Holiday Activities

Cape Town children invited to enjoy sport and recreational activities during the Easter holiday

The City of Cape Town’s Sport, Recreation and Amenities Department will host a range of activities during the Easter school holidays. This means that parents need not worry how they will keep their children entertained during this period as the City has a variety of events planned.

The Department has planned approximately 500 holiday programmes which will run daily from today, Monday 26 March – Thursday 5 April 2012. The programmes will be presented at the City’s various community halls, swimming pools, beaches, parks and public open spaces, libraries, sport and recreation facilities and resorts across the metropole.

“Each of the six districts in the Sport, Recreation and Amenities Department will use the services of volunteers to ensure that all of the programmes are effectively implemented. Our goal with these programmes is to encourage children from communities throughout the city to participate in sport, recreation and special events during the holiday period, and in the long-term,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services, Councillor Tandeka Gqada.

A number of youth and holiday camps will also be hosted at various City resorts during the holiday period. The objective of these camps is to expose the youth to fun activities while also building social and life skills by teaching them how to work in groups, respect authority and appreciate nature.

These are skills and lessons that the youth will be able to take back to their communities so that they can positively influence their peers. The participants will be based at the camps and will also go on mountain hikes and excursions to explore the biodiversity within the city.

Indoor programmes that will be hosted at Community Centres include board games, gymnastics, rope-skipping, karate, pool, poetry and drama, concerts, indigenous games, cultural dances and fitness training, talent shows and arts and crafts.

Outdoor programmes include five-a-side soccer, mini-netball, basketball, cricket, hockey, sport against crime, big walks, fun-runs, beach soccer, water polo, learn-to-swim programmes, beach volleyball, slippery slides, jumping castle, face-painting, trampolining, touch rugby and various recreational activities and family festivals.

The public is encouraged to take advantage of the City’s extensive holiday programme and to visit their local Community Centre.

For further information, please contact the following Recreation Officers:

District 1

Dunoon, Joe Slovo/ Phoenix, Atlantis, Woodstock, Kensington, CBD, Salt River, Maitland, Langa, Summer Greens, Garden Village, Silverstroom etc.

Lisle Lombard

082 876 1714 or 021 550 1220

District 2

Ocean View, Hout Bay, Lotus River, Ottery, Grassy Park, Imizamo Yethu, Muizenberg, Westlake, Zandvlei, Retreat, Wynberg, Claremont, Masiphumelele, Vrygrond etc.

Mildred Van de Heever

082 758 3111 or 021 712 0970

District 3

Khayelitsha (Sites B and C), Mitchells Plain – Beacon Valley, Weltevreden, Westridge, Tafelsig, Strandfontein, Eastridge, Woodlands, Rocklands etc.

Sibongile Mlotywa

072 851 7840 or 021 370 3663

District 4

Athlone, Heideveld, Gugulethu, Manenberg, Belhar, Delft, Bontheuwel,Gatesville, Browns Farm etc.

Amelia Botha

083 986 9164 or 021 637 6607

District 5

Kuils River, Fisantekraal, Ravensmead, Parow, Bishop Lavis, Valhalla Park, Goodwood, Elsies River, Ruyterwacht, Bellville, Durbanville, Uitsig, Bothasig, Edgemead, Philadelphia, Wallacedene, Scottsville etc.

Mary Scholtz

071 851 1143 or 021 906 0783

District 6

Blue Downs, Delft, Kleinvlei, Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, Mfuleni, Macassar, Eerste River, Strand, Blackheath, Somerset West, Silversands, Gordon’s Bay etc.

Glen Goldman

076 055 6804 or 021 900 9904

Road Safety

CITY OF CAPE TOWN

MEDIA RELEASE

22 MARCH 2012

City reminds Capetonians of basic road safety rules

With the upcoming series of public holidays and long weekends, many Capetonians will be making use of Cape Town’s roads and highways to travel. The City of Cape Town would like to remind all road users of some of the rules of the road.

“It is disturbing to note some media reports which seem to suggest a general intolerance towards each other on our roads, and a disregard for the law,” said Chief Inspector Merle Lourens, spokesperson for Cape Town Traffic Services. “We remind road users that they all – regardless of the manner in which they travel – have a responsibility to adhere to the rules of the road. Our law enforcement officials will enforce the law equally against anyone transgressing these basic rules.”

Two areas of particular concern is how pedestrians make use of pedestrian crossings, and how cyclists behave in relation to other road users.

PEDESTRIANS

The flashing red man pedestrian signal is a vital part of the message that we need to convey to both pedestrians and motorists and the fact that motorists do not respect its meaning is a result of ignorance of basic traffic laws rather than the system being confusing.

The pedestrian signal system consists of three signal indications, namely the steady red man, steady green man and flashing red man.

The steady red man is well understood to mean that pedestrians should not begin to cross the road. The steady green man indicates to pedestrians that they may begin to cross the road. Pedestrians should not begin to cross after the end of the green man signal as they may not have sufficient time to complete the crossing before the start of the steady red man.

The flashing red man indicates to a pedestrian that has begun to cross on the green man that he or she should complete their crossing without delay. The length of time for which the flashing red man is displayed is based on the time that it would take the average person to cross the road.

A pedestrian who begins to cross the road on the last second of the green man will therefore have sufficient time to complete the crossing. Without the flashing red man signal, pedestrians would not be able to judge whether they can reach the opposite side of the road before the start of the steady red man. The length of the flashing red man is extended in instances where it is known that the pedestrian crossing is used by significant numbers of people, or people who walk slower than the average person, such as the elderly.

There is a misperception amongst drivers and some pedestrians that pedestrians must finish crossing the road within the green man signal. This is untrue. A person who begins to cross the road during the green man has right-of-way over cars both during the green and flashing red man signals. Drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing lawfully during these periods.

“The signal system is not complicated, but is misused by those people who do not know its meaning and resort to doing what they think is correct. The City encourages all road users to familiarise themselves with the meanings of traffic signals and to display patience and courtesy towards others,” said Lourens.

CYCLISTS

Road traffic laws do not differentiate between the driver of a car, nor a cyclist. In the eyes of the law, they are equal; each with a set of rights and responsibilities. A bicycle is considered a vehicle, under South African law. Too often cyclists are observed ignoring traffic lights and “jumping” red robots. Cyclists are breaking the law and will be liable for a fine if they are observed ignoring traffic lights.

There are several ways to stay safe on the roads:

·         Be visible. Unlike in many global cities - where thousands of cyclists commute and drivers are used to keeping an eye out - drivers in South Africa don’t always expect cyclists. Cyclists can help by wearing high-visibility clothing (orange, neon green, yellow or pink), flashing LED belts and trouser-straps – and by riding 1.5m in from the road edge rather than in the road gutters.

·         Obey the rules of the road: South African law considers you the ‘driver’ of a vehicle, so you have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists.

·         Be assertive, but polite. Show others the respect you would like to be shown.

·         Pay attention at intersections and traffic circles – particularly where vehicles may be turning left in front of you.

·         Be predictable. At busy intersections indicate to traffic where you intend to go.

·         Ride often and keep up your urban riding skills - nervous, hesitant cyclists often endanger pedestrians and motorists.

·         Ride in single file and wear a helmet – a helmet won’t prevent you from being involved in a crash, but it may prevent serious injury if you are.

·         Don’t deliberately swerve your bike from side to side, and always keep at least one hand on the handlebars.

·         Light up your bike: white lights/reflectors on the front; red lights/reflectors on the back.

·         Be prepared: Carry water, a pump, a puncture repair kit, and identification (on your person and your bike, not only in your wallet and on your phone, as unfortunately these may be stolen if you’re in a collision).

·         Check your bike for obvious mechanical problems every time you leave for a ride.

“Tolerance, awareness and mutual respect is key for road safety, especially during this busy cycling season,” said Lourens.

End

Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town

Street People

Councillor Penny East

Invites you to attend

  A Public Meeting

to discuss the City’s response to

Street People

Date: Thursday 12 April

Time: 7.00 pm

Venue: Main Hall, Alphen Centre

Constantia Main Road, Constantia

Guest Speakers: Wayne Aldridge— CoCT Law Enforcement

    Cornelia Finch—Social Development

    Melanie Brand—EMCE

Councillors in attendance: Carol Bew, Liz Brunette,

Jan Burger, Matthew Kempthorne

Contact Penny on 083 444 0100 for information

Minister Grant calls on educators to put the interests of learners first ahead of tomorrow’s planned protest.

Media Release:

Minister of Education Donald Grant

Western Cape

6 March 2012

MEDIA RELEASE: Minister Grant calls on educators to put the interests of learners first ahead of tomorrow’s planned protest.

Tomorrow, Cosatu will be leading a nation-wide protest against labour broking and e-tolling.

While the Western Cape Government acknowledges the right of employees to take part in lawful industrial action, we cannot condone the call to have teaching and learning disrupted.

Cosatu has called on both educators and learners to take part in the protest action.

Let me be clear - Learners are not allowed to participate in the one-day protest and should not be encouraged to do so. For organisations to issue this call is simply irresponsible and shows callous disregard for the future of our young people.

Equally, our educators should not limit the chances of these young people gaining the education and skills they need to improve their lives and build our economy.

We are hopeful that our educators in this province realise the value and importance of ‘time on task’ and that every teaching and learning day is important.  I am optimistic that the majority of our educators will therefore put the learner first.

In preparation for any eventuality, the Department has developed a comprehensive management plan to ensure that we do everything possible to protect the interests of learners in this province.

This plan is based on three main objectives, namely; keeping our learners safe and supervised, ensuring that teaching and learning continues as far as possible, and finally, managing the system so that it functions as effectively as possible despite the disruptions.

All our resources will be used to ensure that these objectives are met.

By taking part in the protest educators not only limit the rights of their learners to an education, but are also potentially jeopardising their safety.

As educators and the Department, we are responsible for the safety of our learners during school time.  By leaving learners unattended, we are putting them at risk.

Therefore, the Department requires our district offices and schools to ensure that no learner is without supervision. No school may be closed without notice or permission from the relevant district office, via the circuit manager.

Parents and caregivers are still advised to send their children to school, unless notified otherwise officially.

The WCED requires school principals and departmental managers to keep an accurate record of the situation in their areas of responsibility, make arrangements to ensure order, and to keep a register of staff present or absent on the days of the protest action.

Educators are reminded that we will be applying the established policy of “no work, no pay”.

I encourage our educators who are considering taking part in tomorrow’s protest action to reflect on why they became an educator in the first place. I sincerely hope it was because of their love for education and children and their belief that every learner has the potential for success through education.

Let’s put the interest of our learner’s first and tomorrow confirm that in the Western Cape we believe future economic growth and opportunity lies in each and every classroom in this province.