Woensdag, 7 Mei 2025 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | e-pos: nuus@tygerburger co za | Website: www tygerburger co
STADIO CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY
The new comprehensive tertiary education campus being developed by STADIO is steaming ahead in the growing Groot Phesantekraal precinct outside Durbanville,with the first phase set to launch in mid2025 According to Salmon Smith, senior architectural technologist at BPAS Architects,the firm behind the campus design,the first phase of the development is progressing efficiently and remains on track for timely completion.The second phase is scheduled to commence in 2026 STADIO Durbanville plans to offer schools in education,IT,law,media and design commerce architecture
7 AANVAAR MOSIE TEN SPYTE VAN
Hondekannouvry
HELEENBOSHOFF
HELEEN BOSHOFF@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA
’nMosie vir die voorgestelde wysiging van die dieregebruik-sone, om die hondepark in Oerder-weg, Hoheizen in Bellville toe te laat, is verlede Woensdag 30 April op 'n vergadering van die Subraad 7 aanvaar Die mosie is gedryf om die hondepark ingevolge Artikel 10 van die Stad Kaapstad
se verordening oor diereaanhouding (2021) met toepaslike kennisgewingbordjies as 'n vryloopgebied aan te wys Dit, ten spyte van uitgesproke besware oor die vestiging van die vryloop-hondepark deur Hoheizen-inwoners, veral die wat direk aangrensend aan die park woon, soos Diana Dalby ("Losloop-hondepark pla", TygerBurger, 30 April) 'Eienaars, honde word gedreig'
Die Wyk 70-raadslid, Ronél Viljoen sê sy ondersteun die aanbeveling dat die park 'n vrylooppark in Hoheizen sal wees
“Die bordjies sal dienooreenkomstig aangepas word Die park is afgesonder en vir die ontspanning van alle Hoheizen-inwoners beskikbaar," sê sy
BESWARE TEE “ a i tekontakwanneerhulle gedreigword ” - Ronél Viljoen
TIMBER FENCING
NABLADSY2
SUBRAAD
Young aspiring authors can enter now
The City of Cape Town’s libraries have opened entries for their annual children’s writing competition, inviting budding authors aged 9 to 13 to take part in a magical storytelling adventure
This year’s theme centres on a mysterious box discovered in a school or local library, marked with strange symbols and emitting a soft hum Entrants must imagine what unfolds when the box is opened, weaving their unique tale of wonder and discovery
Stories must be handwritten, original and between 500 and 1 500 words
Submissions can be picture books, short or long stories, or graphic novels, and may be written in English, Afrikaans or Xhosa
Illustrations are encouraged and will earn participants extra points
Entries opened on Monday 5 May and will close on Friday 8 August The winners will be announced at the Open Book Festival on 6 September
“Writing provides a creative outlet and also helps children to organise their thoughts and emotions,” said Francine Higham, Mayco member for Community Services and Health “By putting pen to paper they learn a new way to communicate and use the written language to express themselves Our children are creative with vivid imaginations, and I’m sure the judges will have a hard time picking a winner I want to encourage all our learners to participate as they could write their way to a future as authors ” .Entries can be submitted via email to psp. libraries@capetown.gov.za or handed in at any local library
‘Softening’oftariffsnot sosoft,sayratepayers
DESIRÉERORKE
DESIREE RORKE@NOVUSMEDIA COM
The changes made by Cape Town
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis to soften proposed tariff increases does not adequately address the public outcry over the massive increases the City's draft budget will bring about to total municipal bills come 1 July
This is the view held by civic activist and founder of Stop CoCT Sandra Dickson
In response to the mayor's announcement last week, Dickson in a statement to the media made commentary saying these reliefs placates public outcry while leaving the real problems untouched
"The Mayor does not recognise the multiples of the inflation rate (4,5%) bills are increasing by This increase is mostly the result of the fixed charges The overall increase in municipal bills even after these changes are 5 - 24% as a result of the proposed draft budget He makes mention of the 'softening of the cleaning tariff cross-subsidisation, but with no concrete numbers or real indication of how much relief this will bring "
According to Dickson the extension of the rates rebate for properties to R7 million cuts the effect on bills by about R250 a month for some homeowners, but remains a paltry concession compared to the overall massive hikes of up to 24%
She says the increase in the pensioner rebate income threshold from R22 000 to
R27 000 monthly allows more pensioners to qualify, but that it is not clear how meaningful this relief will be "Based on calculations made by Stop CoCT on the City's now adjusted rates calculator, under R1,5 million property owners now actually pay a bit more, while the decrease for those above R1,5 million is below expectations
ABOVEINFLATION
In general, overall increases to municipal bills is still above the 4,5% inflation rate and in the range of 5 - 24% plus, she says "Three out of the four fixed chargeswater, sanitation, and cleaning, remain intact and are explicitly linked to property values rather than proportional reflection of the City's cost No attention is given to the requirement by law that these fixed charges have to be proportional to the City's actual fixed costs " These concerns were among the topics discussed at a meeting representative of several ratepayers' organisations held in Pinelands last Wednesday Attendees
were visibly unhappy, and the possibility of civil action was raised, according to a feedback report In closing she states that the changes offer no serious solutions, limited alternatives, and no real empathy for the financial burden placed on homeowners struggling to keep up "The (Mayor's statement) ignores the fundamentally unfair system of charging fixed fees based on property values which the City determines and control This approach punishes those who have made genuine efforts to reduce consumption by installing solar panels and water-saving devices This mean nothing when your bill is dictated by your home’s market price " In a separate statement City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo, said an extensive public participation process has been conducted in excess of the 30-day period specified in the Municipal Property Rates Act
"Following the closure of the public comment period on 2 May, comments received via public participation processes will be collated, considered and responded to
“Council is bound by legislation to adopt a new financial year budget along strict timeframes of no less than 30 days before the starts of the new financial year on 1 July as per Section 24(1) of the Municipal Financial Management Act Council will consider the adoption of the City’s budget at its meeting of 29 May "
Fire Service draws a crowd
International Firefighters' Day is observed to honour firefighters for their service, and to remember those who lost their lives
From 10:00 until 15:00 on Sunday 4 May visitors were able to interact with staff, get a closer look at the fire vehicles and even the aerial support craft
They got dressed up in fire gear, saw first-hand how vehicle extrication and other complex firefighting duties are undertaken, and even had a crack at some of the fitness challenge tasks
"The past week was an extremely busy and tiring time for our firefighters as they worked around the clock to contain the devastating fire in the Table Mountain National Park, along with hundreds of other fires and special service calls across the metropole
“It makes the celebrations on International Firefighters’ Day all the more special, as we pause to honour their
dedication and remember those who have sacrificed their lives to protect others I am incredibly proud of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service and the incredible work that is done day after day," said the City’s Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith
PAYINGHOMAGE
"Often the only interaction residents have with our firefighters is during time of crisis, when they are on the fire line saving lives and property International Firefighters' Day not only provides an opportunity to pay homage to these brave men and women, but also gives the general public a chance to see up close what it takes to put on the uniform," said Smith
The City’s Fire and Rescue Services responded to 20 349 incidents in the past seven months, which is a slight increase compared to the corresponding time the
previous year
"This equates to an average of more than 100 incidents daily
“Our firefighters are exceptional and dedicated, and they make the job look easy Join us not only in tipping our hats to their service, but come and find out why they have the right stuff," added Smith
One of the highlights at the event was a competition between fire officers’ vehicle extrication teams, replicating the challenges set at the International World Rescue Challenge
The City’s Fire and Rescue Service gets invited to the challenge each year
During the World Rescue Challenge, participants have to race against time to safely extract and rescue a victim from a simulated vehicle accident scene
In addition to the many activities, some adventurous visitors also participated in the fitness challenge tasks
International Firefighters’Day was celebrated recently
TurningfynbosflowersintoLegos
KAILINDANIELS
KAILIN DANIELS@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA
Table View resident and Lego enthusiast Christoff van Wyk, known in the Lego community as “SuperstofBricks”, is making waves with his latest project – a striking floral creation called Fynbos Flowers – inspired by the unique biodiversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom
The meticulously-designed set features iconic South African flora, including the Bot River Protea, Splendid Pagoda, Green Tree Pincushion, Button Bush, Chincherinchee, Gousblomme and Erica Blenna
Van Wyk has used clever techniques and imaginative parts – from surfboards and bananas to sailor’s hats – to capture the detail and vibrancy of each flower
The Fynbos Flowers project is currently live on the Lego Ideas platform, where it is gathering support from fans around the world If the design reaches 10 000 supporters it will be reviewed by the Lego Group for possible production as an official set, available in stores globally
WHEREITALLSTARTED
“This all started with my desire to create the Protea, our national flower, in Lego,” said Van Wyk “From there, the rest of the flowers just came naturally The Erica Blenna reminds me of my hometown, Riversdale; the Green Tree Pincushions I used to spot
VAN WYK’S FYNBOS FLOWERS IS LIVE ON LEGO IDEAS, WHERE IT IS GATHERING GLOBAL SUPPORT. REACHING 10 000 WILL TURN IT INTO A GAME
while hiking Table Mountain; and the wildflowers of the West Coast are always unforgettable in spring ”
This isn’t Van Wyk’s first major build His first Lego MOC (my own creation) was a detailed replica of the Cape Town City Hall façade, a massive undertaking that used over 8 000 Lego pieces His dream is to continue creating sets that celebrate South African heritage and natural beauty
.To support van Wyk’s Lego dream visit https://ideas.lego.com/ projects/606437b3-487e-4b699f48-fa57ccd56b0a
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Lego Cape Town City Hall by SuperstofBricks Christoff van Wyk with Lego protea flower
