The City of Cape Town’s Corporate Services and Economic Growth Directorates intend to request Council’s approval next month to enter into a lease agreement with the National Department of Home Affairs to establish an appointment-only office at the Civic Centre in Cape Town.

This after the City was approached by the Ministry of Home Affairs, via the Office of the Mayor.

The proposed facility will be located on the second floor of the Civic Centre.

Once the lease agreement is in place, the Department of Home Affairs will be granted early occupation to commence with internal construction and operational readiness activities.

The item is scheduled to be submitted to Council for consideration and approval in March, if all goes as planned.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Theresa Uys, says once established, this dedicated Home Affairs office will enhance service delivery by providing Cape Town residents with streamlined, appointment-based access to key national government services within a centrally located City facility.

“We are eager to get Council’s nod of approval for this very important collaboration that will definitely go a long way in improving access to essential services. The Civic Centre is ideally located with great access to public transport services, such as the MyCiTi bus service, Station Deck minibus-taxi facility, and Cape Town station at its doorstep, and provides visitors with a safe and dignified environment for conducting their business.”

The City’s Property Transactions Department is busy finalising the lease agreement.

The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, expressed his eagerness to get going on this project.

“The establishment of a modern new Home Affairs office at the Cape Town Civic Centre, as an alternative to the busy office in Barrack Street, demonstrates our commitment to delivering for the people of Cape Town. It also represents yet another significant milestone in the implementation of the Home Affairs@home reforms, which are focused on bringing essential services closer to where people live. By locating our services in an accessible and well-connected public facility, we are making it easier for residents to access critical documentation in a safe, efficient and respectful environment.”

The City’s Coastal Management branch, in partnership with the Roads Infrastructure Management Department, is busy with a pilot project to mitigate the impact of windblown sand on Baden Powell Drive, at Sandy Corner, close to Monwabisi.

Every year, during the windy summer months, this section of Baden Powell Drive is severely impacted by the strong southeastely winds that blow sand from the local dune system onto the road.

Now, a pilot project is underway to test the efficacy of brushwood and straw in trapping the sand on the dune, and to assist in stabilising the dune system at Sandy Corner. Dune reprofiling will also be done.

The City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews, says work commenced on Monday, 2 February, and they hope to be done by next week.

“Some people driving along Baden Powell Drive would have noticed the activity next to the road. We are moving approximately 5000 m3 of clean sand and returning this to circulation in the sea. Then we reprofile the dune, and trial the use of the brushwood and straw to trap the sand. This is only a trial and we will track the efficiency in coming months.”

Baden Powell Drive is an important road link for many commuters, but it becomes a huge challenge in the summer months when sand accumulates on the surface, especially during long periods of strong southeasterly winds, which at times result in the closure of the road.

Once complete, the City will continue to monitor the dune system to measure the impact. The trial period will conclude at the end of June 2026.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has condemned acts of vigilantism following the murder of an unidentified man in Khayelitsha yesterday.

Police spokesperson FC Van Wyk says the man’s lifeless body was discovered at Level Two, Walter Sisulu Street, Lingelethu-West.

“The deceased was found lying in the street on his side with multiple blunt force trauma all over his body and head. A tyre with steel wire was also found on the scene.”

While the circumstances around the brutal attack remains unknown, SAPS is appealing to the community to avoid taking matters into their own hands, stressing that such acts undermines the justice system and increases the risk of violence.

“SAPS condemns vigilantism in the strongest possible terms. Acts of mob justice are criminal and pose a direct threat to the safety and stability of our communities. No individual or group has the authority to take the law into their own hands, regardless of the circumstances.”

Van Wyk says police are actively investigating the murder.

“Detectives are following all available leads to identify the victims and trace those responsible for this brutal crime.”

The public is urged to share any information that may assist the police in tracking down those involved in the fatal attack.

“Information can be provided anonymously via Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or through the MySAPS mobile application. All information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.”

The National Disaster Management Centre has classified the ongoing drought and the possible large-scale interruption of water supply in parts of South Africa as a national disaster.

Head of the Centre, Dr Elias Sithole, made the declaration in terms of the Disaster Management Act, citing the serious risk to life and essential services in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Northern Cape.

The classification places responsibility on the National Executive to coordinate and manage the response through existing laws and contingency plans. All organs of state have been instructed to strengthen their disaster response efforts and support existing structures dealing with the crisis.

Government, businesses, communities and individuals are being urged to step up water conservation efforts and comply with any water restrictions in place. Authorities have also been encouraged to implement coordinated plans focused on prevention, mitigation, relief and recovery.

State institutions must submit regular progress reports to the National Disaster Management Centre to monitor response measures.

The classification will be lifted once the situation no longer meets the criteria of a disaster, or if a declared national state of disaster is later ended or allowed to lapse.

READ: More Water in Knysna as Dam Levels Show Slight Improvement

Traffic officers conducting a scholar transport law enforcement operation in Cape Town have discovered 49 children travelling in a single minibus taxi on Wednesday morning. 

According to City of Cape Town Traffic spokesperson Kevin Jacobs, officers attached to the City’s Transport Enforcement Unit made the discovery outside a primary school in Mitchells Plain. 

“Officers attached to the City’s Transport Enforcement Unit were stunned when 49 children poured out of a taxi during a scholar enforcement operation,” said Jacobs.

The minibus taxis operating in Cape Town, such as the Toyota Quantum, have a standard capacity of between 13 and 16 passengers.

Jacobs said the vehicle was impounded at the scene. He confirmed that the driver was charged with “not having a permit, overloading and not having a Professional Driving Permit”.  

“Arrangements were made for alternative transport for the learners.”  

The incident forms part of intensified scholar transport enforcement, following a fatal crash in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, two weeks ago, which claimed the lives of 14 learners. The minibus taxi they were travelling in collided with a truck. 

READ MORE: Vanderbijlpark Fatal Accident: Driver to Remain in Custody – Smile 90.4FM

Jacobs warned that enforcement teams would continue to take action against drivers who put lives at risk. 

“Overloading endangers the lives of every person in the vehicle, as well as other road users,” said Jacobs.