Johannesburg based rock band Dance, You’re on Fire will be touring the Western Cape later for the first time since releasing their debut single ‘Blockade’ in April.

The single, which has swiftly gathered national acclaim, is currently playlisted on 5fm and occupied the number one position on TuksFM’s Local Top 10 for four weeks, also reaching third position on the station’s international Top30.

‘Blockade’ also reached Top 10 chart positions on PukFM and KovsieFM and is currently enjoying high rotation on MFM, UCT Radio, Rhodes Music Radio and UJFM.

The video for the track, which documents a tumultuous trip through Johannesburg, is currently on high rotation on DSTV’s MK.

Dance, You’re on Fire is now poised to release their second single ‘Little War’ and will be recording a full length album during the first half of July. The band has also been confirmed for the Oppikoppi Sexy.Crooked.Teeth festival in August.

Catch Dance, You’re on Fire on the following dates:

• 22 July – The Octopus Garden, Kalk Bay + Captain Stu – Acoustic Show (R30)
• 23 July – Mercury Live, Cape Town + New Holland and The Pretty Blue Guns (R40)
• 24 July – Aandklas, Stellenbosch + New Holland and Captain Stu (R30)

‘Blockade’ video on Youtube.

Since its completion, the new Cape Town Stadium has become an iconic landmark in the city, and has elicited a lot of attention and interest.

Curious residents and visitors to the city who were not able to attend one of the successful test events held at the new facility can now for the first time visit the new 68 000-seat stadium, which will host eight 2010 FIFA World Cup™ matches.

The Cape Town Stadium Visitor Centre opened on 9 February, and is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Hour-long tours commence at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00. Prices are R30 for adults, and R15 for pensioners and children.

School tours are also available, at R10 per child.

The tours are run by the operators of the stadium, SAIL STADEFRANCE.

The tour of the stadium includes the stands, players’ changing rooms, VIP/hospitality area and prison cell. Access to the pitch is, however, not permitted.

The first signed soccer and rugby ball brought in the stadium also feature.

Directions: From the new raised Green Point traffic circle, take the entrance closest to McDonalds, and park near the site of the old stadium. Enter via the entrance on Granger Bay Boulevard at entrance C onto the podium.

For more information, call 021 430 7346.

The Cape Town College is one of the 13 recipients of Volkswagen of South Africa sponsored Citi Golfs, worth R1 million, to technical high schools and further education and training centres.

The vehicles will specifically be used by learners at the Cape Town College as training vehicles – they can be stripped down and re-assembled or used to teach engine tuning and fault-finding.

Speaking at the company’s Uitenhage plant at the handing over of the vehicles, Johann Arpin, Technical Learning Academy Manager, explained why the company made the donation. “This sponsorship is made to further enhance the practical training provided at colleges and schools as this is vital to ensure smooth progression from these institutions into technical training offered by industry. The better the quality of candidates applying for apprenticeships and learnerships, the better the artisan that eventually fills a position in industry.”

Addressing the institution’s representatives, Arpin said “We rely on your support and therefore we give you ours in terms of these vehicles for training purposes.”

The other institutions which benefited are:
Newton Technical High School, Ithembelihle Comprehensive School, Gelvandale High School, Eastcape Midlands College, Daniel Pienaar Technical High School, UDDI Skills Development, Otto du Plessis High School, Bergsig Special School, Belcomec Training – George and Keurhof School – Klerksdorp.

How much priority should the City of Cape Town give to public transport over private vehicles? Cape Town’s new Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) system borrows many lessons from Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in South American cities, where leaders have in some cases been prepared to limit the space available for private vehicles in order to build bus lanes. The assumption was that this would be balanced out as more people used public transport and left their cars at home.

The City of Cape Town has taken a more pragmatic approach, following the principle that the IRT infrastructure should have no lasting impact on the currently available road space, which is too busy as it is. Instead, new lanes are being built in the road reserve, or entirely new roads are being built just for buses on available land. Where these options aren’t available, buses will be required to operate in normal mixed traffic, or share a single lane. So far the City has also avoided expropriating land to expand roadways.

But there are places where simple solutions cannot provide all the answers. One of these is at intersections. In South America, many buses are equipped with wireless sensors that turn traffic lights green so they never have to stop. This can cause long delays for motorists trying to drive across the bus lane and so is not considered an option for Cape Town.

But at the same time, it would be impossible to run a scheduled bus service if buses get locked up for long periods of time at intersections. Instead, Cape Town is preparing to introduce a hybrid system where buses that are running late will trigger a slight variation in the programming of the traffic lights ahead of them. This will help them get through a bit faster without giving them overall priority.

But the problems don’t end there. For intersections to function smoothly, they require additional lanes to separate vehicles that are going forward and vehicles that are turning. This means that there often isn’t space for new bus lanes in the areas before and after intersections. And, where the bus lanes split at an intersection, buses may also require extra turning lanes.

In South American cities, one solution has been to ban vehicles from turning right at intersections along BRT routes, eliminating the need for turning lanes. However this requires rerouting traffic along surrounding roads, and is not really an option in residential areas.

Instead, engineers working on the IRT system have had to come up with customised solutions for sharing the road at each intersection. An example of this is a ‘pre-signal system’, where traffic lights are set up just before an intersection’s turning lanes begin. These lights control the sharing of the turning lanes between buses and cars, and also allow buses to ‘jump the queue’ waiting at the intersection.

Changes like this require significant upgrades to the structure of intersections. The surfaces of intersections also have to be replaced to make the tarmac strong enough for buses to travel on regularly, as is the case on all parts of the road where buses will travel in the same space as cars.

When these upgrades are taking place, Capetonians can expect short-term disruptions in traffic going through intersections on IRT routes, but they can rest assured that in the long run, they are getting the best possible compromise, with the new IRT system set to ease traffic congestion significantly while causing minimal disruption to the existing road space.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has requested Mr Andre Botes – MRCC Cape Town Head of Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations, to chair a Working Group for the IMO Communications subcommittee for SAR.

Mr Botes has been involved in Search and Rescue operations in South Africa for 39 years and his distinguished career includes coordinating the search for the SAA Boeing “Helderberg” and being senior SAR co-ordination for the passenger liner the “Oceanos”, for which he received an international award.

He joined the South African Air Force in 1966 as a pupil pilot and received his wings the same year. He retired from the SAAF in 1996. In 1998 he joined the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) as head of Maritime SAR Operations.

In 2004 Mr Botes opened the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town and immediately begun establishing it as the Regional MRCC for Southern Africa in terms of the IMO Florence resolution.

The Regional MRCC was officially opened by the Secretary General of the IMO in January 2007 and continues to operate.

The City has announced the launch of the Cape Town Entrepreneurship Competition 2010 to recognise and expand entrepreneurship in Cape Town.

Funding of R1,8 million was approved by the Council at its meeting on Wednesday 27 January. Of this, R600 000 will be used to fund the competition and R1,2 million will be used for the long-term development of Cape Town’s entrepreneur networks.

The competition will focus on technology and innovation in the fields of biotechnology, telecommunications and media, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), ‘clean’ technology, healthcare and social entrepreneurship. The winner of the competition will have an opportunity to participate in the Global Entrepreneurship Competition in Barcelona in June later this year.

Mansoor Mohamed, the City’s Executive Director: Economic, Social Development and Tourism, said: “The competition forms part of the City’s strategy to position Cape Town as a leading enabler of entrepreneurship on the African continent and to build a stronger entrepreneurship ecosystem. The City already has strong partnerships with key stakeholders in the country.”

Registration for the competition will open on 17 February and the winners are expected to be announced on 30 March. A total of R200 000 has been allocated for prize money. A major benefit of the competition is the professional level of entrepreneurship support which the winners will receive and the opportunity to meet real investors who are willing to invest in real businesses.

The competition will be internet-based and details can be found on the website, which will be activated soon. The competition is being run through Cape Town Activa – an online community created by the City to assist local entrepreneurs.

“Cape Town Activa is the enabling platform for entrepreneurship development in Cape Town. It started off on the Barcelona Activa model, a very successful entrepreneurship support system developed by the City of Barcelona. It is still in the early stages of development and is expected to be operational by December 2010,” said Mohamed.

The competition will be managed by Bandwidth Barn, a world-wide leading ICT incubator and a strategic partner of the City. According to Chris Vermeulen, its CEO, “The Bandwidth Barn is very excited to be associated with the Cape Town Entrepreneurship Competition 2010.”

“Entrepreneurship has proven to be a significant driver of economic growth. Actions of entrepreneurs will help generate wealth by creating a demand in the market from a newly introduced innovation. Effective entrepreneurship fosters the production of wealth for a city or nation and helps the society as a whole,” concluded Mohamed.

There were no major flaws in the planning and execution of the first test event at the new Cape Town Stadium, but all aspects of safety, security, transport and logistics have been analysed to make the next test event even better.

Lessons learned from the first test event held on Saturday 23 January – a match between Ajax and Santos – will be applied to improve spectator experience and safety for the second test event on Saturday 6 February 2010.

This follows a debriefing session by all roleplayers, including the City of Cape Town, Provincial Government, South African Police Services and the Stadium Operator held on Wednesday 27 January.

The debriefing also made use of information gathered by a new electronic reporting tool that monitors events. It tracks weather conditions, safety and security, deployment of safety and security staff, the volumes of spectators through gates, transport flows for shuttle buses, private vehicles and pedestrians.

Stadium noise levels both inside and outside were measured and health tests were performed on food served at the stadium. At the same time, safety and security incidents were logged. The electronic event tool has all of the necessary information available shortly after a stadium event for debriefing and future planning.

Only three law enforcement incidents and six traffic incidents were logged, while Emergency Medical Services attended to 15 medical and seven trauma cases.

The debriefing session also focused on improved directional signage, briefings for volunteers, an improved accreditation process and information to spectators before the match to explain the transport system, stadium access and spectator rules.

The first event was attended by 20 000 spectators. The 40 000 tickets for the second test event on 6 February, featuring a Boland Invitational XV against the Vodacom Stormers, have already been sold out.

The City will soon begin upgrading its rental properties across Cape Town.

The upgrade, which has been divided into several phases to ensure that it is effectively managed, will improve quality of life for thousands of Council tenants. In addition to dealing with common maintenance problems such as water penetration in walls and floors, and fixing roofs, stairs, plumbing and rainwater disposal systems, upgrade work such as improving floor finishes, ablution facilities, installing ceilings and hot water systems where not previously provided will also be considered. Workers will also attend to public safety, paving and tree planting to add character to the generally dreary tone currently on most of these estates.

Phase one of the project incorporates the refurbishment and upgrade of some 7 700 Community Residential Unit (CRU) rental properties in various areas across Cape Town, including Kewtown, Scottsville, Scottsdene, Manenberg, Heideveld, Hanover Park, Uitsig, Woodlands, Connaught Estate, The Range and Ottery Marble Flats.

Planning the upgrade has been a herculean effort. All of the areas involved had to be surveyed to determine the condition and upgrade requirements of each rental unit; the City then appointed two implementing agents, BKS and Aurecon, to assist with project management.

Construction is now ready to commence in Kewtown, and work should be finished in December 2011. Tenants who are required to move out whilst construction takes place will be relocated to temporary accommodation.

The Kewtown residential units are located in Athlone in the area between Klipfontein Road and Jan Smuts Drive, off Eland Street. There are 320 units in the area that qualify for the programme, comprising 20 four-storey flats with 16 residential units per block of flats. Scottsville and Scottsdene will follow shortly.

Funding for the upgrade will be provided by National Government, according to the national CRU Policy, and is estimated at over a billion rand for the first phase alone. The project will be implemented in other areas as funds are received by the City.

“This project is an important part of the City’s plan to provide quality living environments for our residents and we are very excited to launch it,” says Mayor Dan Plato.

Pick and choose from a whole host of Cape Town Management Consultants in the My Cape Town Business Directory.

Free business listing for any business with an 021 dialling code.

Eschewing direct media contact the family of Fishhoek Shark Attack victim Lloyd Skinner and his partner, Debby Paine, issued the following statement via the NSRI:

We would be very grateful if thanks could be extended to all concerned that were involved in the search and rescue, and post- attack operations relating to the fatal shark attack on Lloyd Skinner on Tuesday 12th January, 2010.

From the initial contact with the Fish Hoek  Lifesavers, NSRI, Fish Hoek Police, Trauma Support Unit, ‘Nippers’ moms – FHSLC, Save Our Seas Shark Centre, Fish Hoek Life Saving Club staff, members of Fish Hoek Community and many others who helped without even making us aware of who they were.  The kindness and support shown to Lloyd’s partner Debby Paine immediately following the incident was unparalleled.  Special mention should be made of Janeen Orford, Ian Klopper and Mike Schilperoort.

Lloyd had spent many vacations in Fish Hoek and was very happy following his love of the outdoor pursuits, of road running, fishing and of course swimming. The Fish Hoek community were always hospitable and it was no wonder Lloyd returned time and time again to this town.

A memorial service has been arranged for Lloyd in Harare Zimbabwe and will be held on Friday 22nd January.  A remarkable and accomplished man in his professional career, his sporting achievements, and in his personal relationships.

Once again our sincere thanks to all concerned who we have come into contact with.

(Signed)

John and Margie Skinner (Lloyd’s parents)
Diane and Debra Skinner (Lloyd’s sisters)
Debby Paine  (Lloyd’s partner)

RIP Lloyd Skinner

The City of Cape Town is once again a title sponsor of the Suidoosterfees, an annual celebration of art and culture.

This year’s Suidoosterfees festival takes place at Artscape from 26-31 January.

“This is the fifth year of City involvement and sponsorship of the festival. It started off very small, but the extent of the City’s contribution has been escalating and in the last two years has become formalised, in terms of cash and services,” said Fritz Marx, Manager: Protocol & Events: Executive Mayor’s Office.

Marx said the City has made a cash contribution of R500 000 from its arts and culture grant-in-aid programme.

“The Executive Mayor’s Office has also budgeted an additional R300 000 for the printing of posters, pamphlets, the programme booklet, street flags, and services such as traffic, waste removal, and cleansing that are all linked to the festival.

“The rationale for the City’s contribution is that this is an inner city festival – there are not a lot of them around – and it has rejuvenated and created an economic incentive for this part of city. Also, it’s a very diverse festival – from performing arts to film to music to serious theatre. It promotes local talent.”

Marx said the opening ball of the festival is named the Mayor’s Ball, in recognition of the City’s role as one of the title sponsors.

Suidoosterfees marketing manager Irmgardt Bonze said the City is “very broadly involved” in not just funding, but also logistics, and helps make the festival happen.

She added that the festival planning is on track, and that they are “ready to go”.

The festival started in 2003. It is now a registered non-profit organisation, and has established itself as an annual event on the country’s arts and culture calendar.

The festival aims to celebrate and develop Western Cape Afrikaans culture and heritage, as well as encourage social diversity and national unity through Afrikaans. Its mission is to be affordable, accessible, and include all race, class, language, religious and age groups.

Ticket prices are kept below R100, but the festival still attracts artists of an international standard.

Dr Niel le Roux, CEO: Die Burger Suidoosterfees, said he is proud of this.

Part of the festival’s outreach includes bringing in farm workers and local gospel and choir groups from across the province.

It also seeks to offer opportunities to develop and nurture young and up-coming artists, and enables them to premiere new works.

The festival has grown remarkably since its inception, with attendance of nearly 20 000 people and ticket sales exceeding R500 000.

The festival features a line-up of entertainment including jazz, classical music, gospel music, theatre, comedy, films, visual arts, books and children’s entertainment.

Well-known stars such as David Kramer, Lira, Sandra Prinsloo, Amanda Strydom, Nomfusi, Alistair Izobell, Neels van Jaarsveld, Gary Naidoo and 7de laan stars, Vinette Ebrahim, Theodore Jantjies, Zane Meas, Christo Davids and Terence Bridgett, to name a few will perform.

For more information: http://www.suidoosterfees.co.za

Martin Pollack

The City of Cape Town invites residents to nominate individuals, organisations or military units for Civic Honours.

Civic Honours, which date back 50 years, are annual awards that the City confers to acknowledge individuals, organisations and military units that have distinguished themselves through extraordinary acts of service, or outstanding contributions to their community and Cape Town.

They were discontinued in 2000, after the amalgamation of Cape Town’s seven smaller municipalities into a single ‘unicity’, and revived six years later to recognise Capetonians who excel in discharging the responsibilities inherent in being a South African citizen. Such people perform outstandingly in upholding the rights of others, serving others above themselves or contributing to nation building through outstanding service and achievements.

The awards are conferred in term of the City’s Civic Honours Policy, which was adopted by Council on 3 December 2008. The policy identifies the following main categories for awards:

Freedom of the City

This award is bestowed on individuals, military units or organisations that have distinguished themselves by their heroic service. There are three living Freemen of the City: State President and Nobel Laureate, Nelson Mandela, Nobel Laureate, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, and former UWC Chancellor Dr Richard Van Der Ross.

Signing of the Civic Honours Book

The signing of the Civic Honours Book is an invitation to sign or inscribe one’s name against a citation of his/her achievement in the “Civic Honours Book”. This book is kept by the City for future generations to remember Cape Town’s great citizens.

Freedom of Entry into the City

The Freedom of Entry into the City is given to military units to recognise outstanding service given to their country and city. Military units that receive this honour may march through the streets of Cape Town on all ceremonial and other occasions “with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying”.

The Mayor’s Medal

This prestigious award acknowledges outstanding contributions that are voluntarily made by individuals or associations in a number of different fields: community affairs, social affairs and services, cultural affairs, youth affairs, recreation and sport, conservation, economic affairs and extraordinary bravery.

A Civic Honour may be conferred on a living person or in memory of a deceased person. All nominations must be in writing, must indicate the honour to be bestowed and include adequate motivation.

Please submit your nomination to the Office of the Executive Mayor, Private Bag X9181, Cape Town, 8000 or e-mail Levona.Africa[at]capetown.gov.za on or before Friday 19 February 2010. A copy of the policy may be obtained by dialling 021 400 5841.

Martin Pollack

Construction of Cape Town’s new Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) system on Hertzog Boulevard will prevent vehicles moving between its carriageways where it intersects with Jan Smuts Street/Civic Avenue from 09:00 on Friday 15 January 2010 until Sunday evening, 24 January 2010.

The construction will affect motorists travelling from the CBD, as they will not be able to turn right from Hertzog Boulevard into Civic Avenue or right into Hertzog Boulevard from Civic Avenue. Motorists will also not be able to cross Hertzog Boulevard from Civic Avenue/Jan Smuts Street.

Motorists are therefore advised to use DF Malan Street as an alternative route. Those coming along Civic Avenue cannot turn right and should turn left into Hertzog Boulevard and then right at D F Malan Street. Motorists who would normally have turned right from Jan Smuts Street into Hertzog Boulevard are advised to make a detour towards the Harbour along Jan Smuts Street, then left into Table Bay Boulevard and finally onto DF Malan Street.

Pedestrians will not be able to cross at the Jan Smuts/Civic Avenue intersection but are requested to use the bridge over the Artscape Theatre to access the Civic Centre.

On completion, the IRT vehicles will operate in their own dedicated red lanes along Hertzog Boulevard. The IRT system will provide Capetonians with fast, safe and reliable public transport when it is implemented.

The City apologises to residents for the inconvenience and thanks them for their patience during the construction. The City has tried to reduce the inconvenience by scheduling work over two weekends.

Martin Pollack

Dear All,

Apart from struggling with my health for the past four months, I now have had had extensive personal experiences with an antagonist who has relentlessly attacked me physically, emotionally, financially and publicly. Free internet blogs have been the most damaging venues to me as an entrepreneur; Within 24 hours my future business consulting in fmcg found my antagonist’s libelous web site and withdrew their offer immediately. We offered to pay back monies for services not delivered. We regret many mistakes made, but it does not justify what the family had to endure.

My personal testimony with regard to online libel is mortifying. The allegations that were leveled against me by my antagonist were heinous to say the least and were unfortunately taken seriously by many due to the smoke/fire assumption. My accuser’s anti-social personality is a matter of record with a trail of chaos, destroyed lives, destroyed careers and many serious criminal and civil offenses and yet the allegations were taken seriously by many who were not privy to this history. It will take me years to build my resume and reputation. Naturally anyone considering employing, partnering or contracting with an individual in any substantial way is going to “Google him” (gender inclusive). The first search conducted will probably be the person’s name and the name of his or her most recent business or employer. The efficiency, availability and reach of Google and other search engines has in a few short years permitted a person’s enemy to turn the victim’s greatest vocational asset into a liability; that asset being their resume or CV.

I had mixed emotions of depression, sadness for my children and failure. I have now decided to remember my fighting spirit (leaving behind the endless tears and broken heart), and handed in a libel suit against my perpetrator as below that has added this to TWITTER and will get the site implicated, a court order will be issued to Twitter as well as the person below:

Personal Information
First Name: Saul
Last Name: Kropman
Birthday: February 25 1985 (24 years old)
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Not so single
Your Town: Johannesburg

My Work
Employer’s name: The Digital Edge
What I do there:: I create South Africa\’s best (or rather only) Digital
Marketing Podcast. Many are calling my job “making magic”

My Online Presence
My website: www.thedigitaledge.co.za
My blog: http://saulk.co.za
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/saulkropman

Always
Stephanie Kohler

This post was submitted by Stephanie Kohler.

The City of Cape Town would like to notify people who intend erecting memorial works on their family grave(s) that it is necessary to first obtain a permit from City Parks.

In recent years numerous memorials have been constructed on graves by families who do not obtain official permits. This has resulted in the grave stones being the incorrect width and their being placed on the incorrect grave in some instances. Adjacent graves are also often encroached on, and when the family applies for a permit to erect memorial works, the illegal encroachment has to be removed.

In order to prevent this from happening, the City will in future take stricter control and remove illegal work where necessary.

Permits can be obtained from City Parks’ booking offices, listed below:

• Northern District: 021 550 1052/3
• Southern District: 021 710 9437
• Central District: 021 929 4561/2
• Eastern Cemetery: 021 900 1676/1902/1659

Residents are also reminded of their responsibility to maintain any memorial work they might have on their family grave(s). Family members are urged to visit the grave(s) at least once a year and to take responsibility for any restoration.

Enquiries for re-using graves (to make local burial space available to relatives) can be made at any of the booking offices’ telephone numbers listed above. There is a considerable saving in re-opening a family grave and engraving on an existing memorial, instead of financing a new one.

Martin Pollack

The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service has asked residents and visitors to the city to be extra cautious and vigilant as the risk of fires and rapid fire spread increases dramatically during the summer months.

A combination of high temperatures and strong winds increases the chances of fires over this period, particularly in informal settlements, where residents often lack electricity and use primus stoves, wood fires, candles and paraffin lights.

The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre has stepped up its annual Risk Reduction Campaign, which raises awareness of the dangers of fires and how to manage these, especially in informal settlements.

The City has trained 114 seasonal firefighters to join its 800 full-time firefighters at its 28 municipal fire stations over the summer season. They will be used to combat bush and grass fires and will be assigned to district and divisional fire stations in teams of 20.

Seven new fire engines have also been acquired over the past year.

The Fire and Rescue Service has also carried out proactive inspections on high-risk areas such as mountains and the urban fringe, to ensure that fire breaks have been made or maintained.

Chief Fire Officer Ian Schnetler points out that fires occur throughout the year, and the Fire and Rescue Service is geared to deal with fires at any time.

“What is misconstrued as the ‘fire season’ is in fact the summer season of the Western Cape, where there may be a higher risk of vegetation type fires due to climate change, higher temperatures and increased wind speeds, with the possible higher influx of people into the rural and informal areas of the city.”

Schnetler said a high number of fires occur during the latter quarter of January, and in February and March, so comparisons to the numbers of fires during the whole of the summer season can only be made in a few months time.

“The comparisons for this year and December are generally lower, except for the trauma and medical incident rates, which are steadily increasing.”

According to Schnetler, there have already been 73 deaths as a result of informal settlement and formal dwelling unit fires during this year. The majority of these have not been in major conflagrations, but in smaller single dwelling unit fires.

To date, 3 775 individual informal dwelling units have been affected by fires. These range from units in informal settlements, to informal units in the backyards of formal dwellings.

“For the December period, we had fewer vegetation fires, which can be attributed to the late rains and the weather, as well as deployments of our fire patrols and our awareness campaigns, which may be having an impact.”

Schnetler appealed to members of the public to be careful of starting fires, and be vigilant and report fires if they spot them.

“The bottom line is for people just to be sensible where they can with regards to fires, and to report them immediately if they are seen. There is a general tendency when people see fires to think that someone else has reported it, but if they report it quickly, it means we can respond quickly.”

There are also prohibitions in place on the making of fires in the open air across the Western Cape due to the area’s extraordinary fire hazards.

This includes the burning of rubbish or any other material for disposal purposes – this action is illegal

The only exceptions are for fires made within a demarcated picnic or camping area, or caravan park or holiday resort, provided these fires are properly attended to; and fires made for the purpose of preparing food or any other domestic or customary purpose in townships or residential areas. Prior approval must be obtained in writing from the relevant authorities for all other fires.

Report fires to the Emergency Call Centre: 107 from a landline and 021 480 7700 from a cellphone, and provide accurate detail of the address of the fire.

Tips on how to reduce the risk of fires:

• Every home needs at least one exit route which will enable the occupants to escape should a fire break out
• Keep matches, lighters, paraffin and poisons in a safe place that is not accessible to children.
• Keep stoves on a flat surface, away from draughts and anything that could catch fire
• Open fires and stoves should never be left unattended
• Extinguish candles and paraffin lamps before you go to sleep or leave your home
• Smoking in bed is dangerous
• Keep a bucket of water and a bucket of sand ready to extinguish any fires that break out
• If a paraffin stove catches alight, extinguish the flames with sand rather than water
• Turn off the electricity at the mains before trying to extinguish an electric fire
• Use water to extinguish wood, paper and material fires
• Warn people inside the building to escape as quickly as possible
• Help people get out – then stay out
• Keep roads clear so that fire engines can get to the fire quickly
• Keep the area around fire hydrants clear so that firefighters can access the water they need to extinguish the fire
• Call emergency services on 107 on a Telkom line and 021 480 7700 from a cellphone and get help fast! The sooner you phone, the sooner help will arrive
• When you phone, provide a full address and a landmark (shop or school) close to the fire so that fire-fighters can find the fire scene quickly
• Know and show the City’s emergency numbers and teach children how to dial them in emergencies

Martin Pollack