real world. I am willing to bet that you don't have the skills either. You are happy to be a policewoman here at this pathetic forum and you are prepared to do it for free - how pathetic ! Go and fuck yourself twat !

@Pule @Syd, yes New Zealand is in recession and you also know that. The reason why we talk New Zealdna dn Australia is the fact that most of you ex-SAs always lambast at our country just because you in countries which have history of opression like Ausralians did to the natives of that country and you forgetting the fact that we still young and South Africa was the best for you when a few were benefitting the same wealth you talking about and some of the was called developed countries have "illegally" benefitted from resources that countries like ours have, so before any further claim of a better life, consider all these facts. I for one wouldn't have had opportunities that I'm having now if the minority was still in power and as I am benefitting, with time more South Africans will benefit and we can then compare PE and Auckland.

Catch a fucking wake up Pule and start thinking for yourself. You bitch about all the shit that the media portrays about your banana republic - South Africa, yet you buy into everything that they and the politicians say, even worse is the fact that you can repeat it like some parrot. The only people stealing resources from South Africa is the thieves and/or the politicians, they are all one in the same !! Hello - welcome to the real world, the reality is NOT some "SA - the good news" forum. It is thanks to the whites that you have what you have today - if it wasn't for them you will still be living in grass huts and no better than the rest of Africa. A great example is Hillbrow which was fine until it became one of the world's biggest cesspits (you might think that it is improving but you have no clue - not even close). Hillbrow is and will always be a big cesspit of shit !!

@Mo Rush zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....wheres that eden park render...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Wakey, wakey you sad freak ! You think that a stadium is the be all and end all of a city, you think that a stadium defines a country - how sad you really are :nuts: You take pride in a mere stadium but tend to forget that your fabulous stadium comes at the expense of millions who are unemployed, living in shacks, victims of horrendous crimes (comparable to nations at war), starving and dying from diseases like flu because there isn't adequate medical facilities. You selfish, righteous bastard.

As for the rest of you - the only reason that you are still in that dump is because you don't have the skills to get out and no other country with substance wants you. You are the most ignorant, sad little hermits in the World and nobody (not even in Nigeria) envy you. They pity you !

As for those planning to leave - well done !! you have seen the light and you won't be making a mistake. You will look back and wonder - what took me so long ? Leave the useless, the insane, the dumb and the ignorant to wallow in their perpetual world of make believe. THEY are the frogs that sat in the pot while the heat got turned up - YOU are the ones who jumped out.

I am done with SSC .. I need to get a life and make money, money, money, money and dedicate the rest of my life by spreading the good news of South Africa - the TRUTH ...... corruption, reverse racism, the daily rape and abuse of children (unlike anywhere else in the world), the xenophobia, the blatant abuse of democracy. So please ban me so that I can get rid of this "addiction' once for all :cheers: you useless bunch of fucking TOSSERS :lol:

@ SA BOY

Jesus Christ you are a dumb-ass, besides the fact that you can't even construct a sentence, little alone spell, only a moron will compare apples with pears. The reason I didn't compare AKL to CPT was to spare the Capetonians the embarrassment. I am not one of the stupid SA Forum members who buys into your blatant lies i.e. "I own such and such a property and I am such a big-shot here in Dubai" blah, blah, blah ..... the only reason you want to return to Cape Town is because you can't integrate and adapt to the local custom - wherever that may be :nuts:. And I can prove that you are liar, you say that you don't read the Shebeen anymore - really ? How did you know that I compared Auckland to Port Elizabeth you fucking useless tosser :lol:

@Dysan1

Take your pathetic little warnings and shove it up your huge worn out ass. The only reason that you are still in South Africa is because you won't be able to make it in the real world. I am willing to bet that you don't have the skills either. You are happy to be a policewoman here at this pathetic forum and you are prepared to do it for free - how pathetic ! Go and fuck yourself twat !

@Pule

Catch a fucking wake up Pule and start thinking for yourself. You bitch about all the shit that the media portrays about your banana republic - South Africa, yet you buy into everything that they and the politicians say, even worse is the fact that you can repeat it like some parrot. The only people stealing resources from South Africa is your fucking black brothers, be that thieves or the politicians, they are all one in the same !! Hello - welcome to the real world, the reality is NOT some "SA - the good news" forum. It is thanks to the whites that you have what you have today - if it wasn't for them you will still be living in grass huts and no better than the rest of Africa. A great example is Hillbrow which was fine until your brethren took over and it turned into one of the world's biggest cesspits (you might think that it is improving but you have no clue - not even close). Hillbrow is and will always be a big cesspit of shit !! Very much like all the other areas of the country that is predominantly black.

@Mo Rush Wakey, wakey you sad freak ! You think that a stadium is the be all and end all of a city, you think that a stadium defines a country - how sad you really are :nuts: You take pride in a mere stadium but tend to forget that your fabulous stadium comes at the expense of millions who are unemployed, living in shacks, victims of horrendous crimes (comparable to nations at war), starving and dying from diseases like flu because there isn't adequate medical facilities. You selfish, righteous bastard.

As for the rest of you - the only reason that you are still in that dump is because you don't have the skills to get out and no other country with substance wants you. You are the most ignorant, sad little hermits in the World and nobody (not even in Nigeria) envy you. They pity you !

As for those planning to leave - well done !! you have seen the light and you won't be making a mistake. You will look back and wonder - what took me so long ? Leave the useless, the insane, the dumb and the ignorant to wallow in their perpetual world of make believe. THEY are the frogs that sat in the pot while the heat got turned up - YOU are the ones who jumped out.

I am done with SSC .. I need to get a life and make money, money, money, money and dedicate the rest of my life by spreading the good news of South Africa - the TRUTH ...... corruption, reverse racism, the daily rape and abuse of children (unlike anywhere else in the world), the xenophobia, the blatant abuse of democracy. So please ban me so that I can get rid of this "addiction' once for all :cheers: you useless bunch of fucking TOSSERS :lol:

this is sad and unfortunate as I believe Sydney has much to offer BUT when someone I am certain is intelligent lets their inner unresolved issues take over, its results in the above, babble and noise. It is quite sad.

Without sounding patronizing, I do wish those issues are resolved. As I replied to your PM Sydney, the above has more to do with you than those you are writing about.

All the best.

Let the truth be told :soapbox:
Thanks Syd, your political incorrectness is appreciated. You've said what most think but not dare to say (however misconstrued). Viva democracy! A girl needs to clean out her nicker drawer once in a while :nuts:

Now let's continue building a better Cape Town and clean out our "cesspits"...

Let the truth be told :soapbox:
Thanks Syd, your political incorrectness is appreciated. You've said what most think but not dare to say (however misconstrued). Viva democracy! A girl needs to clean out her nicker drawer once in a while :nuts:

Now let's continue building a better Cape Town and clean out our "cesspits"...

Viva! Amandla!

And sydney - on a last note - money money money? I always knew you loved Abba. A word of warning - go to the deathofjoburg blog. You can choose - move on and be really happy. Or, treasure the bitter anger... and turn into the real realist. What would you rather spend your energy on? Stalking and badgering an ex-partner from the bushes - or having a fulfilled relationship with the those that you love now?

Me barging in - but please take this to the Shebeen/PM. We don't want this thread locked too...

Dysan, please clean this irrelevance from our city discussion and other threads. Thanks

Yo cape town peeps if you dont take global-warming seriously our beautiful city might end up like this. (Hows my Photoshoping skills?:lol:)
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6958/ctunderwatercopymj1.jpg

Nice island reserve that lol.....

Shotgun cablecar house!

Shotgun cablecar house!

ROFLMFAO!

^^ OMG! That would take 3 Antarctic ice sheets to cause that sea-level rise! That's almost 500m of extra water. Anyways... the Cape was settled originally by the Dutch, we shall therefore build dykes... no we will not take all the females from Green Point and put them in the Waterfront! :lol:

Capetonians, Spring finally arrives from Sunday!!! Wow, we've been waiting so long for less rain and temps above 18ºC. SUN AGAIN!

Even me who is a winter lover must digress, 5 months of solid rain, snow, wind and cloud is a bit much for the Cape.

^^ It wasnt five months the early part wasnt very wet just cold

I was in Montagu in May for Wacky Wine Weekend in Robertson, live out near Worcester, it was damn wet and freezing and we got our first mountain snow in mid-May. So, maybe it's just us in the interior that literally had winter from May through beginning of October.

Cape Town tourism is confident of growth



By AUDREY D’ANGELO

Cape Town - Despite worldwide gloom over the worsening global economic situation, Cape Town Tourism is confident of a bumper holiday season this year, with overseas interest in visiting South Africa, and the Cape in particular, stimulated by preparations for the 2010 soccer World Cup.

Both Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, the chief executive of the city’s tourism authority, and Calvyn Gilfellan, the chief executive of the Western Cape tourism authority, Cape Town Routes Unlimited, pointed out that the latest figures issued by Statistics SA showed that arrivals in this country from key source markets between January and July – normally the slow season – had increased.

“Of particular importance,” Du Toit-Helmbold said, “is the growing interest in South Africa from markets like the US, Canada and India – all markets that favour our off-peak season.”

The North American market was showing the strongest growth, she said, with arrivals from the US growing 10.8 percent from a year earlier and visitors from Canada by “an impressive” 16.5 percent. “The Asian markets have started to show a drop over the past three months, but in total are showing positive growth over the period.”

Arrivals from China grew 7 percent and India 14.4 percent.

Cape Town Tourism predicted a busy summer season. Tourism industry surveys indicated good growth in arrivals for the past winter season and favourable occupancy levels for the summer season.

“We are confident that in the run-up to the 2010 soccer World Cup, and with the final draw scheduled to take place in Cape Town in December 2009, Cape Town will continue to experience positive growth,” Du Toit-Helmbold said.

“This is the single biggest marketing opportunity for our country and our city and we must ensure that we capitalise on it to establish a sustainable and excellent tourism legacy.”

Gilfellan said South Africa was “doing very well” to grow in a gloomy world economic environment. He cautioned that “this growth must be carefully managed. Our services and hotels must be so excellent that people will want to come back and word of mouth must encourage new visitors."

Published on the web by Business Report on October 1, 2008.

Get glowing at SA's nudie beaches

By Elhaam Ajam
October 2nd, 2008

The very mention of the naked, nude or naturist is enough to elist a slight blush if you're not use to going buff. We reveal SA's favourtie nudie hot spots, try it if you dare

Below is a list of some of the best stretches of sand where beach lovers can shed their skivvies and perfect that all-over tan.

Cape Town's got top optional beaches.

Included in Forbes.com annual list of Top Topless Beaches is a Cape Town beach no less. To make the list, a set of criteria are imposed.

These include: a recognized consensus to go topless, consistently sunny weather, beautiful scenery, a young, fun crowd and easily accessible bars, restaurants and boutiques.

The Top 10 Topless Beaches ...

• Anse du Gouverneur, St. Barts
• Black's Beach, San Diego
• Clifton Beach, Cape Town!
• Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro
• Illetes, Formentera, Spain
• La Voile Rouge, St. Tropez, France
• Las Salinas, Ibiza, Spain
• Manly Beach, Sydney
• Nikki Beach, St. Tropez
• Paradise Beach, Mykonos, Greece
• Plage de Pampelonne, St. Tropez
• Santa Maria, Forte Dei Marmi, Italy
• South Beach, Miami

So go topless at the northwest tip of South Africa's Cape Peninsula. Cliftons' Beaches are swanky making it a haven for international hipsters and jet-setters.



Clifton is a series of four beaches, each separated by a stretch of granite boulders. The beaches are sprawling and clean, reflecting the sunshine off white sand and throngs of tanned bodies.

Head for Sandy Bay

Best for: getting an all-over tan.

The nudist beach of Sandy Bay is backed by steep dunes and mountain slopes. The only way to get to it is a 20-minute walk from the car park. Or you can clamber over rocks from the southern end of Llandudno.

Narrow paths lead off the track, seaward to favourite sunbathing spots or inland to high sand dunes.

Ever wondered what Sanfed stands for?

Well it's the South African Naturist Federation. This organisation promotes naturism locally. They even organise events for their members to come together in an environment where they can express their individuality.

Obviously free from the restraints of clothing. Their mission is "to promote body acceptance and the enjoyment of a clothes-free environment".

There's naturism/nudism in the North-West

There are currently four prominent naturist resorts in Southern Africa. Three of which are situated in the North West Province. All of them are endorsed by Sanfed.

Kiepersolkloof is widely regarded as the oldest private naturist area in South Africa. It's situated between two gorges in the African bushveld in the North West.

This makes it isolated and well-hidden by dense olive and thorn trees. If you want to stay the weekend there are self-catering cottages as well as campsites.

Harmony Nature farm is a traditional family naturist resort resting on the cliffs of the Magaliesberg Mountains. It's just over an hour's drive from Gauteng. It's a perfect weekend escape. Click here for a great Jozi deal!

Head for the Sun Eden Country Club for a quick naturist getaway. It's situated on a bushveld game farm just 50kms from Pretoria. Book a Pretoria package deal here for your naturist weekend.

Sun Eden also offers ‘nude recreation', which allows visitors to partake in a range of activities au naturel.

Down at the coast is Lazy Haven Lodge. It's billed as the "ultimate experience in naturism". It's just 30 km from East London near Kidd's beach, and offers luxury self-catering nudist accommodation.

Keep your manners in check

You may find naturism exotic and exciting; remember though that most naturists are simply there to enjoy being unclothed in the great outdoors.

When visiting a naturist area don't forget Sanfed's golden rules of etiquette:

-No overt sexual activity should be indulged in nudist areas.
-Be careful taking photographs. Ask permission if those in the shot are strangers.
-The South African sun is vicious, so use sunscreen.
-Get dressed before leaving established nude areas so as not to offend anyone.
-Respect the privacy and space of others, and don't use nudity as an excuse to chat up members of the opposite sex.

Lights, camera, action at last

By Murray Williams

Dreamworld, the long-planned, long-delayed Cape Town "Hollywood-style" film studio city, is about to rise from the ground.

Building on the mega-project begins on October 20, and the foundations of the four planned studios are already anchored into the soil of the site at the corner of the N2 and the R310, towards Stellenbosch.

Nico Dekker, the former head and chief executive of Table Mountain Motion Picture Studios, has been appointed chief executive of Cape Town Film Studios - widely regarded as a coup for what will be one of the most significant developments in the Western Cape for years.

"This is one of the greatest challenges of my life," Dekker said at the site on Wednesday.

"It's the first time South Africa and Africa will have Hollywood-style studios.

"South Africa is already a major location destination" - thanks to its abundance of natural beauty and features."

Already, around 30 international feature films and 300 commercials are shot in South Africa every year. But filmmakers have always had to travel elsewhere in the world to find established, state-of-the-art studios.

No longer.

The site measures 200ha, a total 60ha of which will form the first phase.

Behind the development are shareholders Videovision Entertainment, headed by Anant Singh; Sabido Investments/Etv, headed by Marcel Golding; the Rico Trust, the Helderberg African Chamber of Commerce; and Wesgro, the Western Cape's investment and trade promotion agency.

"This is where dreams will come true. People are going to make love and war here, create artificial worlds which will be carried to big screens and households all over the world... on-screen memories which will remain for generations to come," he said.

The project is also likely to serve as a catalyst for a whole new development node in the area. When the project was first mooted the site was isolated on a largely barren part of the Cape Flats, but subsequent development has since sprung up nearby - including De Wijnlanden towards Stellenbosch, and a host of residential areas in the Croydon/Faure area.

"We invite the South African film industry to make this their home, their playground," Dekker said.

To service the film industry's needs, a small army of carpenters, set-builders, seamstresses, printers and others would find new opportunities.

More broadly, Dekker estimates that for every R1 spent on actual production, another R2.50 is spent elsewhere - hotels or the service industry.

When the movie 10 000BC was secretly filmed in Cape Town in 2005, $50-million was spent on filming alone. In today's terms, just two such productions could inject R2-billion into the Cape Town economy, Dekker calculated.

The first phase of the construction is hoped to be ready by early 2010.

Project managers Target Consultants, who worked on the Cape Town International Convention Centre, are also working on the airport's expansion and the revamp of Cape Town station.

Holiday security boost for Cape Town

By Anel Powell

An extra 108 casual law enforcement staff will be deployed from November until January 2009 to bolster the 989 staff of the metro police, traffic and law enforcement services over the festive season.

This is one of several mitigation measures contained in the city of Cape Town's festive season co-ordination strategy, which will be implemented from November and will run until the end of May in 2009.

It will be managed by the city's festive season co-ordination committee.

Anton Visser, of the city's safety and security department, said festive season risks included road traffic accidents, fires, medical emergencies, safety and security at beaches and pools, unruly behaviour, power failures and crowd surges at festival events.

With more people expected at tourist hot spots, beach safety and cleaning will be part of the festive season plan.

Sports and recreation will employ 619 extra people, including 260 skilled lifeguards and 39 access control staff, to cope with the work load at beaches, pools and resorts during the holidays.

Beaches and scenic routes and business areas will be kept clean with extra top up services. More than 900 casual staff will be hired to complement the city's cleansing department during this period.

A budget of R15 538 360 has been allocated for this top-up service. The beach cleansing programme will include the clearing of kelp and shells, the servicing of litter bins and the removal of dead seals.

The city's 700 professional fire fighters will be on duty or standby, while 122 learner fighter fighters will complete their training in time for the festive season. An extra 112 seasonal fire fighters will be deployed for four months starting in November.

They will have access to aerial fire fighting support during fire season until April 2009. Overtime budgets are available for staff who may be called in to work extra hours.

The festive season enforcement plan will focus on petty offences, including minor crimes and bylaw offences.

There will also be a "zero-tolerance" approach to traffic offences. Road blocks will be placed at high traffic areas and accident locations.

Priority areas for law enforcement will include informal settlements, urban renewal areas, tourist attractions and other crime hot spot areas.

While the city's health department will not employ extra staff to deal with the festive season work load, overtime would be managed to ensure that routine functions were not disrupted.

Visser said the directorate would step up its monitoring of the quality of drinking and recreational water, food premises and public ablution facilities.

The city's events permit office will monitor applications and events during the festive period. The Cape Minstrels, Festive Lights celebration in Adderley Street and Cape Town Jazzathon are some of the main events planned for the next seven months.

anel.powell@inl.co.za

ID wants W Cape coalition govt

02/10/2008 12:13 - (SA)

Michael Hamlyn

Cape Town - Patricia de Lille's Independent Democrats have made the first public move towards creating an opposition coalition to take power in the Western Cape after next year's elections.

But the party is making it quite clear that the coalition will only be formed after the elections have taken place.

The party issued a statement on Thursday, saying that after consultation with Western Cape structures, the provincial executive of the ID received a mandate to engage all opposition parties in the Western Cape on discussions about a possible coalition government next year.

"ID structures in the Western Cape have clearly indicated that the ID cannot allow the Western Cape to be governed by the Skwatsha-led Zuma camp," the statement said.

"The Skwatsha camp is responsible for the infighting in the ANC, and divisions in our communities.

'Prevent ANC provincial government'

"The divisions caused by the Skwatsha camp are felt by all people in the Western Cape irrespective of colour, religion and language. This infighting has had a serious impact on creating jobs, on housing, service delivery, the fight against crime and corruption, and poverty."

According to ID deputy leader Simon Grindrod, who is part of the coalition government of DA leader Helen Zille in the City of Cape Town, "the ID today serves notice on Mcebesi Skwatsha and his faction that we will work hard to prevent an ANC provincial government next year.

"The people of the Western Cape are tired of those who put their personal power and greed above delivery to communities.

"We will fight hard to prevent another disastrous ANC term of faction fighting, division and unaccountability. We look forward to the opportunity to be of service to the people of the Western Cape when we are in government next year."

- I-Net Bridge (News24)

ID rejects Zuma camp

2 October 2008, 14:07

The Independent Democrats on Thursday ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition government with ANC in the Western Cape after 2009's election.

ID deputy leader Simon Grindrod said the party's structures were opposed to any partnership that would see the "Zuma camp", led by ANC provincial chairperson Mcebisi Skwatsha, governing the province.

"ID structures in the Western Cape have clearly indicated that the ID cannot allow the Western Cape to be governed by the Skwatsha-led Zuma camp," he said in a statement.

Skwatsha and his allies were responsible for the current divisions in the province and as a result the ID, which is currently in a coalition government with the Democratic Alliance in the City of Cape Town, did not want to have any dealings with them.

"The people of the Western Cape are tired of those who put their personal power and greed above delivery to communities. The Skwatsha-led Zuma campe ID today serves notice on Mcebesi Skwatsha and his faction that we will work hard to prevent an ANC provincial government next year," he said.

Meanwhile, the DA on Thursday said it had already initiated talks with the ID to form a coalition provincial government after 2009's election.

DA chief executive Ryan Coetzee said in a statement the party was also open to talks with any other party that shared its vision.

He called on opposition parties to take full advantage of the current divisions within the ANC that had alienated voters from the party.

"The DA's vision is that South Africans who share a commitment to the Constitution, non-racialism, a market-based economic policy, efficient service delivery and corruption-free government should ultimately come together to provide South Africa with an alternative to the ANC," he said. - Sapa

ID WESTERN CAPE ANNOUNCEMENT ON 2009 ELECTION


02 OCTOBER 2009-After consultation with Western Cape structures, the provincial executive of the ID have received a mandate to engage all opposition parties in the Western Cape on discussions about a possible coalition government next year.


After consultation with Western Cape structures, the provincial executive of the ID have received a mandate to engage all opposition parties in the Western Cape on discussions about a possible coalition government next year.

Any coalition will only be formed after the 2009 elections.


ID structures in the Western Cape have clearly indicated that the ID cannot allow the Western Cape to be governed by the Skwatsha-led Zuma camp.


The Skwatsha camp is responsible for the infighting in the ANC and divisions in our communities.


The divisions caused by the Skwatsha camp are felt by all people in the Western Cape irrespective of colour, religion and language.


This infighting has had a serious impact on creating jobs, on housing, service delivery, the fight against crime and corruption, and poverty.


ID Deputy Leader, Simon Grindrod, said:


‘The ID today serves notice on Mcebesi Skwatsha and his faction that we will work hard to prevent an ANC provincial government next year.


‘The people of the Western Cape are tired of those who put their personal power and greed above delivery to communities.


‘We will fight hard to prevent another disastrous ANC term of faction fighting, division and unaccountability. We look forward to the opportunity to be of service to the people of the Western Cape when we are in government next year.’


ENDS


Issued by ID Deputy National Leader, Simon Grindrod – 084 200 6060



ID WESTERN CAPE – 'DA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT ANTI-CRIME CAMPAIGN'

11H30, 26 AUGUST 2008-Rodney Lentit, the ID Western Cape Provincial Secretary, says the DA in the City of Cape Town 'talks about fighting crime but when the opportunity actually arises to protect citizens from attacks, the DA is not serious about taking action.
Rodney Lentit, the ID Western Cape Provincial Secretary, says the DA
in the City of Cape Town 'talks about fighting crime but when the
opportunity actually arises to protect citizens from attacks, the DA
is not serious about taking action.

'As such, the ID will seek a review of the draft City by-law that
would place restrictions on the height of walls and fences residents
may erect around their properties,' Mr Lentit says.

'We in the ID are concerned that the DA has launched an anti-crime
election campaign and talks about protecting South Africans, yet when
they have the chance to do something about protecting people from
crime in their own homes, they instead try to set limitations on the
height of walls and fences.

'The DA is saying one thing and doing another. This exposes their recent 'crime
campaign' as nothing more than cheap electioneering,' says Lentit.

'We will urgently seeking clarity around the issue of placing
restrictions on property owners who wish to protect their families and
properties from crime. We do not believe it is fair to prevent
residents from taking measures to secure their safety at a time when
violent crime is increasing.'

The ID's Metro councillors would 'never' support the DA on this
proposal and would 'seek amendments' to the relevant clauses.

'Whilst the DA has the majority on the portfolio committee, the ID is
prepared to use its vote in full council to prevent this move,' Lentit
says.

The Provincial Chairperson says the ID will also not support the
'unjust proposal that would hold property owners liable for the costs
of removing graffiti from their walls.'

For media enquiries, please call Steven Otter, ID Media Officer, on 084 233 3811


ID DEMANDS FULL DISCLOSURE ON TRANSNET'S V&A WATERFRONT SALE

14H00, 25 AUGUST 2008-Lance Greyling, the ID spokesperson on environmental affairs, says 'the Independent Democrats wants Transnet to provide a full disclosure of all the details concerning their recent sale of the V&A Waterfront.

Lance Greyling, the ID spokesperson on environmental affairs, says
'the Independent Democrats wants Transnet to provide a full disclosure
of all the details concerning their recent sale of the V&A Waterfront.

'It is imperative that the public and Parliament are made aware of the
details of this sale so we can determine whether Transnet acted
illegally when it allegedly sold off 90 square kilometres of sea in
Table Bay,' Mr Greyling says.

'If these allegations are true then those responsible for this deal
acted illegally and they must be held accountable.'

Greyling is a member of the Portfolio Committee on Environmental
Affairs and Tourism.

He explains that one of the goals of the Integrated Coastal Management
Bill 'is to entrench the position that the sea and shoreline are
public assets held in trust by the Government.

'They could therefore not be sold off to private entities and when
this Bill was brought before the Committee, 'I know that it was never
brought to our attention that Transnet had sold off a section of Table
Bay,' says Greyling.

'It was only reported to the Portfolio Committee that the new buyers
wanted to reclaim a tiny portion of the seafront adjacent to the V&A
Waterfront.

'The buyers wanted the Bill to be amended so as to create an exception
for such a reclamation. The committee refused, but we did include a
clause that allowed representations in this regard to be made to
Parliament, which would have had to be approved by the National
Assembly,' Greyling says.

'If any entity of the Government sold off this section of sea in Table
Bay then they acted illegally and have made false representations to
the international consortium that purchased the V&A Waterfront.'

For media enquiries, please call Steven Otter, ID media officer, on 084 233 3811

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http://dieburgerblogs.mweb.co.za/ImageGallery/politiek/PIC_0003.JPG

please dont clog up this thread. i think you're already on a warning.

Feel free to create an ID thread in the shebeen section.

http://dieburgerblogs.mweb.co.za/ImageGallery/politiek/PIC_0003.JPG

LOL!

jeez, what's the politics thread there for? I have nothing against the woman, but Please remove this De Lille poster from our city discussion forum. This is not a political canvassing forum.

Cape Town city block a big opportunity
03 Oct 2008 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
The Alliance Group will take an entire block in the Cape Town central business district to auction next month.

The Alliance Group will take an entire block in the Cape Town central business district to auction next month.

“The CBD lends itself ideally to mixed-use application. Examples like Mandela Rhodes Place and the surrounding Squares of Harbour Edge, St Georges Mall and Heritage Square, prove that residential, leisure, retail and office space can operate in harmony and provide holistic turnkey living for residents, businessmen and tourists alike,” says Ryan Joffe of the Alliance Group.

“The site is spectacularly positioned, with a strategic footprint as it borders four key city roads, namely Loop, Leeuwen, Bree and Dorp streets. Council approval is already in place for an 18 storey contemporary building of 21000m² of lettable area and 647 parking bays.

“Parking and office space is at an absolute premium in the CBD, and part of being committed to upgrading the aesthetic appeal of the city is to ensure key facilities are made available to the area,” Joffe says.

In addition to the current use approvals, which are office and retail, the current zoning on the site also permits mixed-use options such as hotel and residential.

Listed property fund Old Mutual has undertaken a massive development of commercial office, retail and hotel accommodation.

To date, it will be the tallest building in Cape Town and the company’s largest Cape development.

“Such large investments by such influential players stand testament to the strategic nature of prime parcels of land in the CBD, supported by the public investment that is committed to enhancing facilities, hotel and office space,” Joffe says.

Cape Town’s CBD has undergone extensive investment in the past decade.

According to Mayor Helen Zille, approximately R30bn worth of investment in new developments has been earmarked, with two-thirds of it coming from the pocket of the private sector.

The Cape Metro region as a whole is expected to see 9,5% growth in medium term fixed investment.

The property will be auctioned at 12pm on October 29 at the Table Bay Hotel.

Source: Business Day



.

whats her rank?

DA > ID :P

Cape Town city block a big opportunity
03 Oct 2008 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
The Alliance Group will take an entire block in the Cape Town central business district to auction next month.

The Alliance Group will take an entire block in the Cape Town central business district to auction next month.

“The CBD lends itself ideally to mixed-use application. Examples like Mandela Rhodes Place and the surrounding Squares of Harbour Edge, St Georges Mall and Heritage Square, prove that residential, leisure, retail and office space can operate in harmony and provide holistic turnkey living for residents, businessmen and tourists alike,” says Ryan Joffe of the Alliance Group.

“The site is spectacularly positioned, with a strategic footprint as it borders four key city roads, namely Loop, Leeuwen, Bree and Dorp streets. Council approval is already in place for an 18 storey contemporary building of 21000m² of lettable area and 647 parking bays.

“Parking and office space is at an absolute premium in the CBD, and part of being committed to upgrading the aesthetic appeal of the city is to ensure key facilities are made available to the area,” Joffe says.

In addition to the current use approvals, which are office and retail, the current zoning on the site also permits mixed-use options such as hotel and residential.

Listed property fund Old Mutual has undertaken a massive development of commercial office, retail and hotel accommodation.

To date, it will be the tallest building in Cape Town and the company’s largest Cape development.

“Such large investments by such influential players stand testament to the strategic nature of prime parcels of land in the CBD, supported by the public investment that is committed to enhancing facilities, hotel and office space,” Joffe says.

Cape Town’s CBD has undergone extensive investment in the past decade.

According to Mayor Helen Zille, approximately R30bn worth of investment in new developments has been earmarked, with two-thirds of it coming from the pocket of the private sector.

The Cape Metro region as a whole is expected to see 9,5% growth in medium term fixed investment.

The property will be auctioned at 12pm on October 29 at the Table Bay Hotel.

Source: Business Day



.

and there are some more after this...hush hush

Did you not hear about this first on SSC: "There are also plans for the proposed extension to the Cape Town International Convention Centre to double up as a cruise liner terminal," says Cllr Grindrod."

Remember the proposal I mentioned to have the 2010 FIFA IBC and MPC linked to a cruise ship...


Cape Town explores Cruise Liner tourism boom

The international cruise liner industry, worth an estimated $29 billion, is one of the fastest growing tourism sectors in the world, and the City of Cape Town has set up a work group to explore the business potential for the city.

"Globally, the number of cruise liner passengers grew from about four million in 1990 to 13,6 million in 2005. This high level service industry has enormous job creation potential, sustaining over half a million jobs each year," says Councillor Simon Grindrod, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic, Social Development and Tourism.

"Cape Town has a long history of welcoming passenger liners to its shores. Many Capetonians remember the romantic era of the Union Castle mail ships and the City line passenger vessels between South Africa and Britain. Travelling by sea remains popular, except that now it is cruise liners that ply the seas," he says.

In a report to the City’s Portfolio Committee for Economic, Social Development and Tourism, international tourism consultants strongly recommended an in-depth study into the market potential of the cruise liner industry for the Southern African region, and Cape Town in particular.

According to Scott Lagueux of Land Design, Charlotte, USA and Mitchell du Plessis Projects, Southern Africa is one of the few remaining regions left in the world with untapped potential to develop its cruise liner industry.

The consultants recommend that the City link up with other role players in the region to develop a joint strategy and that an in-depth cost-benefit study be commissioned to assess the potential of ports in the SADC region and the value of the industry to the area.

"The timing is right, as it appears likely that cruise liners will need to be chartered by FIFA to provide accommodation for soccer fans visiting South Africa for the 2010 World Cup tournament. There are also plans for the proposed extension to the Cape Town International Convention Centre to double up as a cruise liner terminal," says Cllr Grindrod.

According to the consultants, there are currently some 33 ships of over 100 000 tons in service. Fuelled by the growing demand for high value cruise vacations, another 30 new ships are scheduled for delivery by December 2012. While there has been a trend to build larger ships, there has also been an increase in the number of smaller and specialised vessels.

"There are three basic categories of cruises," says Theuns Vivian, the City’s Tourism Destination Manager. "Firstly, there are classic round-the-world cruises. Secondly, there are ‘repositioning cruises’ where a vessel relocates from one home port and offers a cruise to another destination. Then there are the destination-based cruises, where a ship is based at a home port in close proximity to the area of its itinerary and returns to the home-port at the end of the voyage.

"Fly/cruise tourism is usually available for each of these categories, but is limited to home ports with international flight connections such as Cape Town or Durban. Both cities currently feature on the schedule of round-the–world and repositioning cruises, but this is a limited market.

"Destination-based cruises are by far the most popular, especially in areas such as the Caribbean, the Baltic, West Coast of North America and the Mediterranean, the East Coast of Australia and New Zealand," says Vivian.

According to Cllr Grindrod, the City’s cruise liner work group will focus on two areas.

"One would be to drive strategic issues in terms of establishing a terminal and developing a regional destination for this market. Secondly, the work group will focus on immediate marketing initiatives to stimulate demand for Cape Town as a popular port of call.

"If South Africa is serious about the cruise liner industry it will need to provide facilities of an international standard. We need to explore a special form of private, public partnership to develop dedicated cruise liner terminals such as those of Sydney, Melbourne, Vancouver and Auckland," says Cllr Grindrod.

Cape Town, South Africa
Population: 2,480,000



Overview

Cape Town, an economic leader within Africa and a city that welcomes over 2 million international visitors each year, developed a plan in 2004 to help deal with growing energy needs of the city. an incentive to developing the plan: South Africa will host the 2010 FIFA World cup, and Cape Town will get its share of events. The city’s sustainable development program is aiming to have 10 percent of homes using solar power by 2020, as well as have 10 percent of the city’s energy consumption coming from renewable sources in the same timeframe. in fact, there is talk about mandating solar panels on every building in the city in order to drastically cut down the city’s power usage during peak hours. Of course, this didn’t come about from purely altruistic ideals-the city has faced some very expensive black outs in the past from a variety of causes.

Strengths

Thanks in large part to a tourism boom, which in turn can thank Cape Town’s ranking as a top tourist destination in the world, cape town is enjoying economic growth that will likely continue through 2020 and beyond. Of course, hosting the FIFA World cup in 2010 was a great way of jumpstarting the whole process.

Notable Challenges

In a word, poverty. While much of the city is developing nicely, a good chunk of it remains in squalor conditions. this is a major obstacle that needs to be overcome. The city will also have to rival neighboring Johannesburg to become a regional media hub.



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The Cities of the (Sustainable) Future

Sadly, we can’t use Doc Brown’s Delorean to go back in time and instruct developers of some of the world’s largest cities how to build them in a sustainable matter. But even if we could, they probably wouldn’t listen anyway. So the next logical step is to start planning for the future now.

And, in fact, most major cities are doing just that. Many are responding to the needs of their citizens (read: financial demands) by developing sustainability plans. Some of the plans are good; some aren’t. The one thing they share is that they all have a target year in the near future when their sustainability makeover will be complete. For example, Abu Dhabi has 2030 as its target end goal, while Honolulu is looking 10 years down the road to 2018. By and large, however, most cities are focusing on the year 2020 and therefore that is the target date for becoming a 2020 Global Sustainability Center.

So which cities have the best plans? Throughout these pages, you’ll be introduced to the 10 leading cities that we are calling “2020 Global Sustainability Centers,” (as well as 10 mid-sized cities that deserve recognition). These Global Sustainability Centers—or GSCs for short—are all large, cosmopolitan, economically-significant cities. After all, it’s much easier for a small town to become sustainable, but that doesn’t solve the problems of the Hong Kongs, Los Angeleses and the Sáo Paulos of the world (or the approximately 37 million people that collectively live in these three cities alone).

To determine which cities qualified, we weighted several factors including economies and populations (GSCs had to have a population over 600,000). Cultural activities, universities and international acclaim were also taken into account to make sure the GSCs were relevant and significant around the world. Of course, they also needed to have a plan in place that will shift their bulky, mega-hub selves onto an environmentally sustainable path so that by 2020 (the future, if you will), they will be sustainability role models.

And we need role models. That is, we need a city to take the lead and put forth a great sustainability program that shows how mediocre every other city’s plans currently are—to date, no single concept of sustainability has really caught on as the leading idea. The one thing that experts agree on when it comes to sustainability is that there’s no agreement on sustainability. Everyone has their own idea of what “sustainability” is, and not all views are positive.

“Right now everything is effectively concentrating on unsustainability,” says Richard Levine, director of the Center for Sustainable Cities. “That is, reducing the degree to which we’re unsustainable in a variety of different areas, rather than any overall scheme or program for sustainability.”

The differences become obvious when you look at the sustainability plans of cities across the world. New York, for one, has a concept of sustainable development that is worth noting. In its long-term plan, it takes its definition of sustainable development from the United Nations. The city cites sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” And, the report continues, “If sustainable development is a process, then the goal is sustainability, which can be described generally as an eventual state in which human priorities of social and economic development do not conflict with the protection and functioning of the natural environment.”


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Toronto
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Singapore
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Hyderabad
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Cape Town
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Abu Dhabi
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New York
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Curitiba
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Frankfurt
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London
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Melbourne
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Cape Town city block a big opportunity

Cape Town’s CBD has undergone extensive investment in the past decade.

According to Mayor Helen Zille, approximately R30bn worth of investment in new developments has been earmarked, with two-thirds of it coming from the pocket of the private sector.

The Cape Metro region as a whole is expected to see 9,5% growth in medium term fixed investment.

.

This is great news

Did you not hear about this first on SSC: "There are also plans for the proposed extension to the Cape Town International Convention Centre to double up as a cruise liner terminal," says Cllr Grindrod."


Good going. The cruise terminal is long overdue.

Cape Town city block a big opportunity

“The site is spectacularly positioned, with a strategic footprint as it borders four key city roads, namely Loop, Leeuwen, Bree and Dorp streets. Council approval is already in place for an 18 storey contemporary building of 21000m² of lettable area and 647 parking bays.

.

Is this proposed 18F building listed on SSC?

Mo be a darling and get some snaps of the Aircraft carrier parked outside Seapoint, I asked the Port Manager but his pretty busy

Mo be a darling and get some snaps of the Aircraft carrier parked outside Seapoint, I asked the Port Manager but his pretty busy

Actually, it's off Blouberg.

She beeeeg. Might get a couple of cellphone snaps this lunchtime.

P.S. See my site for comment on the Theodore Roosevelt's visit.

Paper said seapoint? and had a shot of it there, as well, I dont care, jus feeling jealous u guys get to see her!!!

Paper said seapoint? and had a shot of it there, as well, I dont care, jus feeling jealous u guys get to see her!!!

Maybe it's moving around? Drifting? It was off Blouberg this morning. I'll go check. It is going past Durban later this month, isn't it?

Now all I need to do it to bring my decent cameras in tomorrow.

Quick and dirty - sorry.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2917865277_ca9c22eef2.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/2918713452_d14f313ffd.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/2918712746_7029b41561.jpg

A cruise liner for Cape Town?

By Anel Powell

Without a multi-use cruise liner terminal, Cape Town is losing out on millions of rands in tourism revenue, say consultants appointed by the City of Cape Town to advise on a cruise liner strategy before the 2010 World Cup.

But there are proposals for the Cape Town International Convention Centre's extension to double as a cruise liner terminal for larger ships unable to berth at the V&A Waterfront.

David Gretton, of the city's economic and social development directorate, said in a report to the council's economic and development committee that the international cruise liner trade was worth $29-billion.

The industry was largely 'untapped' in Cape Town
South African Tourism estimated that a cruise liner passenger spent six times more than the average tourist.

The industry was largely "untapped" in Cape Town. While there was agreement that it needed to be developed, no one was taking the initiative, Gretton said.

"The timing to initiate further work on this issue seems right, given that cruise liners will be chartered to accommodate visitors coming to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup."

While smaller cruise liners can be accommodated at the V&A Waterfront, larger liners have to use the cargo berths in Duncan Dock. In March, the Oriana liner had to berth at the inconvenient Eastern Mole because the berths used by large liners were occupied by container ships diverted from the container terminal.

Consultant Scott Lageux, of the US, and Mitchell du Plessis Projects found after extensive research that South Africa had the potential to develop a cruise liner industry in the next 15 years.

'The timing to initiate further work on this issue seems right'
Cape Town, Durban and potentially Richard's Bay could be frequent "port-of-call" options for cruises.

But the consultants warned that "just building a terminal" would not be enough to attract the liners. Cruise operators were reluctant to establish cruises in the country because the ports were inaccessible.

The consultants advised the city council to commission a detailed cost-benefit study to assess the value of the industry and to link with other roleplayers. This process is to be driven by a city task team.

As cruise liner terminals do not generate much revenue, they are built as multi-use facilities, with exhibition halls, theatres and retail opportunities, to make more profit.

The report noted: "There are insufficient cruise liners visiting Cape Town to warrant the construction of a dedicated cruise liner terminal. According to KwaZulu-Natal Tourism's research, without facilities to cater for (them), cruise liners will not come to our shores."

The report said Cape Town and Durban, at least, should have dedicated terminals.

Maybe it's moving around? Drifting? It was off Blouberg this morning. I'll go check. It is going past Durban later this month, isn't it?

Thought it was heading back to Hawaii? anyway, if it does, let me know, I can take out my 12X zoom camera and get some snaps, lol.

thanks for ur pics tho, and Mo what about u? no pics yet?

Yesterday the media were allowed on it, Im sure theres some snaps of it on the web.

Not wanting to stir the pot again, but it seems our old friend is still on ssc but seems to changed his tune big time on the Kiwi Thread and references Cape Town
Is it me or is there the distinct possibilty that he may return to our beautiful shores- HELP US ALL>
" September 3rd, 2008, 08:30 AM #27
SYDNEY
RETIRED


Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,677 THANKS Sweet-pea I can't believe how Jo'burg International airport has changed - it looks incredible ! I miss Cape Town like CRAZY !!! As for the rest, we get all the South African food products here at the supermarkets (including all the sweets - yum, yum), I hear Afrikaans spoken on the streets - daily, I have never supported the Springboks (a sacrilege ), I miss Castle - send us some !!, I definitely don't miss Jozi or Pretoria and I definitely don't miss the taxi drivers .. as for Mbeki - he makes the hairs on my arms rise, I detest the man with a passion

Thanks for the thought my friend

^^ I think he is going back to CT but because of all the nonsense he has said before on othyer forums about our country, its not easy for him to admit that he is coming back. We'll that's just my take.

Volvo Ocean race on its way to Cape Town. The first leg is from Alicante Spain to Cape Town.

http://www.capetowndailyphoto.com/uploaded_images/uss_theodore_roosevelt_IMG_8737-725327.jpg
http://www.capetowndailyphoto.com/uploaded_images/aircraft_carrier_IMG_8774-797313.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2912650797_1481033e9f_o.jpg

^ That thing is carrying more aircraft and personnel than the whole SA AirfArce!!

I knew you would come up with some pics Mo, shot !

Great pics, Mo.

Came across this article and thought it was worth posting here.

----------------

Talking about Cape Town's skyline

October 08 2008 at 12:24PM

By Anél Powell

With the increasing development trend towards high-rise buildings, the City of Cape Town is considering drawing up a policy that would regulate applications for the construction of skyscrapers.

The policy would apply across Cape Town and not just the inner city, where high-rise developments, such as the R1,2-billion, 150-metre Portside development, are under way.

A report submitted to the city's planning and environment portfolio committee said on Tuesday: "Tall buildings are complex in nature and due to their considerable scale and size, if not managed properly, could have significant impacts for the city."

Of particular concern to the city was the protection of views to and from Table Mountain

These impacts included increased pressure on limited infrastructure, greater traffic congestion, the creation of shadows and wind channels at street level, the erosion of conservation areas and threats to heritage buildings, the loss of critical view corridors and sight lines, and the loss of character and identity of memorable places.

The strategy and development directorate said the city had been unable to manage and assess complex applications for tall buildings because there was no clear guiding policy.

Applications for tall buildings were assessed in an "ad hoc, reactive and piecemeal manner".

The tall building policy would ensure a consistent approach to the review of applications. It would also discourage developers from submitting speculative building applications, which were time-consuming.

Catherine Stone, of the spatial planning and urban design service, said there was no capacity to maintain a task team dedicated to tall buildings.

Consultants should be appointed to carry out specialist studies for the tall building policy. This would require an allocation of about R800 000 from the spatial planning and urban design department's budget.

Councillor Owen Kinahan (DA) said the policy would go "to the essence of what the city is going to look like" and therefore needed political input.

The policy would not take away existing building rights, but would provide guidance on where tall buildings should be located.

anel.powell@inl.co.za

This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Times on October 08, 2008

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20081008054855863C274177

Of particular concern to the city was the protection of views to and from Table Mountain...

How on good earth can a building block the mountain? just stupid. Besides, people go into town to do business (the main purpose of a city). If people want to see the mountain, go on it or to Blouberg. Why the hell should you see it from your office or apartment patio?
Policies are definitely needed but not in an antagonistic way that stiffles development, like they tend to do in SA.

It seems like Cape Town has it's fair share of NIMBYs. :(

Great pics, Mo.

Came across this article and thought it was worth posting here.

----------------

Talking about Cape Town's skyline

October 08 2008 at 12:24PM

By Anél Powell

With the increasing development trend towards high-rise buildings, the City of Cape Town is considering drawing up a policy that would regulate applications for the construction of skyscrapers.

The policy would apply across Cape Town and not just the inner city, where high-rise developments, such as the R1,2-billion, 150-metre Portside development, are under way.

A report submitted to the city's planning and environment portfolio committee said on Tuesday: "Tall buildings are complex in nature and due to their considerable scale and size, if not managed properly, could have significant impacts for the city."

Of particular concern to the city was the protection of views to and from Table Mountain

These impacts included increased pressure on limited infrastructure, greater traffic congestion, the creation of shadows and wind channels at street level, the erosion of conservation areas and threats to heritage buildings, the loss of critical view corridors and sight lines, and the loss of character and identity of memorable places.

The strategy and development directorate said the city had been unable to manage and assess complex applications for tall buildings because there was no clear guiding policy.

Applications for tall buildings were assessed in an "ad hoc, reactive and piecemeal manner".

The tall building policy would ensure a consistent approach to the review of applications. It would also discourage developers from submitting speculative building applications, which were time-consuming.

Catherine Stone, of the spatial planning and urban design service, said there was no capacity to maintain a task team dedicated to tall buildings.

Consultants should be appointed to carry out specialist studies for the tall building policy. This would require an allocation of about R800 000 from the spatial planning and urban design department's budget.

Councillor Owen Kinahan (DA) said the policy would go "to the essence of what the city is going to look like" and therefore needed political input.

The policy would not take away existing building rights, but would provide guidance on where tall buildings should be located.

anel.powell@inl.co.za

This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Times on October 08, 2008

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20081008054855863C274177

I think I have a copy of the policy. Will check.

How on good earth can a building block the mountain? just stupid. Besides, people go into town to do business (the main purpose of a city). If people want to see the mountain, go on it or to Blouberg. Why the hell should you see it from your office or apartment patio?
Policies are definitely needed but not in an antagonistic way that stiffles development, like they tend to do in SA.

But the problem isnt so much blocking the mountain from any position as creating a skyline that ruins the natural skyline for which the city is famous and for blocking the mountain from famous sights or viewpoints. also remember that signal hill also comes into consideration which is much lower.

It would basically be wrong for CT to try to create a skyline based on buildings been the focus (at least against Table Mountain - bloubergs a different story) as for the buildings to ever not appear dwarfed by the mountain they would have to destroy the natural beauty of the mountain.