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Sunday 27 June 2010

How Well Do You Know Camps Bay?

Answer the questions below and then scroll to see how well you did. No cheating!!


Photo © Hillel Turok (authors) and Albert Louw of Citi Graphics (publisher)

Question 1
Where will you find Philly's plaque?

Question 2
What is the current name of Lady Smith's Pass?

Question 3
What was the original use for the building which is now Theatre on the Bay?

Question 4
Dr James Barry was a friend of Lord Charles Somerset and a frequent visitor to teh Round House. Legend has it that Dr Barry's ghost haunts the Round House. What was remarkable about the good doctor?

Question 5
Who built Victoria Road?

Question 6
In which year was Camps Bay incorporated into Cape Town?

Question 7
What was the fairy cart?

Question 8
In which year was the Rotunda built?

Question 9
One Camps Bay landmark originally had the name Stinkwater? What is the current name?

Question 10
An early Camps Bay water supply was built on Table Mountain. What is its name?


Now scroll right down...
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v

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...and check your answers:

Question 1
On the wall in front of the Library. Philly was a famous horse in Camps Bay.

Question 2
Kloof Road

Question 3
It was a power house for the trams.

Question 4
At death, HE was found to be a SHE who had lived her life masquerading as a man, despite having given birth to a child.

Question 5
Thomas Bain. He used convict labout. The road was named in honour of Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1888.

Question 6
1913

Question 7
The night soil cart.

Question 8
1904

Question 9
Blinkwater

Question 10
Woodhead Reservoir


How did you do?
10 – Camps Bay Chronicler
9 – Expert

6-8 – An Informed Resident

5 and under – There's a great book in the library that you should read!

Saturday 26 June 2010

WC2010: How SA dreamed the impossible dream

Organisers now face a tall order: to convince South Africans that playing host is as fun as playing to win.
Katlego Mphela of South Africa

South Africa's Katlego Mphela scores his side's second goal against France to raise hopes of an even greater adventure for Bafana Bafana – but it was not to be. Photograph: Dominic Barnardt/Getty Images

For a while they really did believe. When Katlego Mphela gave South Africa a 2-0 lead over 10-man France, then ran to fetch the ball with a sense of urgency, the entire nation held its breath and hoped.

"Unite in prayer, no matter your faith, creed or religion. The miracle is here," said one South African message on Twitter. Another tweet pleaded: "Come on Mexico, come on Bafana! Make dreams happen!!"

Much has been written about the miracle of the rainbow nation, the Nelson Mandela magic and the epic victory of the Springboks in the 1995 rugby World Cup. For a few precious minutes, with Uruguay also leading Mexico, South Africa was again dreaming an impossible dream.

It was not to be. France pulled a goal back and, as everyone dreaded, South Africa became the first hosts in 80 years of World Cup football not to make the second round. But unlike the French they went out not with a whimper, but a bang. The mood at fan parks was bittersweet, with muted cheers for the victory tempered by disappointment that the great adventure is over.

The instant reaction from Twitter was one of honour redeemed and heads held high. Frewbru said: "The dream's not over – we still have the world's attention and SA is the centre of the sports universe for another 3 big weeks!"

ThatLloyd tweeted: "Well done #BafanaBafana from your new & greatest fan I believed in you and I still believe in You *pat on the backs* guys you did us proud."

TarrynHarbour posted: "We WON. We STILL WON. Our 83rd-ranked team BEAT #FRA and DREW with #mex . See you in Brazil, world! LOVE YOU #BAFANA!!"

And one tweet said simply: "Mobileandy is proud to the point of tears."

But the immediate reaction of South African TV pundits was rather less effusive, noting the inconsistency of Bafana Bafana's performances throughout the tournament. Andre Arendse, a former South Africa goalkeeper, said the minimum target had been a place in the last 16, so this must go down as a failure: "What's happened is disappointing from a host-nation point of view."

But Arendse added: "We always said it's an African World Cup. We do encourage South Africans to keep supporting the World Cup now. I think they will, they're passionate about football. Adopt an African team."

It will not be easy. The first wave of Bafanamania that greeted the opening match was never going to last. There are fair-weather fans the world over, but South Africa's have a reputation as more fickle than most.

The stream of people heading for the stadium exit 10 minutes before the end of the defeat by Uruguay implied a low pain threshold. The momentum behind the national "Football Friday" also appears to have waned. For weeks more and more people had been wearing the yellow Bafana shirt to their offices. But last Friday many were back in plain shirts and winter coats.

Attendances at fan parks have also dropped since the huge and optimistic crowds that gathered on the first day. Today it was reported that vendors who spent big to be in fan parks are taking legal action in a bid to recoup heavy losses because business has been so slow.

On a more positive note, many cars in Johannesburg can be seen flying the flags of other African nations. Many South Africans will rally around their neighbours, of whom Ghana look the best bet. But if, as seems all too possible, all six African countries go out in the first round, they will have to look elsewhere.

A recent poll by the Times newspaper in South Africa found people in Johannesburg say they would switch allegiance to Portugal, Holland, Brazil, Argentina and England. In Cape Town, four had already defected to Spain, Argentina or Germany.

This World Cup has attracted many South Africans who normally don't go to football, and who may well be blowing vuvuzelas and soaking up the occasion rather than admiring tactical nuances. Like the British at Wimbledon going crazy for tennis for two weeks only, these football virgins might well pack up their vuvuzelas and go back to rugby.

That would leave the World Cup like a regular sports tournament, much as last year's Confederations Cup was after the hosts had been eliminated. It should run smoothly and efficiently but move from the front pages to the back, becoming less about Africa and more about Argentina, Brazil, Spain and the other usual suspects.

Fifa and the local organisers now face a tall order: to convince South Africans that playing host is as fun as playing to win. "We must be gracious and welcoming hosts," said The Times of South Africa. "At least, until the last camera crew, journalist, tourist and team leave South Africa. Let's make this a tournament of great African memories."

Article taken from http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/jun/22/south-africa-world-cup-2010

The GCTCA confronts CCT Planning Dept

FEEDBACK FROM THE MEETING WITH PIET VAN ZYL AND CO.

Hi all,

Our very sincere thanks to all who have sent in additions and improvements to the list of generic complaints and/or details of cases to illustrate the different complaints. The GCTCA’s dossier is coming along nicely, so please keep sending in your contributions.

The GCTCA yesterday had a very interesting second meeting with the City’s Executive Director: Strategy & Planning, Piet van Zyl, and the three Directors in the Planning Department. The City representatives initially objected strongly to the memo the GCTCA sent to the MEC in the Provincial Government but could not rebut any of the 16 categories of complaints made. The only defence offered was from one of the Directors who said some of the complaints implied malpractice or corruption by officials and that they were unable to enter into discussion of unsubstantiated allegations.

The outcome of the meeting was that was agreed the GCTCA’s allegations are serious and need serious discussion. As a next step the City will arrange a third meeting, which will be attended by the eight District Managers. For this third meeting, the GCTCA will prepare an updated version of the memo listing the generic complaints we wish to make, but excluding the actual cases in our dossier. And we shall obviously take great care to ensure that each of these complaints is legally defensible and can be substantiated.

Following that third meeting, the City will arrange a series of eight meetings, one in each of the eight Planning Districts, with the District Manager and planning officials of that District present, as well the top management. For each of those meetings, the GCTCA will need to prepare a dossier of the problem cases we wish to discuss with the City. Your association is very cordially invited to continue to submit details of cases to be included in the dossier and consider who from your association should attend the meeting for your District.

In parallel with all of this, the GCTCA has requested an interview with the MEC, the Hon. Anton Bredell.

All of your ideas, information and other inputs into this process will be very greatly appreciated.

Regards, Graham
GCTCA VICE CHAIR AND SECRETARY

Wednesday 23 June 2010

Cape Town Fan Walk great success

It turns out that one of the main attractions on Cape Town 2010 FIFA World Cup match days is the pedestrian amble known at the Host City Cape Town Fan Walk.Says Cape Town Partnership’s 2010 Project Coordinator and the Host City’s Fan Walk Project Manager, Carola Koblitz: ‘We originally said we would be happy if 15 000 people walked to the Cape Town Stadium and ecstatic if we had 18 000 in total. We never expected to see as many as 60 000 people using the Fan Walk per hour in its peak on Friday 11 June and even yesterday, during the wet and cold weather, we probably chalked up over 20 000!’

And it has become apparent that it’s not only stadium ticket holders that are walking the route, but curious fans just hoping to soak up the ambience and entertainment along the way. The walk has proved to be such a hit, it even received a 9 out of 10 rating in a popular weekend newspaper, which described the Host City Cape Town Fan Walk as ‘… safe, entertaining and probably the most fun way to get to the stadium.’

Photo © CODA

Event Organiser of the Host City Cape Town Fan Walk, Celebrity Services Africa Events, has pulled out all the stops to make the stroll a memorable occasion and have lined the 2.5-km route with a variety of vendor kiosks and street entertainment ranging from buskers and minstrels, to jazz bands, rappers, opera singers and solo artists belting out the blues. The entire route is also transformed come sundown as light shows play off buildings, a 6-metre vuvuzela blows a 3-metre flame, and those eager for a photo opportunity pose in and around the memorable artworks that have been erected for the event at the half-way point at St Andrew’s Square.

A highlight of each Cape Town match day is also a parade (even on rainy days!) which runs from St Andrews Square to the Cape Town Stadium, beginning 90 minutes prior to kick-off. The route starts at Exchange Place on St George’s Mall (opposite the Cape Town Station) and runs along Waterkant Street, over Buitengraght Street, onto St Andrews Square and finally along Somerset Road and Main Road, Green Point before it reaches the Stadium precinct. Kiosks begin operating six hours before kickoff and entertainment begins five hours before kickoff.

For more information on the Host City Cape Town Fan Walk or images of the activities en route, please contact Carola Koblitz at 021 419 1881 or email carola@capetownpartnership.co.za

Dear World Cup Visitors

Now that you are safely in our country you are no doubt happily realising you are not in a war zone. This may be in stark contrast to what you have been bracing yourself for should you have listened to Uli Hoeness or are an avid reader of English tabloids, which as we all know are only good for wrapping fish ‘n chips and advancing the careers of large-chested teens on page three.

As you emerge blinking from your luxury hotel room into our big blue winter skies, you will surely realise you are far more likely to be killed by kindness than by a stray bullet. Remember that most of the media reports you have read, which have informed your views on South Africa, will have been penned by your colleagues. And you know what journos are like, what with their earnest two thousand word opuses on the op-ed pages designed to fix this country’s ills in a heartbeat. Based on exhaustive research over a three-day visit.

Funnily enough, we are well aware of the challenges we face as a nation and you will find that 95% of the population is singing from the same song-sheet in order to ensure we can live up to our own exacting expectations.

We are also here to look after you and show you a good time. Prepare to have your preconceived notions well and truly shattered.


photographs © CODA on Flickr - click to view

For instance, you will find precious few rhinos loitering on street corners, we don’t know a guy in Cairo named Dave just because we live in Johannesburg, and our stadiums are magnificent, world-class works of art.

Which is obviously news to the Sky TV sports anchor who this week remarked that Soccer City looked ‘ a bit of a mess’. She didn’t realize the gaps in the calabash exterior are to allow in natural light and for illumination at night, and not the result of vandalism or negligence.

The fact that England, the nation which safely delivered Wembley Stadium two years past its due date, is prepared to offer us South Africans advice on stadium-readiness should not be surprising. The steadiest stream of World Cup misinformation has emanated from our mates the Brits over the past couple of years.

If it’s not man-eating snakes lurking in Rooney’s closet at the team’s (allegedly half-built) Royal Bafokeng training base, then it’s machete-wielding gangs roaming the suburbs in search of tattooed, overweight Dagenham dole-queuers to ransack and leave gurgling on the pavement.

In fact what you are entering is the world’s most fascinating country, in my opinion. I’m pretty sure you will find that it functions far more smoothly, is heaps more friendly and offers plenty more diversions than you could possibly have imagined.

In addition to which, the population actually acts like human beings, and not like they are being controlled by sinister forces from above which turns them into bureaucratically-manipulated robots.

Plus we have world’s most beautiful women. The best weather. Eight channels of SuperSport. Food and wine from the gods themselves. Wildlife galore. (Love the Dutch team’s bus slogan: “Don’t fear the Big 5; fear the Orange 11”).

Having said all that, Jo’burg is undoubtedly one of the world’s most dangerous cities. Just ask those Taiwanese tourists who got out of their hire car to take close-up snaps of tawny beasts at the Lion Park a few years back. Actually, ask what’s left of them. And did you know the chances of being felled by cardiac arrest from devouring a mountain of meat at one of our world class restaurants has been statistically proven to be 33.3% higher in Jozi than in any other major urban centre not built upon a significant waterway? It’s true. I swear. I read it in a British tabloid.

Having recently spent two years comfortably cocooned in small town America, I’m only too aware of how little much of the outside world knows about this country. The American channel I used to work for has a massive battalion of employees descending on World Cup country. It has also apparently issued a recommendation to its staff to stay in their hotels when not working.

Given that said corporation is headquartered in a small town which many say is “best viewed through the rear-view mirror”, I find the recommendation, if it’s true, to be utterly astounding. In fact I don’t believe it is true. Contrary to the global stereotype, the best Americans are some of the sharpest people in the world. The fact they have bought most tickets in this World Cup proves the point.

Of course I have only lived in Johannesburg, city of terror and dread, virtually all my life, so don’t have the in-depth knowledge of say, an English broadsheet journalist who has been in the country for the weekend, but nevertheless I will share some of my observations gleaned over the years.

Any foreign tourist or media representative who is worried about his safety in South Africa should have a word with the Lions rugby fans from last year, or the Barmy Army cricket supporters (lilywhite hecklers by day, slurring, lager-fuelled lobsters by night). They managed just fine, just like the hundreds of thousands of fans who have streamed into the country over the past fifteen years for various World Cups, Super 14 matches, TriNations tests and other international events. Negligible crime incidents involving said fans over said period of time.

Trivia question: which country has hosted the most global sporting events over the past decade and a half? You don’t need me to answer that, do you?

In addition. Don’t fret when you see a gaggle of freelance salesmen converge on your car at the traffic lights (or robots as we like to call them) festooned with products. You are not about to be hijacked. Here in Mzansi (nickname for SA) we do a lot of our purchasing at robots. Here you can stock up on flags, coat hangers, batteries, roses for the wife you forgot to kiss goodbye this morning and a whole host of useful merchandise.

Similarly, that guy who runs up as you park the rental car outside the pub intends no malice. He’s your car guard. Give him a buck or two and your vehicle will be safe while you refuel for hours on our cheap, splendid beer. Unless someone breaks into it, of course.

We drive on the left in this country. Exercise caution when crossing the road at a jog-trot with 15 kilograms of camera gear on your back. Exercise common sense full stop. Nothing more. Nothing less. If you want to leave wads of cash in your hotel room like our Colombian friends, don’t be surprised if it grows wings.

Bottomline. Get out there and breathe in great lusty lungfuls of this amazing nation. Tuck into our world-class food and wines. Disprove the adage that white men can’t dance at our throbbing, vibrant night-clubs. Learn to say hello in all eleven official languages. Watch at least one game in a township. You will not be robbed and shot. You will be welcomed like a lost family member and looked after as if you are royalty. Ask those Bulls rugby fans who journeyed to Soweto recently.

With a dollop of the right attitude, this country will change your life.

It’s Africa’s time. Vacate your hotel room.

Join the party. Waka waka eh eh.


ARTICLE FROM Peter Davies @ Supersport

CCT: First signs of World Cup economic success staring to show


First signs of 2010 FIFA World Cup™ economic success starting to show

MEDIA RELEASE
22 JUNE 2010

Initial surveys and research show that Cape Town restaurants, informal traders, hotels and shopping malls are experiencing better than usual business over the winter period, as foreign football fans are flocking to Cape Town for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Overall, the business activity in Cape Town seems to have picked up since the arrival of the first team in the country, said Mansoor Mohamed, Executive Director: Economic and Social Development and Tourism for the City of Cape Town. “The V&A Waterfront shopping mall has seen a record increase in the amount of visitors in the first week of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Suburban shopping malls in Cape Town like Cavendish, Century City and Tygervalley have also seen a spike in sales. The restaurants in Cape Town are also doing better than expected trade, with some even beating their actual Christmas figures.”

Most of the Municipal Markets in Cape Town, for example Greenmarket Square, the Grand Parade, Green Point and Mitchells Plain, have seen a significant boost in trading activity since the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ ten days ago. “Informal traders have been well prepared by the City of Cape Town’s economic unit to take advantage of the World Cup visitor numbers,” Mohamed said.

Initial surveys are showing that the accommodation numbers for Cape Town thus far are generally lower than expected, except for budget accommodation, which is looking promising. Although the more expensive hotels in Cape Town are experiencing lower than expected occupancy (under 20% to 40%), it is still a bumper season compared to last year, said Mohamed.

The City is expecting higher accommodation numbers towards the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, as people come down from Johannesburg to enjoy the last part of their South African holiday in Cape Town. “Cape Town has won the ‘Oscars’ of the Travel Industry (World Travel Awards) as the leading tourism destination on the African continent for two consecutive years in a row. More recently, it won the prestigious award of being the best destination worldwide for Responsible Tourism (2009 Virgin Responsible Tourism Awards). These awards are the culmination of strategic partnerships between the City of Cape Town, its tourism agencies and the tourism industry. This is why Cape Town has been a destination of choice for many of the international visitors in the country for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and we expect an increase in the number of international visitors as the tournament progresses,” Mohamed added.

Even though less people than expected seem to be coming to Cape Town during the tournament, early economic research suggests that tourists are staying for longer periods and are spending more. A recent Grant Thornton Study on the economic impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ supports these findings.

“If visitor numbers are down 20% from our initial estimates, but those who do come spend 20% more and stay three days longer than originally anticipated, we will see an increase of nearly 40% in the expected economic impact that the tournament will have, which is very encouraging,” said Mohamed.

Mohamed emphasized that these findings are only based on initial surveys and that the true economic impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will only be established by comprehensive research following the end of the tournament. He is, however, confident that Cape Town will benefit from the 2010 World Cup™ in the next few decades to come. “The FIFA 2010 World Cup™ is the single most important event for South Africa and the African continent in recent time. It is positively changing the world’s perceptions about Africa. The socio-economic benefits of the FIFA 2010 World Cup™ will be felt for a very long time and it is therefore important that government and businesses develop strategic partnerships to reap the benefits of this tournament over the next 20 years.”



END

ISSUED BY: COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT, CITY OF CAPE TOWN

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
MANSOOR MOHAMED
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM
TEL: 021 400 2589 CELL: 084 421 4428

CCT: Registration Time for Estatge Agents and Auctioneers

MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 473 / 2010
21 JUNE 2010

The City of Cape Town wishes to remind all estate agents and auctioneers that, from 01 July, they will again be required to register individually with the municipality for permission to display property marketing boards and directional signage on City-owned property.

For the 2010/2011 financial year, each agent will be required to pay an annual registration fee of R628.40 and a display fee of R751.60 (including VAT) for their six permit stickers for the 2010/2011 financial year.

Upon registration, the City will issue six permit stickers per agent for the year, thus limiting the number of directional ‘show house’ signs allowed on City-owned property. During the past year, directional boards found with photocopied or counterfeit permit stickers were removed. The By-law does, however, make provision for the withdrawal of permits and the City will prosecute any agent or auctioneer who uses fraudulent stickers.

Each sticker, which is uniquely numbered, must be displayed on any directional board for the duration of the year. Faded or damaged stickers will be replaced at no cost on production of the originals.

The standard conditions for directional boards still apply. Signs displayed on the private property being marketed, and not exceeding 0.3m², will not require permit stickers.

Agents can register and obtain their six permit stickers at the following offices:
• Cape Town – Media City, 2nd Floor, cnr Hertzog Boulevard and Heerengracht
• South Peninsula – Plessey Building, 3 Victoria Road, cnr
• Main Road, Plumstead
• Kraaifontein - Civic Centre, Brighton Road
• Helderberg - cnr Fagan Street and Main Road, Strand

There are also satellite offices for dropping off and collecting applications:
• Blaauwberg office – Millpark Centre, Koeberg Road, Milnerton
• Athlone office – cnr Aden Avenue and George Street, Athlone
• Khayelitsha office - Stocks and Stocks Block E, Cnr Ntlazane and Ntlakohlaza streets, Khayelitsha
• Parow Civic Centre – Voortrekker Road.

Applications left at these offices will be sent to the Civic Centre for processing and then returned for collection.

Registration forms are available at all municipal offices. For electronic copies, e-mail Heloise.jacobs@capetown.gov.za or phone 021 400-6525.

Notwithstanding the above, the City is prepared to grant an extension until 31 July 2010 so that estate agents and auctioneers can submit their applications for registration and pay their permit sticker fees.

However, this extension comes with a caution that directional boards may only be displayed if they have original permit stickers attached, and they must still comply with all of the By-law rules for display during the extension period. Enforcement for all contraventions will still be enforced and charged for.


END

ISSUED BY: COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT, CITY OF CAPE TOWN

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
DEBBIE EVANS, CHIEF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OFFICER
TEL: 021 400 6531 CELL: 084 222 1220

Friday 18 June 2010

CBRRA ONLINE

At CBRRA we aim to not only inform our members of every issue we are dealing with, but also to create a platform for members to participate and interact.

Apart from the articles posted on this blog you can also follow:
our tweets on Twitter
http://twitter.com/CBRRA

updates on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Camps-Bay-Ratepayers-Residents-Association/378721204667

and on our website
http://www.campsbayratepayers.co.za

Follow us and become involved today!