The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services is currently considering amendments to the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill [B19 – 2020]. The committee invites interested parties/stakeholders to make written submissions on proposals to extend the subject of the Bill to, in addition, provide for: – commercial activities in respect of recreational cannabis; – the…
Category: General News
A call to defend civic democracy
The City of Cape Town is transforming the Ward Committee system from places of participation and democracy into mere administrative tools to support local councillors. This has happened through two mechanisms: 1. With the decision to limit or, in the case of Ward 57, to cancel any participation of civic organisations on the Ward committee….
For all you tree-huggers out there!
The City of Cape Town is in the process of revising the Urban Forest Policy (previously called “Tree Management Policy”) In terms of section 17 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, the public and interested parties or groups are given the opportunity to submit comments, recommendations or input to the…
City Nature Challenge
Invasive plants in Suburbia
You are invited to attend an online chat with Fynbos Phil & Obs resident, Kari Cousins on invasive plants in Suburbia Why we ought to be concerned & what should we do about them? Gardeners in Observatory have expressed a desire for more information about the invasive plants that we encounter in our suburb &…
The My Smart City app really works!
Dear neighbours On the 4 April I logged some dumping of bags on the river. I was super impressed to get a call from the CCT coordinator of the River Clean Ups saying that this was related to the Friends of the Liesbeek/CCT clean up on Saturday (based on the not unreasonable assumption that I’d…
Cape Town suburb employs new approach to tackling homelessness
James Stent – 24 March 2022 Wednesday saw the first public meeting of the Devil’s Peak Vredehoek Outreach (DPV Outreach), a voluntary, community association formed to help homeless people in the area. About 30 people, including members of the organisation and homeless residents, met at the Service Dining Room in town. Devil’s Peak and Vredehoek…
Climate Change Poster Competition
Enter the Creative Futures: Climate Change Poster Competition and show us how you envision a climate friendly future for Cape Town. Competition closes Friday, 29 April 2022. About: The climate is changing, and so is the environment we live in. Rising sea levels and temperatures, more droughts, heavy rainstorms – these are only some of…
How to reduce your household costs
Increases in fuel costs, Eskom tariff increases and a projected rise in consumer price inflation is enough to make anyone’s head spin. That’s why we’ve put together a list of ways you can reduce your household costs. Save water – Use your water meter: Monitor your water usage by checking your water meter regularly. If…
Your guide to Cape Town’s quirky kid – Observatory, as told by CapeTown ETC
Ashleigh Nefdt – 5 March 2022 When you’ve explored Camps Bay to the depths of the ocean and galavanted through town’s treasures for the umpteenth time, you might be ready to explore somewhere a little different. Somewhere that celebrates difference and draws it out of you. Observatory or ‘Obs’ as it is affectionately known is…