Inside the old Woodstock Hospital building, where occupiers have been living, some since 2017. They renamed it Cissie Gool House. Housing movement Reclaim the City has announced plans to put in a bid to develop the site. Photos: Ashraf Hendricks Housing movement Reclaim the City has confirmed that it is preparing to bid for the…
Category: Uncategorized
Loaves and Fishes – Personally sponsor a resident
Even though they are subsidised, many of our residents still find it very difficult to support themselves; your contribution will mean that they are able to concentrate on being healed and renewed while in the environment to do so. If you would like to contribute while they are still in this vulnerable place, the daily…
A Dentist-Turned-Horticulturalist Made a Record Just for Plants
This plant might be a Dr. George Milstein fan. StockSnap/Public Domain Each song on the 1970 album Music to Grow Plants starts out with a high-pitched whistling sound. These are, according to the liner notes, a sound “which acts upon plant growth patterns.” The notes have been “electronically embedded” into the record, which should mean,…
Cape Town city council approves plan to sell Woodstock Hospital
Woodstock Hospital, occupied since 2017, is to go on sale. Archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks 4 December 2025 | By Matthew Hirsch In a meeting on Thursday, the Cape Town city council approved, in principle, a proposal to sell Woodstock Hospital for a mixed-income residential development. The R87-million property will now go on sale. The successful…
Does anyone have old photos of Observatory, Cape Town?
DONATE TO THE HERITAGE PORTAL Expiry: Wednesday, December 31, 2025 – 00:00 I’m working with OBSID – the Observatory Improvement District – to promote the attractions and activities of the area. Obs has a tangible historical aspect that I’m keen to explore, possibly in an ‘Obs Then and Now’ photo essay. Would anyone from the…
City calls for input on proposed new MyCiTi stops in CBD, Observatory and Atlantis
19 November 2025 The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate is calling on interested or affected residents to comment on the proposed five new MyCiTi bus stop locations in the Cape Town CBD, Observatory and Atlantis. ‘We’re proposing five new bus stops in the CBD; Observatory and Atlantis to improve your access to the service. This proposal…
‘Stores not allowed to add extra fees for card payments’ – Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman
Credit Card, paying with a card / Pixabay: AhmadArdity Tasleem Gierdien – 16 October 2025 It is illegal for suppliers to charge extra because you choose to use your bank card to pay. South African consumers are protected by law from being charged extra for using their bank cards to pay at tills. According to…
No place for old locals – Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis defends vision for Cape Town
Illustrative image | Sea Point Main Road in front of an apartment complex construction site, 9 September 2025. (Photo: David Harrison) | Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin-Hill Lewis. (Photo: Gallo Images / Die Burger / Theo Jeptha) By Kevin Bloom Follow 13 Oct 2025 In a cordial but combative interview in early October, Cape…
🚨 Community Alert: Scammers Posing as City of Cape Town Officials 🚨
Residents are urged to stay alert — scammers are posing as officials from the City of Cape Town Revenue Department and attempting to gain access to properties under the pretext of “scheduled disconnections” due to alleged municipal arrears. A recent incident occurred in Observatory, where individuals sent WhatsApp messages claiming to be from the City’s…
As Trump champions fossil fuels, the world is betting on renewable energy [Grist]
![As Trump champions fossil fuels, the world is betting on renewable energy [Grist]](https://obs.org.za/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/f037220c-0382-d024-d821-179aff41f6c9-1024x683.png)
Photo by Thomas Richter on Unsplash. Despite a U.S. retreat, solar and wind are overtaking fossil fuels globally, according to two new reports. If you live in the U.S., you could be forgiven for thinking that renewable energy is on the outs. In July, Congress voted to rapidly phase out longstanding tax credit support for wind and solar power. The…