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…

Public safety report

The OBSID public safety team are having to inform owners or residents of unlocked vehicles, open doors and open garages or premises gates. OBSID’s public safety team recorded 349 proactive incidents this month, 87 more than last month. See the full OBSID safety report for March 2022 here.

Amazon: The behemoth of corporate power

Leslie London – 23 MAR 2022 Amazon, the capitalist behemoth, takes its name from the narratives in Greek mythology of women warriors of the ancient world. Their name was later linked to the Amazon River which, as the story goes, was named after indigenous women in the region who were strong warriors, in the tradition…

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…

Appeals

LLPT application to appeal – lodged 29 March FNC appeal Minister of Environment appeal City’s appeal application

Amazon’s African HQ construction interdicted

Jacopo Dettoni – March 24 2022 A judge in South Africa halted the construction of Amazon’s planned African headquarters in Cape Town, pending the conclusion of meaningful engagement and consultation with all affected First Nation Peoples. “The fact that the development has substantial economic, infrastructural and public benefits can never override the fundamental rights of…

LETTER: Editorial over Amazon development misleads

Business Day – 27 MARCH 2022 Business Day published a misleading editorial in February implying that there was no truth to the claim by applicants seeking an interdict to stop the construction of a huge mixed-use development at the River Club in Observatory, Cape Town (“The underdogs are wrong this time”, February 4). The development…