The first of four City Improvement Districts (CIDs) in Cape Town CBD and surrounds were set up in quick succession in the early 2000s. The Central CID got the ball rolling, soon followed by the Green Point CID (GPCID) and six-months later on, 15 January 2002, the Oranje-Kloof CID (OKCID), followed by the Sea Point CID. The GPCID and OKCID have successfully pooled resources and staff, including their CEO Marc Truss, for the past decade.
The first of many questions that people ask is: “What exactly is a CID and what does it do?” Property owners agree upon a geographical defined area in which businesses and residents pay a levy in proportion to their total basic property rates value, through the aid of a formula based on a ‘cent in the rand value’ for supplementary services. This area is then referred to as a CID under a City Council By-Law. A CID is designed to top-up the levels of service that the municipality provides; in no way is it a mechanism to replace the current services that the local authorities already provide or result in a reduction in these services or rates, covering the services of ‘visible policing and street sweeping’ accordingly.
Although still referred to as a CID, the CID acronym has now been replaced with SRA (Special Rating Area) in accordance with the City’s revised Special Rating Area By-Law governing all SRAs.
As one of the pioneering CIDs, the OKCID has set a precedent for this style of top-up services to supplement those provided by the City. Says OKCID CEO Marc Truss, “The OKCID works closely with local authorities and the community to identify where supplementary assistance is required. Services include security, cleansing and marketing. Above and beyond this mandate, the OKCID acts as a coordinated voice that effectively deals with a wide range of issues affecting the area.”
Up until the introduction of the OKCID in 2002, Oranje-Kloof showed serious signs of urban degeneration and distress. Over the past decade there has been a significant reduction in crime and litter, new businesses have moved into the area, upgrades take place regularly and there is a steady stream of both residents and visitors meandering through the streets, enjoying what the area has to offer.
As a testament to this, Arnold Bettendorf, owner of Arnold’s on Kloof Street, says, “The OKCID team is doing a really good job and often goes beyond the call of duty. For example they recently arranged for motorbike bays to be created outside our restaurant. We like the fact that they are highly visible, easily contactable and when there is an issue they sort it out quickly.”
High visibility, effective communication and quick response times are all closely linked, and equally important to a CID. Says OKCID security manager Marius Swanepoel, “We have CID security staff in the area 24 hours a day every day, both in vehicles and on foot patrols, and always in radio contact with each other.” When it comes to communication, the OKCID has covered all bases, with radios, several emergency phone numbers, email addresses for all management staff, an informative website, monthly e-newsletter, Facebook fan page and an interactive Twitter profile. This enables them to respond to crimes, queries and feedback immediately.
Keeping the streets clean and litter-free is also a high priority for the OKCID. This has become a reality in Oranje-Kloof as a result of working with their contracted service provider, Essential Cleansing, supported by Wasteman, in partnership with the City’s Solid Waste department. The regular use of Straatwerk, a non-profit Christian Society, provides additional top-up levels of cleansing when needed. Charles Canning from Cannings Panel Beaters says, “We have seen a massive improvement in levels of cleanliness in the neighbourhood as well as a decrease in petty crime. The visible policing by the OKCID has certainly contributed to this.”
Another element of the OKCID mandate is to make Oranje-Kloof more aesthetically appealing and accessible. The OKCID team has enhanced the area and encouraged urban regeneration by repaving vast sections of the walkways, adding wheelchair ramps, painting road markings and planting trees. The City kindly donate trees, however it still costs the OKCID R1 600 per tree, taking the surrounding paving and labour in to account. Although expensive, the brick paving used is durable and reusable, as sections can be easily lifted to replant trees or replace/ repair underground services such as cables. The finished project is green, gorgeous and cost-effective in the long run.
Local businesses have also contributed towards improving the areas surrounding their buildings, and often split the costs with the OKCID. This support has enabled the OKCID to make as much headway as they have and continue to do in the area. OKCID Manager Mike Reeler says, “We have worked hard to establish strong relationships with businesses and residents in the area as we feel that collaboration is key for us to realise our objectives. The facilitation role that we are able to play between the City and property owners is also valuable to all parties.”
Close working relationships with other entities including SAPS, Law Enforcement, Metro Police, Vetus Schola and the various line departments from the City of Cape Town are also vital to the success of the OKCID. Marc Truss and his team focus on taking a proactive approach, using practical solutions and working with the various role players see them through to fruition.
Says Marc Truss, “We strive to be the City of Cape Town’s leading supplementary service provider to nurture a safe, clean, attractive and accessible business and residential environment. It’s all about juggling and prioritising, yet keeping track at all times of why a CID came into existence.”
