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ERCID News, Our Safety Initiatives, Up for Your Review

Elsie’s River Improvement District 2023 Roundup

December 7, 2023 elsiesri

It’s been another year of successes and tackling challenges head-on for the Elsies River Improvement District. As part of our renewed commitment to public safety and urban cleaning and management, we persist in leading the way toward the continuous improvement of Elsie’s River as a thriving residential hub.

Our ERCID team has increased their presence on the ground, resulting in improved statistics across the board for 2023. We’ve driven more kilometres in our patrol vehicles, engaged with more members of the public and attended to more service requests and urban defects than ever before. We’ll continue with this increased presence in the community in 2024 and the years beyond.

This year, with 51 CIDs now in operation in the City of Cape Town, the new CID by-law and policy has come into effect. Geocentric, who has now been working with city improvement district initiatives for more than 2 decades, is proud to be responsible for over 25% of the total CIDs in operation.

In addition to taking care of the public’s safety and urban cleaning, our CID placed a focus on greening areas across Elsie’s River in 2023. These urban beautification projects will be continued throughout 2024, in line with the goal of continuously upgrading our community.

2023 Elsie’s River City Improvement District Stats

“Despite the challenges of a struggling economy, ongoing load shedding and higher fuel prices, the aim of the ERCID remained focussed on delivering top-up services to the public spaces of Elsie’s River throughout the year,” says Gene Lohrentz of Geocentric Urban Management, tasked with the delivery of our City Improvement District services.

Elsie's River City Improvement District 2023 Stats

The ERCID Board and Geocentric management team is committed to finding innovative, efficient and cost-effective ways to continue delivering on the vision for a safer, cleaner, well-maintained and vibrant community. We look forward to more opportunities to make a tangible difference in 2024.

Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

As the festive season approaches, it is essential to prioritise safety at this time, as crime, accidents and fire hazards are usually on the rise during the holiday period.

Being mindful of potential risks and hazards can help safeguard you, your business and your property – from road safety considerations to vigilance against petty crimes in crowded business premises to more serious crimes such as hijacking and robbery.

Along with keeping your personal safety in mind, if you are a business owner, it is imperative to be vigilant and proactive in implementing strategies that protect your assets, property and staff during the busiest time of year.

Prevention is better than cure. That’s why we urge property and business owners to make every effort to prepare their properties, businesses, staff and themselves against opportunists and criminals with our safety tips below:

Emergency Numbers

Quick access to relevant emergency numbers can be the difference between life and death. We have compiled a comprehensive list for you to save and share for easy access to these numbers.

Once again, our 24-hour security control room is always available for your public safety emergencies.

Elsie's River Improvement District Emergency Numbers

Whatsapp group info

If you’re interested in staying informed about our initiatives, as well as the newest developments in your improvement district, you can become a member of our ERCID business WhatsApp group by:

• Sending a WhatsApp message to 081 869 8911.

• You will need to include your Name and Surname or the name of your business

• You will need to include your street address, which should be within the boundary of the CID

• We will add you to the relevant CID Community Group

Rules and regulations for communicating will be stipulated in the group.

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ERCID adds value to Look and Feel of Elsies River

February 19, 2018 elsiesri Leave a comment

Thanks to the commitment of all who are involved in the Elsies River Improvement District drive, strides of progress are being made in various ways.

The accompanying images tell the story of how problems like illegal dumping and the confiscation of stolen trolleys and wheelie-bins are successfully addressed by the teams.

The Public Safety issues that are addressed during the day-to-day activities, include problems related to the following: 

Illegal Dumping
Engaging with the public (public safety officers engage with all people in the public space to ensure that everyone is aware of the ERCID’s presence and activities. This is done in conjunction with and in support of law enforcement officers who oversee such activities. If something suspicious is found, the law enforcement agents and/or SAPS act accordingly.
Bin scratching

CCTV in action 
Trolley and wheelie-bin confiscation

The Cleaning issues include:

Litter picking

De-weeding
Sweeping streets

On the Urban management side, the ERCID Management continues to log all urban and infrastructure defects as C3 notifications with the City of Cape Town for correction. The accompanying photo collage shows the result of these actions as the City and other partners address issues.

Photographs:

Demonstrating the variety of activities that the ERCID engages in, sometimes in collaboration with teams of the CCT and law enforcement agencies.

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Illegal Dumping in the Spotlight

February 19, 2018 elsiesri Leave a comment

The problem of illegal dumping is one that occurs in most areas of the city and is also one of the main challenges that the ERCID has to contend with.

People are prepared to change, but only if they are constantly monitored and warned regarding the consequences of dumping.
Some incidents stem from persons coming to the various scrap dealers and trying to dump waste not accepted by them. This comes from street persons / horse and cart operators and unscrupulous waste handlers.
ERCID engages with these persons and encourages them to make use of the City’s drop off facilities, of which Parow Drop off Facility is situated close by and disposal is free of charge. We also indicate that if caught and reported to Law Enforcement they can face fines up to R20 000.

The paragraphs BELOW are extracts from the website of the City of Cape Town, where it is pointed out that dumping is highly illegal.

What exactly does illegal dumping entail?

“Illegal dumping is the depositing, discharging, spilling or releasing of any kind of waste in or on any public space. This includes waste that is loose or in boxes, barrels or bags

“Public places include:

open fields;
vacant or occupied land;
roadsides;
sewer systems; and
waterways.

“Although the City has a number of waste management strategies and services in place for dealing with all types of waste, we have a dumping problem in Cape Town. It is one of the biggest challenges the Solid Waste Management Department faces. It is expensive, damages our environment and is harmful to ourselves and our animals.”

PLEASE NOTE

“Dumping on any public land is illegal and an offence: We work closely with SAPS in illegal dumping investigations. If you are found guilty of dumping illegally you could be fined between R500 and R10 000 and could get a prison sentence of 6 months to 2 years.

To report illegal dumping in your community, call 0860 103 089.

If you have the culprit’s vehicle registration number and/or can identify him/her, call 021 400 6157 or email solidwaste.bylaw@capetown.gov.za. “

On the website, the City of Cape Town goes on to appeal to residents and businesses to assist in curbing and dealing with the problem:

Help us control dumping

Look out for our Big Green Bins

Green waste bins have been placed near toilets in informal settlements and public toilets so that residents can dispose of waste properly. In 2014/2015 and 2015/2016, the City rolled out 929 bins in 24 informal settlements at a cost of approximately R753 000. Eventually these bins will be placed in all informal settlements where we are legally able to place them.

Do your part

Dispose of your waste only in bins and at approved drop-off or landfill sites.

Buy additional waste bins if you need them.
Make others aware of the importance of keeping our environment clean and litter free.
Fence off your property to prevent others from dumping on it.

Report illegal dumping 

To report illegal dumping in your community, call 0860 103 089. If you have the culprit’s vehicle registration number and/or can identify him/her, call 021 400 6157 or email: solidwaste.bylaw@capetown.gov.za. 

In order to be sure that you are fully informed on the contents of the City’s Waste Management By-law, visit the website www.capetown.gov.za

City of Cape Town: Integrated Waste Management By-law, 2009

Published in Province of Western Cape: Provincial Gazette no. 6651 on 21 August 2009

Amended by City of Cape Town: Integrated Waste Management Amendment By-law, 2010 on 4 June 2010

Amended by City of Cape Town: Integrated Waste Management Amendment By-law, 2016 on 30 June 2016