State of Environment Report for
the City of Cape Town
Year 5 (2002)
Acknowledgements
This report was compiled and edited by Craig Haskins with assistance from Lize Jennings
and edited by Keith Wiseman. This report would not have been possible without valuable
contributions from organisations and individuals. The City of Cape Town’s (CCT)
Environmental Management Department therefore gratefully acknowledges the following
organisations and individuals for their assistance and / or contributions to the development of
this report:
Air Quality and Atmosphere Chapter
¦
Air Pollution Control (CCT) – E Filby, H Linde
¦
Scientific Services (CCT) – G Ravenscroft
Inland Waters Chapter
¦
Scientific Services (CCT) – CA Haskins
¦
Water Services (CCT) - G de Swart, M Killick
¦
Catchment Management (CCT) – S Pithey, M Obree
Coastal Waters Chapter
¦
Scientific Services (CCT) – I Thomson
¦
Environmental Management (CCT) – G Oelofse, H Gold
¦
Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning – L Cedras
Health Chapter
¦
Health Services (CCT) – D la Cock, F Dyers, H Mahomed, H Schrader, I Gildenhuys,
R Avenant
Biodiversity Chapter
¦
Environmental Management (CCT) – J Jackson, T Katzschner, P Titmuss, V Ntshinga,
W Isaacs, L Gerrans
¦
Nature Conservation (CCT) – D Ferreira, T Sampson, S Marais, D Gibbs
¦
Cape Peninsula National Park – S Hulbert
¦
Santam Cape Argus Ukuvuka Operation Firestop – R Schlotz, S Fowkes
¦
Table Mountain Fund – Z Parkar-Salie, B Myrdal
¦
Western Cape Nature Conservation Board – A Turner
Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
¦
Housing (CCT) – J Kuhn
¦
Spatial Planning (CCT) – D Shepherd, P van der Spuy, S van Gend, K Sinclair-Smith,
T Kieswetter, G Theron
¦
Strategic Information (CCT) – P Romanovsky
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
i
Infrastructure
¦
Strategic Information (CCT) – P Romanovsky
Transport
¦
Transportation and Traffic (CCT) – C Hugo, J Martheze, C Belford, W Crous,
L Holtzhausen
¦
National Ports Authority – B Cilliers, Z Christians, C Christians
¦
Airports Company of South Africa – B Miller
Energy
¦
Electricity (CCT) – G Munro
¦
Environmental Management (CCT) – O Asmal, E Weinronk
¦
Koeberg Nuclear Power Station – D Thomas
¦
Sustainable Energy Africa – W Engel
Waste
¦
Solid Waste Management (CCT) – C McKinnon, S Haider, A Lindgren, C van Wyk,
S Dittke, P Novella
¦
Fairest Cape Association – B Jenman
Economy
¦
Economic Development (CCT) – R Wolpe, C Wright, J Prinsloo
Education
¦
Environmental Management (CCT) – L Buirski
¦
Western Cape Education Department – F Toefy
Safety and Security
¦
City Police – A Visser
¦
Disaster Management (CCT) – J Minnie
¦
Emergency Services – J Ellis, I Schnetler
Environmental Governance
¦
Environmental Management (CCT) – G Stead, S Davey, D Ferreira, T Katzschner
¦
Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning – D Laidler
Maps (unless otherwise acknowledged)
§
Environmental Management (CCT) – M Spocter
Suggested citation: City of Cape Town (2003). City of Cape Town State of Environment
Report - Year 5 (2002).
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
ii
Foreword
Cape Town is one of the most beautiful and diverse cities in the world. The City of Cape Town
(CCT) aims to ensure that these qualities are enhanced for present and future generations
and that residents live in a safe, healthy and caring city.
For this reason the City of Cape Town has the vision of establishing Cape Town as a
Sustainable City. The City of Cape Town is committed to sustainable development and to
achieve this, we must monitor our progress, assess the environment in its broadest terms and
report on changes that are taking place. However, following five years of State of
Environment (SoE) reporting on some successes, it appears that overall we are moving away
from the City’s vision of a Sustainable City. Continued high levels of consumption and the
desire to feed our growing economy have created escalating demands on our resources.
These demands negatively impact the natural environment, our communities and the quality
of our lives.
The information presented in this State of the Environment (SoE) Report has been gathered
from a variety of organisations, researchers and scientists to enable us to identify trends and
emergent patterns and to assess management responses to changes in our environment
during 2002 - the year of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). The value
of the SoE report lies in the fact that it informs decision-makers, interested parties and the
public on the most fundamental environmental issues in an accessible way. It aims to
stimulate debate and to raise awareness on important environmental and developmental
issues.
This report is designed to help us address the root causes of problems rather than only the
symptoms of those problems, and to provide a basis for evaluating the long term rather than
the short term impacts of our decisions – in short, to help us think about the future when we
are making decisions about the present.
We urge you to use the report, seek additional information for subsequent SoE reports and
become more involved in ensuring a sustainable future for Cape Town and all her people.
Dr W. Mgoqi
City Manager
City of Cape Town
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
iii
Executive Summary
Theme
Improved /
Comment
1. Air Quality and
Atmosphere
(Page 8)
Declined
Year 2002 experienced fewer air pollution events
than the previous two years. Particulate matter
J
(PM10) levels increased, especially in Khayelitsha,
L
and this remains a critical concern for health.
Overall the situation regarding inland waters has
2. Inland Waters
improved with less toxic algal blooms and lower
J
(Page 23)
water demand. Water supply, however, remains at
L
80% of households served.
Coastal bathing waters on both Atlantic and False
Bay coasts show an improvement in water quality
3. Coastal Waters
in summer months. The marine component
J
(Page 40)
remains in a critical state in terms of over
L
exploitation of abolone and 10 endemic species of
line fish.
A 14% increase in the number of Tuberculosis
cases, 4% increase in Meningitis deaths and an
4. Health
increase in HIV antenatal prevalence (8.6% in
(Page 51)
L
L
2001 and 12.4% in 2002) present challenges for
the health of City residents.
Cape Town’s unique biodiversity remains under
5. Biodiversity
(Page 71)
significant threat owing to urban expansion.
However an increase in resources, better focus
and a number of partnership projects are starting
J
L
to deliver.
6. Urbanisation,
Urban Form and
Housing
The housing backlog remained at 245 000
households.
The
absence
of
an
integrated
strategy for the provision of housing and shelter
L
L
as well as delays with implementation affected
(Page 88)
service delivery in this sector.
With the exception of refuse removal the latest
data suggest that service delivery has slowed
7. Infrastructure
(Page 102)
during
the
past
year.
Local
government
restructuring and declining capital budgets are
affecting service delivery
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
L
L
iv
Theme
Improved /
Comment
Declined
Lack of investment and fragmentation of authority
in transport remains detrimental to the transport
8. Transport
(Page 107)
system. Inadequate and unsafe public transport,
L
increasing road congestion and a poor road traffic
safety record (e.g. 601 pedestrian deaths costing
in excess of R 2.5 billion) continue to limit efficient
L
access to opportunities.
The City of Cape Town has initiated an Energy
Strategy involving local and international partners.
Renewable energy remains low on the agenda
9. Energy
and the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor EIA process
(Page 125)
was
completed
in
2002.
Provision
of
free
J
L
electricity was increased from 20 to 30 kWh per
month.
A 7% increase in the amount of waste landfilled to
6 000 tonnes / day and the urgent need for a new
10. Waste
regional landfill site suggest that waste remains a
(Page 137)
priority issue (Approximately 55% of waste is from
L
L
households / residents and 30% from commerce
and industry).
11. Economy
(Page 158)
The City’s economy grew 4.1% during 2002 and
this was the first year (in five) that unemployment
did not increase.
Education statistics reveal a stable picture from
J
J
12. Education
the previous year, although more than 50% of
J
(Page 171)
learners starting in Grade 1 do not finish Grade
L
12.
13. Safety and
The absence of crime statistics remains a
Security
problem. There are, however, many City initiatives
(Page 177)
that are promoting a safe and caring City.
14. Environmental
Governance
(Page 184)
The City of Cape Town participated in the World
J
L
Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).
J
However, critical shortages of capacity exist,
L
especially for enforcement and monitoring.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
v
Abbreviations
ACSA
Airports Company of South Africa
BCA
Blaauwberg Conservation Area
CAPE
Cape Action for People and the Environment
CBD
Central Business District
CBOs
Community-based organisations
CCT
City of Cape Town - refers to the current administration
CMCWQC
Cape Metropolitan Coastal Water Quality Committee
CMOSS
Cape Metropolitan Open Space System
CPNP
Cape Peninsula National Park
DEAT
National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
DWAF
National Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment
IMEMS
Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Management System
IDP
Integrated Development Planning
MPA
Marine Protected Area
MSDF
Metropolitan Spatial Development Framework
MTA
Metropolitan Transport Authority
NBI
National Botanical Institute
NGOs
Non-government organisations
NO2
Nitrogen Dioxide
NOx
Nitrogen Oxides
O3
Ozone
PAWC
Provincial Administration of the Western Cape
Pb
Lead
PBMR
Pebble Bed Modular Reactor
PM10
Particulate Matter
PNE
Protected Natural Environment
SAPS
South African Police Services
SANP
South African National Parks
SO2
Sulphur Dioxide
SMME
Small, medium and micro-enterprise
WCNCB
Western Cape Nature Conservation Board
WSSD
World Summit on Sustainable Development
WWF
World Wide Fund for Nature
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
vi
Contents
Acknowledgements
i
Foreword
iii
Executive Summary Table
iv
Abbreviations
vi
Table of Contents
vii
List of Figures
viii
List of Tables
x
List of Appendices
xi
Context
Introduction
1
The City of Cape Town
2
State of Environment link to Policy
5
Themes
1. Air Quality
8
2. Inland Waters
23
3. Coastal Waters
40
4. Health
51
5. Biodiversity
71
6. Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
88
7. Infrastructure
102
8. Transport
107
9. Energy
125
10. Waste
137
11. Economy
158
12. Education
171
13. Safety and Security
177
14. Environmental Governance
184
Closure
15. Conclusion
194
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
vii
List of Figures
Figure 1: Map of the City of Cape Town (CCT)
3
Figure 1.1: Air Quality Monitoring Points in Cape Town
9
Figure 1.2: Average annual NO2 concentrations at two sites in Cape Town
10
Figure 1.3: Average annual SO2 concentrations at two sites in Cape Town
10
Figure 1.4: Average annual particulate matter levels at three sites in Cape Town
11
Figure 1.5: Average annual ozone levels at two sites in Cape Town
11
Figure 1.6: Average annual lead levels at two sites in Cape Town
12
Figure 1.7: Annual number of NO2 exceedances at two sites in Cape Town
15
Figure 1.8: Annual number of PM10 exceedances at three sites in Cape Town
15
Figure 1.9: Annual number of SO2 exceedances at three sites in Cape Town
16
Figure 1.10: Annual number of O3 exceedances at two sites in Cape Town
17
Figure 1.11: Annual number of air pollution events in Cape Town
17
Figure 1.12: Annual number of air pollution complaints and notices in Cape Town 18
Figure 1.13: Annual number of poor visibility days – Goodwood
18
Figure 1.14: Annual number of poor visibility days – City Centre
19
Figure 1.15: Greenhouse gas emissions by sector for City of Cape Town
operations
21
Figure 2.1: Geographic Drainage Catchments Cape Town
24
Figure 2.2: Blue Green Blooms. Occurrence of ‘blue-green algae’ bloom and the
percentage of these within which toxins were detected
27
Figure 2.3: Bacteriological Quality. Percentage of river and vlei samples
complying with the DWAF guidelines for intermediate contact recreation (1)
29
Figure 2.4: Bacteriological Quality. Percentage of river and vlei samples
complying with the DWAF guidelines for intermediate contact recreation (2)
30
Figure 2.5: Percentage of households with piped water in the dwelling
35
Figure 2.6: Percentage of full supply capacity dams supplying Cape Town
36
Figure 2.7: Percentage of full supply capacity of the five major dams supplying
Cape Town
36
Figure 3.1: Coastal Monitoring Points along Cape Town’s coastline
46
Figure 3.2: Compliance levels with DWAF Guideline Figures for Water Quality
for the False Bay coast (faecal coliforms / 100ml))
48
Figure 3.3: Compliance levels with DWAF Guideline Figures for Water Quality
for the Atlantic Coast (faecal coliforms / 100ml)
48
Figure 4.1: Annual number of Meningitis cases and deaths in Cape Town
58
Figure 4.2: Annual number of Tuberculosis cases and deaths in Cape Town
58
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
viii
Figure 4.3: Bulk and Pasteurised milk exceeding the standard of coliform
bacteria (percentage non-compliance)
67
Figure 5.1: Map of Protected Areas in Cape Town
72
Figure 6.1: Housing backlog (no. of units) in Cape Town
89
Figure 6.2: Building Statistics by Administrative area for new buildings and
renovations in Cape Town (2002)
94
Figure 7.1: Percentage of households with refuse removal services
103
Figure 7.2: Percentage of households with on-site waterborne sanitation
103
Figure 7.3: Percentage of households with piped water in the dwelling
104
Figure 8.1: Annual number of crime incidents on Metrorail property
112
Figure 8.2: Annual number of international flights to Cape Town airport
116
Figure 8.3: Annual number of domestic flights to Cape Town airport
116
Figure 8.4: Annual number of international visitors to Cape Town airport
117
Figure 8.5: Annual number of domestic visitors departing from Cape Town
airport
118
Figure 8.6: Total number of accidents in Cape Town
120
Figure 8.7: Total number of fatalities in Cape Town
121
Figure 8.8: Total number of pedestrian casualties in Cape Town
122
Figure 9.1: Households receiving electricity in Cape Town
126
Figure 9.2: Amount of Radioactive waste generated in drums/annum by
Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (KPNS)
129
Figure 10.1: Annual amounts of solid waste received at landfills in Cape Town
137
Figure 10.2: Composition of waste going to landfill in Cape Town
139
Figure 10.3: Integrated Waste Management Strategy and related projects
within the City of Cape Town
140
Figure 10.4: Location of Landfill Sites and Transfer Stations in the City of
Cape Town
151
Figure 10.5: Waste Disposal Tariffs in the City of Cape Town
152
Figure 10.6: Amount of Radioactive waste generated in drums / annum by
Koeberg Nuclear Power Station
153
Figure 10.7: Medical waste incinerated (tonnes per annum) in Cape Town
156
Figure 11.1: Unemployment figures for Cape Town
163
Figure 13.1: Crime rates (per 100 000 of population) in Cape Town
177
Figure 14.1: Environmental Management staff in Cape Town
185
Figure 14.2: Nature Conservation staff and annual budget -City of Cape Town
185
Figure 14.3: Annual number of scoping reports processed by Provincial
Government
186
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
ix
List of Tables
Table 1.1: Guidelines used for atmospheric pollutants
14
Table 2.1: Summary of the occurrence of Cyanophyceae (“blue-green algae”)
Blooms in the City of Cape Town’s inland water bodies (1999-2002)
25
Table 2.2: Activities and status of a number of Cape Town vleis
31
Table 3.1: Percentage of bathing areas on the False Bay Coast complying
with the 80th percentile guideline for the period October to March
47
Table 3.2: Percentage of bathing areas on the Atlantic Coast complying
with the 80th percentile guideline for the period October to March
47
Table 3.3: Change in heavy metal concentrations in mussels
(May 1999 – May 2000)
48
Table 4.1: Infant Mortality Rate per 1 000 live births in Cape Town
57
Table 4.2: TB cases and incidence rates in Cape Town during 2001 and 2002
59
Table 4.3: HIV prevalence as per antenatal survey (percentage of
total population)
60
Table 4.4: HIV prevalence by Health Sub district, based on Antenatal Results
61
Table 4.5: Estimated HIV cases by Health Sub district in Cape Town
62
Table 4.6: Teenage Births by Health Sub district in Cape Town
63
Table 4.7: Monitoring results for prepared food samples analysed within
Cape Town between 1999 and 2002
68
Table 5.1: Protected areas under the jurisdiction of the City of Cape Town
73
Table 5.2: Number of children exposed to Environmental Education through
nature areas between 1999 and 2003
74
Table 5.3: Game counts for the Cape Peninsula National Park
84
Table 6.1: Building statistics - Constructions completed during 2002
93
Table 7.1: Operating and Capital budgets for Wastewater and Cleansing in the
City of Cape Town
104
Table 8.1: Light motor vehicles entering and leaving Cape Town CBD
over 12 hr period (7:00 to 19:00)
108
Table 8.2: Commuters per public transport mode (AM peak period)
111
Table 8.3: Bus and Rail subsidies 1990 – 2002 (in million Rands)
111
Table 8.4: Key data for Port of Cape Town business operations
115
Table 8.5: Percentage of causalities and fatalities involving pedestrians
121
Table 9.1: Cost of electricity (in cents/kWh) in the City of Cape Town
131
Table 10.1: Waste tonnes landfilled by the City of Cape Town between 1998
and 2002
138
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
x
Table 10.2: Waste related complaints by administrative area in Cape Town
143
Table 10.3: Area cleansing in Cape Town
144
Table 11.1: Proportion of the labour force in different skills categories in
Cape Town (1996 – 2002)
160
Table 11.2: City Of Cape Town: Goods Trade Balance (1996-2002)
161
Table 11.3: Cape Town: Projected Economic Growth and Labour Force
164
Scenarios
Table 11.4: City of Cape Town: Employment and Unemployment Levels
(1997 – 2002)
164
Table 11.5: Cape Town Gross Geographic Product and Jobs (formal and
informal) by sector: 1980 - 2002
165
Table 12.1: Number of Educators within each Type of School in Cape Town
172
Table 12.2: Enrolment Numbers at Schools during 2002 in Cape Town
172
Table 13.1: Distribution of SAPS personnel in Cape Town in 2001
178
Table 13.2: Number of Incoming Calls Received by the City of Cape Town’s
Public Emergency Communications Centre in 2002
178
Table 13.3: The number of Structural and special service calls received by the
City of Cape Town’s Fire and Emergency Services in 2002
179
Table 13.4: Summary of incidents responded to be Disaster Management in
2002
180
Table 13.5: Public Education and Awareness Programs run by the City of
Cape Town’s Public Emergency Communications Centre in 2002
182
Table 13.6: Fire Safety Activities involving the City of Cape Town’s Fire and
Emergency Services Department in 2002
182
List of Appendices
Appendix 1: Summary of measurable targets of the WSSD plan of
implementation and implications for local government
195
Appendix 2: A User Needs Assessment of the State of Environment Report
for the City of Cape Town – L. Jennings
208
Appendix 3: The impact of State of Environment Reporting on decision-making
in the City of Cape Town – N. Sipilanyambe
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
211
xi
Introduction
International Context
The year 2002 was particularly important for South African in sustainability terms.
South Africa played host to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
in Johannesburg (26th August to 4 September 2002). 108 countries were officially
represented at the summit, 105 of them by their heads of state. At least 500 parallel
events took place in Johannesburg and around the country and it is estimated that
the total number of international delegates attending numbered over 37 000.
Much progress in world agendas was made and many partnerships were forged in
the lead up to the WSSD. The test remains in turning the Summit commitments into
action. Some advances in this direction include agreeing to goals and targets. For
example the United Nations created a framework of eight Millennium Development
Goals, along with 18 targets and 48 indicators for the 189 UN Member States to
achieve by 2015 (http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/index.html). The Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation details a summary of measurable targets of the WSSD plan
of implementation and implications for local government (See Appendix 1 for more
information).
National and Legal Context
In South Africa, reporting on the state of the environment is a statutory requirement in
terms of the Environmental Conservation Act (Act No. 73 of 1989, Section 13(e)) and
will be stipulated in the amended National Environmental Management Act (Act No.
107 of 1998) due in 2004. The National Environmental Management Act states that
every person as well as organs of state are entitled to have access to information
held by the State on the state of the environment and actual and future threats to the
environment (Section 31(1)). Access to environmental information at a national,
provincial and local level is essential to upholding these rights.
Local Context
This is the Fifth Annual State of the Environment (SoE) Report for Cape Town. Last
year’s report, and its accompanying Summary, featured prominently in Cape Town’s
contribution to the WSSD.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
1
This report, in many respects like the WSSD, is designed to help us address the root
causes of problems rather than the symptoms of those problems, and to provide a
basis for evaluating the long term rather than the short term impacts of our decisions
– in short, to help us think about the future when we are making decisions about the
present. In addition, SoE reporting is an important tool for Cape Town’s Integrated
Metropolitan Environmental Policy (IMEP) as it helps to measure the progress of
policy implementation as well as the success of the policy in effecting change. SoE
reporting will continue to inform and update IMEP and its implementation strategy.
This report aims to:
•
Update the issues, indicators and other information in the annual SoE Report for
Cape Town.
•
Demonstrate and explain tendencies and trends in the data.
•
Report on progress or lack of progress of current responses and policies to the
issues and trends identified in the SoE.
The City of Cape Town
The City of Cape Town (CCT) (see map on page 2) is the local authority which
provides essential municipal services to the people of Cape Town. The City of Cape
Town was established in December 2000 by the merging of the previous Cape
Metropolitan Council and six Metropolitan Local Councils: Tygerberg, Oostenberg,
Blaauwberg, South Peninsula, Helderberg and Cape Town.
Located in a scenic, cultural and floristically unique part of South Africa, Cape Town
is the southernmost metropolitan area on the African continent and covers an area of
2 487 km2. With its Atlantic Ocean and mountain boundaries, Cape Town comprises
a valuable and rich mix of cultural and natural resources. These support the
flourishing tourism industry, which in turn stimulates the City’s economy and helps to
create jobs and alleviate poverty.
There are, however, many environmental, social and economic challenges facing this
area such as unemployment, growing informalisation, urban sprawl, increase in HIV
prevalence and increasing crime. These are largely the result of the young and
growing population of 3.15 million people and their need for infrastructure, services,
jobs, housing, transport and education.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
2
Figure 1. Map of the City of Cape Town
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
3
Political Context
During November 2002 the City’s new executive political leadership intensively
assessed the City’s challenges and management responses.
These sessions culminated in a medium and longer-term strategic direction for the
City, as well as immediate strategic focus areas for the period leading up to local
government elections in 2005.
The vision is to establish Cape Town as:
•
A sustainable city
•
A dignified city
•
An accessible city
•
A credible city
•
A competent city
•
A safe and caring city
•
A prosperous city known for its ability to compete in the world of the 21st
century and its commitment to the challenges facing South Africa, the
Southern African Development Region and the African continent.
Some of the medium term objectives relating to a sustainable city include:
•
To introduce monitoring and review systems that assesses both intended and
unintended outcomes of decisions and their impact on generations to come
•
To establish monitoring and review systems that assesses the environmental
impact of city decisions and actions and proactively guides decision-makers
in respect of environmental sustainability
The medium term objectives represent a comprehensive and ambitious agenda.
There are ten strategic focus areas, which address critical issues to be focused on
over the short term:
1. Accountable governance for all
2. A competent accessible administration for all
3. Financial sustainability
4. Services for all
5. Shelter for all
6. Dignified, self-reliant and vibrant communities throughout the City
7. Opportunity for all
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
4
8. A Healthy City
9. A Safe City
10. One City, One Future
More detail on the City of Cape Town’s Strategic Direction for 2003 and beyond is
available at www.capetown.gov.za under Vision, Mission and Values.
“Growing the economy lies at the heart of addressing our developmental challenges.
We will, however, not build and maintain our economy as long as we destroy our
natural environment, or as long as its resources and enjoyment remain the privilege
of the wealthy and our visitors. We will also not build and maintain our economy, nor
address poverty and the ills of spatial segregation, without an efficient and reliable
public transport systems. Our people will remain trapped in space, and are further
impoverished through the monetary and social implications of not being able to
access the opportunities that the City offers. It is our good fortune that visitors stream
to our shores. Yet, we need to be aware that investments such as the Convention
Centre and the spending power of tourists can bring a false sense of well-being. We
fully support these initiatives, but it will come to nothing unless we promote jobs and
local economic development, including developmental tourism with equal vigour.”
(Our City, Our Pride – The Plan for Cape Town 2003-2005, 31 July 2003).
State of the Environment (SoE) link to Policy
Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy (IMEP)
The City of Cape Town adopted IMEP and its implementation strategy (IMEMS) on
31 October 2001. The City of Cape Town now, for the first time, has a bold and clear
environmental policy.
The City’s political and administrative leadership have
committed themselves to the implementation of IMEP. This is reflected in the
approval of IMEP as an overall strategic policy applicable to the municipality as a
whole, and by the signing of the IMEP pledge by the City’s leadership.
IMEP addresses key environmental issues and sets out the City of Cape Town’s
commitment to improving Cape Town’s environment. IMEP is a living policy that is
capable of producing real deliverables and the City of Cape Town has prioritised six
IMEP strategies for implementation.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
5
The six priority IMEP strategies are:
•
Air pollution
•
Biodiversity
•
Coastal zone
•
Litter and illegal dumping
•
Quality open space — especially in disadvantaged areas
•
Noise pollution
During 2002 two addition strategies were initiated - Environmental Education and
Energy.
SoE reporting remains an important part of IMEP and will continue to inform and
update IMEP, and IMEP’s priority strategies. For more information, please visit:
www.capetown.gov.za/imep
Policy Review and Implementation
Monitoring and review are two essential parts of the policy process and the
environmental management strategy for the City of Cape Town. This ensures that the
policy and strategies that have been put into place to address environmental issues
are being effected on the ground. Monitoring and review can be achieved only by the
City of Cape Town measuring the change in the environment — both good and bad
— over time.
There are 14 themes, ranging from air quality and education to environmental
governance, within the State of the Environment (SoE) report. Reporting on the
implementation of IMEP and its strategies is thus an integral part of SoE reporting.
The IMEP year 2020 vision for the City of Cape Town has been included under each
theme. The IMEP vision statements serve as goals to aim for by 2020. The gap
between now (2003) and then (2020) needs to be addressed through strategy and
targets and continuous improvement. The progress in each theme is assessed on the
basis of new information that is collected every year. The information is presented via
indicators. The current state of the environment is compared to that of the previous
year, which also makes it possible to identify trends.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
6
Challenges and Way Forward
Many CCT Departments still haven’t developed and committed to specific
(sustainability) targets and there are no clear actions plans on how to attain the
targets. Restructuring and declining budgets (in real terms) have negatively impacted
on service delivery.
Cape Town’s economy and the activities of its residents, businesses and visitors
continue to negatively impact human health and the environment. In addition our
community is still not providing for the basic needs of all its members.
Many challenges therefore remain and it is the intention of this report to raise the
issues with decision-makers and the citizens of Cape Town in the hope of instituting
a more concerted effort to improve the quality of life and environment for all
Capetonians.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
7
Air Quality and Atmosphere
1 AIR QUALITY AND ATMOSPHERE
Outdoor air quality remains a key issue in Cape Town, largely because of the visible
air pollution, particularly prevalent in winter (known as the ‘brown haze’). The most
important air pollutants (such as SO2, NO2, particulate matter and heavy metals)
result from combustion processes in industry, services, utilities, agriculture, transport
and homes. Alone and in combination these pollutants are associated with adverse
effects on human health, the local environment as well as global climate change.
The issues are:
1.1
Frequency and Intensity of Air Pollution Events
1.2
Potential for Health Risks and Effects due to Air Pollution
1.3
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
IMEP’s Vision for Cape Town (2020):
The environmental quality will have improved in terms of air, water land and sea.
1.1
Frequency and Intensity of Air Pollution Events
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
The air pollution indicators in the following paragraphs show an improvement in air
quality over the past year.
Annual average levels for key atmospheric pollutants
Although there are nine monitoring sites (Figure 1.1, overleaf) throughout Cape Town
there are only long-term data for two of these sites, namely the City Centre and
Goodwood. The levels of the pollutants are discussed below.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
8
Air Quality and Atmosphere
Figure 1.1 Air Quality Monitoring Points in Cape Town
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
9
Air Quality and Atmosphere
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
The long term annual trend (average values for the year) for NO2 (figure 1.2)
suggests a decrease in pollution levels at both sites (City Centre and Goodwood),
although levels in the City Centre increased during the past year.
Figure 1.2 Average annual NO2 concentrations at two sites in Cape Town
(* indicates no data available. No current annual U.K. Guideline for NO2)
C ity C e n tre
Goodwood
100
NO2 - µg/m3
80
60
40
20
0
*
1990
*
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
The trend for SO2 (Figure 1.3) mirrors that of nitrogen with decreasing average
annual levels. SO2 concentrations have decreased in the City Centre and Goodwood
over the past year.
Figure 1.3 Average annual SO2 concentrations at two sites in Cape Town
(* indicates no data available U.K. guidelines – Annual mean: 20µ/m3)
C ity C e n tre
Goodwood
50
SO2 - µg/m3
40
30
20
10
0
*
1990
*
*
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
*
1996
*
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
10
Air Quality and Atmosphere
Particulate matter (PM10)
The particulate levels in Khayelitsha in 2002 are the highest on record. The levels in
the City Centre have also increased. The levels in the City Centre are half the levels
seen in Khayelitsha. This is a cause for concern as the health, visual (brown haze)
and natural environmental impacts of particulates can be particularly severe,
especially where a large and economically vulnerable portion of the population live.
Figure 1.4 Average annual particulate matter levels at three sites in Cape Town
(* indicates no data available. No current annual U.K. guidelines for PM10)
C ity C e n tre
Goodwood
K h a y e lits h a
60
PM10 - µg/m3
50
40
30
20
10
*
0
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
Ozone (O3)
The ozone concentrations for the City Centre have increased while the levels at
Goodwood have decreased relative to the previous year (Figure 1.5). The 2000
levels at the City Centre remain the highest on record.
Figure 1.5 Average annual ozone levels at two sites in Cape Town
(* indicates no data available. No current annual U.K. Guideline for O3)
C ity C e n t r e
Goodwood
50
OZONE - µg/m3
40
30
20
10
*
0
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
*
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
11
Air Quality and Atmosphere
Lead
There were no data for lead levels in 2002 due to instrumentation failure. This data
should be available during 2003 when the samples are analysed.
Figure 1.6 Average annual lead levels at two sites in Cape Town
(* indicates no data available. U.K. Guideline – Annual mean: 0.25µg/m3)
C ity C e n tre
Goodwood
LEAD - µg/m3
0 .6
0 .4
0 .2
0
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
Year
2000
2001
*
2002
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
•
National Air Pollution Control Legislation: Progress has been made with the long
awaited Environmental Law Reform process by the Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism, following pressure from local government and NGOs. The
draft Bill is expected to be out for comment early in 2003.
•
The City’s Air Pollution Strategy will lead to the development and implementation
of an Air Quality Management Plan for the CCT. A Situation Assessment of Air
Pollution in the CCT was completed in June 2002.
This report provided an
analysis and recommendations on the way forward for an air pollution strategy.
The Air Quality Situation Assessment Report included a baseline assessment of
priority air quality pollutants and their impacts. Current and future legislation,
including the Draft Air Pollution By-law for the CCT were reviewed as well as
existing and future institutional and organisational requirements for air pollution
control and monitoring.
In the next phase, relevant line functions and
stakeholders, such as Housing and Transportation as well as industry and the
public, would be involved in the development of the strategy and identification of
air quality management programmes. However, progress on these tasks was
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
12
Air Quality and Atmosphere
slow during the year due to demands of the restructuring process, participation in
the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and other capacity
shortages. Nevertheless, a draft process document detailing the approach to
involve stakeholders and initiating strategic projects has been completed.
•
Air Pollution Control By-law: A two-phase approach has been proposed to
promulgate by-laws to control air pollution in the CCT area. The first phase, the
promulgation of the Draft Air Pollution Control By-law for the City of Cape Town,
has been through an extensive public participation process during 2002 and the
By-law will be promulgated in 2003.
•
Diesel Vehicle Emission Testing: The City’s diesel vehicle emissions testing
programme has been very successful since it’s inception in 2000.
The free
acceleration test, using a Hartridge Smoke Meter is used to test the exhaust gas
emissions. Readings above 60 Hartridge Smoke Units are deemed a failure.
There has been a steady decline in the failure rate, that is vehicles failing the
prescribed test, since inception. The failure rate, an indication of the successes
of the programme, has decreased steadily from 11% in 2001 to 9% in 2002. It
should be noted that the regulations in terms of the Atmospheric Pollution
Prevention Act excluded the testing of turbo charged vehicles. In terms of the
City of Cape Town Air Pollution Control By-law turbo charged vehicles will also
be tested. The number of vehicles tested in the period 1 January 2002 to 31
December 2002 was 2 557 compared to 2 514 in 2001.
•
Monitoring: Bellville South Environmental Forum (BELSEF): In order to make
industrialists
more
aware
of
air
pollution
related
problems
and
their
responsibilities to surrounding communities and the environment, an industrial
forum aptly named BELSEF was established in May 2000. This forum has dealt
with various problems and initiated a number of projects to deal with these
problems. The most recent project is the purchasing and commissioning of an air
pollution monitoring station in the area. The purpose is to assess the air quality
in the Bellville South industrial area and make recommendations to improve it.
Through the generous financial contribution of the local industries a monitoring
station will be purchased at a cost of ± R350 000. Initially the monitoring station
will be equipped to monitor pollutants such as sulphur dioxide (SO2) and
particulate matter (PM10).
The siting of the monitor will be determined by
dispersion modelling and in consultation with the community. The station will
augment the current monitoring network of the CCT.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
13
Air Quality and Atmosphere
1.2
Potential for Health Risks and Effects due to Air Pollution
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Health risks are measured in terms of international standards (United Kingdom,
Australia and World Health Organisation – Table 1.1), with exceedances of these
standards presented in the following figures. Exceedances are presented as number
of days per annum that the guidelines were exceeded. The short-term trends for
exceedances illustrate increasing compliance for NO2, SO2 and ozone however
particulate matter exceedances increased.
Of the pollutants, particulate matter
poses the most serious health risk as it can penetrate deep into the lungs and has
been linked to respiratory problems and cancer. In addition there are associated
negative effects in terms of visible air pollution (brown haze) over Cape Town,
particularly during winter.
Table 1.1 Guidelines used for atmospheric pollutants
Pollutant
Guideline
Nitrogen dioxide
World Health Organisation, UK
3
World Health Organisation, UK, SA
200 µg/m – hourly mean
125 µg/ m – 24 hour mean
Sulphur dioxide
3
120 µg/ m – 8 hour running mean
Ozone
3
0.5 µg/ m – annual mean
Lead
3
50 µg/ m – 24 hour running mean
Particulates
Organisation
3
World Health Organisation
World Health Organisation, UK
United Kingdom
(sub 10 microns)
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
The latest data suggests no change in the number of exceedances (i.e. noncompliance) at the City Centre but Goodwood improved on the previous year with
zero exceedances of the guidelines in terms of NO2 (Figure 1.7).
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
14
Air Quality and Atmosphere
Figure 1.7 Annual number of 1-hour mean NO2 exceedances at two sites in Cape
Town (* indicates no data available)
C ity C e n tre
Goodwood
Number of exceedances
60
40
20
*
0
1990
*
1991
*
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
*
2000
2001
2002
Year
Particulate matter (PM10, soot and dust)
Particulate matter levels have increased significantly at all three sites during the past
three years (Figure 1.8). This is concerning given the serious health implications
associated with particulate matter as well as the climate change implications.
Particulate matter is recognised as an important contributor of greenhouse gas
emissions, accounting for 15% to 30% of global warning potential. There were no
data available for the Khayelitsha site during 2001 due to instrument failure.
Figure 1.8 Annual number of PM10 24-hour exceedances at three sites in Cape Town
(* indicates no data available)
C ity C e n tre
Goodwood
K h a y e lits h a
Number of exceedances
100
75
50
25
*
0
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
15
Air Quality and Atmosphere
Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
The exceedances for sulphur dioxide are an order of magnitude lower than other
forms of air pollution except in areas close to significant industrial sources. There
are, however, no clear long-term trends from the data available (Figure 1.9). In 2001
and 2002 no exceedences at any of the three sites were experienced in terms of
SO2.
Figure 1.9 Annual number of 24-hour SO2 exceedances at three sites in Cape Town
(* indicates no data available)
City Centre
Goodwood
Tableview
Number of exceedances
10
8
6
4
2
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
0
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
Ozone (O3)
Ground level ozone is the main component in photochemical smog and causes
breathing problems, aggravates asthma and increases the severity and incidence of
respiratory infections.
Ozone exceedances, relative to the United Kingdom
guidelines, are relative low in number (Figure 1.10). Exceedances at the City Centre
and Goodwood have shown a steady decrease during the past three years.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
16
Air Quality and Atmosphere
Figure 1.10 Annual number of 8-hour O3 exceedances at two sites in Cape Town
City Centre
Goodwood
Number of exceedances
20
15
10
5
*
*
*
0
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
Air pollution events
The annual number of air pollution events / episodes (number of days that a
monitoring guideline was exceeded) has decreased steadily between 1999 and 2002.
This measure gives the impression that air pollution is decreasing and certainly the
number of events is down. Unfortunately the nature of the events (i.e. exceedance
values) is deteriorating. In other words less events, but more toxic in nature (Refer to
section 1.1).
Figure 1.11 Annual number of air pollution events in Cape Town
Number of days on which episodes occurred
Data for City C e n t r e a n d G o o d w o o d - O 3 , O M - 1 0 , N O 2
100
80
62
58
60
47
50
49
45
2000
2001
2002
38
40
27
20
0
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
Year
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
17
Air Quality and Atmosphere
Complaints, notices and prosecutions
The data for 2002 (221 complaints and 33 notices served) reflect an increasing trend
for complaints but a decreasing trend for the number of notices served (Figure 1.12).
There were seven successful prosecutions in 2002, which is an increase from last
year, where no prosecutions were required as the warning notices were adequate.
Figure 1.12 Annual number of air pollution complaints and notices in Cape Town
C o m p laints
N o tices Served
350
303
300
258
Number
250
221
200
174
141
150
100
78
70
55
55
33
50
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
Poor Visibility Days
The indicator gives a breakdown of the number of days on which air pollution
episodes causes “poor” visibility.
Overall the data (1999 – 2002) suggests an
improvement in visibility. This is corroborated by data in earlier sections (e.g. section
1.1).
Figure 1.13 Annual number of poor visibility days – Goodwood
AM
PM
TOTAL EITHER
TOTAL BOTH
200
DAYS/YEAR
150
100
50
0
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
18
Air Quality and Atmosphere
Of interest in that the Goodwood site had more “poor” visibility days per annum
(Figures 1.13 and 1.14) than the City Centre (also refer Figure 1.8). In this case the
recent trend suggests an increase across all categories for 2002 in the City in
support of the increase in exceedance figures in section 1.1. Because visibility is
affected by particulate matter levels and photochemical smog it is not surprising with
lower exceedances during 2000 (See Figures 1.7, 1.8 and 1.10) that poor visibility
days are reduced.
Figure 1.14 Annual number of poor visibility days – City Centre
AM
PM
TOTAL EITHER
TOTAL BOTH
200
DAYS/YEAR
150
100
50
0
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses were underway in 2002:
•
Air Pollution Control By-law for the City of Cape Town – Refer to Chapter 1.1
•
An Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy (IMEP) Air Pollution Strategy –
Refer to Chapter 1.1
•
Air Quality Situation Assessment and Management Plan: An Air Quality
Management Plan for the City is currently underway – Refer to Chapter 1.1
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
19
Air Quality and Atmosphere
1.3 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Significant progress was made during 2002 with the Cities for Climate Protection
(CCP) Campaign and the SouthSouthNorth (SSN) Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM). These are two capacity building initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions from Council operations. South Africa ratified the Kyoto Protocol
(http://unfccc.int/) in March 2002.
Tonnage of emissions in Cape Town
Total emissions in Cape Town (2000/1) amounted to 16 911 924 tonnes of CO2
equivalents – approximately 5.8t CO2 eq per capita (2000/1). For comparison South
Africa averages 6.9t CO2 eq per capita, Libya 7.34, Egypt 1.7 and the DRC 0.04t CO2
eq per capita. In more developed countries the emissions are higher - Australia
produced 27.6t CO2 eq per capita, America produced 21.1t CO2 eq per capita and
Canada produced 18.3t CO2 eq per capita in 2000.
Cape Town’s emissions amounted to 16 911 924 tonnes of CO2 equivalents
(2000/1), mostly as a result of fuel use by the transport sector (Figure 1.15).
Figure 1.15 Energy Use by sector in Cape Town
Local authority
Residential
2%
15%
Transport
54%
Industry &
Commerce
29%
The City of Cape Town’s contribution to the total emissions was 567 641 tonnes of
CO2 equivalents. The initial sectoral results from the CCT’s operations indicate that
the largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions is Solid Waste (landfill sites)
followed by Streetlights and Buildings (Figure 1.15). Tonnage emitted (CO2
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
20
Air Quality and Atmosphere
equivalents) for the year 2000/1 is as follows: Solid Waste (188 182), Streetlights
(118 445), Buildings (89 022), Vehicle fleet (75 467), Power generation (67027) and
Water and sewage (29 498).
These results will assist the City of Cape Town to identify and prioritise projects to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Figure 1.16 Greenhouse gas emissions by sector for City of Cape Town operations
5%
12%
33%
13%
16%
21%
Soild w aste
Streetlights
Buildings
Vehicle fleet
Pow er generation
Water and w aste w ater
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses were underway:
•
Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Campaign: The Cities for Climate Protection
Campaign is a campaign that was initiated by the International Council for Local
Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) in 1993 and is being implemented in 575 local
authorities world-wide (www.iclei.org/co2/index.htm/). The aim of this campaign
is to assist local authorities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (mostly
CO2 and CH4) from local government operations and that of the wider community.
In South Africa the participating cities include the City of Cape Town, Saldahna
Municipality, eThekweni Municipality, Sol Plaatjie Municipality, Buffalo City
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
21
Air Quality and Atmosphere
Municipality, Tshwane Municipality, Potchefstroom Municipality and the City of
Johannesburg. The City of Cape Town conducted an emissions inventory during
2002 and identified mitigatory projects to pilot during 2003. The City also hosted
the 4th National CCP-SA Workshop.
This was attended by officials and
Councillors from the eight participating cities as well as 30 officials and
colleagues from Cape Town.
•
South South North (SSN) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): The South
South North Project aims to design, develop and implement Clean Development
Mechanism projects under the Kyoto Protocol. This involves project based
trading between developed countries of the North and developing countries. The
SSN project operates in Bangladesh, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia
(www.southsouthnorth.org). The SSN project is a public interest experiment
testing the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) through the development of
CDM pilot projects. In South Africa, four projects have been selected of which two
are owned by the City of Cape Town: Bellville Landfill Methane Recovery project
and Kuyasa Residential Energy Efficient project. Progress during 2002 included
work on the Project Design Documents and Project Information Notes for the
World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and the 8th
Conference of the Parties (COP) in New Delhi.
Reflections and Summary - Air Quality and Atmosphere
During 2002 Cape Town experienced fewer air pollution events than the previous two
years. However, particulate matter (PM10) levels increased, especially in Khayelitsha,
and this remains a critical concern for health. The City has recognised the threat of
climate change and has joined worldwide initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. Strong links exist between air pollution, health, climate change and
energy
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
22
Inland Waters
2 INLAND WATERS
Water management in the City of Cape Town goes beyond the efficient supply of
potable water and removal, treatment and disposal of wastewater, but includes
management of stormwater systems including rivers, vleis, wetlands, groundwater
and the impacts of land-based activities on our coastal waters. Although most of the
City’s potable water is imported from catchments outside the Metropolitan
boundaries, the urban rivers, vleis, wetlands and estuaries (Figure 2.1) form
important green corridors that link the City’s mountains with the coastal regions
providing habitats for a rich diversity of terrestrial and aquatic life.
The issues are:
2.1 Health of Rivers, Vleis, Wetlands and Estuaries
2.2 Water Demand for Industrial, Commercial and Residential Use
IMEP’s Vision for Cape Town (2020):
The environmental quality will have improved in terms of air, water, land and sea.
Water and energy resources and utilisation will be optimally and efficiently managed.
Wastewater treatment works will be efficient and comply with legislative
requirements.
2.1 Health of Rivers, Vleis, Wetlands and Estuaries
For the purpose of this assessment, the health of water bodies in the Cape Town
area will be evaluated in terms of the following two variables:
•
Occurrence of blue-green algae blooms of major vleis, and
•
Bacteriological quality of major rivers and vleis.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
23
Inland Waters
Figure 2.1 Geographic Drainage Catchments in the City of Cape Town
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
24
Inland Waters
While the rivers and water bodies in Cape Town are not used as a potable resource,
a number of inland water bodies (vleis) are used for a variety of recreational
purposes (e.g. sailing, canoeing, water-skiing, fishing, swimming).
Furthermore,
although not formally recognised for recreational use, wading in rivers is common. It
is therefore necessary to assess all our inland aquatic systems in terms of their
fitness for use (e.g. for intermediate contact recreation). Bacteriological data and the
occurrence of algal blooms can be used to make this assessment.
Algae blooms in Cape Town vleis
Some facts about blue-green algae blooms
Blue-green algae are natural microscopic inhabitants of many inland waters,
estuaries and the sea. In still waters such as lakes, ponds and reservoirs they may
multiply sufficiently in summer months to discolour the water so that it appears green,
blue-green or greenish brown. Blooms flourish in warmer summer waters and in
many areas die down during winter. Plant nutrients promote growth of these algae.
Toxins produced can survive high temperatures. Toxicity fluctuates constantly – it is
possible for algae to be toxic one day and not the next. You should avoid contact
with surface scum and water close to scum.
From a pamphlet (“Beware! Toxic Algae”) produced by the Department of Water
Affairs and Forestry.
Table 2.1 Summary of the occurrence of Cyanophyceae (“blue-green algae”) Blooms in
the City of Cape Town’s inland water bodies (1999-2002)
Year
Number of blue-green
algae blooms
Number of toxic blooms
% of blooms that were
toxic
1999
13
4
30.8
2000
33
15
45.5
2001
38
7
18.4
2002
38
4
10.5
Note: In the City’s recreational waterbodies and other vleis a “bloom” is defined as
being present when a sample taken from the water body has a concentration of
20 000 (or more) blue-green cells per ml. At this concentration Scientific Services
also tests the samples for the presence of toxins.
Since 1999, the number of recorded blooms has increased, however the percentage
of these when Cyanophyceae toxins were detected has decreased since 2000.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
25
Inland Waters
Predicting whether blue-green algae will produce toxins is virtually impossible and it
is therefore difficult to ascertain why there has been this welcome decline in toxins
since 2000.
Figure 2.2 illustrates the occurrence of blue-green blooms in the City’s inland
waterbodies since 1999. It is important to monitor waterbodies for these blooms as
this group of algae can under certain conditions produce potentially harmful toxins
and many of the waterbodies are used for recreational purposes. Wildevoelvlei,
Princessvlei, Zeekoevlei and Die Oog (near Princessvlei but obscured in Figure 2.1)
have over the years exhibited many blooms. However, as indicated in Table 2.1 the
total number of toxic blooms recorded in the City has declined over the years.
Although blue-green algae may have been detected in Rietvlei the cell numbers were
always very low (i.e. “no blooms”).
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
26
Inland Waters
RIETVLEI
ZOARVLEI
PRINCESSVLEI
RONDEVLEI
LITTLE
PRINCESSVLEI
ZEEKOEVLEI
LANGEVLEI
WILDEVOELVLEI
ZANDVLEI
GLENCAIRN
VLEI
Figure 2.2: Blue-green Blooms
Occurrence of “blue-green algae” blooms.
A “bloom” is recognized in recreational waters
when samples contain 20 000 or more blue-green cells per ml
Source: City of Cape Town, Scientific Services Department
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
27
Inland Waters
Bacteriological status of rivers and vleis in Cape Town
The bacteriological state of our rivers and vleis is used to measure the health and
fitness for use of water bodies for activities such as wading, sailing and water skiing,
where contact and/or ingestion of potentially contaminated water may occur. These
activities are classified as “intermediate contact recreation” in terms of guidelines
issues by DWAF (SAWQG for Recreational Use, Vol 2, 1996). These guidelines
recommend a Target Water Quality Range of 0 to 1 000 faecal coliform counts per
100ml for geometric mean or median value of samples.
Faecal coliforms are one of the most commonly used bacterial indicators of faecal
pollution and indicate the possible presence of pathogens responsible for the
transmission of infectious diseases such as gastroenteritis, salmonellosis,
dysentery, cholera and typhoid fever. The faecal colifom group is used to evaluate
the quality of wastewater effluents, river water, sea water at bathing beaches, raw
water for drinking water supply, treated drinking water, water used for irrigation
and aquaculture and recreational waters.
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
South African Water Quality
Guidelines. Recreational Use. Volume 2. 1996.
The following figures 2.3 and 2.4 provide a graphic representation of the five-year
trend in percentage of river and vlei samples complying with the DWAF guideline for
intermediate contact recreation.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
28
Inland Waters
HOUT
SAND
NOORDHOEK
SILWERMINE
BOKRAMSPRUIT
ELSE
Figure 2.3: Bacteriological Quality
Percentage of river and vlei samples complying with the DWAF
guideline for intermediate contact recreation (1).
Guideline: 0 – 1000 faecal coliforms per 100ml
Percentages based on median value for each year; * indicates no data
Source: City of Cape Town, Scientific Services Department
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
29
Inland Waters
DIEP
EERSTE /
SALT
ZEEKOE
LOURENS
Figure 2.4: Bacteriological Quality
Percentage of river and vlei samples complying with the DWAF
guideline for intermediate contact recreation (2).
Guideline: 0 – 1000 faecal coliforms per 100ml
Percentages based on median value for each year; * indicates no data
Source: City of Cape Town, Scientific Services Department
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
30
Inland Waters
Table 2.2 provides a summary of current activities and the status (in terms of
occurrence of “blue-green” blooms and bacteriological compliance) of the major vleis
in Cape Town.
Table 2.2 Activities and status of a number of Cape Town vleis
Water Body
Usage
State
Wildevoelvlei
Not intended for contact recreation
Blue-green blooms common, toxic blooms
but
common, 100% compliance with faecal
bird
watching
and
walking
allowed.
Princessvlei
coliform intermediate contact guideline.
Occasional
fishing
from
shore,
Blue-green blooms common, zero toxic
picnicking and baptism rituals occur.
blooms, poor/fair compliance with faecal
coliform intermediate contact guideline.
Zeekoevlei
Used for water sports, fishing, bird
Blue-green blooms common, some toxic
watching, walking.
blooms,
good
compliance
with
faecal
coliform intermediate contact recreation
guideline.
Rondevlei
Located
in
Rondevlei
Nature
Few blue-green blooms, few toxic blooms,
Reserve. Contact recreation not
poor/fair compliance with faecal coliform
allowed
intermediate contact guideline.
but
nature
watching
permitted.
Little
Occasional
fishing
from
shore
Zero
blue-green
Princessvlei
occurs.
Langevlei
Occasional fishing from shore and
Few blue-green blooms, few toxic blooms,
picnicking occurs.
poor/fair compliance with faecal coliform
compliance
with
blooms,
poor/fair
faecal
coliform
intermediate contact guideline.
intermediate contact guideline.
Die Oog
Contact recreation not permitted.
Blue-green blooms common, toxic blooms
Nature watching permitted.
common, poor compliance with faecal
coliform intermediate contact guideline.
Zandvlei
Used for water sports, fishing, bird
Very few blue-green blooms, zero toxic
watching, picnicking and walking.
blooms,
good
compliance
with
faecal
coliform intermediate contact guideline,
with decline in 2002
Glencairnvlei
Used for bird watching and walking.
Very few blue-green blooms, zero toxic
blooms, 100% compliance with faecal
coliform intermediate contact guideline.
Rietvlei
Used for water sports, fishing, bird
Zero
blue-green
blooms,
consistent
watching, picnicking and walking.
poor/fair compliance with faecal coliform
intermediate contact guideline.
Zoarvlei
Occasionally used for walking and
Very few blue-green blooms, zero toxic
bird watching.
blooms,
good
compliance
with
faecal
coliform intermediate contact guideline.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
31
Inland Waters
Summary of responses
Catchment, Stormwater and River Management
The Catchment, Stormwater and River Management service currently provided within
the municipal area, involves the management of urban catchments in respect of their
hydrological functioning for drainage, flood control, ecological and social needs and
acts as an important urban water resource.
It includes the management of
stormwater reticulation systems, open watercourses, wetlands, groundwater, vleis
and river estuaries. During 2001 the first Catchment Stormwater and River
Management Strategy for the City of Cape Town was initiated and developed. The
vision and mission are defined as follows:
Vision –
Effective stormwater drainage with safe and healthy rivers, wetlands,
vleis and coastal bathing areas
Mission –
Minimise flooding of property and improve the water quality and health
of our rivers, wetlands, vleis and coastal bathing areas through
integrated catchment management for the benefit of the people of
Cape Town.
Progress for 2002 is reported under the following main functions of the service:
•
Strategy and policy
•
Catchment planning, co-ordination and development control
•
Information management and monitoring
•
Relationship management and education
Strategy and Policy
•
Stormwater Management Guidelines and Design Criteria for New Development,
ensuring consideration of good practices such as run-off filtration for new
developments. [Completed]
•
Floodplain Management Guidelines, which ensure hydraulic and environmental
setback for development. [Under development]
•
Stormwater Land Identification Project that provides comprehensive base
information about catchments, rivers, vleis and drainage infrastructure.
[Completed]
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
32
Inland Waters
Catchment Planning, Co-ordination and Development Control
•
Catchment Management Plans completed for the Sand River Catchment and
initiated for the following: Lourens River, Kuils River and Sir Lowry’s Pass River.
Catchment specific water quality targets will be considered.
•
Hydrological and Floodline studies completed for Hout Bay Estuary, Salt River,
Sand River and Zeekoe Catchment
•
Stormwater Masterplans initiated for (former) Oostenberg and Helderberg
Administrations.
Information management and monitoring
•
Rationalisation of inland water quality monitoring, ensuring more capacity for
investigative and pollution tracking monitoring.
[Completed] Protocols for
investigative monitoring established.
•
River Maintenance database capturing the location, methodology and special
environmental considerations of river maintenance activities in the CCT area.
[Completed]
•
River and vlei assessment in terms of sensitivity and importance, used in the
determination of ecological buffers along rivers. [Completed]
•
Hydrological and rainfall monitoring via telemetry. [Activated]
Relationship management and education
•
Partnership relationships such as World Wetland Days, Water Week, Schools
Action Project, Water and Waste Interactive display, MTN Science Partnership,
Zeekoevlei Action Committee and Environmental Management team. [Ongoing]
•
Catchment, Stormwater and River Management seminar series developed as
capacity building tool for internal district and operational staff working with
catchment related issues.
•
Catchment Forums such as Hout Bay, Noordhoek, Sand River, Salt River and
Zeekoe, offering opportunities for communities to influence and participate in
catchment management co-ordination. [Ongoing]
•
Cape Metropolitan Coastal Water Quality Committee tracking and highlighting
land based activities, which have a detrimental impact on coastal bathing waters.
[Ongoing]
•
Catchment Management Teams, providing an integrated platform for line
functions to co-ordinate and align catchment activities have been established.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
33
Inland Waters
•
Integrated Urban Water Management team established to ensure that the
principles of IUWM underpin catchment and water related management in the
City.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
34
Inland Waters
2.2 Water Demand for Industrial, Commercial and Residential Use
Overall water demand was lower in 2002 than in the previous year, although treated
effluent re-use and service delivery show no improvement on previous years.
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Percentage population served with safe and adequate water supply
From Figure 2.5 it is apparent that water supply remained static between 1995 and
2002 and 20% of the CCT's population remain without piped water in the dwelling.
Water service delivery rate has been impacted by capital budget cuts, late approval
of budgets and local government restructuring. There are no reliable data for 1998
and 2000.
Figure 2.5 Percentage of households with piped water in the dwelling (* indicates no data)
Households with piped water in dwelling
100%
82%
79%
81%
79%
81%
80%
2001
2002
Household (%)
80%
60%
40%
20%
*
0%
1995
1996
1997
*
1998
1999
2000
Year
Water demand per annum (in m 3)
The amount of water supplied to the City of Cape Town and adjacent Local
Authorities for the period July 2001 to June 2002 was 287 million m3. This amount is
lower than that supplied during the same period the previous year, when water
restrictions were imposed.
This reduction could possibly be attributed to a
combination of the lingering affects of the 2001/02 restrictions, the retention of the
restrictions on garden watering between 10:00 and 16:00, water demand
management measures already implemented, tariff increases on 1 July 2001 when
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
35
Inland Waters
the tariffs of the former Metropolitan Local Councils were converged into a uniform
five-step tariff, and possible weather effects.
Percentage of full supply capacity of the dams supplying Cape Town with raw
water for treatment
The percentage of full supply capacity of the dams supplying the City of Cape Town
area as at 31 October 2002 was 98%
(Figures 2.6 and 2.7). This figure
demonstrates prudent management in aiming to achieve the annual target of 100%
by 2005. The target is obviously weather and demand dependent.
Figure 2.6 Percentage of full supply capacity of dams supplying Cape Town
120%
% full supply capacity
% full supply of dams
100%
97%
100%
98%
93%
88%
83%
80%
60%
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
Figure 2.7: Percentage of full supply capacity of the five major dams supplying Cape Town
120
% of capacity
Wemmershoek
Steenbras Lower
Steenbras Upper
Voelvlei
Theewaterskloof
100
80
60
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
36
Inland Waters
Proportion of treated effluent re-used
The effluent re-used remained 9% of the effluent produced. The wastewater
produced was 539 Ml/day for 2002 compared with an average of 567 Ml/day in 2001.
Capacity of Wastewater Treatment Works
The total wastewater treatment capacity of the 20 wastewater treatment works within
the municipal area has increased from approximately 564 Ml/day to 589 Ml/day due
to infrastructure upgrades at Athlone Wastewater Treatment Works.
Quantities, types and dilution ratios of industrial effluent entering sewage works
and ocean outflow
Wastewater discharged through long marine outfall pipelines is the same for the fifth
consecutive year at approximately 12 000 Ml/annum.
Sludge and by-product management
Projects were undertaken to empty existing sludge lagoons at some wastewater
treatment works (WWTW) and the status of this was as follows at the end of the
review period:
•
Bellville WWTW : One pond cleaned
•
Cape Flats WWTW : One pond cleaned. Work commenced on the second pond.
•
Zandvliet WWTW: All ponds cleaned.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
37
Inland Waters
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
•
A “Comprehensive” Water Services Development Plan (WSDP) was approved by
the Executive Committee of the City of Cape Town in April 2002. For more
information, please visit www.capetown.gov.za/water/wsdp
•
Berg Water Project (BWP): Minister Kasrils of Water Affairs and Forestry was
satisfied with the progress the City of Cape Town had made with respect to water
demand management.
The implementation of the Berg Water Project was
approved as a parallel process to the implementation of water demand
management. National Cabinet approved the implementation of the BWP on 20
April 2002. The City is currently negotiating a “Raw Water Supply Agreement”
with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), which would include
the BWP.
DWAF has appointed Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority as the
implementing and funding agent for the BWP.
•
The following major wastewater projects were in progress during the review
period:
¦
Athlone Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW): Upgrading to 105
Ml/day. [Construction under way]
¦
Macassar WWTW: Sludge de-watering facility, two new secondary settling
tanks and inlet works odour control. [Construction under way]
¦
Potsdam WWTW: Sludge dewatering; relocation and upgrading of belt
press installation completed.
¦
Borcherd Quarry WWTW: New belt press and centrifuge. [Construction
under way]
¦
Bellville WWTW: New diffusers and clarifiers. [Construction completed]
¦
Camps Bay Marine Outfall: Upgrading of the marine outfall pump station
[Completed]
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
38
Inland Waters
Reflections and Summary – Inland Waters
Overall the situation regarding inland waters in the City of Cape Town area has
improved between 2001 and 2002. Most of the pollution indicators showed a
decrease as well as a decrease in the number of recorded toxic algal blooms. In
addition water consumption declined in response to media campaigns. The
upgrading of waste water treatment works, progress with water demand
management, strategy (e.g. for stormwater) and policy development as well setting of
targets are all proactive steps being taken to further improve the inland water
situation. However, the number of households served with water remains at 80% of
households. Water service delivery rates have been impeded by capital budget cuts
and slow budget approval rates.
No indicators exist for groundwater, although it is an important source of water and
component of the hydrological cycle.
The reader should also note the Coastal Waters chapter since in many cases the
quality of water coming from inland rivers and waterbodies has a direct impact on the
quality of water in the near shore / coastal environment which is used for bathing
recreation.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
39
Coastal Waters
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
39
Coastal Waters
3 COASTAL WATERS
The costal zone remains under stress from exploitation of marine resources as well
as storm damage during 2002, possibly as a result of sea level rise associated with
climate change. Bathing water quality seems to have improved during the past year.
The issues are:
3.1
Alteration of Marine and Coastal Habitats and the Increased Exploitation of
Marine Resources
3.2
Bathing Water Quality during Summer months
IMEP’s Vision for Cape Town (2020):
The environmental quality will have improved in terms of air, water, land and sea.
3.1 Alteration of Marine and Coastal Habitats and the Increased Exploitation of
Resources
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Poaching of marine resources (e.g. abalone / perlemoen) and over fishing of a
number of fish stocks continue to draw the focus of media attention. Unfortunately
the necessary responses to the problem are hampered by insufficient personnel and
funding. Inappropriate coastal development, witnessed through storm damage to
property, remains a concern and is likely to get worse as development pressures
increase and sea level rises (and storm surges increase) as a result of climate
change.
Area of coastline conserved (% of total)
The two marine protected areas (MPA) and five restricted areas comprise 43km of
coastline. Of 307km of coastline within the CCT this represents 14% with some
conservation status. There are two MPAs in the CCT area, namely Castle Rock
Marine Protected Area (previously known as the Millers Point Marine Reserve), and
the Helderberg Marine Protected Area. Both were proclaimed Marine Protected
Areas in 2000. For more details please consult previous SoE reports on
www.capetown.gov.za/soe
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
40
Coastal Waters
This indicator is limited in providing an accurate assessment of the marine resources
because it is ultimately the management effectiveness and not the conserved area
that determines the sustainable utilisation of marine resources. Data on staffing and
resources are not readily available from the Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism’s Marine and Coastal Management department.
Area of dune or other coastal habitats disturbed or lost each year
During May, June and later in 2002 extreme wave erosion threatened several
sections of the City’s coastline resulting in significant damage to private property and
public infrastructure together with the loss of large areas of primary coastal dune –
the natural buffer to erosion. Areas worst affected were the Sea Point seawall, Klein
Slangkop residential area and the abandoned Witsands Rubbish Dump. While the
increasing vulnerability of the coast to wave erosion was highlighted, so too were the
implications of ill-conceived development approvals and the City’s lack of
management of the coastal zone. A major disaster was averted by swift intervention.
No long-term resolution of the problem has yet been devised and current trends
seem to indicate that the frequency of similar events will increase, in line with sea
level rise resulting from climate change.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
41
Coastal Waters
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses are underway:
•
City of Cape Town Coastal Zone Strategy initiated: Significant progress has been
made in the development of the Coastal Zone Strategy and includes the
following:
§
Draft Coastal Zone Strategy
§
Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between Development Services
and Community Services.
§
Formalisation and operation of the Coastal Zone Steering Committee and
Coastal Zone Technical Co-ordinating Committee
§
Coastal recreation analysis
§
Identification of three pilot areas for the development of Sustainable Coastal
Management Plans
§
Presentation of the Draft Coastal Zone Strategy to the Department of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) and the Provincial Administration:
Western Cape (PAWC)
The revised Draft Coastal Zone Strategy was presented to the Planning and
Environment Portfolio Committee for approval as a public document for public
and stakeholder comment and review for the period 15th November 2002 to 28
February 2003.
A comments-response document will be drafted and will be
presented to everyone who commented, prior to the revised strategy being
presented for adoption.
On 12 September 2002 a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed
between the Executive Directors of Development Services and Community
Services. This MoA details the institutional arrangements and responsibilities
within the CCT for the implementation of the Coastal Zone Strategy. With the
signing of the MoA between Development Services and Community Services,
both the Coastal Zone Steering Committee and the Coastal Zone Technical Coordinating Committee have been established and are operation.
These
committees have representatives from Community Services, Open Space and
Nature
Conservation,
Emergency
Services,
City
Health,
Planning
and
Environment, City Police Services and Economic Development and Tourism.
•
In May 2002 a study, in partnership with the Cape Peninsula National Park, to
investigate recreation in the coastal zone was initiated. The study identified all
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
42
Coastal Waters
aspects of recreation along the coast, including services and infrastructure, user
groups and presented a coastal recreation management framework that will
guide the City in optimising the recreational potential of the coastal zone whilst
minimising the impacts on the natural environment.
•
All beaches within the CCT have been considered for Blue Flag Status and a City
task team has narrowed down the candidates and development business models
for the beaches considered most appropriate for Blue Flag status. These Blue
Flag business models will be presented to Council during 2003 for the final
decision of which beaches should apply for Blue Flag status during 2003. Three
pilot Sustainable Coastal Management Plans (namely Muizenberg/Strandfontein,
Hout Bay and Sea Point) are under development and it is hoped that they will be
implemented by the end of June 2003.
•
The Coastal Zone Policy for the Western Cape (CZPWC) is being developed by
Provincial Government, and aims to promote sustainable development and
conservation for the Western Cape Province within the broader context of the
National White Paper for Sustainable Coastal Development in South Africa. After
receiving written comments on the draft CZPWC at the end of 2001, the policy
was accordingly amended in 2002.
Specific issues of the policy were also
discussed with the Agricultural sector, before the policy could be finalised. This
delayed the anticipated submission of the policy to the Provincial Cabinet in
August 2002, and will now only follow in 2003.
•
Working for the Coast: Working for the Coast is a poverty relief campaign
operated under the umbrella of Coastcare, which is the Department of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism’s initiative to implement the White Paper for
Sustainable Coastal Development in South Africa.
In just over a year since
Coastcare’s Working for the Coast Programme was launched, 1 500 jobs have
been created and 55 teams of workers have been established along South
Africa’s coast. Working for the Coast teams collect litter every day. They provide
general clean up and maintenance for ablution blocks and public amenities at the
beach, provide security and information for tourists and, where necessary, they
are engaged in environmental rehabilitation, such as estuary and dune
rehabilitation.
The average collection by the Working for the Coast team is
approximately 1 000 refuse bags of litter per month. For more information please
visit: www.environment.gov.za/sacoast/
§
Harbour Clean up: Altogether, twelve fishing harbours are currently receiving
support from the Working for the Coast Programme. The teams support the
harbour management staff in cleaning up the harbour areas, maintaining and
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
43
Coastal Waters
cleaning ablution facilities, providing security around the harbour itself and
offering minor maintenance for some of the harbour structures.
§
Working for the Coast in Kommetjie: The team in Kommetjie, which was the
first Working for the Coast team to be established, is an example of just one
of 55 teams along South Africa’s coast engaged in clean-up and
rehabilitation operations. Each team consists of around 20-30 people. The
Working for the Coast team at Kommetjie looks after a 60km stretch of Cape
Peninsula coastline, including Cape of Good Hope Reserve and Cape Point.
The litter from ships sailing around Cape Point is enormous and include
items such as plastic, as well as fishing lines and nets, ropes, oil and
chemical containers. Over the last year, the Kommetjie team has collected
many thousands of black bags of rubbish.
•
The Port of Cape Town has initiated an extensive Strategic Environmental
Assessment (SEA) as part of its plans to expand the capacity of the Port. This is
a proactive approach by the Port Authority to its environmental responsibilities
and will ensure that environmental considerations are included at all stages and
in all phases of the proposed Port expansion.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
44
Coastal Waters
3.2
Bathing Water Quality during Summer months
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
The discharge of industrial and domestic effluents, including treated sewage effluent,
as well as stormwater discharge and litter occurs at points along the coastline. The
indicators suggest improvements in most cases.
Exceedances of DWAF guidelines for faecal coliform counts in coastal water
Coastal Water Quality
The Scientific Services Department monitors coastal water quality in Table Bay and
False Bay on a fortnightly basis. The areas monitored stretch from Miller’s Point to
Kogel Bay on the False Bay Coast (Figure 3.1) and from Silwerstroom to
Scarborough on the Table Bay Coast (Figure 3.1)
The Guideline used to measure seawater quality (bathing and recreational) is the
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry: South African Water Quality Guidelines for
Coastal Marine Waters Volume 2 Recreational Use 1995. This guideline uses the
80th and 95th percentile values of faecal coliform counts to measure water quality.
Water Quality Guideline for Coastal Marine Waters (Recreational use) states as
follows:
80th percentile: 80% of samples must contain not more than 100 faecal coliforms
(stringent)
per 100ml
95th percentile: 95% of samples must not contain more than 2000 faecal coliforms
(relaxed)
per 100ml
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
45
Coastal Waters
Figure 3.1 Coastal monitoring points along Cape Town’s coastline
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
46
Coastal Waters
Bathing Water Quality (Summer: October 2002 - March 2003)
This review covers the six months from October to March, as this is the peak bathing
season (summer). Only the 80th percentile guideline (figure 3.2 and 3.3) has been
used to measure compliance during this period as there are insufficient results to
accurately calculate the 95th percentile.
False Bay
The False Bay coast has achieved the same high level of compliance in the summer
of 2002 – 2003 as was achieved in the summer of 2000 – 2001. This is a significant
improvement on the previous summer 2001 – 2002 (Table 3.1). The only area to
exceed the guideline was Sandowne Hotel, which is situated between Muizenberg
Station and St James Pool.
Table 3.1 Percentage of bathing areas on the False Bay Coast complying with the
80th percentile guideline for the period October to March
Year
Percentage compliance
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
80 Percentiles
89
92
98
78
98
Number of Areas
37
39
40
40
40
th
Table Bay
The percentage compliance for Table Bay improved during this review period,
although conditions on the Atlantic coast are clearly worse than False Bay Bathing
areas. The sites that exceeded the guideline are as follows: Three Anchor Bay,
Sunset Beach pool, Saunders Rocks Beach, Camps Bay Beach, Bakoven
Bungalows and Kommetjie – the Kom.
Table 3.2 Percentage of bathing areas on the Atlantic Coast complying with the
80th percentile guideline for the period October to March
Year
Percentage compliance
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
80 Percentiles
82
89
93
75
79
Number of Areas
22
27
28
28
28
th
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
47
Coastal Waters
Figure 3.2 Compliance levels with DWAF Guideline Figures for Water Quality for
the False Bay coast (E. coli / 1 00ml (Source: CCT Scientific Services Department)
Figure 3.3 Compliance levels with DWAF Guideline Figures for Water Quality for the
Atlantic Coast (E. coli / 100ml) (Source: CCT Scientific Services Department)
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
48
Coastal Waters
Contaminant levels of heavy metals in mussels (at 35 sampling sites)
The Mussel Watch program endeavours to monitor the quality of the coastal marine
waters of South Africa using mussels as long-term indicators of trends to identify any
‘hot spots’ before a problem arises. Mussels are sessile and bioaccumulate
pesticides and heavy metals which through analytical techniques can be measured.
Accumulation of chemical and biological contaminants can pose a health hazard to
consumers of fish and shellfish. The Mussel Watch Program, under the auspices of
DEAT’s Marine and Coastal Management, has revealed significant decreases in the
concentration of three heavy metals in mussel tissue (Table 3.3). This is reassuring
given that the long-term trend for cadmium between October 1985 and May 1999
showed a significant increase in tissue concentration. There are no data available for
2001 and 2002 limiting the value of this indicator to responsible decision-making.
Table 3.3 Change in heavy metal concentrations in mussels (May 1999 – May 2000)
Cadmium
Copper
Lead
Decrease
32
37
19
Increase
8
8
5
Non significant change
7
2
18
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
•
City of Cape Town Coastal Zone Strategy initiated: Significant progress has been
made in the development of the Coastal Zone Strategy. Refer to the responses
section under 3.1 for further information.
•
The Cape Metropolitan Coastal Water Quality Committee is a voluntary group of
officials from local, provincial and national government and other groups who
have an interest in the quality of water at our bathing beaches. This committee
tracks trends in coastal water quality at popular bathing beaches and are
responsible for the overall co-ordination of interventions aimed at alleviating
problems.
The committee was established more than a decade ago and
continues to play a key role in the management of coastal bathing waters in the
City of Cape Town area.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
49
Coastal Waters
Reflections and Summary – Coastal Waters
The marine component remains in a critical state in terms of over exploitation of
abolone and 10 endemic species of line fish.
Coastal bathing waters on both Atlantic and False Bay coasts show an improvement
in water quality in summer months on the 80th percentile. 79% of the bathing areas
on the Atlantic Coast and 98% of the bathing areas on the False Bay coast comply
with the 80th percentile guideline. Efforts are underway to investigate the causes and
solutions to water quality problems on the Atlantic seaboard. Other initiatives in
support of improved coastal water quality include the Coastal Zone Strategy,
Sustainable Coastal Management Plans and Blue Flags beaches.
As observed globally, the water quality of stormwater runoff from urban areas
remains one of the big challenges facing coastal bathing waters.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
50
Health
4 HEALTH
The health of residents is affected by many sectors and requires an integrated
approach. Service delivery backlogs (housing, water services, etc) are likely to be
contributing to a deteriorating health situation. This may have contributed to the fact
(causation here is multifactorial with the increase in TB being driven mainly by HIV)
that TB cases and meningitis deaths have increased along with HIV prevalence
during 2002. Interestingly the number of road accident deaths (922) almost matches
those deaths due to TB (1336) and it is likely that deaths due to crime exceed both
figures.
The issues are:
4.1 Health Risks Resulting from Air, Water and Noise Pollution
4.2 Health Problems Resulting from Inadequate Provision and Access to
Physical Infrastructure and Services
4.3 Potential Health Risks Associated with Food Production
IMEP’s Vision for Cape Town (2020):
Environmental poverty will no longer exist and all communities will live in an
environment that is not detrimental to their health or well being.
4.1 Health Risks Resulting from Air, Water and Noise Pollution
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Exceedances of WHO guidelines for lead, SO2 and NO2 and UK guidelines for
PM10
The air monitoring data illustrate a short-term decrease in NO2 and ozone
concentration with increases noted for particulate matter. This gives the impression
that air pollution is decreasing and certainly the number of events is down.
Unfortunately the nature of the events (i.e. exceedance values) is deteriorating. In
other words although there are less events, they are more toxic in nature. Of all the
pollutants monitored, particulate matter poses the most serious health risk as it can
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
51
Health
penetrate deep into the lungs and has been linked to respiratory problems and
cancer. Refer to Chapter 1- Air Quality and Atmosphere.
Tobacco Smoke – Complaints, Notices and Prosecutions
The Tobacco Products Control Act (83 of 1993) read with the Notice relating to
Smoking of Tobacco Products in Public Places (R.975 of 29 September 2000) was
enacted to protect the rights of non-smokers from the dangers of passive smoking.
Controlling tobacco smoking in public places ensures a clean, healthy environment
for activities of daily living, public events, travel and work.
Environmental Health Officers have been actively involved in the enforcement of the
requirements of the law in so far as the smoking of tobacco products in public places
is concerned.
A pamphlet indicating all the requirements of the legislation was
distributed to owners and managers of public places throughout the City, whilst
numerous inspections were conducted. 427 complaints were received, whilst 137
warning notices and 68 summonses were issued during the year. A progress report
as at 31 December 2002 indicated that 94% of all restaurants in the City comply with
the requirements of the abovementioned legislation.
Exceedances of WHO guidelines for Esherichia coli
E. coli is a highly specific indicator of faecal pollution, which originates from humans
and warm-blooded animals. Faecal coliform bacteria, on the other hand, are primarily
used as a practical indicator of faecal pollution. Bathing water quality improved during
the past year according to data for the Atlantic and False Bay coastlines. The Atlantic
coast was worse than the False Bay coastline over the past year. Refer to section 3 –
Coastal Waters. The DWAF Water Quality Guidelines (1 000 cells / 100ml) have,
however, been exceeded at all stormwater monitoring sites, far in excess of the
guideline for intermediate-contact recreation.
Number of toxic algal blooms
Four toxic blooms were detected in 2002, down from seven toxic blooms in 2001.
This shows a steady decrease in the number of toxic blooms since 2000. The algal
blooms still need to be stringently monitored and reported to the public and users, as
these toxic blooms can pose serious health risks to humans, pets and livestock.
Refer to Chapter 2 – Inland Waters.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
52
Health
Noise Pollution
The situation analysis done by the Noise Pollution Working Group established in
2002 confirmed the fragmented approach to noise control that exists throughout the
City. In some Administrations the law enforcement aspects of noise control was
undertaken by officials outside the ambit of the health discipline, making coordination extremely difficult.
Noise is a complex issue and not all types of noise can be measured to establish the
“nuisance value” thereof. The main categories of noise complaints included music
and people, mechanical equipment, home industries, animals, traffic and building
operations. A total number of 696 complaints were received and investigated by staff
of the Health Directorate during 2002. Further action (warning letters/notices) was
required in 218 cases whilst 18 prosecutions were initiated. No data were available
for 2001.
Environmental Pollution
Environmental pollution poses both a direct and an indirect threat to the health and
safety of the residents and visitors to the City of Cape Town. A direct threat to
human health from the polluting agents such as medical waste, faecal matter and
other toxic substances that are illegally disposed of in the environment and an
indirect threat in the way pollutants such as litter and other dumped material impact
on our sense of mental, physical and social well being.
46% of dwellings in informal settlements across the City of Cape Town do not have
access to acceptable sanitation, defined as “access to an acceptable toilet at a
minimum ratio of four dwelling units to a communal toilet that complies with the
minimum health standards.”
The lack of access to basic sanitation leads to an
increase in morbidity in preventable waterborne and sanitation related diseases.
Woman and children receive the brunt of these negative impacts. The resultant
contamination of our river catchment and coastal waters with faecal wastes, impacts
severely on recreational bathing water quality and poses a direct threat to human
health.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
53
Health
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses are underway in 2002:
•
A Draft Air Pollution Control By-law for the City of Cape Town is being prepared.
Refer to Chapter 1 – Air Quality and Atmosphere for more information.
•
Progress with the City’s Air Pollution Strategy is referred to in Chapter 1 – Air
Quality and Atmosphere.
•
Noise Pollution: Many of the complaints received were in respect of noise
nuisance caused by places of entertainment.
As a result of this applicants
applying for trading licenses to operate such businesses are now required to
submit a satisfactory noise impact assessment report before the licence
application will be considered. This pro-active step will hopefully lead to a decline
in the number of complaints centred around people and music.
The Noise
Pollution Working Group is making steady progress and is comparing and
exchanging information with other world cities to establish best practice. It is
envisaged that the work of this group will result in a Noise Control Policy for the
City of Cape Town.
•
The Noise Pollution Working Group that was convened in March 2002 by City
Health continued to meet. The Working Group has made progress in a number
of areas including:
§
A Working Draft Policy on Noise Pollution for the City
§
Enforcement of noise legislation
§
Review of legislation, fines and enforcement provisions city-wide.
Associated with the process was the co-ordination of enforcement of noise
control in certain areas such as Green Point and Sea Point nightclubs. These
enforcement activities have involved liaison with club owners or operators, as
well as enforcement such as warning notices, legal action and confiscation of
equipment in certain cases.
Progress on the draft policy on noise pollution and implementation and
enforcement strategies were delayed due to severe capacity shortages in key
areas, particularly in City Health. A draft policy and implementation strategy will
be presented to the Health, Amenities and Sport Portfolio Committee during
2003. Implementation and enforcement of existing noise regulations continue to
occur.
A city-wide policy and strategy will assist in ensuring consistency of
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
54
Health
enforcement and fines to offenders, prioritisation of noise pollution issues and
impacts and improved anticipation, prevention and mitigation of noise pollution
impacts. This will include reviewing current legal provisions for noise control,
setting city-wide fines and control standards and examining approaches to
implementation responsibilities.
•
Further information on responses to Air Quality and Atmosphere and Inland
Waters can be seen in Chapters 1 and 2.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
55
Health
4.2 Health Problems Resulting from Inadequate Provision and Access to
Physical Infrastructure and Services
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Health problems are closely linked to the quality of the social and natural
environment, from poor indoor and outdoor air quality to the use of contaminated
water bodies. The provision of services is therefore critical to the health theme. From
the earlier chapter on Inland Waters, it remains that approximately 20% of Cape
Town’s population is without piped water in the dwelling. This often results in the
burden being transferred to the health services, with a high incidence of waterborne
disease resulting from poorer communities withdrawing water from river systems with
particularly high bacteriological counts including the Lotus, Elsieskraal, Kuilsriver as
well as the Liesbeek / Black / Vygekraal system (refer to Chapter 2 – Inland Waters).
The situation with sanitation is less severe although 9% of households are without
on-site waterborne sanitation. Refuse removal, on the other hand, seems to have
improved to 97% of households. Refer to Chapter 7: Infrastructure for more
information.
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1000 births)
This indicator is relevant to the inadequacy of services such as water and sanitation.
What is presented below is the infant mortality rate for each Health sub-district and
for the City of Cape Town areas as a whole for 2001 and 2002. The infant mortality
rate (IMR) indicates the number of babies less than one year old who died for every 1
000 born during a particular year e.g. in 2002 for every 1 000 children born in South
Peninsula, 13 died before turning one, while for every 1 000 born in Khayelitsha, 44
died before turning one.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Health
Table 4.1 Infant Mortality Rate per 1000 live births in Cape Town
Health District
IMR (2001)
IMR (2002)
Athlone
14
16
Blaauwberg
23
18
Central
16
14
Helderberg
26
29
Khayelitsha
44
44
Mitchells Plain
16
19
Nyanga
49
40
Oostenberg
31
31
South Peninsula
15
13
Tygerberg East
24
19
Tygerberg West
19
18
City of Cape Town area
26
25
What the table above shows is that the poorest areas of Cape Town, Khayelitsha and
Nyanga, have the highest infant mortality rates. The causes of death give some idea
as to why this is so.
In these two areas, HIV/AIDS, pneumonia and diarrhoeal
diseases are the main causes of death.
Diarrhoeal diseases can be linked to
inadequacy of services such as water and sanitation, which are lacking in these
areas.
HIV/AIDS levels are a function of sexual behaviour amongst adults with
factors such as education and migration, which are of relevance here. Pneumonia
related to overcrowding and malnutrition.
The Infant Mortality Rate or IMR is an internationally utilised indicator of development
and given the above, it is also relevant to the Cape Town context. The CCT’s IMR
over the two years has not changed, but the sub-districts have changed to varying
extents. The changes at sub-district level are relatively small and difficult to interpret
but Nyanga has dropped from 49 to 40, which is a positive sign.
A specific
programme (the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses) was run in Nyanga
as a pilot and this could certainly have assisted in decreasing the IMR but it would be
difficult to establish a clear causal link because IMR is influenced by a range of
developmental and health service factors.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
57
Health
Meningococcal meningitis rate
The number of cases reported has remained stable and deaths have increased
slightly since the previous year. The increase in deaths in 2001/2002 is probably due
to better reporting of cause of death (Figure 4.1).
Figure 4.1 Annual number of Meningitis cases and deaths in Cape Town
Cases
25
23
124
125
120
Deaths
20
21
119
15
115
112
10
110
111
10
109
10
6
5
105
Number of deaths
Number of cases
130
0
100
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
Tuberculosis (TB) rate
There is an ongoing pattern of steady increases in the number of reported cases and
deaths1 (Figure 4.2). The number of TB deaths reported in 1999 is likely to be an
error or an undercount, given the trend.
Figure 4.2 Annual number of Tuberculosis (TB) cases and deaths in Cape Town
Cases
Deaths
1274
Number of cases
20000
1500
20950
1336
1250
1101
18361
18000
666
16000
14000
1000
17244
750
15769
367
14970
500
13870
327
Number of deaths
22000
250
12000
0
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
1
Please note that data from the previous year have been cleaned up and corrected
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
58
Health
The table below gives the number of TB cases and the TB incidence rate by subdistrict. TB incidence reflects the number of new TB cases diagnosed for every
100 000 population in a year. In other words 443 cases of TB were diagnosed in
Athlone in the year 2002 for every 100 000 people living there while in Nyanga 992
people were diagnosed with TB for every 100 000 people living there.
Table 4.2 TB cases and incidence rates in Cape Town during 2001 and 2002
Health
Sub
Number of TB
Incidence Rate
per 100 000
Number of TB
per 100 000
District
cases in 2001
Athlone
906
399
1 021
443
Blaauwberg
78
402
1 071
513
Central
1 365
438
1 560
489
Helderberg
1 043
636
1 213
710
Khayelitsha
3 359
921
3 773
978
729
262
1 059
377
Nyanga
2 988
963
3 229
992
Oostenberg
2 103
714
2 606
858
South Peninsula
1 294
309
1 517
352
Tygerberg East
1 158
430
1 488
533
Tygerberg West
1 614
462
1 700
483
18 361
577
20 950
638
Mitchells Plain
City
of
Cape
Town (Total)
(2001)
cases in 2002
Incidence Rate
(2002)
18 361 new cases of TB were diagnosed in Cape Town in the year 2001 and 20 950
in 2002. The incidence rate increased from 577 to 638 per 100 000 people showing
that TB is still increasing over and above population increase. Because HIV positive
people are at higher risk of developing TB, this increasing rate of TB is likely to be
reflection of an increasing HIV epidemic in Cape Town. This is in line with the HIV
prevalence rate which has increased on the previous year’s figures (12.4% in 2002
compared with 8.6% for 2001).
Again the poorest districts (Nyanga and Khayelitsha) have the highest rates of TB but
districts such as Oostenberg and Helderberg also have high rates of TB. TB can be
linked to poor housing, poverty, poor nutrition and HIV and is thus a useful
development indicator as well.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
59
Health
Cape Town has one of the highest incidence rates of TB in the world. While the
reasons for this are complex and include climatic factors, it makes sense that the City
of Cape Town continues to make both HIV and TB priority areas for attention.
The health risk of contracting TB relates to overcrowding, poverty and HIV. The
health risks for contracting HIV/AIDS relate to sexual practices (e.g. multiple
partners, commercial sex work etc), population mobility (linked to truck routes) and
the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases. The two diseases are heavily
interdependent and TB is the leading killer of people with AIDS.
HIV / AIDS
HIV/AIDS is currently one of the most devastating health conditions affecting the
health of millions throughout the world. South Africa’s HIV prevalence figures have
increased by nearly two percentage points to 26.5% in 2002 compared to 24.85 in
2001.
These figures are based on an annual survey among pregnant women
attending government antenatal clinics in October each year. The 2002 figure for the
Western Cape Province stands at 12.4% (Figure 4.3).
Table 4.3 HIV prevalence as per antenatal survey (% of total population)
Year
Western Cape
National SA
1990
0.06
0.73
1991
0.08
1.74
1992
0.25
2.15
1993
0.56
4.01
1994
1.16
7.57
1995
1.66
10.44
1996
3.09
14.17
1997
6.30
17.00
1998
5.20
22.80
1999
7.10
22.40
2000
8.70
24.50
2001
8.60
24.80
2002
12.4
26.50
The following trends can be seen: a steady upward trend in the past 12 years at both
provincial and national level with the Western Cape at a lower level. The lower levels
in the Western Cape hide the huge variations within the Province. These variations
are clearly illustrated in the data for Cape Town as can be seen in Table 4.4, below.
This means that there can be no relaxation in the tackling of the HIV epidemic in the
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
60
Health
City. The City has made this area a priority and this needs to continue. The Health
Directorate and other Directorates in the City are engaged in a range of activities
related to dealing with HIV in the City around education, condom availability,
prevention of mother to child transmission and the availability of HIV testing.
Table 4.4: HIV Prevalence by Health Sub District, based on Antenatal Results
Health Sub District
2001 (%)
2001
2002 (%)
(95% CI)
Athlone
Blaauwberg
Central
Helderberg
Khayelitsha
Mitchells Plain
Nyanga
Oostenberg
South Peninsula
Tygerberg East
2002
Change
(95% CI)
6.8
+/- 4.6
8.9
+/- 4.5
2.1
0.6
+/- 1.1
8.2
+/- 5.0
7.6
3.7
+/- 3.6
11.9
+/- 6.0
8.2
19.0
+/- 6
19.1
+/- 4.5
0.1
22.0
+/- 5
24.9
+/- 4.2
2.9
0.7
+/- 1.3
4.0
+/- 4.0
3.3
16.1
+/- 6.5
27.8
+/- 5.2
11.7
5.7
+/- 3.3
14.5
+/- 6.0
8.8
5.9
+/- 3.9
6.0
+/- 4.1
0.1
6.1
+/- 3.4
10.4
+/- 5.0
4.3
7.9
+/- 3.9
12.7
+/- 5.0
4.8
8.6
+/- 3
12.4
Tygerberg West
City of Cape Town
3.8
(Total)
Note: CI = confidence interval
Professor R Dorrington at the University of Cape Town was asked by the Health
Directorate to estimate the number of HIV positive people in Cape Town and the
number of orphans. This information is provided below: please note that these are
estimates – the real figures are difficult to measure.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Health
Table 4.5 Estimated HIV cases by Health District in Cape Town
Health District
Estimated Number
HIV positive 2002
Estimated Percentage
Estimated
of population HIV
Number of AIDS
positive
orphans in 2002
Athlone
6 385
3
352
Blaauwberg
5 687
3
462
Central
15 368
5
1 242
Helderberg
5 963
4
510
Khayelitsha
45 410
12
4 487
Mitchells Plain
9 161
3
549
Nyanga
38 089
12
3 872
Oostenberg
11 510
4
1 055
South Peninsula
11 327
3
1 012
Tygerberg East
9 956
4
716
Tygerberg West
7 939
2
409
166 795
5
14 666
City
of
Cape
Town (Total)
These results again show a stark variation within the City of Cape Town with areas
such as Nyanga and Khayelitsha showing much higher levels than other areas.
Again the link to poorest areas of the City is clear. The pattern is similar to the TB
and IMR measures showing the common developmental links between these
indicators. Education, sexual practices and migration are significant factors here.
The 5% for Cape Town as a whole (Table 4.5) is contrasted with the 12.4% for the
antenatal survey (Table 4.4). The 5% reflects the population as a whole whereas
the 12.4% is for a specific subset, that is women of childbearing age – women
are at higher risk of contracting HIV than men and also women represent a group
that is sexually active, the % figure is therefore higher i.e. there is no contradiction
between the two figures.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
62
Health
Teenage Births
Teenage births represent a disruption of schooling particularly for teenage girls. The
data below (Table 4.6) refers to teenage girls under the age of 18 (ranging from 13 to
17) who have given birth. The percentage refers to the proportion of total births that
are made up of teenagers under the age of 18.
Table 4.6 Teenage births by Health Sub District in Cape Town
Number of
Percentage
Number of
Health Sub
teenage births
teenage births
teenage births
District
(< 18 years) in
of all births
(<18 years) in
2001
(2001)
2002
Athlone
133
3.9
127
4.2
Blaauwberg
108
4.4
149
6.3
Central
149
2.7
141
2.6
Helderberg
156
5.9
207
7.1
Khayelitsha
380
5.3
435
6.2
Mitchells Plain
245
4.3
316
6.0
Nyanga
225
4.5
271
5.0
Oostenberg
325
5.7
329
5.6
South Peninsula
213
4.0
214
3.9
Tygerberg East
266
5.7
271
5.8
Tygerberg West
341
6.4
342
6.4
2 541
4.8
2 802
5.3
TOTAL
Percentage
teenage births of
all births (2002)
City Health aims to reduce teenage births to less than 3.5%. The pattern above
shows that it is in poorer areas that teenage pregnancies are higher, but in a different
way to indicators such as TB and infant mortality. The underlying issues here relate
to education, access to recreational facilities and drug misuse. Teenage pregnancies
impacts on population growth and has implications for health services since teenage
births are regarded as higher risk than ordinary births. A link to HIV is also significant
in that the initiation of sexual activity at a young age is a risk factor for this condition.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
63
Health
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
•
City Health and other City Directorates are engaged in a range of activities
related to dealing with HIV in the City around education, condom availability,
prevention of mother to child transmission and the availability of HIV testing. The
City distributed 8 million condoms in its last financial year and is on track to
distribute 12 million condoms in the current financial year. 1.5% of the population
were tested for HIV in the last financial year. The City is on track to test 4% of
the population of Cape Town in this financial year. City Health clinics participate
in the prevention of mother to child transmission programme through monitoring
of the babies of HIV infected mothers who were given anti-retroviral medication.
•
City Health is primarily responsible for the management of TB sufferers in the
City and these clients are managed through the TB Control Program. The cure
rate of new smear positive TB patients has been increased from 65% in 1997 to
73% in 2001. Those who are HIV infected have a much higher risk of contracting
TB. The nature of TB is such that those infected with TB may take years before
they develop the disease (much shorter if HIV infected). Thus, an increasing
incidence and death rate reflects those infected over the previous 10 to 15 years.
•
Regarding teenage pregnancy, all sub-districts have at least one youth orientated
clinic service.
There are a number of clinics participating in the National
Adolescent Friendly Clinic Initiative (NAFCI).
•
The development of a strategy for sanitation service delivery for the City has
been concluded. The City has also committed a significant portion of the 2003/4
budget to the provision of sanitation facilities in informal settlements.
Environmental Health Practitioners are gearing up to play a significant role in the
provision of Health and Hygiene Awareness programmes linked to this service
delivery.
•
The Khayelitsha Task Team’s ongoing work in implementing the School and
Community based Hygiene and Sanitation programs, which include incorporating
the concept of Health Promoting Schools, the development of learner education
materials, the modification of school toilet facilities and the provision of 30
sponsored community based ecological sanitation toilets in consultation with the
affected Communities as a pilot project.
•
The City has approved a new, single Environmental Health By-law) during
December 2002.
This By-law will be promulgated in the Provincial Gazette
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
64
Health
during 2003. The By-law defines the roles and responsibilities of the generators,
transporters and disposers of medical waste and regulates the safe disposal of
such waste. This By-law will for the first time allow for the proper control of
medical waste and the appropriate fining of perpetrators who dump medical
waste illegally. For more information please visit the City Health’s website at
www.capetown.gov.za/health.
•
The Youth Environmental Schools (YES) programme in June 2002, featured the
“Environment and Your Health” program and other similar school based
programs and these play a significant role in raising awareness of pollution and
Environmental Health issues in young learners from across the City.
4.3 Potential Health Risks Associated with Food Production
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
65
Health
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
An important function of City Health relates to the implementation of an effective food
control programme throughout the City. This includes the monitoring of all formal
and informal food premises to determine the degree of compliance with legal
standards relating to structural aspects, food handling practices, hygiene standards;
ongoing health promotion regarding safe food handling practices and the personal
hygiene of food handlers; implementation of food sampling programmes to determine
the extent of compliance with food safety standards prescribed by applicable health
legislation.
Exceedances of the bacteriological standards as specified in the Foodstuffs,
Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (1972) for packaged milk and milk sold in bulk
tanks
Bacteriological standards were exceeded more frequently in pasteurised milk sold via
bulk tanks compared to packaged milk. In 2002, approximately 63% of samples
taken of pasteurised bulk retail milk tested by City Health’s Food and Milk Laboratory
exceeded the standard for coliform bacteria. In the same period, 13% of samples
taken of pasteurised packaged milk exceeded this standard (Figure 4.3). During the
year 2001 the failure rate for this indicator was 38% and 14% for bulk retail milk and
packaged milk respectively.
The presence of coliform bacteria in milk indicates
contamination of the milk by unsatisfactory environmental conditions after
pasteurisation. Poor cleaning and sanitising of tanks, poor handling practices, poor
temperature control during the transportation and storage of milk are but a few
factors that could lead to such contamination.
The presence of coliform organisms does not automatically indicate contamination of
the milk with pathogenic organisms.
For the latter purpose the presence of
Esherichia coli serves as an indicator of faecal pollution originating from humans and
warm-blooded animals.
Less than 1% of all pasteurised milk samples analysed by
the City’s Food and Milk Laboratory during 2002, yielded positive results for the
presence of Escherichia coli.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
66
Health
Figure 4.3 Bulk and Pasteurised milk exceeding the standard of coliform bacteria
(% non-compliance)
Pasterurised milk
100%
76%
80%
% non-compliance
Bulk milk
63%
56%
60%
40%
38%
36%
17%
20%
14%
13%
0%
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
Bacterial monitoring of prepared foods
The presence of Escherichia coli in prepared foods is an indication of poor food
handling processes and / or poor personal hygiene of food handlers. E. coli is a
highly specific indicator of faecal pollution, which originates from humans and warmblooded animals. Certain strains of E. coli are known to cause food poisoning. Where
E. coli is present there is the likelihood of the presence of other pathogenic
organisms.
Most of the bacteriological monitoring in the CCT is done through the accredited
National Health Laboratory Services SA (NHLS) laboratory, Swift Laboratories and
the Directorate: City Health’s own Food and Milk Laboratory. Results for 2002 are
presented in Table 4.7. Approximately 6% of samples of prepared food analysed
yielded positive results for the presence of E.coli. Using data from the first two
laboratories gives the impression that non-compliance decreased over the past year
(Table 4.7).
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
67
Health
Table 4.7 Monitoring results for prepared food samples analysed within the CCT between 1999 and 2002.
No. of samples analysed
Laboratory
No. of samples tested positive
for E. coli
Percentage non-compliance
1999
2000
2001
2002
1999
2000
2001
2002
1999
2000
2001
2002
148
21
731
838
0
2
41
33
0%
9.5%
5.6%
3.9%
849
476
437
90
85
36
40
6
10%
7.5%
9.2%
6.7%
Food and
Milk Lab
Directorate:
City Health
SA Institute
for Medical
Research
Swift
Laboratories
213
28
13.1%
Compliance with the regulations governing general hygiene requirements for food
premises and the transport of food: Health Act, 1977
Government Notice No R918/1999 (Regulations governing general hygiene
requirements for food premises and the transport of food), requires that no person
shall handle food or permit food to be handled on food premises in respect of which a
valid Certificate of Acceptability has not been issued in terms of these regulations. In
the case of food premises that existed at the time of promulgation of these
regulations, the aforesaid provision came into effect one year after such
promulgation. A Certificate of Acceptability is issued by the City only if food premises
comply with the standards and requirements for food premises and facilities on food
premises as prescribed by the regulations.
Approximately 9 000 formal food premises and more than 2 500 informal food traders
do business in the City. By end December 2002, 93% of all formal food premises
and 76% of all informal food traders had been issued with the required Certificate of
Acceptability. These certificates must be displayed in a conspicuous place on the
food premises in respect of which it had been issued, for the information of the
public.
Food Safety (with particular reference to Chemical Sampling)
The sampling of foodstuff was undertaken in terms of the Foodstuff, Cosmetic and
Disinfectants Act No. 54 of 1972. One of the aims of this Act is the protection of the
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
68
Health
health of consumers by means of the analysis of the quality of foodstuff intended for
human consumption. The foodstuff sampled varied from meat and milk products,
beverages, salt, sauces to fruit and vegetables for pesticide residue. This report
focuses primarily on the results of analytical tests based on the composition of
foodstuff.
The number of samples taken in the City of Cape Town area was 2 135 and the
percentage compliance was 87.5% during 2002.
The remedial action taken by the six administrations relative to the defaulting
samples were as follows:
•
Issuing of warning letter
•
Summonses issued to repeat offenders
•
Health education conducted and informational leaflets issued
•
Follow-up sampling done
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses are underway:
•
Follow-up investigations are carried out by Environmental Health Practitioners in
respect of all food and milk samples that fail to comply with legal standards.
Actions include the identification of environmental conditions that could lead to
the contamination of food and monitoring the implementation of corrective steps
to address such problems; on-going health education to the food industry
regarding
safe
food
handling
practices
and
hygienic
food
handling;
implementation of legal actions. During 2002, a total of 124 warning letters were
issued and nine prosecutions were initiated by Health Officials of the City in
respect of food samples that had failed to comply with bacteriological standards.
•
The Health Directorate’s Business Plan for 2002/3 now includes targets for the
percentage of formal and informal food premises issued with a valid Certificate of
Acceptability. These targets have been set at 100% in respect of formal food
sector and 70% in the case of the informal food sector by June 2003. Progress
towards the achievement of these targets is monitored on a quarterly basis.
•
Refer to responses in section 4.2.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
69
Health
Reflections and Summary - Health
TB continues to increase along with number of deaths due to Meningitis. HIV
antenatal prevalence has increased from 8.6% (2001) to 12.4% (2002). The
geographic anomalies suggest targeted interventions in the poorest areas such as
Khayelitsha, Gugulethu and Nyanga. This includes developmental, infrastructural,
educational and health care solutions. Some progress has been made with regards
milk products, tobacco and noise and less so with regards foodstuffs.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
70
Biodiversity
5 BIODIVERSITY
Our global responsibility to conserve the smallest and richest of the plant kingdoms in
the world, the Cape Floral Kingdom, is onerous on all the peoples of Cape Town.
Cape Town is situated within an area of world-class biodiversity and conservation
value and is home to many vegetation types, which are considered a wonder of the
world because of their extraordinary diversity.
The unique environment of Cape
Town is its greatest asset and the effective management and enhancement of this
asset is the responsibility of the City of Cape Town and, to some extent, Provincial
and National Government.
The issues are:
5.1 Habitat and Biodiversity of Terrestrial Ecosystems
5.2 Location of the Cape Peninsula National Park within Cape Town
IMEP’s Vision for Cape Town (2020):
The environmental quality will have improved in terms of air, water, land and sea.
There will be adequate and well distributed open spaces for recreation and
sustaining biodiversity.
5.1 Habitat and Biodiversity of Terrestrial Ecosystems
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Area of land within CCT area having formal conservation status
Land area with formal conservation status remains at 476km2 (See Figure 5.1),
representing approximately 19% of the City’s total area and includes national,
provincial and local nature reserves. Land area alone does not ensure conservation,
only effective management can achieve this. The effectiveness of nature
conservation management will need to be reported in order to provide a better
understanding of the state of Cape Town’s biota.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
71
Biodiversity
Figure 5.1 Map of Protected Areas in Cape Town
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
72
Biodiversity
Number of conservation areas proclaimed versus number of conservation areas
managed
There are 23 formal nature areas involving the City, with seven* (Table 5.1) being
managed by the local authority to a satisfactory level to sustain their associated
biodiversity. This is an improvement on the five areas receiving attention in 2001.
This analysis excludes the Cape Peninsula Park which is referred to later in the
chapter. The 23 areas managed by the City’s Nature Conservation Branch,
amounting to 7 777 ha, are listed in Table 5.1 below.
Table 5.1 Protected areas under the jurisdiction of the City of Cape Town
Status
Reserve
Managed for biodiversity to satisfactory levels
Satisfactory
Improving
No/Insufficient
levels
levels
Management
Proclaimed Local
Helderberg Nature Reserve
ü
Authority Nature
Tygerberg Nature Reserve
ü
Reserves
Durbanville Nature Reserve
ü
Rondevlei Nature Reserve
ü
Zandvlei Nature Reserve
ü
1
Harmony Flats Nature Reserve
ü
Dick Dent Nature Reserve
ü
Braken Nature Reserve
ü
Zoarvlei Nature Reserve
ü
2
ü
Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve
Edith Stevens Nature Reserve
ü
ü
Raapenberg Nature Reserve
ü
Wolfgat Nature Reserve
3
Natural Heritage
Silverboom Kloof Natural Heritage Site
ü
Sites
Rondebosch Common Natural Heritage
ü
Site
Waterhof Heritage Site
ü
ü
Rondebosch Common
4
Protected Natural
Lourens Protected Natural Environment
ü
Environments
Rietvlei Protected Natural Environment
ü
Nature Areas
Uitkamp Wetlands Nature Area
ü
Biosphere
Blaauwberg Conservation Area
ü
Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve (part)
ü
Reserve
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
73
Biodiversity
1
A student site manager has been employed using funds granted to the Friends of Helderberg Nature Reserve by
the Botanical Society of South Africa in partnership with Cape Flats Nature
2
The area is actively managed in conjunction with City Conservation staff and the Somerset West Bird Club.
3
This area is managed by the City Conservation staff although insufficient funds inhibits holistic managed of the
area.
The Friends of Helderberg Nature Reserve have taken over the running of the committee for
Silwerboomkloof
4
A statutory body, the Management Advisory Committee for the Lourens River Protected Natural Environment is in
place. This committee meets once a month to advise on activities taking place within the PNE. The river is
actively managed by Conservation Staff within the Helderberg Region and alien vegetation clearing takes place
on a regular basis as well as the control of vagrants and litter. Schools are also involved in environmental
education programmes along the river. The region enjoys the commitment of the Lourens River Conservation
Society.
The state of the conserved flora in the City of Cape Town is affected by the
management levels on proclaimed areas. Because many of the existing reserves do
not meet management levels necessary to ensure biodiversity protection, flora
conservation is compromised. Furthermore there is no city-wide biodiversity
conservation network in place, many conservation worthy areas that have no formal
status and do not enjoy recognition and protection in terms of the City’s rich
biodiversity.
Number of children exposed to environmental education through nature areas
During 2002 environmental education was provided to 24 100 schoolchildren, an
increase of 3 240 children for the same period last year (Table 5.2). The City’s
Nature Conservation Branch assisted 17 799 school children, the rest were managed
by private concerns.
Table 5.2 Number of children exposed to Environmental Education through nature
areas between 1999 and 2003
Reserve
99/2000
2000/2001
2001/2002
2002/2003
Rietvlei
No record
no record
334
313
Tygerberg
No record
903
2 470
Durbanville
No record
144
612
Zandvlei
0
250
1 207
4 331
Edith Stevens
0
0
1 820
2 113
Zeekoevlei (private)
0
735
1 275
2 000
Rondevlei
6 009
7 262
8 721
5 367
Helderberg (private)
1 675
2 642
3 571
4 301
Kogelberg (ECO - private)
No record
No record
850
0
Wolfgat
No record
No record
No record
598
TOTAL
7 684
11 936
20 860
24 100
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
5 077
74
Biodiversity
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses are being undertaken in 2002:
•
The City of Cape Town is developing a Biodiversity Strategy as one of the
Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy (IMEP) priority strategies, to tackle
the task of protecting its biodiversity. This Strategy has six strategic objectives,
which will provide ways in which the City can best nurture its spectacular natural
beauty and conserve its rich natural heritage, namely:
§
Establish a Primary Biodiversity Network of reserves and protected areas to
conserve and protect an adequately representative sample of all the unique
biodiversities in the City.
§
Establish a Secondary Biodiversity Network recognising the importance and
role of other open space that although serving other primary functions can
play if managed appropriately in the conservation of biodiversity by acting as
essential corridors and links to enhance the protection of biodiversity.
§
Conserving rivers and wetlands as crucial, sensitive and rich biological
systems and essential ecological corridors and links.
§
Manage invasive alien vegetation to provide protection for the most
threatened species, habitats and ecologically sensitive areas.
§
Establish a Biodiversity Information and Monitoring system to facilitate
effective decision-making and to manage and monitor the achievements of
the Biodiversity Strategy as well as the state of the biodiversity.
§
Promote Biodiversity education and awareness in order to effectively share,
own and take collective responsibility for the City’s exceptional biodiversity
resources.
A core component of each strategic objective and an over-arching theme of the
Biodiversity Strategy is the role of partners and partnerships in protecting and
conserving biodiversity. The City of Cape Town cannot conserve and enhance
biodiversity on its own, but will only be successful with the active participation and
support of a wide range of organisations and individuals.
Recognising the value of conserving biodiversity and its responsibility on behalf of
the international common good, the CCT actively promoted its Draft Biodiversity
Strategy, and sought international partnerships, at the World Summit on
Sustainable Development (WSSD) in August 2002. Significant positive feedback
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
75
Biodiversity
and support was received by the CCT on its efforts to conserve and enhance
biodiversity by the international community.
The Draft Biodiversity Strategy was published for public review and comment in
November
2002.
The
Biodiversity
Strategy
can
be
downloaded
at
www.capetown.gov.za/enviro/imep
A City Biodiversity Task Team has been set up to implement the overall
Biodiversity Strategy and there are working groups made up of officials from
different service delivery units for each strategic objective. Action plans are being
developed for each strategic objective.
Identification of a Biodiversity Network for the City of Cape Town: In 2001, the
Identification of Key Nature Conservation Areas study used GIS and C-Plan to
identify terrestrial areas needed to ensure the enhancement and protection of the
City of Cape Town’s terrestrial biodiversity. This study was reviewed and revised
and has identified the minimum set of areas needed to conserve an ecologically
representative set of Cape Town’s unique biodiversity.
This proposed
Biodiversity Network has been mapped and provides a long-term vision of open
spaces and natural areas that can ensure that biodiversity is protected for current
and future generations. For spatial information on the network please visit
www.capetown.gov.za/enviro/esm.
•
Status Quo Assessment of the 37 Core Botanical Sites was completed in
September 2002.
The primary objective was to complete a status quo
assessment of each of the 37 Cape Flats Flora Core conservation sites in order
to further develop proactive strategies and refine and inform management
implications. This was achieved by undertaking a comprehensive physical and
social attributes sensitive site analysis of each of the sites and surroundings. The
study presents status quo information as of June 2002, including ecological,
social, planning and management overviews.
•
Evaluation of Management Models for Protected Areas in the City of Cape Town:
In parallel a study was completed to investigate and define appropriate and
relevant models for conservation for the City of Cape Town.
The legislative
status management implications and resource requirements of each of these
models was investigated and analysed in terms of the long-term protection and
enhancement of Biodiversity in the City of Cape Town. The intention is to use the
information gathered in the Status Quo Assessment along with this appraisal of
conservation models to direct and drive the implementation of conservation
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
76
Biodiversity
management of the proposed Biodiversity Network. For spatial information on
the network please visit www.capetown.gov.za/enviro/esm.
•
Driftsands Nature Reserve: In 2002 the Driftsands Community Forum was
established and a Management Plan was developed for the reserve.
Environmental Education Programmes were run for the local schools.
Agricultural plans and the Environmental Management Plans for the construction
of the initiation village were completed.
Goals for 2003 include the
commencement of the construction of the initiation village, the rehabilitation of the
Kuils River, the resolution on the future of the informal settlements on site, the
training of the local communities in food gardening and the rehabilitation of the
site in terms of the clearing of alien vegetation and the implementation of a
sustainable waste management programme.
•
Bracken Nature Reserve: The Bracken Nature Reserve Conceptual Development
Plan was commissioned in June 1999 to determine the biophysical and socioeconomic worth of this area. The study showed that significant benefits would be
derived by increasing the size of the area through a link to Perdekop in the south.
Subsequent investigations showed that the portion of land around Perdekop was
highly significant in terms of ecological importance. A study was undertaken to
confirm the viability of the current reserve and to determine the feasibility of the
extension of the boundaries, to include a corridor between Brackenkoppie and
Perdekoppie. The purpose of this study was to develop a long-term management
plan for the Bracken Nature Reserve and environs in order to provide for
educational, recreational, conservation and economic opportunities for both the
immediate community and others in the CCT. The Bracken Nature Reserve
Management Plan will be sent to Council for approval in 2003.
Additional responses underway in which the City is partnering with various
organisations:
•
The Western Cape Nature Conservation Board’s (WCNCB) State of Biodiversity
programme is proceeding in a set of phases with a 5 year interval between status
reports. The first phase was to set up the infrastructure to allow the capture and
extraction of biodiversity information. This was achieved with the co-operation of
a suite of partners, including the City of Cape Town. These phases concluded
with the production of the first State of the Biodiversity Report for the Western
Cape Province. It covers only the vertebrate animals and is available in CD
format.
The next edition will be expanded to cover plants and the edition
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
77
Biodiversity
following that will cover select invertebrate groups. For more information, please
visit www.capenature.org.za.
•
Cape Action for People and the Environment (CAPE) has made significant
progress during 2002. The City’s biodiversity initiatives complement and support
the large-scale ecoregional programme being undertaken across the Cape Floral
Kingdom, namely Cape Action for People and the Environment (C.A.P.E.). A
report for terrestrial ecosystems, published in 1999, showed that all of the habitat
types found on the City of Cape Town Cape Lowlands were of maximum
conservation value and recommended that all of the remnant habitat was
required in order to achieve a modest conservation target. Given the high-threat
status of this region, it emerged as a priority for conservation action. This has
opened the door for international funds to be allocated for conservation actions
on the City of Cape Town's lowlands. The City of Cape Town recently signed the
Memorandum of Understanding for C.A.P.E. and has thus committed itself to the
C.A.P.E. vision and to be an implementing partner.
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Funding (CEPF), to the value of $6 million,
was secured by C.A.P.E. for projects in the Cape Floral Kingdom. A number of
projects were recipients of grants from the CEPF funding. Significant preparatory
work was undertaken in preparation for a submission to the Global Environmental
Facility (GEF) for funding for C.A.P.E. The intention is to request funding from
GEF to the value of $11 million dollars over a 5-7 year period. For more
information please visit www.wwfsa.org.za or www.capeaction.org.za.
•
Table Mountain Fund (TMF): The overarching objective of the TMF is the
conservation of the biodiversity of the Cape Peninsula and the Cape Floristic
Kingdom (CFK) as a whole, including the adjacent marine systems, all of which
are of global significance. TMF continues to sponsor and manage a number of
studies and initiatives as part of the development of a plan for the conservation
and management of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, which includes the CCT area.
The project focal areas are as follows:
¦
Protection of Prioritised areas:
¦
Terrestrial ecosystems (2 active projects, 11 projects completed)
¦
Freshwater ecosystems (4 active projects)
¦
Marine ecosystems (3 active projects, 3 projects completed).
¦
The building of environmental awareness through active partnerships
(4 active projects, 6 projects completed).
¦
The control of alien invasives and the restoration of natural biodiversity
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
78
Biodiversity
(2 active projects, 3 projects completed).
¦
Applied research that supports biodiversity conservation and builds
institutions (2 active projects, 9 projects completed).
¦
Enhancement of the global conservation status of the Cape Floral
Kingdom (2 active projects, 1 project completed).
¦
Conservation of the lowlands of the Cape Floral Kingdom (5 active
projects, 1 project completed).
For more information on TMF please visit www.panda.org.za.
•
The Santam / Cape Argus Ukuvuka Operation Firestop campaign was initiated
after the devastating fires in January 2000, which destroyed vast areas in the
Western Cape and 8 370ha in the Cape Peninsula along with destroying eight
houses and damaging 51 houses. The fires created the opportunity to form a
short-term public/private sector partnerships (PPP). The main aim of the PPP is
to ensure that the avoidable conditions that lead to fires, both in the mountains as
well as in the informal settlements, are so changed that uncontrolled fires are
significantly decreased in the campaign area (the Cape Peninsula) by the end of
the Campaign in June 2004.
The City of Cape Town is the major financial sponsor of the Campaign. Other
sponsors are Santam, the Cape Argus, Total and WWF’s Green Trust made
possible by Nedbank, National Government, Department of Water Affairs and
Forestry and Environment and Tourism. There is a wide range of supporters,
which includes the National Botanical Institute, SANParks as well as
PriceWaterhouse Coppers (auditors) who provide professional services.
The overriding aim of the Ukuvuka campaign and its implementing partners is to
significantly reduce the damage and danger from uncontrolled fires in the Cape
Peninsula. In addition, the campaign seeks to create employment opportunities
and ensure the ecological integrity of the Cape Peninsula National Park. The
Campaign further wishes to create a role model of the Public/Private/Community
partnerships that can be replicated in other areas in South Africa as well as
internationally.
There has been considerable activity within the Campaign during the past year
(2002). The Fire Protection Association is ringed by 228.4 km of fire belts, of
which 77% have been prepared. There were four fires that burned an area
greater than 10 hectares, with no loss of life on the Peninsula mountain chain. In
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
79
Biodiversity
informal settlements there has been an approximate decrease of 70% in the loss
of homes compared with the situation in 2000. More information is available on
the regularly updated website - www.ukuvuka.org.za.
•
The people centred Cape Flats Nature – Biodiversity for the People partnership
project between the City, the NBI, Table Mountain Fund and the Botanical
Society is building local leadership in conservation and spreading good practice.
The project has already enhanced initiatives that are underway and efforts at
raising funds locally and internationally from private and public sources are
looking very promising.
A number of biodiversity-related initiatives have,
however, been completed or are underway. The Cape Flats Flora Core
Conservation Sites project is a key biodiversity initiative, which forms a core
component of the Biodiversity Strategy (see responses section).
This study
identified 38 core botanical sites that need to be protected and managed to
ensure the survival of the unique Cape Flats flora. These sites contain over
97.5% of the unique plant species of the Cape Flats. The City of Cape Town
(CCT) has adopted and supported the challenge and urgency of ensuring
adequate conservation status and management for these sites. In addition to the
Cape Flats Flora programme, another study initiated in 2001, the "Identification of
Key Nature Conservation Areas in the City of Cape Town", which identifies all the
terrestrial areas in the City of Cape Town that are needed to ensure the
enhancement and protection of the City of Cape Town's terrestrial biodiversity
has been completed in 2002. Once the results have been finalised, the aim is to
establish a biodiversity network, i.e. a committed number of Key Biodiversity
Areas together with linking areas forming ecological corridors and transition
areas, within the City of Cape Town. These will ultimately be prioritised for
protection and management.
•
Blaauwberg Conservation Area (BCA): Work was completed on the coastal zone
protection and enhancement program initiated during 2002. Parking lots at the
coast were resurfaced and upgraded with placement of bollards to protect the
dunes, signage and dustbins. Bollards were also placed along the length of Otto
du Plessis drive, in the BCA, to control access to the coastal dunes via a number
of informal entry points. The bollards were manufactured out of recycled plastic.
A dune rehabilitation programme was undertaken in strategic places to assist with
natural rehabilitation of the dune vegetation. The dunes showed a remarkable
recovery once they were no longer subjected to vehicular traffic. A significant
step forward for the BCA was the acquisition by the City of the property
Blaauwbergsvlei. This property comprises part of the Primary Conservation Zone
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
80
Biodiversity
of the BCA, and includes the summit of Blaauwberg Hill, with it iconic view of
Table Mountain, Robben Island and Table Bay.
The southern section of
Blaauwberg Hill and Kleinberg also form part of the property.
From a
conservation point of view, the acquisition has secured valuable Renosterveld
into City ownership, as well as historical structures from the Second World War.
The property has however been damaged by inappropriate use by irresponsible
off-road vehicle enthusiasts. In response the Friends of Blaauwberg Conservation
Area (a civil society group of interested citizens, established during 2002 under
the auspices of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) have
formed a partnership with responsible Off-road Vehicle Clubs to assist with
controlling irresponsible activities on the Hill, and to help with rehabilitation of
existing damage. In addition, the Friends of BCA have also undertaken other
activities, such as a beach cleanup, botanical guided walks and arranged evening
talks on topics of relevance to the BCA. The Blaauwberg Conservation Area
(BCA) Implementation Co-ordination Committee (ICC), comprising government
and civil society partners, has provided input to a number of proposals / initiatives
that have an impact on the BCA. For example, the BCA ICC gave substantial
input to the plans for the refurbishment of Eerstesteen recreational area, given
that it occurs within the BCA’s Primary Conservation Zone.
•
False Bay Ecology Park (FBEP): A review of the Development and Action Plan
(Phase 1), prepared for the False Bay Ecology Park, was undertaken.
A
Provisional Steering Committee, comprising representatives of government and
civil society was established to take the FBEP forward to realisation. A threat to
the realisation of the vision and objectives of the FBEP is the alignment of the
proposed R300 Toll Road, which would effectively bisect the Park.
The
Provisional Steering Committee provided consolidated comment, outlining the
uniqueness and value of the Park and concerns relating to the Toll Road, to the
Environmental Consultants working for the Toll Road Consortium.
•
The development of a Natural Interface Strategy is underway with a number of
key initiatives undertaken in support of the strategy. These initiatives include the
mapping of fire infrastructure in the former Cape Town Council areas and the
development of guidelines for land use planning and stormwater management in
veld fire risk areas. These initiatives will continue in 2003 with an extension of
the fire infrastructure mapping to the South Peninsula area and the integration of
guidelines into existing urban edge documents and the City of Cape Town
Stormwater Management Strategy.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Biodiversity
5.2 Location of the Cape Peninsula National Park (CPNP) within Cape Town
State and Trends
Park establishment
Currently, 24 310ha (615 properties) of undeveloped natural areas on the Cape
Peninsula
(approximately
81%
of
the
Cape
Peninsula
Protected
Natural
Environment) are under park management. Of this, some 6 283ha (172 properties)
has yet to be formally proclaimed. Some 781ha of private land were contracted into
the park and 481ha of public land was vested in the park.
As a result of a collaborative effort between private sector funders including DaimlerChrysler, the Table Mountain Fund (TMF) and WWF-SA, the City of Cape Town, the
Joan St Leger Lindberg Charitable Trust, SANParks and the SANPARKS Trust,
significant progress has been made in the consolidation of the northern and southern
portions of the park through the acquisition of over 400 hectares of private land in the
Noordhoek wetlands and the establishment of a ‘biological corridor’.
The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has approved the establishment
of a Marine Park on the Cape Peninsula. An institutional structure, headed by a
senior manager, has been established by the park in anticipation of the proclamation
of the Marine Park.
Park planning and development
Redevelopment of the Boulders and Cape Point Homestead visitors’ centres, funded
respectively by a loan from the IDC and direct funding from the City of Cape Town,
has been completed. A draft Conservation Plan for East Fort (Hout Bay) has been
submitted for internal review in co-operation with the Hout Bay Llandudno Heritage
Trust.
A boardwalk has been completed around the dam at Silvermine, improving access
for mobility-impaired visitors, and the previously unplanned and badly eroded car
park at the Silvermine South Gate has been rehabilitated.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Biodiversity
Inventory, monitoring and information management
Table 5.3: Game counts for the Cape Peninsula National Park
Groote Schuur
ANIMALS
Cape of Good Hope
Estate
Bontebok
92
3
Ostrich
43
Eland
70
Klipspringer
16
Red Hartbeest
10
Boulders
Cape Mountain
Zebra
6
Babbons (5 troops)
Black Wildebeest
Sambar
2
Fallow Deer
Penguins
2
3
16
30
2
Himalayan tahr
1
154
1
150
2
100
3
3600
= Not indigenous to the Cape Peninsula
= Exotic species – estimated
= Estimated
Some 280 marine-related registered cases of poaching were documented within the
Park during 2002.
Invasive alien plant management
The main thrust in the CPNP’s conservation efforts continues to be the Park’s
invasive alien plant control programme. By the end of 2002, some 82% of the area
managed by the Park had been cleared at least initially and much of that area has
been followed up at least once and, in many cases, multiple times. Areas newly
cleared often have an unattractive, “moonscape” appearance, but rehabilitation is
gradually improving this.
During 2002, 8 448ha was cleared by contractors supervised by the park at a cost of
R10 238 296. As a collaborative project, funding for the programme is sourced from
the Global Environment Fund (GEF), Ukuvuka, DWAF’s Working for Water and
SANParks.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Biodiversity
It is estimated that up to 550 people receive a direct livelihood from the park’s alien
clearing programs, although this number can fluctuate.
Fire control and management
Sixty-four fires (total area burnt of 578ha) were reported during the fire season. Of
this total, 53 covered less than one hectare, six covered between one and four
hectares and five covered more than four hectares. The fire-fighting helicopter was
deployed for 63 flying hours.
All stacks of cleared invasive plants were burnt during the winter period and two
prescribed, controlled burns were undertaken – 300ha at Karbonkelberg and 7ha at
Clovelly.
The fact that stack burns can now safely take place virtually anywhere in the park is
testimony to the degree to which the fire risk has been reduced in recent years.
Cultural heritage resources
A Heritage Resource Management Plan was initiated to inform the conservation
Development Framework and can be viewed on the park website (www.cpnp.co.za).
One of the issues concerns the clearing of invasive and non-invasive alien plants that
are considered to be of heritage significance in the number of designated areas in
the park.
Environmental education
Currently the park provides educational services through the Sunbird Centre, Orange
Kloof EcoCentre and Boulders Centre. An education resource file has been
compiled, consisting of five illustrated books or modules.
With the limited budget available, it is not considered possible to provide and
maintain education services across all of these centres.
A feasibility study was
hence undertaken to develop a consolidated environmental education facility at
Bordjiesrif.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
84
Biodiversity
Summary of responses - CPNP
Park establishment
A priority focus for park management include the inclusion into the park of a small
section of land in the “Noordhoek-Fish Hoek gap” to complete the link between the
central and southern sections of the park; the incorporation of the remaining public
land within the CPPNE into the park; the proclamation of existing public land
currently managed by the park; and the inclusion of key private properties in the
central and southern sections, into the park. A draft notice is being prepared for
insertion in the Government Gazette formally notifying the public of the intent to
establish the Marine Park on the Cape Peninsula, and calling for comment.
Inventory, monitoring and information management
The CPNP will count large mammals again in November this year to include the
outcomes of the Bontebok, Hartbeest and Eland lambing season. Penguin monitoring
at Boulders will continue to guide the controls for population management, design of
artificial nests and management response to stress on the birds. A penguin tracker
system is currently being planned. The ongoing oystercatcher count with the Avian
Demographic Unit (ADU) from the University of Cape Town will continue to be
supported.
Invasive alien plant management
The focus of the clearing program will be to promote biodiversity and reduce the fire
risk. Most of the remaining 18% of land not yet cleared by the park includes
precipitous areas infested by alien trees or areas where alien trees are the subject of
disagreements concerning the historical-cultural significance of the trees. These
areas will be addressed in a focussed strategic planning exercise to optimise
realisation of the park’s conservation objectives without compromising the heritage
significance of the park and to ensure the most cost-effective clearing methodologies.
Problem animal control
The implementation of the Himalayan Tahr eradication programme is awaiting the
outcomes of a court action instituted against SANParks by the Friends of the Tahr
(FotT). There is some concern that the now-two-year delay in the culling operation
will undermine the excellent work done by the City of Cape Town in controlling the
tahr population prior to the establishment of the Park.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Biodiversity
Fire control and management
Nineteen areas have been allocated for the next winter stack-burning program. A
number of priority areas for the next prescribed burn season in March/April will be
discussed with affected stakeholders. The existing firebreak network along the urban
edge will be maintained.
Cultural heritage resources
The Heritage Resource Plan, when completed in 2003, will identify a number of
important areas that comprise heritage landscapes, as part of the first step in the
time-consuming process towards reaching an agreement about which alien trees
constitute heritage resources and which do not. This process will actively engage
with the public before an agreement can be reached on implementation.
Environmental education
A number of workshops will be held for teachers, explaining how they can use the
Education Resources file. It is envisaged that teachers would be empowered to
provide environmental education programmes themselves and to optimise the full
benefits of the unmanned environmental education centres and educational
resources provided by the park. The park will also develop educational video
materials to complement these resources. The park is investigating the feasibility of
purchasing a bus to transport learners from disadvantaged communities to the park.
Although Bordjiesrif (Cape Point) was the park’s preferred site for a single
environmental education facility, this has been put on hold, as CPNP staff feel that
certain issues need further investigating. There is some public opposition to using
this venue, and it was decided that the issues raised by the public would first be
addressed by the park before proceeding with the detailed planning for Bordjiesrif.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
86
Biodiversity
Reflections and Summary – Biodiversity
Cape Town’s unique biodiversity remains under significant threat owing to urban
expansion. However 2002 was a memorable year for Biodiversity. Resources have
increased, sharper focus attained and a number of new role players are collaborating
more closely and exerting influence. The role players include Cape Action for People
and the Environment (CAPE), Western Cape Nature Conservation Board (WCNCB)
and the Cape Peninsula National Park (CPNP). The City’s draft Biodiversity Strategy
is aligned with these initiatives. Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other
international funding agencies have also supported these actions.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
6 URBANISATION, URBAN FORM AND HOUSING
Housing remains a critical issue in the City, although the backlog seems to have
stabilised.
The absence of an integrated strategy for the provision of housing and
shelter continue to undermine service delivery in this sector. The absence of a
functioning Metropolitan Spatial Development Framework and the Cape Metropolitan
Open Space System do little to contain urban sprawl and direct urban form.
The issues are:
6.1 Housing Cape Town’s Growing Population
6.2 Urban sprawl
6.3 Urban Structure
6.4 Metropolitan Open Space
IMEP’s Vision for Cape Town (2020):
The cultural heritage and built environment will be enhanced, restored and protected,
while diverse religions and cultures will enrich the social fabric of the City of Cape Town.
Environmental poverty will no longer exist and all communities will live in an
environment that is not detrimental to their health or well being.
There will be adequate and well distributed open spaces for recreation and sustaining
biodiversity.
6.1 Housing Cape Town’s Growing Population
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
The housing backlog seems to have stabilised. This may be due to reduced in-migration
rates and / or better monitoring systems. The need for housing remains a critical issue
and a strategic focus area for the current administration.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
Percentage population without housing
The housing backlog has remained static at 245 000 houses in 2002 (Figure 6.1 below).
There are 71 informal settlements accounting for approximately 84 000 structures
housing an estimated 325 000 people.
Figure 6.1 Housing backlog (number of units) in Cape Town
Backlog (Houses)
300000
250000
221000
240000
245000
245000
1999
2000
2001
2002
200000
150000
150000
100000
50000
0
1998
Year
Annual population growth (absolute number and percentage)
According to the population projection study that was completed in October 2001 by
Prof. Dorrington, the CCT has an estimated population of 3.2 million in 2002 with a
growth rate of approximately 2%. This is higher than the 2001 census data which puts
Cape Town’s population at 2 893 247 and differs from the average growth rate of 2.9%
per annum for the years 1970-2001.
For information on growth rate of the City please refer to the section on Urban Sprawl
(Table 6.2 and Figure 6.2).
For information on the economic growth rate (4.1%) of the City please refer to the
Chapter 11: Economy.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses were underway in 2002:
•
The City of Cape Town has embarked on the preparation of a City Housing Plan.
Having gone through three drafts and a public participation process the final plan is
due to be adopted by Council in November 2003. The City Housing Plan sets the
strategic direction for housing processes in the metropolitan area, but attached to it is
a five-year business plan. The business plan articulates the specific activities to be
undertaken and targets being set.
•
The Directorate Public Housing has 60 housing projects on its capital budget. Some
of these have been open for many years, as they are being concluded in phases,
while others are about to be started. In total approximately 47 000 have either
already been housed or are being targeted for assistance. Efforts have been made
to bring variety to local living environments through innovative and varied locations of
new housing on the layout, and building to higher densities by including a second
storey such as in the Weltevreden Valley project.
•
Monitoring and servicing informal areas has been ongoing over the last few years.
Systematic and comprehensive data on the number, location, size and age of
informal areas has been compiled. Moreover in collaboration with the PAWC an
“informal settlements upgrade hand-book” has been written.
Due to funding
constraints very little in situ upgrade work has been done. However, up to 16 000
families previously in informal areas have been accommodated in RDP housing
projects over the last five years. R53 million has been provisioned for installation of
rudimentary services in these areas.
•
Significant work around home ownership education was conducted over the last
three years. This includes
§
All beneficiaries of a new home went through at least one “information
workshop.” Here they would get details of where to go for municipal enquiries,
how to read service accounts, basic instruction of house maintenance, leakages,
what title deeds mean, role of councillors, etc. This is done per project per phase
as it roles out, by the consultants and paid for from the project value. There are
two leaflets that people take with them containing input from other service
departments in the city of Cape Town.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
§
Using donor funds the City also prepared a “New Home Owners Manual”
containing much more detailed information, contact details for mirco-loan
agencies, a draft budget etc. This is handed out freely and on request. Knowing
that door-to-door visits are more effective, 9 000 house visits in eight
communities were held. A specially trained group of “local educators” were used.
§
A brochure was published to inform the public about the Phase Out Rental
Program.
They are available at 49 housing offices in three languages.
Workshops with Councillors were held to help them understand the specifics
while a further set was held with staff to introduce them to the program. This
program was prescribed by national government and involves the gradual
increase in rentals over a specified time to market relations. It begins in
September 2003.
•
With respect to Council housing, two important developments have occurred:
§
A uniform policy for the management of Council housing across the metropolitan
area has been prepared and adopted
§
A Social Housing Strategy was also adopted. This involves the transfer of nonsaleable units to specially created housing institutions, the rationalisation of a
number of Council housing offices and facilitating the construction of new social
housing units.
•
Possibly the most significant change to occur in housing in the last year has been the
adopting of a single computer-based system for all its transactions and work
processes.
This means most work, whether maintenance work, procurement,
income receipts, stores management, project management, payment etc, within the
Public Housing Directorate will be done on-line.
It means real-time financial
information will be available and that a single set of business practices, tariffs and
standards will be applicable across the metro area.
It also means a seamless
integration with other line functions of Council will prevail.
•
Information on land availability has been honed further and stored better. Currently
three new sites are being negotiated for purchase, the establishment of a revolving
land fund is being pursued and reuse of selected run-down housing is being looked
at by the Directorate.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
6.2 Urban sprawl
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Containment of the urban sprawl in Cape Town remains largely ineffectual due to delay
to Provincial acceptance of the Metropolitan Spatial Development Framework (MSDF).
A defined urban edge, the results from work on a number of urban edge studies, is likely
to assist the planning process.
Number of amendments beyond the urban edge – change of land use from open
space, agricultural rural to other
Previously information was provided by the metropolitan authority on the number of
amendments beyond the urban edge. The municipal structure has changed since 2000
and the commenting role of the metropolitan authority played in applications of
metropolitan significance does not exist anymore.
This information will in future be
obtained from a central database, which is currently being developed.
Number of constructions completed
A total of 11 530 structures were completed during 2002, down from 16 263 the year
before. During 2002, 11 308 residential structures, 220 non-residential structures and
7 545 additions and alterations were completed in the CCT area. There were less
additions and alterations in 2002 and more new residential properties in 2002 than 2001.
This covered an area of 1 281 454 m2. The Tygerberg area was the focus of the
majority of residential building work completed in the CCT in 2002, and the majority of
building work completed in the non-residential sector occurred in that area. Most of the
additions and alterations completed in 2002 occurred in the Tygerberg Administrative
area.
Refer to Table 6.1 and Figure 6.2 for an indication of residential and non-
residential focus areas.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
Table 6.1 Building statistics - Constructions completed during 2002
Residential
Non-residential
Additions & Alterations
2000
2002
2000
2002
2000
2002
Blaauwberg
2351
1464
32
30
933
671
Cape Town
599
522
43
10
2814
1756
Helderberg
421
969
16
20
512
629
Oostenberg
521
1314
28
20
656
No data
South Peninsula
1141
687
80
47
2155
1922
Tygerberg
1903
6352
100
93
1958
2349
Totals
6936
11308
299
220
9028
7547
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
93
Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
Figure 6.2 Building Statistics by Administrative Area for new buildings and renovations
in Cape Town (2002)
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
94
Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses were underway in 2002:
•
The Metropolitan Spatial Development Framework (MSDF) Redraft (2001) was
adopted by the City of Cape Town in October 2001. The redraft included the MSDF
Principles and Goals for Development, which were also resubmitted thereafter for
approval by the Provincial Government for the Western Cape. In 2002 a process was
initiated to review the MSDF, especially the underlying information and data
supporting the MSDF proposals. A Draft Phase 1: Spatial Analysis, Trends and
Implication Report has been produced.
Verification of the information and the
outcomes of the analysis still need to occur with the sectors that have contributed or
are influenced by the Report.
•
Urban Edge – This forms part of a comprehensive growth management study for the
CCT, specifically to counter sprawl and protect the natural resources and unique
character of different areas within Cape Town. The demarcation of the urban edge
line and the formulation of management policies and strategies for zones on either
side of that line are not aimed at solely limiting urban development, but also at
directing the form and pattern of metropolitan growth. Three urban edge studies, the
Peninsula Urban Edge Study, the Northern Urban Edge Study (inclusive also of the
Melkbosstand Urban Edge Study), and the Helderberg Urban Edge Study, were
adopted by the City of Cape Town in August 2001, and then submitted to Provincial
Government: Western Cape (PGWC) in October 2001 for approval in terms of the
Land Use Planning Ordinance (LUPO, 1985).
However, further work was requested to ensure the effectiveness of the urban edge.
One of the areas identified, as requiring further clarity was that pertaining to the
assessment of urban edge related development applications. Unlike the Northern
Metro and Helderberg Urban Edge Studies, management zones for the Peninsula
Urban Edge were not initially determined, despite being part of the original terms of
reference. This could be attributed to a variety or reasons, not least of which being
the complexity of the Peninsula area.
The following two studies were therefore
initiated to address this need for further work to facilitate the effective implementation
of the urban edge:
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
§
The Urban Edge Guidelines Manual Study addresses the need for further
clarity and guidance pertaining to the assessment of urban edge related
development applications.
§
A study to determine Management Zones for the Peninsula Urban Edge was
initiated.
It is expected that both these studies will be completed in 2003.
•
The Blaauwberg Spatial Development Framework (BSDF) third draft document has
been circulated to the Interested and Affected Parties for comment during October
2001. A number of workshops were held and the comments received were reviewed
and the necessary technical amendments were made to the document and a final
draft has been produced. The BSDP was submitted to the Blaauwberg and Good
Hope Sub-councils. It will be submitted to Planning and Environment Portfolio
Committee and Council for adoption and then submitted to PGWC for approval in
terms of Section 4(6) of LUPO. However, the process is currently on hold to enable
the relevant role players to sort out critical issues with regard the Koeberg
Emergency Plan and evacuation procedure.
•
Heritage Resources Policy and Legislative Framework – No information has been
received
to
update
this
response,
please
see
earlier
SoE
reports
on
www.capetown.gov.za/soe
•
Land Use Management System – The objective of a Land Use Management
Systems (LUMS) is to establish an integrated system for land use management in
the City of Cape Town; to provide appropriate mechanisms and tools to address the
complex development and conservation challenges and rationalise, consolidate and
align processes, procedures and decision making, pertaining to land use
management where the latter refers to allocating and administering land use rights
and related development rules and conditions of approval. For more information
please visit - www.capetown.gov.za/planning/lums.
•
The Integrated Zoning Scheme is one of the many tools of the LUMS, which has
been identified to be fast tracked. At the moment some 27 zoning schemes are in
force across the City of Cape Town. Many of these zoning schemes have different
definitions, zones and special consent uses. The management of so many zoning
schemes places a huge administrative burden on the Council officials who have to
process all applications whilst inconsistencies frustrate the development industry.
Many existing zoning schemes also need to be updated so as to respond to current
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
issues and problems not adequately dealt with in the existing zoning schemes. The
City has initiated a new zoning scheme for Cape Town. This process will
amalgamate or join up each of the zoning schemes, whilst at the same time, update
and adapt the zoning scheme to fit in with the many different needs of society. This
process will take approximately three years until completion and is called the
Integrated Zoning Scheme. During this project, the following will take place:
§
Definitions will be simplified and standardised.
§
The zones will be streamlined and revised. Old zones may change and new
zones may be created should this be needed.
§
•
Provision will also be made to include informal areas into the zoning scheme.
Land Use Policies - At the same time as developing a new Integrated Zoning
Scheme, Council has, as part of the LUMS, started to address the many Land Use
Policies that exist across the City. Policies are being drafted for new land uses, e.g.
Adult Entertainment as well as rationalising existing policies across the city e.g. Bed
and Breakfast establishments.
•
A Rural Management Framework for the City of Cape Town: Prior to 2001 Cape
Town’s rural areas were under the jurisdiction of different local authorities, each with
their own approach to rural management. To rationalise the management of rural
areas, the City of Cape Town has put in place a Rural Management Framework.
The framework addresses the many challenges facing the rural areas surrounding
the City.
It has been prepared in consultation with rural stakeholders and
surrounding local authorities.
The Rural Management Framework covers the following three aspects;
§
Principles on which to base the management of the City’s rural areas
§
Rural Spatial Framework: This spatial framework complements the City’s spatial
plans for its urban areas. It shows which rural areas should be conserved and
where rural development should take place.
§
Rural Management Guidelines: Guidelines are provided for each of the City’s
rural management sector.
To view the Rural Management Framework on the City’s website, visit
www.capetown.gov.za/planning
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
6.3 Urban Structure
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
A number of new initiatives and projects have been initiated and implementation of other
projects is progressing. Closer integration between land-use planning and transportation
planning is needed to ensure sustainable benefits to development of urban structure.
Number of mixed use rezoning approvals
Previously information was provided by the metropolitan authority on the number of
mixed use rezoning applications of a metropolitan scale. The municipal structure has
changed since 2000 and the commenting role of the metropolitan authority played in the
applications of metropolitan significance does not exist anymore. The information will in
future be obtained from a central database (this is currently being developed).
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
•
An MSDF Indicators study was initiated in 2000 and completed in October 2001.
This focused on two types of indicators, namely conformance (to the plan) and
performance (with respect to outcomes).
The first report (baseline) will be
available at the end of August 2003.
Refer also to the responses described in the Urban Sprawl section 6.2
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
6.4 Metropolitan Open Space
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Open space is increasingly important for economic and social as well as environmental
values. A well-planned and maintained open space system is needed to support tourism
and recreation, and to improve the quality of living environments in less privileged parts
of the City.
Percent of non-urban land in Cape Town
A total of 88% of the CCT’s land does not have a build-up structure on it. This includes
areas such as agricultural land, roads, green areas, residential gardens and vacant land.
(No update available)
Green area per capita (ha/person)
Green area is at approximately 0.0204 ha/person (204m2/person), from 651,5 km2 and a
population of approximately 3.2 million.
Area of Cape Town that has formal status as MOSS
This is not an effective indicator, although it seems to show how slow the process is. No
land had formal MOSS status in 2001 or 2002. The MOSS study was expected to be
completed in 2001 but, due to local government re-structuring, this was not possible.
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
•
The CMOSS (Cape Metropolitan Open Space System) Strategy, as the MOSS
Study, has now become known as, has three principal aims:
1. Develop a definition and vision and criteria and methodology for identifying and
mapping CMOSS
2. Identify which open spaces should form part of CMOSS
3. Provide broad guidelines to assist with the management and implementation of
this CMOSS
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
An integral part of meeting these three aims is to synthesise and co-ordinate the various
current open space related initiatives in the City, and also to ensure public participation.
•
The first phase, addressing the first aim, was undertaken in 2000, and included a
series of key stakeholders and public workshops, as well as the distribution of a
general CMOSS information pamphlet. The second phase commenced in 2001 with
a pilot project study, inclusive of a public participation process, in a large area of the
metro-east of the City. The third phase commenced at the end of 2001 with the
drafting of a Management Guidelines Framework.
•
As part of Phase 2 of CMOSS a first draft CMOSS map layer has been produced,
based on the methodology developed in the First Phase of the Strategy, and refined
through the Pilot Project Study. This represents a significant information database of
potentially great value to the City, as it is effectively the first inclusive (of all open
space types) and consistent database of all open spaces having value to the City.
This information, which is largely cadastrally defined in a GIS, and inclusive of an
extensive database, cannot, however, yet be considered as an information layer
acceptable to the City. An interactive process of ‘verification’ and ‘reconciliation’ of
the information needs first to occur. This has commenced across the various line
functions and geographical administration areas of the City, but is as yet at an early
stage. This will be followed by a strategic phased public participation process.
•
Phase 3 has proceeded with, firstly, initial refinements of the Management
Guidelines Framework, and then the distribution of this draft framework to all relevant
officials in the City for information and comment.
•
Work
has
commenced
on
providing
a
CMOSS
web-site
(www.capetown.gov.za/planning/msdf/moss.asp), which has still to be completed.
•
A steady strengthening of inter-directorate / inter-initiative relation has been
occurring with greater working group representivity and a converging of information
and position.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
Reflections and Summary – Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing
The housing backlog remains an important issue in the urbanisation theme. The need to
provide housing to address this backlog requires that appropriate land be identified and
released for development. Integration of the various city-wide planning initiatives such as
the Housing Plan, Public transport planning, CMOSS and the proposed Biodiversity
Network will assist in providing a quality living environment to all. The majority of the
indicators in the urbanisation theme are still unable to provide an accurate picture for
these aspects of the built environment. Delays with implementation of CMOSS and the
MSDF do little to contain urban sprawl and direct urban form.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
101
Infrastructure
7 INFRASTRUCTURE
Despite a slow down in the population growth in Cape Town the latest data suggest
that service delivery, with the exception of refuse removal, has declined during the
past year. Local government restructuring and declining budgets (in real terms) have
negatively impacted on service delivery.
The issue is:
7.1 Provision of Basic Services and Infrastructure
IMEP’s Vision for Cape Town (2020):
The City of Cape Town communities will have adequate shelter and basic services
and will have access to education, employment and recreation. The livelihoods of the
citizens will be sustainable and in harmony with the natural environment.
7.1 Provision of Basic Services and Infrastructure
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
The data for the indicators in this section suggest that basic infrastructural
development has slowed down during the past year, with the exception of refuse
removal services.
Households receiving refuse removal services
From Figure 7.1 (below) the indications are that the refuse removal services have
continued to improve with 97% of the population receiving refuse removal services
as compared to 95% last year. This data does not, however, give an indication of
whether there are anomalies in the geographical distribution of removal services
within the City of Cape Town area.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
102
Infrastructure
Figure 7.1 Percentage of Households receiving refuse removal services
(* - no data available)
Households with refuse removal
Households (%)
100%
91%
93%
1996
1997
No Data Available
120%
84%
80%
60%
40%
96%
95%
97%
2000
2001
2002
88%
*
20%
0%
1995
1998
1999
Year
Sanitation availability (type)
The percentage of households with on-site waterborne sanitation has decreased to
91% in 2002 as compared to 94% in 2001.
Figure 7.2 Percentage of households with on-site waterborne sanitation
(* - no data available)
Households with on-site waterborne sanitation
120%
89%
90%
93%
94%
91%
1999
2000
2001
2002
80%
60%
40%
*
*
20%
*
Households (%)
100%
1997
1998
0%
1995
1996
Year
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
103
Infrastructure
Water availability by source
From Figure 7.3 it is apparent that water supply has remained static and there has
been no improvement in water service delivery rate with approximately 20% of Cape
Town's population without piped water in the dwelling. There are no reliable data for
1998 and 2000.
Figure 7.3 Percentage of households with piped water in the dwelling
(* - no data available)
Households with piped water in dwelling
100%
82%
Household (%)
80%
79%
81%
1996
1997
79%
81%
80.40%
2001
2002
60%
40%
0%
1995
*
*
20%
1998
1999
2000
Year
Access to water is a critical issue as is loss (leakage, theft, etc) from the distribution
system. Approximately 18% of the City’s water is unaccounted for. International best
practice suggests a figure of 15%. In this respect that City is performing relatively
well.
Infrastructure budgets
This is a new indicator and serves to provide some explanation to the trends
observed above in terms of service delivery. Wastewater (including sanitation) and
Cleansing (including reuse removal) both experienced budget cuts during the last
financial year (Table 7.1).
Table 7.1 Operating and Capital budgets for Wastewater and Cleansing in the
City of Cape Town
Line
Function
Bulk waste
water
Cleansing
Operating Expenditure
Change
Capital Expenditure
Change
(in million Rands)
(%)
(in million Rands)
(%)
2001/2
2002/3
2001/2
308.9
285.5
- 7.6%
457.2
487.0
6.1%
107.2
74.2
2002/3
82.1
-23.4%
64.8
- 12.7%
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
104
Infrastructure
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses were underway in 2002:
•
The City continued to implement progressive stepped water tariffs allowing for
the needs of the poor to be met, but also discouraging high consumption levels.
All households receive 6 Kl of free basic water per month.
•
In addition the City provides 4.2 kl of free basic sanitation to all households. This
equates to 28 free flushes a day.
•
Refer to Chapter 6.1 (Housing), Chapter 8 (Transportation) and Chapter 9
(Energy) for responses to Infrastructure.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
105
Infrastructure
Reflections and Summary - Infrastructure
Data for infrastructural development indicates that service delivery in Cape Town has
generally deteriorated between 2001 and 2002. Refuse removal services have,
however improved. However, approximately 20% of the population are still without
access to water in the dwelling.
The indicators in the infrastructure theme are relevant on an annual basis provided
that the data are available timeously. Where data are current they are largely
effective in portraying the current situation and trends as regards infrastructure in
Cape Town.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
106
Transport
8 TRANSPORT
Congestion, public transport, and road traffic safety remain important issues within
the transportation theme. Accidents cost Cape Town approximately R 2.5 billion
during 2002. Congestion and public transport, in particular, are contentious and
difficult issues which directly impact Cape Town’s environment. Congestion results in
increased levels of air pollution, stress, health problems as well as loss of productivity
and labour time. Transportation is also one of the largest contributors to greenhouse
gas emissions in Cape Town. Some of the indicators have not been updated
because the data are not available on an annual basis.
The issues are:
8.1 Private Vehicle Usage resulting in Traffic Congestion
8.2 Public Transport Services
8.3 Need to Expand Metropolitan Airports and Harbours to meet Growing Demand
8.4 Road Traffic Safety
IMEP’s Vision for Cape Town (2020):
Public transport will be safe, clean, efficient and non-polluting. Commuters will be
less reliant on private transport and there would be significant reductions in traffic
congestion and air pollution. Public transport will provide all inhabitants of the City of
Cape Town with a safe, affordable, and convenient access to urban opportunities.
8.1 Private Vehicle Usage and Traffic Congestion
Car ownership has increased steadily over the last few years, especially in the
middle and lower income groups. This is further enhanced by the current perceived
unattractiveness of public transport and subsidies to car ownership.
Rapid urbanisation and urban growth have resulted in a larger population in Cape
Town and this in turn leads to a larger number of people making use of public and
especially private transport to get to work. Due to urban sprawl the distances
between work and residences have also greatly increased.
The perceived unattractiveness of the public transport systems and the lack of
provision of services have resulted in more people driving further within Cape Town
to reach work or home.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
107
Transport
During peak periods the capacity of some road networks is exceeded and other road
networks are reaching their capacity. One of the reasons for the lack of capacity in
the road system is the lack of investment in both road and public transport systems.
The reason for private transport being the transport mode of choice is due to the lack
of integrated land use and transport planning and because it is perceived that public
transport systems are unsafe and unreliable.
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
•
There are 825 000 registered vehicles in all classes. Vehicle ownership has
increased by 45% in the 10-year period 1990 to 2000.
•
The numbers of motor cars has increased to approximately 570 000, doubling in
the last 25 years. There are now approximately 178 cars per 1 000 people in
Cape Town.
•
The public/private modal split is approximately 50%.
Private transport is the dominant single form of transport used by commuters in Cape
Town (approximately 50%). The highest proportion of private car commuting is done
from the higher income areas, but in terms of absolute numbers of cars, the highest
figures are found in the middle and lower income areas. Over 30% of all commuters
originate in the south-eastern areas of Cape Town. In terms of business travel,
private car transport is again dominant, further increasing traffic volumes on Cape
Town roads.
The number of private motor vehicles entering the Cape Town CBD
This is a new indicator. The number of private motor vehicles entering and leaving
the Cape Town CBD is given in Table 8.1.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Table 8.1 Light motor vehicles entering and leaving Cape Town CBD over 12 hr
period (7:00 to 19:00)
Year
Inbound
Outbound
1994
123 985
125 181
1995
135 723
129 231
1996
144 586
137 003
1997
148 078
142 634
1998
NA.
NA.
1999
NA.
NA.
2000
NA.
NA.
2001
157 452
163 639
2002
168 562
166 045
Source: Annual Vehicle Screenline Survey – Cape Town CBD 2002. City of Cape Town, Directorate:
Transport, Roads and Stormwater (Vol. 1 & 2). NA – no data available
The average metropolitan home - work trip is approximately 14 km. Lower income
areas average higher travel distances (15.5 km) than higher income areas (12.6 km),
highlighting the separation of work and residence places in Cape Town (CMC,
1997/8). The discrepancy between work and residence is also referred to in the
Economy chapter (Chapter 11).
Vehicles per 1 000 population.
This is not an annual indicator and is revised infrequently when the Metropolitan
Transport Plan is revised. There were, on average, 178 vehicles per 1 000 people in
2000 and it is likely that this figure will remain stable or increase since the long term
trend is increasing car ownership.
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses were underway in 2002:
•
The “Moving Ahead” Metropolitan Transport Plan is being developed in support of
the MSDF objectives. This includes the promotion of high density public transport
corridors and peak period counter flow movements in order to maximise the use
of existing road infrastructure and reduce average trip lengths and travel times.
The MSDF has been developed to direct and contain patterns of urban growth
and development to reduce the distances between places of residence and
employment. Both of these instruments have proved ineffectual in addressing
private vehicle usage and traffic congestion.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Transport
8.2 Public Transport Services
The primary impediment to effective, safe and efficient public transport is
inappropriate institutional structures to manage public transport within the City of
Cape Town. Inappropriate land use planning has resulted in a fragmented transport
system with poor integration between road and rail transport networks.
Rapid
urbanisation and urban growth have also given rise to larger numbers of people
requiring access to public transport.
It has been noted that personal security
concerns relating to public transport services results in more people choosing to use
private transport.
State and Trends
At present, the three main providers of public transport services in Cape Town
operate largely independently. There is extensive scope to rationalise public
transport services and provide an integrated multi-modal public transport system in
the metropole. Rail
•
Rail and bus services receive subsidies. In the 2001/2 financial year, the
annual subsidy to Cape Metrorail Services was R 240 million (Table 8.3
page113). The bus service received an annual subsidy of R 275 million. This
shows an increase of the bus subsidy, hence a continued improvement for
bus transport.
§
The responsibility of managing public transport is split between
various authorities and organisations, e.g. South African Rail
Commuter Corporation, National Department of Transport, Provincial
Government: Western Cape and the City of Cape Town.
§
The continuation of low-density land use development further reduces
the efficiency of the public transport system.
§
In 2001 there were 163 reported incidents of robbery, 179 incidents of
theft and 122 assaults recorded on the metropolitan trains. There were
34 murders and 5 incidents of rape in 2001 out of 503 incidents of
crime that were reported. No information is available for 2002.
Commuter Transport Modes
Residents of Cape Town use various modes of transport to commute between their
place of residence and employment. Although the single dominant mode of transport
is private vehicles, the modal split between public and private and public transport is
relatively stable at around 50% each. Road-based travel by commuters constitutes
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
110
Transport
71% of all commuter trips in the AM peak period. Public modes of transport consist of
buses, minibus taxis and rail, with rail being the most preferred choice of public
transport users. There is a lack of integration between modes of transport in Cape
Town, which contributes to overcrowding and congestion.
What is the state of the environment?
Rail Services
Currently, all commuter rail services in Cape Town are provided by Cape Metrorail, a
business unit of the parastatal company Transnet (Pty) Ltd). Cape Town is served
by a 250 km electrified railway network servicing a total of 117 passenger stations.
This is a significant city asset which is not utilized to its full potential. Trains on
mainline routes do not operate any later than 20h00 or earlier than 05h00. This
railway network, comprising seven rail routes, serves mainly the southern and the
eastern areas, with no commuter rail routes to the northern area of Cape Town. In
1998, Metorail accommodated 235 000 commuters daily during the morning peak
period (CMC, 2001) which it increased to 251 300 in 2000.
Bus Services
The largest and almost exclusive operator of passenger bus services in Cape Town
is Golden Arrow Bus Services (Pty) Ltd. Peak period services are provided on 900
routes or route combinations, however on half of these routes, only one bus trip is
scheduled during the AM peak period (CMC, 1997/8).
approximately 43% capacity during peak periods.
Buses operate at
The routes with the highest
bus/passenger demand are in areas without direct rail services to employment
centres.
Minibus Services
Approximately 59 different taxi associations comprising some 6 000 registered
minibus-taxis operate in Cape Town (CMC, 1997/8). Approximately 10 000 registered
and unregistered mini-bus taxis operate throughout the metropolitan area. Some 270
mini-bus taxi routes are operated from about 80 formalised (on-street and off-street)
taxi ranks and from about 100 other locations. Some minibus-taxi routes operate as
short feeder services to line haul taxi, bus and train services. Longer routes often
operate in direct competition with subsidised bus and rail services. The capacity of a
minibus-taxi varies from 11 to 15 passengers. Minibus-taxis operate at 59% capacity
during peak periods.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
111
Transport
Modal split percentages (road- versus rail-based transport and public versus
private transport)
The observed road:rail split in 1999 was 35:65. During 2000 public transport split for
road and rail based transport was observed to be 43:57 (AM peak period) thus
indicating a shift from rail to road based systems. From surveys undertaken in 1991
data indicated a modal split of approximately 50:50 private to public transport use.
There is no other data to indicate that the situation has changed significantly.
Transport to / from work by mode
Although the data are inconclusive (Table 8.2) there are indications that commuters
have shifted from rail to mini-bus taxi, although rail remains the most popular
transport mode for work. Buses remain the smallest mode of the public transport
options.
Table 8.2 Commuters per public transport mode (AM peak period only)
Mode
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Rail
265 800
NA
NA
251 300
NA
240 456
Bus
NA
NA
NA
43 319
NA
43 345
115 130
135 600
124 000
140 000
NA
93 724
Mini-Bus Taxi
NA – no data available
Public subsidies for public transport for all modes
The fact that bus services have received significant increases in subsidies during the
few years, unlike train subsidies, is out of context with user numbers by mode
(Compare tables 8.2 and 8.3). This was clearly one of the issues underlying the bustaxi wars in Cape Town during 2000 and is not sustainable in the long term. There
are no data available for 2002.
Table 8.3 Bus and Rail Subsidies 1990 – 2002 (in million Rands)
Mode
Year
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Bus
45
51
44
54
59
70
86
120
160
240
200
275
NA
Rail
110
132
154
176
198
220
229
248
255
150
230
240
NA
NA – no data available
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
112
Transport
Safety and security on public transport
The 2002 statistics have not been made available and could therefore not be
reported on. The long-term trends indicate decreasing crime levels for robbery and
assault on Metrorail property (Figure 8.1). However, between 2000 and 2001 the
number of assaults increased while other forms of crime remained stable. Expressed
on a per 100 000 basis (i.e. taking into account population growth) the data show that
the Metrorail crime rates have, in fact, decreased in most categories. Refer to the
Safety and Security chapter (Chapter 13) where the data suggest that the overall
crime situation improved between 2000 and 2001. There are no data available for
2002.
Annual number of crime incidents
Figure 8.1 Annual number of crime incidents on Metrorail property
700
Theft
600
Robbery
Assault
Murder
Rape
Figure
50033: Annual number of crime incidents on Metrorail property
400
300
200
100
0
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Theft
227
106
163
109
217
199
179
Robbery
697
169
382
158
197
200
163
Assault
410
154
202
94
84
93
122
Murder
22
16
39
41
15
42
34
Rape
23
13
14
8
9
0
5
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
113
Transport
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses were underway in 2002:
•
Modalink (a joint venture between National, Provincial and Local Government
and operators of public transport) is operating and improving a passenger
information system to make it easier for passengers to get up-to-the-minute
information on timetables, routes, fares and services disruptions
•
Modalink is also managing a team of public transport interchange managers at
nearly two dozen bus and taxi facilities.
These managers record passenger
feedback, and are responsible for the maintenance and cleanliness of the
facilities. They also monitor the use of the facilities and help reduce vandalism
and other crime.
•
A contract has been developed for ongoing maintenance of transport
interchanges.
The following physical improvements have been implemented
recently for:
§
Rail passengers at Mutual and Woodstock rail stations;
§
Taxi passengers at Nyanga and Wynberg rail stations, and at Busy
Corner, Buck Road and Ocean View taxi ranks
§
Bus and taxi passengers at Philippi station, Mowbray station, Potsdam
and Nonqubela.
•
Additional security, in the form of Community Police Officers and contract
security guards, have been deployed at 27 transport interchanges in a
concerted effort to make public transport much safer.
•
An inner City public transport system is being development to improve access
within Central Cape Town and to transport people from the City Bowl environs
to and from the CBD.
•
A “ticket integration” system is under investigation that will enable passengers
to buy one ticket for use on all modes (bus, taxi and rail). A pilot project has
already been tested to allow passengers transferring from rail to bus at Cape
Town station to use their rail tickets on buses to the V&A Waterfront.
•
New experimental bus shelters have been introduced on selected routes,
improving comfort and access to timetable information.
•
To improve the image of the service, bus and train vehicles are being painted
in the new Capmet livery.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
114
Transport
•
A fleet of five new experimental busses are currently in service. Two are low
floor wheelchair accessible vehicles, operating on the City to Retreat route;
two are articulated vehicles operating between Cape Town station and the
V&A Waterfront, and one is a modern city bus of intermediate floor height
also operating between Cape Town station and the Waterfront. From time to
time, the route used by these demonstration busses are changed. These
vehicles proved very popular on the Khayelitsha, Mitchell’s Plain and Bellville
routes. The experimental vehicles are monitored for fuel consumption and
maintenance requirements, susceptibility to vandalism, boarding and alighting
times, passengers volumes and preferences, and the responses of drivers
and passengers. These observations will influence the selection of vehicles
for future operations in Cape Town.
•
Rail remains under National Government control through a performance
based concession agreement with Metrorail. This concession, however, does
not encourage Metrorail to attract new customers.
Metrorail has been
pressurised to become more competitive through reduction in government
subsidies and the pending process of competitive international tendering,
which was to be implemented when the present concession was due to end
March 2003. However as different institutional arrangements are now
expected in terms of a draft National Rail Policy, this course of events is
changing and pending which, the concession with Metrorail is being extended
on an ongoing basis.
•
The plan to extend the Khayelitsha rail line is proceeding and construction
may commence around mid-2004. The rail line will be extended for
approximately 4.2 km from present Khayelitsha station towards Baden Powell
Drive and include two additional rail stations as well as public transport
interchange facilities (e.g. road - over - rail and pedestrian bridges). An
aadditional 24 000 passengers daily are expected to use the two stations at
introduction of service. A rail link through to the Strand is a possibility in the
future.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Transport
8.3 Need to Expand Metropolitan Airports and Harbours to meet Growing
Demand
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Expansion and improvement of strategic infrastructure are supporting the shift to
global competitiveness. Increases in tourism to Cape Town mirror a growth in world
travel. This makes the expansion of these facilities necessary. To ensure the
potential of tourism as a creator of jobs is realised, it is important to protect the
resource base (the natural and cultural environments) upon which it relies.
Total tonnage of cargo moved per annum (in t/a)
The data for 2002 indicates a slight decrease in all aspects of Port of Cape Town
business (Table 8.4).
Table 8.4 Key data for Port of Cape Town business operations
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Tons handled (millions)
11.7
10.2
10.1
11.2
NA
Annual Turnover (R millions)
700
705
710
715
603
3 910
3 716
3 737
3 998
3 575
Ships docked (Nos.)
NA – no data available
The turnover is less than previous years because National Ports Authority has done
away with the wharfage levy (approximately R120 million) that was charged for
infrastructure use.
The number of ships docking has decreased and they are
spending less time (quicker turnaround time) in port.
Number of containers (TEUs) moved as a proportion of capacity
The Port of Cape Town container terminal was operating at 80 – 83% of capacity
during 1999. By 2000 this had increased to 94% of capacity. During 2001 the Port
exceeded its theoretical maximum capacity of 450 000 containers moved per annum
by 6%. As a result some funding has been set aside to complete the EIA process for
the planned expansion of the container terminal. Expansion efforts have allowed the
number of containers moved in 2002 to increase to 511 613.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Transport
Number of international flights arriving per annum
The pattern for international flights shows a marked increase from the 2001/2
numbers (Figure 8.2). The pattern for domestic flight numbers to Cape Town
International Airport shows a continued increase (Figure 8.3).
Figure 8.2 Annual number of international flights to Cape Town Airport
Int. Arrivals
3500
3042
2807
Flights/annum
3000
2500
2230
2266
1996/7
1997/8
2591
2612
2000/1
2001/2
2151
1806
2000
1499
1515
1993/4
1994/5
1500
1000
500
0
1995/6
1998/9
1999/0
2002/3
Year
Figure 8.3 Annual number of domestic flights to Cape Town Airport
Dom Arrivals
50000
43513
38413
Flights/Annum
40000
30000
46034
39378
35164
28600
24047
29909
32345
22267
20000
10000
0
1993/4 1994/5 1995/6 1996/7 1997/8 1998/9 1999/0 2000/1 2001/2 2002/3
Year
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
117
Transport
Million passengers per annum (mppa)
The annual number of passengers is a function of the number of flights. By all
indications international tourist numbers to Cape Town have increased between
2001 and 2002. Domestic departing passengers have increased over the same
period (Figures 8.4 and 8.5). An analysis of foreign arrivals on international flights at
Cape Town International Airport in 2002 indicates strong growth in foreign arrivals to
the Western Cape. The number of foreign arrivals (370 000) through the airport
increased by 20% in 2001. These foreign arrivals were mainly overseas arrivals
(356 000), which increased 21% over 2001 while African arrivals (14 000) were up
8% on 2001. The increase in foreign arrivals in 2002 can partially be attributed to an
increase in airline seat capacity since September 2002.
Data from the Airports
Company of South Africa shows that arrivals on domestic flights at Cape Town
International Airport increased by 8.2% in 2002. Around 2 million visitors arrived on
domestic flights at the airport in 2002. As there is no way to distinguish between
foreigners arriving in Cape Town on domestic flights this increase should not be
directly correlated to an increase in domestic tourism. The majority of overseas
visitors to South Africa arrive at Johannesburg International Airport and transfer to
domestic flights to continue their journey.
Figure 8.4 Annual number of international visitors departing from Cape Town Airport
Int. Dep. Pax
Passengers/annum
600000
537534
474215
500000
499772
492570
497126
432248
400000
348409
286368
300000
209731
200000
146666
100000
0
1993/4 1994/5 1995/6 1996/7 1997/8 1998/9 1999/0 2000/1 2001/2 2002/3
Year
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
118
Transport
Figure 8.5 Annual number of domestic visitors departing from Cape Town Airport
Dom. Dep. Pax
2500000
Passengers/annum
2046765
2000000
1750961
1786552
1835244
1885175
1621704
1375527
1500000
1143894
1458369
1255096
1000000
500000
0
1993/4 1994/5 1995/6 1996/7 1997/8 1998/9 1999/0 2000/1 2001/2 2002/3
Year
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
•
Port of Cape Town published a draft Port Development Framework (PDF) at the
end of 2000. The PDF shows a number of scenarios and options for the port
expansion and identified preferred scenarios. Planning and the evaluation of the
alternative scenarios continued during 2001/2. The PDF (2001 version) has been
granted approval status via internal National Port Authority (NPA) bodies and
forms the basis for the port’s development program. The Port of Cape Town is
presently busy with a Strategic Environmental Assessment and also an
Environmental Impact Assessment study focussing on the possible expansion of
the Cape Town Container Terminal.
•
Portnet had initiated an EIA in 1998/9 to investigate the expansion of the
container terminal in the Port of Cape Town. A scoping document was completed
in July 1999 with specialist studies identified. In 2002 the National Ports Authority
(NPA) appointed the CSIR to conclude the EIA study. Approval was granted by
DEAT to continue with the existing scoping report but to allow for an additional
round of public participation workshops to identify if any new issues had arisen.
The EIA was successfully launched with various specialists appointed to address
the stakeholder inputs. Completion of the EIA is scheduled for mid-2003.
•
The Cape Town International Airport neared the completion of a four-year, R250
million project to expand and upgrade all its international terminals. This would
be completed by February 2003. As well as a number of improvements to the
physical infrastructure, the new International Terminal will be capable of
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
119
Transport
accommodating up to one million passengers a year, which is three times that of
the previous departure terminal. The next phase of the airport’s infrastructure
development programme is the upgrading and expanding of the domestic
terminal. This project should start in mid-2003.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Transport
8.4 Road Traffic Safety
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
The indicators in this section suggest decreases in the number of fatalities despite an
increase in number of accidents between 2001 and 2002.
Total number of accidents
A total of 73 788 accidents were recorded during 2001 calendar year, a slight
decrease from the previous year, but still significantly higher than the figures for 1997
– 1999 (Figure 8.6).
Figure 8.6 Total number of accidents in Cape Town
Total accidents
80000
75972
Total Accidents
75000
73788
74906
2001
2002
70000
65000
62561
62528
62878
1997
1998
1999
60000
55000
50000
2000
Year
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Transport
Number of fatalities
The number of fatalities in Cape Town is indicative of a deteriorating road traffic
safety record, however the trend indicates decreasing fatalities in spite of increasing
road traffic accidents (Figure 8.7).
Figure 8.7 Total number of fatalities in Cape Town
Total fatalities
1200
955
922
2001
2002
Total Fatalities
1000
800
724
697
664
1997
1998
1999
663
600
400
200
0
2000
Year
Percentage of casualties and fatalities involving pedestrians
The absolute number of pedestrian fatalities increased between 2001 and 2002 –
with 601 pedestrian fatalities in 2002 being the highest on record (Table 8.5 and
Figure 8.7). The fact that 65% of all road traffic fatalities are pedestrians is a cause
for concern.
Table 8.5 Percentages of pedestrian casualties and fatalities in Cape Town
Year
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Pedestrian
3 890
3 554
3 786
5 168
4 718
Casualties
(32%)
(27%)
(29%)
(29%)
(29%)
Total Casualties
12 118
12 759
12 865
17 579
16 223
NA
404
379
423
321
569
601
(55%)
(54%)
(55%)
(48%)
(59%)
(65%)
724
697
767
663
955
922
Pedestrian Fatalities
Total Fatalities
2002
NA
NA: Information not available at time of request
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
122
Transport
Figure 8.8 Total number of Pedestrian Casualties in Cape Town
(* - indicates no data available)
Pedestrian casualties
Pedestrian Casualties
5500
5168
4718
5000
4500
4000
3786
3890
3554
3500
*
3000
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
•
The production of an annual accident audit report, by the CCT’s Transport,
Roads and Stormwater Directorate, serves to inform decision-makers and
planners of the magnitude and costs (in excess of R 2.5 billion per annum) of the
road traffic safety problem.
•
Support for the National Government’s Arrive Alive campaign continues.
•
A Road Safety Audit Policy for the City of Cape Town has been implemented –
this will attempt to ensure that the necessary safety features are incorporated in
new projects and added to safety deficient areas of the existing road network.
•
A Road Traffic Management Operations Plan for the City of Cape Town is being
developed – this will attempt to ensure optimum synergy between the four “E’s” of
traffic safety: Engineering, Enforcement, Education and Evaluation. The plan will
incorporate targets for improving the poor safety record of the City.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Transport
Reflections and Summary - Transport
Public transport issues remain high on the City’s agenda. Although the City has an
extensive rail network the shift from rail to road (taxi) continues, contributing to traffic
congestion. Subsidies to rail and bus users are ineffective in improving the level of
service, whilst taxi operators compete for passengers and receive no subsidies.
Safety and security issues are also important and the number of pedestrian fatalities
is unacceptably high.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Energy
9 ENERGY
Using clean burning, renewable fuels for energy sources and using energy in an
efficient manner sets the foundation for a sustainable city. Renewable energy
sources are slowly being investigated (e.g. commercial viability of wind farms),
although energy efficiency efforts are not being supported / profiled. The EIA process
for the 110-Megawatt (electrical) class Pebble-Bed Modular Reactor proposed for the
Koeberg site was completed during 2002 and is likely to lead to the project getting
approval to go ahead.
The issues are:
9.1 Continued Use of Wood and Paraffin Fuels by a Large Sector of the Population
9.2 Location of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station within Cape Town
9.3 Demand for Energy
9.4 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
IMEP’s Vision for Cape Town (2020):
Water and energy resources and utilisation will be optimally and efficiently managed
9.1 Continued Use of Wood and Paraffin Fuels by a Large Sector of the
Population
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
The absence of a comprehensive database of wood and paraffin used by households
makes it difficult to calculate and report on this issue.
Percentage of (un) electrified homes
The number of households receiving electricity seems to have stabilised (94%) in
2002, as compared to 95% in 2001 (Figure 9.1). The implementation of a new
Prepayment Vendor Policy is likely to contribute to financial gains and service
improvements for the Electricity Department. There are approximately 370 000 users
on prepaid meters and trends indicate that through new applications this number is
growing at around 10 000 – 15 000 per year.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
125
Energy
The amount of free basic electricity to all City of Cape Town supplied households has
increased from 20 KWh to 30 KWh per month. Households not supplied by the City
of Cape Town do not receive this free basic electricity.
% households receiving electricity
Figure 9.1 Households receiving electricity in Cape Town (* - no data available)
100%
86%
88%
90%
94%
95%
94%
2000
2001
2002
88%
80%
60%
40%
20%
*
0%
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
Year
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
•
The Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) released the Electricity Supply
Regulatory Bill for public comment in 2002 and a final document should be
released in 2003. The purpose of this document is to establish a framework
within which the electricity supply industry of South Africa should function. It
establishes the National Electricity Regulatory Authority as the custodian and
enforcer of this regulatory framework to monitor and ensure that the interests and
needs of present and future customers of electricity are safeguarded and met,
having regard for the efficiency, effectiveness and long-term sustainability of the
electricity supply industry.
•
The DME released the White Paper on the Promotion of Renewable Energy and
Clean Energy Development (Part One: Promotion of Renewable Energy) in
August 2002.
The purpose of this White Paper is to set out Government’s
principles, goals and objectives for renewable energy. It furthermore commits
government to a number of enabling actions to ensure that renewable energy
becomes a significant part of its energy portfolio over the next ten years.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
126
Energy
•
The City of Cape Town in partnership with Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA), a
Cape Town based energy and environmental efficiency non-profit organisation,
are completing the first State of Energy report for greater Cape Town. The State
of Energy report places energy in its broadest sense into context and establishes
a baseline from which the City can work on its energy issues. Cape Town’s State
of Energy report and the Cape Town Energy Strategy process is probably the first
comprehensive study on energy for any city in Africa and follows on successful
initiatives from the world. The State of Energy report provides the background
and direction for the development of energy issues in Cape Town’s Integrated
Development Plan (IDP).
The next step of the Energy Strategy will involve
initiating and implementing sectoral strategies under the Cape Town Energy
Strategy.
There are five energy sectors and these include residential,
commercial, industrial, transport and the local authority and government sectors.
The likely phases of the Energy Strategy are as follows:
§
Complete State of Energy Report
§
Approval of State of Energy Report and Cape Town’s Energy Strategy
process by Council
§
Approval of State of Energy Report for public comment and implementation of
the local authority Energy Strategy.
§
Sectoral energy strategies to be workshopped and implemented with
residential, commercial, industrial and transport sectors.
§
•
Establishing a long term Energy Strategy for Cape Town involving the public.
The co-ordination of the City’s Energy Strategy: Through the State of Energy
process, the City has learned that it has over 40 energy-related projects that are
ongoing. These projects currently occur in an ad-hoc manner and are
uncoordinated in terms of an Energy vision for the City. Some of these projects
include the Waste Wise Campaign, the power purchase agreement with the
Darling Wind Farm, the retrofitting of the Parow Municipal Building, the pilot Bus
Rapid Transport Klipfontein project, retrofitting of low income residential buildings
in Gugulethu and Khayelitsha. The Energy Strategy, as one of the implementing
strategies of the city’s Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy (IMEP), will
co-ordinate these projects, identify gaps and initiate new projects and
programmes.
•
A Cleaner Paraffin site is likely to be established in Khayelitsha in 2003. The
Paraffin Association of South Africa (PASASA) are running this initiative
(www.pasasa.org).
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
127
Energy
9.2 Location of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station within Cape Town
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Koeberg Nuclear Power Station continues to supply the Western Cape with electricity
from two Pressurised Water Reactor units. Process emissions from the plant
continue at a fraction of the limits prescribed by the National Nuclear Reactor (NNR).
Koeberg’s average Load Factor from 1984 to 1994 was a relatively low 51.7%, the
result of Eskom’s decision to run at extended periods of low power operation and
carry out long, least-cost refuelling outages during the first ten years of operation,
mostly due to Eskom’s excess capacity. By comparison, average Load Factor for
1995 to 2002 was a much improved 75.7%, giving an average for 1994 to 2002 of
61.9%.
Safety rating
In 2002, Koeberg Nuclear Power Station was again awarded the ultimate safety
rating by the National Occupational Safety Association (NOSA), the NOSCAR Award,
for the seventh successive year.
Number of reported leakages of radioactive material per annum
There were no uncontrolled radioactive releases in 2002.
Amount of radioactive waste generated by Koeberg Nuclear Power Station
Low-level and intermediate radioactive wastes are transported to a disposal site at
Vaalputs in the Northern Cape. Low level waste is not strongly radioactive and
humans would require significant exposure to suffer any health consequences. After
a few decades the radioactivity has generally decayed sufficiently that the material
present little hazard. Intermediate waste is much more strongly radioactive, it
remains radioactive for longer and must be dealt with much more carefully. High level
waste is not only strongly radioactive but it also generates large quantities of heat.
While activity does decay to some extent, high level waste must be kept away from
human contact indefinitely. After the expected increase in the amount of low-level
waste generated in 2001 due to the inspection and repair activities to safety systems
piping, waste volumes have reduced during 2002 (Figure 8.2).
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
128
Energy
Nuclear waste generated (drums/annum)
Figure 9.2 Amount of Radioactive Waste generated in drums / annum by Koeberg
Nuclear Power Station
Low level waste
Intermediate level waste
800
763
588
600
452
400
200
451
367
99
139
136
75
108
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
Amount of spent nuclear fuel generated by Koeberg Nuclear Power Station
Radioactive spent nuclear fuel that has been used for up to three fuel cycles (a fuel
cycle is approximately 15 months) is stored under water on site. At the end of 2002,
1 132 spent fuel assemblies were stored in the Koeberg Spent Fuel Pools. An
additional 112 spent fuel assemblies are in temporary storage in four spent fuel
transport casks following re-racking of the spent fuel pools. Koeberg’s spent fuel
pools have the capacity to store 3 072 fuel assemblies from approximately 40 years
of operation.
Proportion of electricity used that was supplied by Koeberg Nuclear Power
Station
The electricity generated at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station is sent to the national
grid for general distribution.
Except during refuelling outages, Koeberg Nuclear
Power Station, with a maximum capacity of 1 800 Megawatts (MW) generated
enough electricity for most of the Western Cape Region during the summer months.
Peak demand for the Western Cape Region reaches approximately 3 400 MW in
winter. Peak demand for the Peninsula (including Paarl, Stellenbosch, Somerset
West) reaches just over 2 000 MW in winter. Generating locally avoids massive line
losses and stabilises the national grid. Nuclear power can provide a reliable base
load source of electricity, but is less suitable for meeting intermittent peak demand.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
129
Energy
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
•
The Pebble-Bed Modular Reactor Project: In December 2000 Eskom submitted a
licence application to the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) for a demonstration
Pebble-Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) plant.
The EIA process for the 110-
Megawatt (electrical) class Pebble-Bed Modular Reactor proposed for the
Koeberg site was completed during 2002.
The EIA Consortium finalised the
necessary studies and compiled the Draft Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs),
released for public comment in May 2002. A series of Public Meetings followed
to provide feedback on the Draft EIRs and conclusions of the studies. The final
EIR has been submitted to National Government, and a Record of Decision from
the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is anticipated in June 2003.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
130
Energy
9.3 Demand for Energy
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Cost of electricity (in cents/kWh)
The prices for electricity have been divided into Domestic (Household) users,
Commercial users and Very Large Power Users. The prices for each of these are
given below:
Table 9.1 Cost of electricity (in cents/kWh) in the City of Cape Town
Domestic (Household)
Consumption
C/kWh
0 – 20 kWh
Free
Less than 500 kWh
38.82 (no service charge)
per month
Exceeding
500
31.69 plus service charge of R34.20
kWh per month
per month
Commercial (For supply
Less
49.35 (no service charge)
up
kWh per month
to
a
maximum
of
500kVA)
Very Large Power Users
than
1000
Exceeding 1 000
32.25 plus service charge of R171.00
kWh per month
per month
Low Voltage
15.96 plus service charge of R285.00
(For Supply between 500
per month plus demand charge of
kVA and 1 MVA)
R47.50/kVA
Medium Voltage
14.84 plus service charge of R285.00
per month plus demand charge of
R44.18/kVA
Medium
Voltage
12.89 plus service charge of R46
using more than 3
512.00 per month plus demand charge
GW.h per annum
of R18.78/kVA
Type and quantity of fuel sold
This is one of the original indicators for which there are now data available. Total fuel
consumption for Cape Town (2000/1) was 1 682 020 kl (1 173 178 kl diesel and 508
842 kl petrol). The CCT’s consumption during this period was 29 060.68 kl
(20 803.31 kl for diesel and 8 257.37 kl for petrol), approximately 2% of total fuel use
in Cape Town.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
131
Energy
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
•
The Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) released A White Paper on the
Promotion of Renewable Energy and Clean Energy Development (Part One:
Promotion of Renewable Energy) in August 2002. The purpose of this white
paper is to set out Government’s principles, goals and objectives for renewable
energy. It furthermore commits government to a number of enabling actions to
ensure that renewable energy becomes a significant part of its energy portfolio
over the next ten years.
•
The construction of Eskom’s first demonstration wind energy farm at Klipheuwel
started in mid-2002. The first turbine, a 660kW unit, was finished by July 2002.
A further two turbines will be constructed that will rate at about 3.2 MW. The aim
of the project is to explore the potential of using wind energy for bulk electricity
generation.
•
The construction of South Africa’s first commercial wind farm is likely to proceed
in 2003. The wind farm is located near the town of Darling, just outside the City’s
boundary.
•
The City of Cape Town hopes to establish itself in the Green Electricity sector by
finalising a power purchase agreement for wind-generated electricity from the
Darling Wind Farm during 2003.
•
The urban Sustainable Energy for Environment and Development (SEED)
Programme is a national partnership programme implemented by Sustainable
Energy Africa, a Section 21 organisation based in Cape Town.
The SEED
programme is funded by DANIDA (Danish International Development Agency)
and local partner organisations. During 2002 the Urban SEED programme has
been able to intensify its focus on making sustainable energy approaches and
practices part of the core functions of its partner institutions. Five SEED advisors,
trained and placed in partner organisations, receive ongoing support from SEED
and the SEED network. Some of the activities for 2002 are listed below:
§
Two information sharing forums targeted at local authority officials and NGOs
were held. The first session in Johannesburg shared information of climate
change in order to assist local authorities in promoting and integrating it into
their energy and environmental strategies, and a session in Cape Town
focussed on the CCT’s Local Authority Energy Strategy.
§
The urban SEED programme and work of its partners was exhibited at the
NASREC Global Forum with displays of appropriate household energy
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
132
Energy
technologies for the two weeks of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development in August 2002. Urban SEED hosted a well-attended seminar
Institutionalising Sustainable Energy and Housing Issues in NGOs and Local
Authorities in South Africa at the NASREC Global Forum.
§
400 copies of the first Urban SEED Update on Energy Audits (how to do
energy audits) were completed in May 2002 and 900 copies of the second
Update, on Innovative Housing (reflection on innovative housing projects in
South Africa), were produced in August 2002.
§
A handbook for development practitioners, the Energy Book for Urban
Development in South Africa by Sarah Ward, was published in 2002 and
launched at the WSSD.
§
Six editions of the e-mail newsletter (eSEED) were sent out to a readership
which has grown from 53 to 88, and a focussed Local Authority Energy
Strategy link (Case studies by e-mail) was sent out covering case studies and
lessons on such strategies.
For
more
information
please
visit
the
website
at
http://www.sustainable.org.za/SEEDhome.htm
•
Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA)
§
SEA has been assisting the CCT with the development of a local energy
strategy – the Cape Town Energy Strategy (one of the sectoral strategies
identified by IMEP). The first outcome, a State of Energy Report, has been
completed, and comprises the first comprehensive city-wide energy
assessment on the African continent.
§
SEA has been contracted by the CCT to assist in achieving the milestones of
the Cities for Climate Protection campaign. The greenhouse gas emissions
inventory has been completed, and is currently in a draft format with the CCT.
The results from the inventory were presented to the CCT in October 2002
and have guided the selection of CO2 reduction measures. These measures
will inform the development of a local action plan. SEA assisted the CCT in
arranging the 4th National CCP workshop in Cape Town in November 2002
and to host an ICLEI intern from Canada. The Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism (Directorate: Climate Change and Ozone Layer
Protection) is considering expanding the CCP campaign beyond the current
eight cities.
§
SEA is assisting the CCP project demonstrate carbon dioxide emission
reductions potential by implementing energy efficiency measures in the
Tygerberg Municipal Building in Parow.
Measures include more efficient
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
133
Energy
lighting, solar water heating, and user behaviour changes. Estimated energy
savings amount to 20% of the total electricity bill – 140 tons of CO2 per year.
•
The City of Cape Town will be co-hosting a Cities Energy Strategies Conference
with Sustainable Energy Africa and the South African Cities Network in
November 2003. This conference will highlight the experiences of the City of
Cape Town in compiling its first State of Energy Report and Energy Strategy, will
lead the way for other municipalities in South Africa and Africa and will provide a
platform to learn from international best practice in developing and implementing
City Energy Strategies.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
134
Energy
9.4 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
South Africa has committed to addressing greenhouse gas emissions by ratifying the
Kyoto Protocol in March 2002. The protocol provides that Annex 1 parties (developed
countries) shall individually or jointly ensure that their aggregate anthropogenic
carbon dioxide equivalent emissions of specified greenhouse gas emissions do not
exceed their assigned amounts for a specific period (first commitment 2008-2012).
Coal is certainly the dominant form of primary energy in South Africa and, along with
relatively high energy use intensities, makes the country a prime candidate to be
included in parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the second commitment
period.
Significant progress was made during 2002 with the Cities for Climate Protection
(CCP) Campaign and the SouthSouthNorth (SSN) Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM). These are two capacity building initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions from City of Cape Town operations. Improving energy use efficiencies will
be one mechanism to reduce emissions.
Tonnage of emissions in Cape Town
Total emissions in Cape Town (2000/1) amounted to 14 645 506 tonnes of CO2
equivalents – approximately 5.2t CO2 eq per capita. For comparison South Africa
averages 6.9t CO2 eq per capita, Libya 7.34, Egypt 1.7 and the DRC 0.04t CO2 eq
per capita. In more developed countries the emissions are higher - Australia
produced 27.6t CO2 eq per capita, America produced 21.1t CO2 eq per capita and
Canada produced 18.3t CO2 eq per capita in 2000.
Cape Town’s emissions amounted to 16 911 924 tonnes of CO2 equivalents
(2000/1), mostly as a result of fuel use by the transport sector (Figure 9.3).
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
135
Energy
Figure 9.3 Energy Use by sector in Cape Town
Local authority
Residential
2%
15%
Transport
54%
Industry &
Commerce
29%
The CCT’s contribution to this total was 500 614 tonnes of CO2 equivalents. The
initial sectoral results from the CCT’s operations indicate that the largest emitter of
greenhouse gas emissions is Solid Waste (landfill sites) followed by Streetlights and
Buildings (figure 9.4). Tonnes emitted (CO2 equivalents) for the year 2000/1 were as
follows: Solid Waste (188 182), Streetlights (118 445), Buildings (89 022), Vehicle
fleet (75 467) and Water and sewage (29 498).
Figure 9.4 Greenhouse gas emissions by sector for City of Cape Town operations
5%
12%
33%
13%
16%
21%
Soild w aste
Streetlights
Buildings
Vehicle fleet
Pow er generation
Water and w aste w ater
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
136
Energy
Projects to reduce emissions from City of Cape Town operations will commence
during 2003.
For responses to Reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions please refer to Chapter 1 –
Air Quality and Atmosphere.
Reflections and Summary - Energy
Energy issues continued to be highlighted during 2002, unfortunately sometimes for
the wrong reasons. The EIA process for the proposed Pebble Bed Modular Reactor
(PBMR) was completed and a decision by the National Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) is expected in 2003. Renewable energy and energy
efficiency initiatives in 2002 received little support / profile in comparison to nuclear.
By joining the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) programme and the
SouthSouthNorth Clean Development Mechanism, energy and environment issues
will continue to be important for some years to come. Activities such as energy audit
and climate change projects should also allow the selection and reporting of
improved energy indicators in future years.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
137
Waste
10 WASTE
Cape Town’s expanding economy, increasing population and visitor numbers and
unsustainable consumption patterns are contributing to the mountain of waste being
produced. Landfilled waste leaped up by 7% between 2001 and 2002, far in excess
of the population growth rate of 2%. Despite attempts to the contrary diverted waste
efforts (recycling, composting, etc) are having very little, if any impact, on the waste
stream. With the imminent closure of a number of the landfill sites there is an urgent
need for a regional landfill site. Annual clean up costs of litter and dumping exceeded
R 100 million, funds that could be more productively used within the City.
The issues are:
10.1 Growth Patterns of Waste
10.2 The Need for an Integrated Waste Management Strategy for Cape Town
10.3 The Management of Waste, Litter and Illegal Dumping
10.4 Licensing and Safe Operation of Solid Waste Disposal Facilities
10.5 The Transport and Disposal of Hazardous Waste
10.6 The Transport and Disposal of Medical Waste
10.1 Growth Patterns of Waste
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Waste volumes generated per person per day range from 0.5kg to about 2.5kg. The
domestic waste stream volumes and composition generated from the City of Cape
Town’s residential communities differ and there is a close relationship between socioeconomic conditions (such as income per capita) and the amount and type of waste
produced per household.
Waste from lower income areas have been shown to
contain up to 80% organic waste (including wood fire ash), whereas a waste stream
from an affluent suburb typically contains about 60%-70% packaging waste.
There is an urgent need for a regional landfill as a result of near term closures of
many of the existing landfill sites. Littering and illegal dumping continue to be the
number one priority. The Waste Wise Campaign, initiated in an attempt to decrease
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
137
Waste
litter and illegal dumping, has implemented projects to reduce the amount of waste
going to landfill.
Volume of waste received at the landfills (t/a)
A total of 1 722 807 tonnes of waste was received in landfill sites in Cape Town
during 2002 (7.3% annual increase) compared to the 1 596 000 tonnes in 2001
(6.5% annual increase) and the 1 493 000 tonnes in 2000. Of the total amount of
waste produced more than 90% is landfilled by the City of Cape Town. Figure 10.1
depicts the amounts of waste received at the City’s six landfill sites in the last four
years.
Figure 10.1 Annual amount of solid waste received at landfills in Cape Town
1800
Kilo tonnes waste received
1723
1700
1596
1600
1500
1458
1493
1400
1300
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
Table 10.1 Waste tonnes landfilled by the City of Cape Town between 1999 and 2002
Waste Site
1999
2000
2001
2002
Vissershok
145 000
269 000
273 000
348 710
Coastal Park
289 000
298 000
338 000
381 578
Swartklip
235 000
221 000
234 000
233 051
Bellville
392 000
290 000
309 000
285 541
Brackenfell
130 000
203 000
222 000
250 592
Faure
229 000
212 000
222 000
233 335
1 458 000
1 493 000
1 596 000
1 722 807
TOTAL
Approximately 6 000 tons of waste are currently generated daily within the City of
Cape Town. This is equivalent to covering four soccer fields one meter deep in
waste every day. 55% of waste ending up at the Council’s six landfill sites is directly
received from the industrial and commercial sectors whereas domestic waste from
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
138
Waste
households account for approximately 30% of the waste stream. The remaining
portion constitutes sewage sludge coming from the City’s Wastewater Treatment
plants. (Figure 10.2)
Figure 10.2 Composition of waste going to landfill in Cape Town
15%
55%
Domestic
30% Industry &
Commerce
Sludge
Percentage of waste recycled and re-used
This information is not readily available at a metropolitan level, although there are a
number of City and private initiatives underway. Two composting plants; namely
Sacks Circle and Radnor in Parow, process municipal solid waste into compost
thereby saving air space at landfills.
The current rate of recycling at the City of Cape Town’s disposal sites by salvagers is
approximately 2%. This is low partly due to the contamination of recyclables and the
difficulty in recovering a mix of “recyclables” and “non-recyclables/organic” waste.
Due to the unsafe practice of operating at the disposal tip next to heavy manoeuvring
vehicles and the health risks associated to digging through waste in an uncontrolled
manner, the City has begun to formalise all salvaging activities.
Proper sorting
facilities (such as sorting sheds and conveyer belts) for material recovery purposes
termed Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) are planned. In 2002 the City awarded a
tender to a national recycling company to develop a MRF at the Athlone Transfer
Station. Ultimately MRFs will be established at all landfill sites enabling people to
work under improved and dignified conditions.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
139
Waste
10.2 The Need for an Integrated Waste Management Policy for Cape Town
What is the state of the environment?
The CCT aims to develop an Integrated Waste Management Policy (IWMP) in line
with the objectives of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism’s (DEAT)
National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) and in response to the requirements
for the future National Integrated Waste Management Bill. It clearly prioritises the
reduction (by prevention and avoidance) of waste over re-use or recycling activities.
According to the hierarchy shown in Figure 10.3 reduction is followed by reuse,
recycling, treatment and finally landfilling in the sequence of the most desirable waste
management strategies.
Figure 10.3 Integrated Waste Management Strategy and related projects within the City
of Cape Town
S o m e o f C a p e T o w n ’s
Integrated W aste M anagem ent Strategy Projects
W a s t e M in C lu b s
In t e g r a t e d W a s t e
Reduce
Reuse
E x c h a n g e (IW E X )
Y e llo w B a g
A tla n tis S c h o o l
R a d n o r , S a c k s C irc le
A thlone Transfer
S tatio n
R e c y c le
C o m p o s tin g
T reatm e n t
L a n d fill
Reduce
The first step to better waste management is to reduce the amount of waste that we
produce as a society on all levels of society; namely industrial, commercial and
residential. The educational team of the Waste Wise Campaign has initiated waste
reduction initiatives within the industrial/commercial sector aimed at increasing
resource and process efficiencies as well as within selected office facilities of the
CCT.
Reuse
Waste materials that cannot be reduced should be reused. To this end the CCT
developed the Integrated Waste Exchange (IWEX) when they realised that “one
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
140
Waste
business’ trash is often their neighbour’s treasure.”
IWEX is an online Internet
service offered at http://www.capetown.gov.za/iwex. The IWEX facilitates the
linkages between those who will accept what others intend to throw away, thereby
reducing the volume of useful materials that would otherwise end up in landfill sites.
IWEX experience has shown that impoverished communities and NGO’s can also
benefit from the IWEX service as the free supply of unwanted, non-hazardous SA
company’s waste materials provides valuable resource input for community job
creation and skill empowerment projects.
IWEX Successes
•
In 2002 IWEX received an “Impumelo Star Award” for its contribution to
community upliftment and job creation.
From over 300 National entries the
Waste Exchange program was in the Top 20 shortlist.
•
Close to 200 material listings having been listed since its initiation in 2000 with a
proven exchange rate of 16% of wanted or available materials and a further 28%
of materials that were most likely exchanges but ultimate proof could not be
found.
•
NGO’s such as Oasis (caring for mentally and physically challenged people) are
frequently receiving useful materials from IWEX listed companies such as glue
(Pfizer) or textile offcuts (Brits Textiles) that are used for job creation and
occupational programs.
Recycle
The waste portion that cannot be reduced or reused must then be recovered for
subsequent recycling. Many recycling projects are taking place at schools,
communities, organisations and businesses. The education team of the Waste Wise
Campaign assists communities and schools to set up such systems. The CCT is
currently piloting a houshold waste recovery system called the Yellow Bag
Programme.
The Yellow Bag Household Waste Recovery / Recycling Programme
The Yellow Bag Household Waste Recovery and Recycling Programme was
implemented in August 2002 in Marina Da Gama involving 1 000 households.
Residents are encouraged to separate their recyclables (all packaging waste such as
paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, tins etc) from their waste and to place them in
yellow bags. Residents are kept informed of the progress of the project via
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
141
Waste
newsletters and display boards informing them of the rate of participation on a weekly
basis. The informal collectors were also educated on waste management, which led
to a reduction in littering by salvaging.
In the first phase of the pilot project the Yellow Bags were supplied by the City of
Cape Town. All Yellow Bags were collected together with the normal refuse in the
same collection vehicle. All refuse was then disposed at the Coastal Park Landfill
where only a small fraction of the Yellow Bag recyclables were collected by the
salvagers and sold to the recycling contractor on site.
Yellow Bag Successes:
•
Two tons of recyclables were collected on a weekly basis
•
The number of yellow bags has increased since inception from 300 bags to about
600 bags per week.
•
Each Yellow Bag contains on average about 3.5 kg worth of recyclables bearing
an approximate monetary value of R1 per bag.
•
A survey done by the project facilitators revealed that residents of the area are
very appreciative that the City has embarked on an activity that enables them to
separate their waste.
Composting
The City of Cape Town has two composting plants (Sacks Circle and Radnor in
Parow), which manufacture compost from domestic waste. Approximately 60 000
tons of domestic waste is processed annually at these sites of which 60% is used for
composting and 40% rejected and returned to the landfill. Waste Wise has initiated
community and school food gardens that utilise domestic organic waste thus
removing it from the waste stream.
Treatment and Disposal
The Athlone Refuse Transfer Station
The Athlone Refuse Transfer Station is now a state of the art facility. This transfer
station has recently been upgraded to a containerised system. Between 600-800
tons of waste is handled daily. The waste is unloaded onto a conveyer belt, and
compacted into containers. The containers are then taken at night, by rail, to the
Vissershok Landfill Site.
The process to identify a new regional landfill continued during 2002.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
142
Waste
10.3 The Management of Waste, Litter and Illegal Dumping
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Littering / dumping statistics from 2002 are reflected on Table 10.2. During 2002 the
Solid Waste Department’s operations started to migrate from the six Administrations
to four operational areas within the CCT, it was thus in many cases not possible to
provide accurate Administration based statistics. For 2003 the information will be
presented in the four operational areas.
Table 10.2 Waste related complaints by Administrative area in the City of Cape Town
Administrative
Refuse complaints
area
Street Sweeping and
Total number of waste
litter collection
complaints
complaints
2000
2001
2002
2000
2001
2002
2000
2001
2002
684
4 464
NA
968
503
NA
1 652
4 967
NA
3 772
1 974
368
2 347
3 556
956
6 119
5 530
1 324
600
509
479
420
330
269
1 020
839
748
Tygerberg
1 336
1 100
NA
744
758
NA
2 080
1 858
NA
Helderberg
NA
3 268
NA
NA
264
NA
3 650
3 432
NA
Oostenberg
1 820
NA
1 700
2 600
NA
1 100
1 820
NA
2800
Total
8 212
11 315
2 547
7 079
5 411
2 325
16 341
16 626
4 872
Cape Town
South Peninsula
Blaauwberg
NA: No information available at time of request
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
143
Waste
Tonnage of illegal dumping
Illegal dumping and litter collection (street sweeping) result in annual clean up costs
in excess of R100 million in 2002 (Table 10.3). The figures for 2001 and 2002
included issues other than littering and dumping.
Table 10.3: Area cleansing in the City of Cape Town
(Illegal dumping removal and street sweeping)
Administrative
Illegal Dumping (t/yr)
Cost for street sweeping and
area
litter collection (R/yr)
2000
Cape Town
Approx 60
2001
NA
2002
NA
000
South Peninsula
Blaauwberg
3 400
3 000
6 412
NA
3 637
15 000
2000
2001
2002
R87
R125
NA
million
million
R8.9
R9.3
million
million
R3.5
R812 000
NA
R25.6
R24.3
NA
million
million
R3.1
R3.3
million
million
R7.1
NA
NA
R135.2
R162.7
R100.8
million
million
million*
NA
million
Tygerberg
Helderberg
5 371
Approx
18 500
9 504
NA
NA
16 800
Oostenberg
1 500
NA
6 300
NA
million
Total
90 071
34 416
24 937
* Budgets of Administrations consolidated
NA: No information available at time of request
Cost of remediation per annum for street sweeping and litter collection (area
cleansing)
The amount of money required for street sweeping and illegal dumping removal
exceeded R100 million for the year 2002 (Table 10.3). The tonnage of illegal
dumping that has been cleared is significant. In most areas there has been a marked
increase in clearing illegally dumped material, largely due to “top-up” funding
provided by the Waste Wise Campaign during the first six months of 2002. The cost
of clean up and collecting litter and dumped material from road verges and public
open space are approximately seven times the cost of waste properly disposed on in
the formal waste system.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Waste
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses were underway in 2002:
The City’s Waste Wise Campaign (www.wastewise.org.za) was developed as a
holistic and integrated strategic framework to “clean up the City of Cape Town and
keep it clean.”
The Waste Wise Campaign is based on all communities taking
ownership of their surroundings, and working in partnership with the local authority to
clean up and keep their environments clean.
The Waste Wise philosophy also
includes a proactive response to waste issues through waste reduction initiatives.
The Waste Wise campaign comprised of three arms to ensure the sustainability of
the areas cleaned up through the following task teams:
•
Education and Publicity
•
Legal and Enforcement
•
Operations
The integration and co-ordination of efforts and resources of the City’s various
service branches for maximum impact was facilitated.
These included Law
Enforcement, Cleansing, Education, Parks and Recreation, Catchment Management,
Roads and Stormwater, Environmental Management and Environmental Health. The
implementation of Waste Wise on the ground was done through one of six Service
Delivery Units (SDU’s).
This forum represented the above-mentioned CCT
Departments, councillors, NGO’s, CBO’s and any other relevant stakeholders within
a community.
Due to budget cuts and with the restructuring of the City of Cape Town in July 2002
the structure and functioning of the Waste Wise Campaign altered.
Education and Publicity Task Team
The aim of the Educational and Publicity Task Team is to shift perceptions towards
litter and dumping in short term. Long-term goals include raising awareness and
developing capacity to achieve Integrated Waste Management (IWM) strategies such
as reduce, reuse, recycle. The educational component of the campaign is a longterm strategy and all programmes are outcomes based to encourage learning
through doing.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Waste
The Educational Arm focuses on education strategies for communities, schools,
institutions, the City of Cape Town, industry and commerce as well as special events.
An overall communication component is also included:
1) Waste Wise Schools Programme
•
Assisted with the inclusion of waste education material into school curriculum for
2005.
•
Trained 824 school teachers
•
Delivered the Waste Wise School Programme to 101 schools across the City
•
Educated 5 000 learners
•
Is facilitating the implementation of recycling, greening, composting and food
garden projects as well as the development of waste management plans.
The Atlantis School Recycling Programme
The Atlantis Schools recycling project covers 12 primary schools plus four community
groups. Stakeholders include the City of Cape Town, Cape West Coast Biosphere
Reserve, Malmesbury landfill site, the Fairest Cape Association and the Atlantis
Industria Waste Minimisation club.
Eight months of waste management education and preparation set the foundation for
the recycling initiative to commence in August 2002. The Waste Wise educational
programme included raising awareness about the current waste crises (shortage of
landfill site airspace) and offered practical tools to reduce waste being littered or
going to landfill. The paradigm shift from seeing “waste” as a resource led to reusing
waste and making creative and useful items, recycling, composting and food
gardens.
Successes:
•
By December 2002, 46 573 kilograms of waste has been taken out of the waste
stream and prevented from filling up landfill space.
•
R7 500 was raised within a period of 3.5 months
•
Atlantis based industries (who are members of the Waste Wise Atlantis Waste
Minimisation Club) got involved from the onset of the project by donating
cardboard/pallet waste to the project thereby allowing the schools to gain the
financial reward of recovering such items for recycling.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Waste
2) Waste Wise Community Programmes
Waste Wise workshops and door-to-door education have been developed and
implemented. The aim is to capacitate stakeholders and to form co-operative links
between civic communities and Council.
This relationship fosters improved
communication and increased awareness of waste issues including advice on home
composting and recycling. By August 2002 the following results were achieved:
•
Door to door education – 15 236 households and 76 180 citizens visited.
•
Waste Wise Workshops – 1 050 individuals trained
•
Recycling, greening, composting and good gardens are among the projects being
implemented.
•
Industrial theatre has been very successfully employed to reach both literate and
illiterate members of our society.
3) Clean City Awards
The Clean City awards were held on 26 September 2002 to give recognition to
individuals, groups, schools, commerce and industry, recreational venues,
government and public transport operators who make the effort to ensure that our
City remains clean. 140 entries were received.
4) Special Events
Educational stands and promotional material of an educational nature have been
displayed at many events within Cape Town and many events have been assisted in
developing IWM strategies. In 2002 the following was achieved:
•
20 information stands displayed at special events
•
Five Waste Management Systems developed
•
An Environmental Events Charter focusing on waste management for all future
events in Cape Town under development.
5) Institutions
Institutions such as hospitals and health care clinics are engaged in the process with
a view to introduce integrated waste management (IWM) systems thus reducing the
amount of medical waste being dumped and incinerated.
•
A pilot waste management project is being run at the Red Cross Children’s
Hospital
•
10 waste management programmes are being run at clinics.
•
Recommendations for IWM within the Defence Force have been drafted.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Waste
6) Industry and Commerce
The Waste Wise Campaign facilitated the initiation of six Waste Minimisation Clubs
(WMC’s) in partnership with industrial and commercial sectors whose core business
and products are closely linked to the existing littering and dumping problem in Cape
Town. The rationale of the WMC’s is to reduce the amount of waste in circulation in
society, by ensuring that waste is effectively minimised at source. Benefits to the
broader Cape Town community include less waste being produced, efficient use of
raw materials, energy and water, thus setting the City on the road towards
sustainable development.
The clubs are now active and are located in the Plastics, Meat, Motor servicing
industries, the Blue Route Mall, Cape Town Civic Centre and the Atlantis Industrial
area. Together they comprise a committed membership of over 40 business entities.
For more information, please visit www.wastewise.org.za.
Successes:
•
A Plastics WMC member managed to save 2 500 L cooling water per hour by
implementing an internally recycled cooling system for their extruders
•
A company reduced their fibre waste (previously going to landfill) by 50%
resulting in a 60tons per year waste reduction. The company is determined to
reach the goal of zero fibre waste going to landfill within the next two years.
•
140 fluorescent tubes were retrofitted with energy saving lamps resulting in
R1500 per month electricity savings and the benefit of producing less (mercury
containing) fluorescent tube waste.
•
The Civic Centre WMC has been assessed in terms of its paper consumption and
it was found that the implementation of double-sided printing and copying could
save the City approximately R900 000 per year, whereas doing away with nonrecyclable cups from the department’s 48 coffee machines would save another
R170 000 per year. Retrofitting all existing lighting units with lower wattage and
low mercury tubes could result in about R550 000 savings per year setting off
initial investment costs for the tubes in about 2 years.
•
Promotional materials such as a video as well as newsletters have been
developed to market the concept of WMC’s.
•
Recommendations for policy for Waste Minimisation for the City of Cape Town
has been completed and will be incorporated into the IWMP for the City.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Waste
7) Media Communications
The Campaign name, logo and theme as well as the required slogans, print
advertising, radio adverts and posters have been designed. The three arrows in the
logo depict the education, enforcement and operations components of Waste Wise.
The symbolism will later be adopted to symbolise community, government and
business as well as reduce, reuse and recycle. The Waste Wise website has been
developed and can be found on the Internet at www.wastewise.org.za. It can also be
found on the City of Cape Town’s website www.capetown.gov.za.
A survey to test
the effectiveness of the media campaign and public perceptions towards waste has
been completed.
8) Special Projects
•
A puppet show in partnership with the Two Oceans Aquarium, Wastewater,
Catchment Management, Water Management, Waste Management and Waste
Wise has been developed. The display will run for five years to highlight the
problems of water and waste.
•
A hazardous waste project in partnership with UCT investigating the
management and disposal of batteries has been completed.
•
Earthship Mission Possible (EMP) – the communications vessel of explorer
Robert Swan, who has walked to both North and South poles, arrived back in
Cape Town after clearing 1 000 tons of rubbish from Antarctica. EMP carried the
Waste Wise message to every town and City on the three-month journey to the
World Summit. A message from our Mayor was sent to mayors of the towns and
cities through which the vessel passed on it’s way to the WSSD. All mayors
signed a pledge book to clean up and live better.
Legal and Enforcement Task Team
72 temporary law enforcement officers, funded by Waste Wise were appointed by the
law enforcement agencies in the six Administrative areas. Through the restructuring
this number was reduced to 40. These personnel have been trained to Peace Officer
status and equipped to deal with illegal dumping and littering offences.
The “top-up” of existing law enforcement capacity allowed for 24 hour deployment
and effectively extended available coverage beyond what was initially available to the
City through it’s normal enforcement capacity. A single reporting telephone number
(021 - 424 7715) has been established through the 107 call centre and calls from
anywhere in the City are automatically diverted to the appropriate agency for action.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Waste
Operations Task Team
This component was comprised of all branches of the City having a responsibility to
manage City-owned land. The component therefore comprised of Solid Waste,
Roads, Stormwater, Parks and Bathing and Amenities. The diverse nature of the
disciplines involved required the complete co-ordination and integration of effort of all
role players to ensure successful implementation of the clean-up operations.
This was achieved by the creation of Service Delivery Units (SDU’s) in each
Administrative area. The SDU was comprised of various branches within that
Administrative area having custodian status over different portions of City-owned
land, the enforcement units provided by Waste Wise and the Waste Wise educational
disciplines operative in that Administrative area.
The statistics from the operational component follow:
•
21 Operational projects completed during which 40 593 tons of illegally dumped
material was removed and 29 475 refuse bags were filled with litter and removed
to landfill, at a cost of approximately R5.7 million. This includes the tonnage
removed and costs incurred during the Festive Season clean-up.
•
23 Operational projects in progress. Reported tonnage was 7 945 tons, in
addition 20 606 refuse bags had been filled with litter and removed to landfill.
•
A further 26 operational projects are at varying levels of implementation.
•
Tonnage of illegally disposed of material removed was 48 541 tones. Litter
collected filled 50 081 refuse bags.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Waste
10.4 Licensing and Safe Operation of Solid Waste Disposal Facilities
State and Trends
Percentage of waste disposal sites that are licensed
Council operates six disposal sites and currently three of these are licensed. All
landfill sites within the CCT area will be registered, permitted and operated in
accordance with the minimum requirements by 2005.
A landfill site is a designated piece of land which is formally registered and permitted
by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) to dispose of domestic,
industrial/commercial waste and wastewater sludge. The site is classified as a
general low hazardous or high hazardous waste site. New sites are carefully planned
and, if required, lined with a plastic liner to prevent leachate from filtering down
through the landfill and out into the surrounding environment. Waste reaching the
landfill is compacted by bulldozers to reduce the airspace that the waste material
takes when disposed of. The compacted waste is then covered with sand to prevent
odour formation and/or any bacterial health risk.
The City of Cape Town currently operates six landfill sites and two waste transfer
stations (Figure 10.4).
Figure 10.4 Location of Landfill Sites and Transfer Stations in the city of Cape Town
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
151
Waste
Lack of Landfill site space
As a consequence of steadily increasing waste volumes the City of Cape Town is
rapidly running out of landfill airspace. It is estimated that four out of the current six
landfills will have to close down within the next five years. A regional site is being
sought. The preparation, management, maintenance and final rehabilitation of a
landfill site is costly. These increased costs, along with a loss of subsidies, have
resulted in steep increases is disposal fees over the last few year.
200
100%
150
75%
100
50%
50
25%
0
% increase per annum
R/ton
Figure 10.5 Waste Disposal Tariffs in the City of Cape Town
0%
94
95
95
96
96
97
97
98
98
99
99
00
00
01
01
02
02
03
03
04
04
05
(15% increase assumed after 2001)
general
hazardous
increase %
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Waste
10.5 The Transport and Disposal of Hazardous Waste
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Space available in hazardous waste disposal facilities
The Vissershok Special Waste site has a current lifespan of seven years. This could
be extended to 13 years if an extension is granted for the site. The ratio of waste:
special waste is 4.5:1 by mass. Alternate disposal methods for sewage sludge are
being considered such as composting. Medical Waste is handled at private facilities.
Amount of radioactive waste generated by Koeberg Nuclear Power Station
Low-level and intermediate-level radioactive waste are transported to a disposal site
at Vaalputs in the Northern Cape. After the expected increase in the amount of lowlevel waste generated in 2001 due to the inspection and repair activities to safety
systems piping, waste volumes have reduced during 2002 (Figure 10.6)
High-level waste (HLW) – These are usually the wastes derived from the
reprocessing of spent fuel. Spent nuclear fuel is a resource from which a vast amount
of energy may be recovered through reprocessing. However, spent nuclear fuel that
has been disposed of directly would be classified as HLW. Koeberg currently has no
plans to reprocess its spent fuel, but it remains an option for the future. Therefore all
spent nuclear fuel is currently stored as HLW at Koeberg.
Nuclear waste generated (drums/annum)
Figure 10.6 Amount of Radioactive Waste generated in drums / annum by
Koeberg Nuclear Power Station
Low level waste
Intermediate level waste
800
763
588
600
452
400
200
451
367
99
139
136
75
108
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
153
Waste
Hazardous waste generation compared to amount disposed through formal
facilities
Approximately 458 601 tonnes of “Special Waste” were disposed at the Vissershok
site during 1999. The Vissershok private disposal site also disposes of hazardous
waste. There are no new data for 2000 - 2002.
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses were underway in 2002:
•
A hazardous waste project in partnership with University of Cape Town
investigating the management and disposal of batteries has been completed.
•
The Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) drafted a radioactive waste
management policy for South Africa in November 2000. The DMW also drafted a
report on the status of radioactive waste in South Africa during 2001. The DMW
incorporated the radioactive waste management strategy into the policy
document during 2002, and the draft has been reviewed by the Government
Departments where jurisdiction intersects. The latest draft document is expected
to be tabled in Parliament in 2003, and to be released for public comment
thereafter.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Waste
10.6 The Transport and Disposal of Medical Waste
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Volume of waste received at the incineration facilities (tonnes/annum)
The total quantity of medical waste currently incinerated in Cape Town in estimated
at 2 579 tonnes during 2002, compared to the 2 120 tonnes for 2001 (Figure 10.7).
This represents a 21% increase of medical waste incinerated between 2001 and
2002.
There are two medical waste incinerators in Cape Town currently permitted by the
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the Enviroserv incinerator at
Vissershok and a smaller facility at Delft operated by BCL Medical Waste
Management Services. These incineration facilities have a combined capacity to burn
approximately 3 297 tonnes per annum and currently receive 2 579 tonnes per
annum.
Figure 10.7 Medical waste incinerated (tonnes per annum) in Cape Town
Tonnes incinerated
3000
2230
2500
2579
2481
2120
1700
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
A third medical waste company, Evertrade Medical Waste, commenced operations in
Cape Town during October 2002. This company applies a non-incinerator based
processing technology, namely the Electro Thermal Deactivation process to render
medical waste non-infectious and non re-usable. The final disposal of the processed
waste takes place at a landfill site. Evertrade has a capacity to treat 25 tonnes of
medical waste per day. During the period October to December 2002 approximately
56 tonnes of medical waste was treated at this plant.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Waste
Volume of medical waste received at the incinerators as a percentage of
estimated medical waste generated
Approximately 88% of all medical waste generated within Cape Town is incinerated
and/or treated by approved processes for safe disposal of such waste. This leaves
an estimated 12% of medical waste generated that is not disposed of at the permitted
and approved medical waste treatment/disposal facilities.
Number of incidents associated with medical waste in Cape Town
There were approximately 10 reported medical waste incidents during 1999, with
only two reported for 2000. No data are available for 2001/2. This is due to unreliable
reporting mechanisms and is not necessarily a reflection that the situation has
improved.
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses were underway in 2002:
•
The City has approved a new, single Environmental Health By-law (refer to
Chapter 4.2 - Health) that will include a section relating to medical waste
management, during December 2002. This By-law will be promulgated in the
Provincial Gazette during 2003. The By-law defines the roles and responsibilities
of the generators, transporters and disposers of medical waste and to regulates
the safe disposal of such waste. For more information please visit the Health
Directorate’s website at www.capetown.gov.za/health.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Waste
Reflections and Summary - Waste
Waste to landfill continued to increase at an alarming rate in excess of 7% per
annum. There is an urgent need for a regional landfill as a result of near term
closures. There is an urgent need for waste reduction and recycling, especially in the
commercial and industrial sectors. Littering and illegal dumping continue to be the
number one priority in this section as a result of clean up costs, currently in excess of
R 100 million per annum. More attention (and funding) is required to prevent waste
from being generated and divert more waste (through increased recycling,
composting and reuse activities) from landfill.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Economy
11 ECONOMY
The City of Cape Town has resolved as part of its Strategic Vision 2003-2005 to focus
on building partnerships which reduce poverty and create jobs.
Strategies to promote economic growth, job-creation, and reduce poverty are being
implemented by numerous local government departments, including the Economic
Development and Tourism Directorate.
In 2002, numerous economic indicators pointed to a sustained strengthening in the
City’s economy. This reflects the strong fundamentals of the national economy, as well
as the competitive advantages and economic diversity of the city.
The issues are:
11.1 Promoting Global Competitiveness and Economic Growth
11.2 Reducing Poverty and Facilitation of Job Opportunities
11.1 Promoting Global Competitiveness and Economic Growth
What is the state of the environment?
Total value of goods and services (or Gross Geographic Product (GGP) by sector)).
Cape Town's economy produced R105.4 billion (nominal) in goods and services
compared to the R 94.0 billion in 2001. This comprises almost 11% of the national
economy and 75% of the Western Cape economy.
Economic growth (or growth in real output by sector).
Cape Town's real economy grew by 4.1% in 2002, compared to 3.0% in 2001. The
economy grew at a slightly higher rate than the national economy.
This rate of growth compares favourably with the low rates of economic growth achieved
by other developed and developing countries during this period, but it is necessary to
improve further on this rate of growth in order to reduce the total number of residents
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
158
Economy
who are unemployed and/or living in poverty (see economic growth projection scenarios
under unemployment).
Percentage of labour force that are professional, skilled, semi-skilled and/or low
skilled.
The total 2002 metropolitan labour force, or economically active population, is
1 403 393. (City of Cape Town: Economic Development and Tourism Directorate,
August 2003.) This has grown by 25 427 since 2001.
Cape Town's labour force continues to be relatively better skilled than other South
African cities.
The proportion of the labour force classified as semi-skilled or unskilled has fallen
slightly from 35% to 31% between 1999-2002 (Table 11.1). This trend may reflect a shift
in Cape Town’s economy, in line with international trends, towards more knowledgeintensive, service oriented activity. The proportion of workers who are white-collar has
increased. This is a positive trend for the global positioning of Cape Town.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
159
Economy
Table 11.1 City of Cape Town: Proportion of the Labour Force in Different Skills
Categories (1996 – 2002)
SKILLS CATEGORY
WHITE COLLAR SKILLED
Legislators, managers, professionals, technicians.
WHITE COLLAR SEMI-SKILLED
Clerical, service and sales workers.
BLUE COLLAR SKILLED
Skilled agricultural workers, craft and trades-people.
1996
2001
2002
29%
29%
29%
23%
28%
25%
16%
14%
15%
9%
10%
9%
23%
19%
22%
BLUE COLLAR SEMI-SKILLED
Machine operators and assemblers.
UNSKILLED
Domestics and elementary occupations.
Source: City of Cape Town (2002c) and September 2001 and October 2002 Labour Force Survey (City of
Cape Town, 2003).
Number of international tourists visiting Cape Town.
Tourism activity has numerous linkages to Cape Town's broader economy and is a
major driver behind economic growth and job creation.
The total number of overseas visitors to South Africa increased dramatically by 21% in
2002. 976,000 overseas tourists, and 396,000 visitors from Africa, visited the Western
Cape in 2002. These overseas visitors spent R17.3 billion in 2002 (Source: Grant
Thornton Kessel Feinstein, Tourism Fact Sheet, 2003).
Total value of imported and exported goods (trade balance)
Export promotion is another major driver behind economic growth and job creation as a
result of the increase in the demand for locally produced goods and services and the
favourable Rand exchange rate in 2002.
The nominal value of exports rose dramatically by 47% to R17.6 billion, compared to
14% in 2001. This compares very favourably to a national increase in export value of
24%.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Economy
Table 11.2 City Of Cape Town: Goods Trade Balance (1996-2002)
Exports
Imports
(R billion)
(R billion)
1996
6,6
11.1
2001
11.9
10.4
2002
17.6
21.4
Year
Source: City of Cape Town (April 2001) based on data from the Department of Customs and Excise
Note:
The above statistics exclude the mineral fuels, oils & products category. The statistics refer only to
trade in goods, and do not include services exports (e.g. consulting, construction etc.) or the annual
amounts injected into the local economy by visitors to the City (tourists, foreign filming activity,
etc.).
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
161
Economy
11.2 Poverty Reduction and Facilitation of Job Opportunities
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Poverty is complex and is caused by both income factors and non-income factors (e.g.
levels of education and access to facilities and basic services). Increasing levels of
literacy and education levels are directly correlated to reducing poverty by enhancing
economic growth and personal income levels.
The economy needs to grow at about 7% real growth per annum to reduce the level of
unemployment.
Local government does not create jobs - the private sector does. Local government
does, however, contribute towards an enabling environment for private sector growth as
well as the creation of job opportunities that arise as a result of local government
services and activities.
Total current number/percentage of people unemployed and projections.
According to the official / narrow definition of employment, 278 082 (or 19.8% of the
economically active population (Figure 11.1)) were unemployed in 2002 (City of Cape
Town (August 2003)). This represented an increase in unemployment of about 6 500
people since 2001.
Nevertheless, 2002 saw for the first time in Cape Town’s history, a stabilisation in the
percentage of the labour force that is unemployed, indicating future prospects for a
reduction in the percentage of the labour force which are unemployed.
According to the expanded definition, approximately 374 844 (or 26.7% of the
economically active population (Figure 11.1)) were unemployed in 2002 (City of Cape
Town (August 2003)). This represented a decrease of about 1 300 people and an
encouraging reduction of 0.5% in the proportion of unemployed according to the
expanded definition.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
162
Economy
Note, both the official and expanded definition of unemployment are used in this report.
The official definition states that the unemployed are those persons within the
economically active population who:
a) Did not work during the seven days prior to the interview;
b) Want to work and are available to start work within a week of the interview; and
c) Have taken active steps to look for work or to start some form of self-employment in
the four weeks prior to the interview.
The expanded definition includes the above as well as discouraged job seekers or those
who have not taken active steps to find work in the four weeks prior to the interview.
Figure 11.1 Unemployment figures for Cape Town
Unemployment (Official Definition)
Unemployment (Expanded Definition)
30%
Unemployment levels (as a %)
27.3%
26.70%
24.5%
22.4%
20.0%
20.4%
20%
19.7%
19.80%
18.0%
16.5%
15.0%
13.3%
10%
0%
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
163
Economy
Table 11.3 Cape Town: Projected Economic Growth and Labour Force Scenarios
Periods
2002-2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
Year
SCENARIO 1
SCENARIO 2
SCENARIO 3
SCENARIO 4
SCENARIO 5
GGP real growth GGP real growth GGP real growth GGP real growth GGP real growth
%
%
%
%
%
2
3
4
4
5.4
2
3
4
5
5.2
2
3
4
6
5.0
SCENARIO 1
SCENARIO 2
SCENARIO 3
SCENARIO 4
SCENARIO 5
formal
employment
formal
employment
formal
employment
formal
employment
formal
employment
2002
882 311
882 311
882 311
882 311
882 311
2003
896 428
903 486
910 545
910 545
920 311
2004
910 771
925 170
939 682
946 967
958 311
2005
Periods
925 343
SCENARIO 1
947 374
SCENARIO 2
969 752
SCENARIO 3
992 421
SCENARIO 4
996 310
SCENARIO 5
change in formal change in formal change in formal change in formal change in formal
employment
employment
employment
employment
employment
2002-2003
14 117
21 175
28 234
28 234
38 000
2003-2004
14 343
21 684
29 137
36 422
38 000
2004-2005
14 572
22 204
30 070
45 454
Source: City of Cape Town (August 2003).
Note:
Total Population Forecast using middle scenario from Dorrington, 2000.
38 000
Table11.3 indicates that growth rates of between 4% and 7% are required to reduce
current unemployment and poverty levels.
Employment in formal and informal sectors (number and percentage).
Approximately 64% of the labour force is employed in the formal sector (contributing
88% of economic output), and 18% of the labour force is employed in the informal sector
(contributing 12% to economic output) (using the narrow definition of unemployment)
(Table 11.4 below).
Table 11.4 City of Cape Town: Employment and Unemployment Levels (1997 – 2002)
1997
2001
2002
Unemployment: official definition
13.3%
19.7%
19.8%
Unemployment: expanded definition
20.0%
27.3%
26.7%
851 828
867 052
882 311
115 518 –
145 066 -
146 238 -
197 036
239 455
243 000
Formal employment
Informal employment (range depends on
unemployment definition used)
Source: City of Cape Town (April 2001, August 2003).
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
164
Economy
Table 11.5 Cape Town Gross Geographic Product and Jobs (formal and informal) by sector: 1980 - 2002
Nominal GGP at
1980
1991
1996
2000
2002
factor cost
Sector
Output Jobs
Output Jobs
Output Jobs
Output Jobs
Output Jobs
(R'000)
(R'000)
(R'000)
(R'000)
(R'000)
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing
69 819
13 139
289 990
7 933
526 994
18 455
575 338
9 476
856 668
8 775
Mining & Quarrying
14 910
1 457
46 143
1 004
100 134
1 835
170 685
1 378
280 012
1 821
293 358
Manufacturing
1 273 926
173 378
8 242 772
248 421
15 210 069
236 178
20 478 694
277 406
26 638 022
Electricity & Water
106 563
8 993
629 001
5 545
885 261
10 382
1 226 029
4 913
1 312 683
4 543
Construction
224 486
53 122
1 118 180
60 951
2 111 548
74 812
3 091 711
76 988
3 480 711
72 543
Trade & Catering
860 470
110 706
6 319 326
184 343
12 742 226
171 477
19 453 503
243 284
24 687 495
248 924
Transport, Communication
671 402
53 245
2 888 884
57 011
5 176 657
59 136
7 349 692
68 710
8 122 144
69 594
110 269
Finance, Real Estate
738 202
50 996
5 001 634
75 614
11 298 377
120 213
17 158 574
110 164
20 396 818
Services
930 376
187 215
6 379 597
227 915
11 780 064
262 299
16 584 199
226 924
19 657 055
234 321
Total
4 890 154
652 251
30 915 527
868 737
59 831 330
954 787
86 088 425
1 019 243
105 431 608
1 044 148
The formal sector employment increased by about 31 000 jobs between 2000 and 2002.
The informal sector continues to grow and is of major importance in terms of providing a
safety net and entry point into the formal economy for between 146 238 – 243 000
people (depending on whether the official or expanded definition of unemployment is
used). There is also evidence of rising wage levels in the informal sector as skilled
workers move from the formal to informal sectors.
Percentage of the population in poverty (household subsistence level - HSL).
Based on the household income recorded by the 2001 Census, 41.93% of households
earn incomes below R 19 200 per annum (R 1 600 per month). The income category
R 9 801 - R 19 200 is the closest one can get to the H.S.L. for 2001 which is
approximately R 1 800 per month. The upper limit of the next category is R 38 400 per
annum. 28% of black households earn no income (possibly contains a high proportion of
single male / female households). The high unemployment rate for Black Africans of
49.8% (i.e. half of the economically active being unemployed) would imply a high degree
of poverty. However, one needs to exercise caution as the unemployment rate recorded
by the Labour Force Survey 2002 is 23% compared to the 2001 Census of 29% overall.
The Census relies on self-reporting by individuals and there might be some degree of
reporting error.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
165
Economy
What is being done about it?
Cape Town’s global competitiveness and poverty reduction are impacted on by global
economic conditions, the actions of global role-players and multi-national companies, all
three spheres of government, para-statals, and the domestic private sector.
The vast majority of the City of Cape Town’s services and activities impact on the
productivity and competitiveness of Cape Town’s economy. For example, the efficiency
and equity of water and electricity service delivery impacts on:
• Poverty reduction by influencing the amount of disposable income that the poor
have available for productive investments in education;
• Global competitiveness by influencing business input costs and their ability to
compete in the global economy; and
• Local government revenue streams used for subsidising investments, which
leverage various economic returns and broader benefits (for e.g. in
infrastructure).
Describing all of Council’s activities which address economic growth, job creation and
poverty reduction lies beyond the scope of this chapter. The following responses
describe the City of Cape Town Economic Development and Tourism Directorate’s
specialised economic development services
(working in close partnership with
provincial and national government, organised business, and non-profit and community
role players):
i.
Business Development Services;
ii.
Sector Development Support;
iii.
Tourism Development, Marketing and Major Events;
iv.
Investment and Trade Promotion; and
v.
Economic Development Strategy and Strategic Information.
Business Development Services
•
Developed a Business Development Support Policy;
•
Implemented the Job Creation Fund with a total budget of R2 million to support 19
projects providing capacity building and training programmes through specialised
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
166
Economy
service providers. The focus of the projects is on Small Business support and youth
development;
•
Successfully staged the second City of Cape Town Small Business Week 2002;
•
Extended the roll-out of the Library Small Business Corners Initiative;
•
Facilitated small business networking events;
•
Produced a range of publications to assist small businesses, including a local
government page in BIG News.
Sector Development Support
Sector support activities are targeted activities or actions which focus on a particular
sector, niche or cluster in the city or regional economy.
Initiatives included the
following:
• Funded the establishment of the Cape Manufacturing Advisory Centre (to promote
the productivity and growth of small manufacturers);
• Published a draft Urban Agriculture Policy and held a consultative Summit;
• Supported the operation of the Cape Film Commission to assist and expand the film
industry;
• Funded the Cape IT Initiative, Calling the Cape and the Cape Bio-technology
initiative;
• Participated in the Port-City Inter-governmental Liaison Forum to enhance and
accelerate its Port Development Framework process, and participated in the Airport
Economic Development Strategy Process.
Tourism Development, Marketing and Major Events
•
Initiated the establishment of the Cape Town Tourism and Major Events Company to
amalgamate the range of publicly funded tourism promotion organisations in the
Province. This company will support the implementation of the Joint Marketing
Strategy for Cape Town and the Western Cape together with other lead sectors such
as trade and investment and film.
•
Made available a Major Events Strategy and Major Facilities Database on the
Internet www.capetown.events.co.za
•
Published a 2002 Major Events Guide
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
167
Economy
•
Continued the funding of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (which was
successfully completed ahead of schedule in June 2003). The Council contributed
R284 million to the construction of the centre, which has contributed an estimated
R600 million over the past two years to the GDP, as well as creating 4 000 jobs and
14 000 earning opportunities.
•
Continued to support a range of community based Tourism Development Projects
through a development fund which aims to ensure that tourism in Cape Town is
government led, private sector driven and community based. The 2002 projects
focussed on craft development, support for cultural heritage museums and new
tourism routes in previously disadvantaged areas.
Investment and Trade Promotion (including Tourism Promotion)
Investment and Trade Promotion activities aim to maximise both foreign and domestic
productive investment (from local businesses, foreign businesses, and via exports and
foreign tourists) as this is a pre-condition for expanded production and economic growth.
•
Completed a Cape Trade Promotion Business Plan to enhance the effectiveness of
the region’s trade promotion strategy and support export growth and development
(www.jmi.co.za)
•
Implemented a Cape Town Trade Promotion Fund and funded 12 sector focused
trade promotion initiatives which targeted support at over 50 companies in the craft,
IT, medical equipment, boat-building, and construction sectors
•
Continued to act as primary funder for the Provincial Investment and Trade
Promotion Agency (Wesgro).
•
Made available on the Internet a Major Investment and Development Opportunities
database of over 500 investment projects in Cape Town and the Western Cape
(www.investcapetown.gov.za)
•
Supported the ongoing establishment of City Improvement Districts in key
commercial and industrial areas, including the Cape Town Central City Partnership
(CTCCP), in order to retain and promote investment and assist with the co-ordination
of Council services. The activities of the CTCCP have reduced crime in the CBD by
24%.
•
Supported investment marketing initiatives for a number of priority business areas
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
168
Economy
Economic Development Strategy and Strategic Information
•
Refined and aligned the Economic Development and Tourism framework to guide
the City and Directorate’s economic development initiatives and programme
implementation
•
Completed a 2002 economic statistics update for the City. Cape Town is the only
city in South Africa with a refined GGP figure
•
Initiated the implementation of a Western Cape Tourism e-business system including
a consumer facing destination website in partnership with the Provincial Government
and Western Cape Tourism Board
•
Completed a “City world first” Digital Divide Needs Assessment for Cape Town in
conjunction with other Directorates
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
169
Economy
Reflections and Summary – Economy
Cape Town's economy exhibited its strongest ever performance in 2002 and exceeded
national economic performance in a number of areas, including:
•
Economic growth of 4.1%;
•
Stabilisation in unemployment at 19.8%;
•
An increase in overseas tourists of 21%; and
•
An increase in nominal export value of 47%.
This momentum can be maintained with realistic growth projections for 2003 of about
4% as macro-economic conditions start to improve (especially a decline in the domestic
interest rate) and as the benefits of the Cape’s new brand and marketing strategies, as
well as the International Convention Centre, begin to be felt.
However, mostly jobless growth means many people work in the informal sector. This
sector, together with SMMEs, is key to social upliftment and reducing poverty.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
170
Education
12 EDUCATION
High quality, accessible education is the path to informed citizens, the ability of future
generations to create and live a better life and is the foundation for a strong
democracy. Of concern is the fact that more than 50% of learners starting in Grade 1
do not finish Grade 12.
The issue is:
12.1 The Need to Improve Access to Education Opportunities to Ensure Appropriate
Skills Development
IMEP’s Vision for Cape Town (2020):
The city of Cape Town population will be environmentally educated, aware and
conscious. Equitable environmental education will have ensured that people care for
and respect their environment.
12.1 The Need to Improve Access to Education Opportunities to Ensure
Appropriate Skills Development
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is responsible for education in
the province in primary and secondary public schools and further education and
training colleges (previously called technical colleges). The WCED also provides
education for learners with special education needs (LSEN). The department
subsidises early childhood development at pre-primary schools and adult education
and training provided by community-based learning centres. The WCED manages a
wide range of related activities, including education technology support, media
production, the Safe Schools Programme and HIV/AIDS education among others.
Adult literacy rate (%).
The adult literacy rate is 93% for adults over 18 years of age and more than a Grade
4 level of education (Labour Force Survey 2002).
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
171
Education
Pupil:Teacher Ratios.
According to the latest available information there are 586 431 learners and 19 588
teachers (Table 12.1), hence a ratio of 29 pupils to 1 teacher. This ratio unfortunately
hides the disparities across the City where some teachers have classes of 60 or
more pupils.
Table 12.1 Number of Educators within each Type of School in Cape Town
Type
Educators
Combined
592
Intermediate
1 045
Primary
10 258
Secondary
6 774
LSEN
919
Total
19 588
Number of schools per 1000 people.
According to the latest information available there are 821 schools within the City of
Cape Town area (Table 12.2).
From a population of 3 200 000 people (refer
Urbanisation, Urban Form and Housing – chapter 6) there are approximately 0.26
schools per 1 000 Cape Town residents.
Enrolment rates for primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions.
See Table 12.2 for enrolments during 2002. There were no data available for the
tertiary institutions.
Table 12.2 Enrolment Numbers at Schools during 2002 in Cape Town
Schools
Type
Public
Private
Combined
2
Intermediate
Learners
Public
Private
23
1 939
9 045
48
1
36 599
75
Primary
465
21
344 392
6 236
Secondary
196
10
203 501
1 540
LSEN
Total
LSEN
55
711
55
55
LSEN
9 608
586 431
16 905
9 608
Note: LSEN = Learners for Special Education Needs
The WCED is satisfied that almost 100% of learners eligible for primary school are
now attending school in the Western Cape. Public Schools enrolled
86 969 Grade One learners in 2002.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
172
Education
A total of 40 468 learners registered for Grade 12 in 2002. This represents 46 501
fewer learners than those in Grade One. Enrolment trends over the years 1988 to
2001 indicate that only 48% of learners who begin Grade One reach Grade 12.
Some of these learners move on to colleges and other forms of training. However,
most of those that have not completed Grade 12 appear to have dropped out of
school.
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
•
The WCED has introduced a range of interventions to improve the quality of
education in the Province in 2002. These interventions included the Learning
Schools Campaign, which seeks to improve matric results at schools that
achieved matric pass rates of less than 60%. The campaign helped to reduce
the number of schools in this category from 47 in 2001 to 28 in 2002.
•
The WCED and the Province made considerable progress in implementing its
key “eLearning” strategies. These include
§
The Telecommunications Project, which completed the process of linking
almost every school in the province to the Internet early in 2003.
§
The Khanya Project, which is implementing innovative ways of enhancing
teaching and learning in schools using information and communication
technologies (ICT).
§
The Dassie Project, which is developing innovative ways of enhancing
education in Further Education and Training (FET) colleges using ICT.
§
Various web-based initiatives, to improve the department’s services to key
stakeholders in education.
•
The WCED’s Safe Schools Programme continued to ensure safe school
environments needed for effective teaching and learning. About 900 schools now
participate actively in the programme.
•
The Department’s HIV/AIDS Life Skills Programme in 2002 included training all
primary school teachers in the province; a special education programme for
primary school children; providing education materials for all primary school
teachers in three languages; and training about 5 000 peer counsellors in High
Schools.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
173
Education
•
The WCED is preparing a long-term strategy called Education Vision 2020, which
will guide long-term planning for education in the province. The strategy will
address key issues such as through-put rates and how best to prepare learners
for the global knowledge economy of the 21st century.
•
The Western Cape achieved a matric pass rate of 86.5% in 2002. This was the
highest recorded by the Province. The real number of matriculants passing also
increased, along with the quality of passes, measured by the number of
candidates passing with endorsement, merit and distinction.
•
The City of Cape Town’s Environmental Education and Training Strategy: The
Draft Environmental Education and Training Strategy was developed through a
consultative process that included external and internal stakeholders and role
players through a series of workshops and questionnaires. The Draft Strategy
was presented as one of the City of Cape Town’s brokerage projects at the World
Summit on Sustainable Development. It was well received and gained national
and international support. The Draft was approved as a public document and
circulated for stakeholder and public comment.
Comments received will be
attended to after a further internal consultative meeting where it will be proposed
that a database on the City’s Environmental Education and Training projects be
developed as well as an evaluation tool to ensure the quality and assess the
effectiveness of projects.
•
The City of Cape Town sponsored the Edutrain for the third time in 2002 with
R50 000 to co-ordinate ten days of environmental education programmes for
under-privileged children on board the train.
•
The Schools Environmental Policy and Management Plan Programme:
Developed and produced a number of relevant environmental learning
programmes as well as a Western Cape edition of the Schools Environmental
Policy pack. The project is managed by WWF-SA and co-funded by Old Mutual
and the City of Cape Town.
The programme seeks to recognise initiatives
undertaken by schools in making a difference to their environment and the
environmental learning process.
•
Youth Environmental School (YES 2002) – The YES programme is an initiative of
the City of Cape Town and was hosted, for the fourth time, held during World
Environment Week (3-8 June 2002). There were a total of 40 organisations with
50 presenters presenting 60 different activities. In excess of 10 000 learners
benefited from the YES programme held at the Chrysalis Academy in Tokai and
at three satellite events.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
174
Education
•
The Cheetah’s Challenge: The City of Cape Town hosted its 4th Cheetah’s
Challenge in 2002 with a 10km Fun Run and 5km Walk.
The aim of the
Cheetah’s Challenge is to raise awareness around the issue of endangered
species. 500 runners finished the 10km Fun Run and 350 walkers finished the
5km Walk.
•
During 2002 the City’s Nature Conservation Branch provided environmental
education for 24 100 schoolchildren, an increase of 3 240 children for the same
period last year. (Refer to the Biodiversity chapter – section 5.4).
•
The City’s Catchment, Stormwater and River Management service involves the
management of urban catchments in respect of their hydrological functioning for
drainage, flood control, ecological and social needs and acts as an important
urban water resource. Progress with relationship management and education
during 2002 included:
§
Partnership relationships such as World Wetlands Day, Water Week, Schools
Action Project, Water and Waste Interactive display, MTN Science
Partnership, Zeekoevlei Action Committee and Environmental Management
team, ongoing.
§
Catchment, Stormwater and River Management seminar series developed as
capacity building tool for internal district and operational staff working with
catchment related issues
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
175
Education
Reflections and Summary - Education
Education statistics reveal a stable picture from the previous year with little, if any
change in literacy rate, pupil: teacher ratio and enrolments. Of concern is the fact that
more than 50% of learners starting in Grade 1 do not finish Grade 12. There are,
however, a number of initiatives underway to begin to address these issues.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
176
Safety and Security
13 SAFETY AND SECURITY
The crime statistics for Cape Town (as reported for the East and West Metropoles)
showed an increase, between 2001 and 2002, across all four categories of reported
crime. Some success has been achieved through the City Improvement District(s),
Urban Renewal projects and the introduction of the Cape Town City Police to priority
areas across the City.
The issue is:
13.1 Incidence of Crime
13.1 Incidence of Crime
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
Incidence of crime (violent, property related and social fabric crime and vehicle
theft).
The crime statistics for 2002 were released in September 2003 (www.saps.gov.za).
An increase between 2001 and 2002 was experienced across all four categories of
reported crime. Population figures are based on the 1996 and 2001 Census data.
The categories are as follows:
§
Violent crime – murder, attempted murder and robbery with aggravating
circumstances
§
Property related crime – all forms of burglary and theft, including stock theft
and theft from motor vehicles
§
Social fabric crime – rape, common assault and assault with intent to cause
grievous bodily harm
§
Vehicle theft – theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
177
Safety and Security
No. of crimes per 100 000 pop.
Figure 13.1 Reported crime rates (per 100 000 of population) in Cape Town
7000
Violent crime
Social fabric crime
Property related crime
Vehicle theft
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Violent crime
343
356
434
586
530
554
608
Property related crime
4196
4623
5142
5186
5931
5834
6024
Social fabric crime
1482
1477
1421
1533
1679
1554
1687
Vehicle theft
300
316
376
353
395
366
433
Table 13.1 Distribution of SAPS personnel in City of Cape Town in 2001
Uniform
Detectives
Intelligence
Civilians
Total
Western Metropole
1 737
528
50
468
2 783
Eastern Metropole
1 527
410
47
363
2 347
City of Cape Town
3 264
938
97
831
5 130
The Cape Town City Police, a service that was deployed from 1 December 2001, are
assisting SAPS in the fight against crime in the City of Cape Town. In 2002 730 City
Police recruits were deployed to priority areas within the City of Cape Town after an
intensive 24-week training programme (410 recruits were deployed in January 2002
and a further 320 recruits were deployed in July 2002).
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
178
Safety and Security
The Number of Emergency Service Incidences in the City of Cape Town
This is a new indicator. The number of call received by the Public Emergency
Communication Centre and the Fire and Emergency Services Department give an
indication of a number of Emergency Service incidences that occurred in 2002.
Table 13.2 Number of Incoming Calls Received by the City of Cape Town’s Public
Emergency Communications Centre in 2002
Incoming Calls
Incident Types
(The
primary
incident
type
category in indicated however
incidents
could
require
number
of
could
are
therefore
Fire
4 346
28 514
252
Utility Services
1 531
Other
14 237
Wrong Number
8 227
Abandoned
144 717
Prank/Nuisance
552 952
Total Calls
1 346 308
be
received for the same incident
and
47 742
Police
Similarly a
calls
Medical
Traffic Enforcement
response from more than one
service provider.
2002
not
indicated.)
The Fire and Emergency Services Department receive two types of calls, structural
calls and special service calls. The table below gives the number of calls for each
type for the year 2002 in the City of Cape Town.
Table 13.3 The number of Structural and special service calls received by the City of
Cape Town’s Fire and Emergency Services in 2002
Structural Calls
Special Service Calls
Type
Number
Type
Number
Medical
6 782
Residential
2 057
Institutional
50
Public Assembly
10
Commercial
194
Trauma
4 768
Storage
35
MVA Trauma
5 451
Industry
213
Miscellaneous
438
Transport
781
HAZMAT
78
Others
6 706
Codes
1
False Alarms
2 371
False Alarms
2 370
Loss of Life
95
Loss of Life
906
Total
12 417
Total
19 888
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
179
Safety and Security
During 2002, Disaster Management was involved in responding to 39 major
incidents.
These and other incidents that the branch responded included the
following.
Table 13.4 Summary of incidents responded to be Disaster Management in 2002
Incident
Number
Fires – Structural / Wildfire (number of incidents)
104
Fire - Informal Settlements (number of incidents)
116
§ Shacks involved (Total over period)
3041
§ People Affected (Total over period)
11064
Flooding (Number of incidents)
32
§ Buildings affected (Total over period)
44
§ People affected (Total over period)
203
Flooding - informal Settlements (Number of incidents)
101
§ Shacks involved (Total over period)
3712
§ People affected (Total over period)
22732
Rockfalls (number of incidents)
12
Wind / Storms (Number of incidents)
20
Service disruption – Electricity / Water / Cleansing etc
62
(Number of incidents)
Major transportation incident (Number of incidents)
Hazardous and other spills / releases (Number of incidents)
Building collapses (Number of incidents)
Crowd surges / Stampedes
5
1
6
1
Post-incident relief actions
Co-ordination period (duration in days)
Meals (No supplied over period)
Shelter (Total number of persons sleeping in shelters over period)
Blankets (Total supplied over period)
Clothing (total individuals supplied over period)
Food parcels (Total supplied over period)
Starter kits / plastic rolls supplied
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
159
98737
32929
12600
5065
3565
65
180
Safety and Security
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses underway:
•
In 2002 730 City Police recruits were deployed to priority areas within the City of
Cape Town after an intensive 24-week training programme (410 recruits were
deployed in January 2002 and a further 320 recruits were deployed in July 2002).
•
The Cape Town City Police were involved in the following initiatives in 2002:
§
Domestic Violence Project (Silent Witness Initiative): This is an initiative of the
Social Crime Prevention Centre in Partnerships with the Mitchell’s Plain
Network Opposing Woman Abuse. The project was launched in November
2002 to create awareness around domestic violence and the abuse of women
and female children in the community.
The project targeted Grade Nine
learners from various high schools in the Mitchell’s Plain area and engaged
them in activities that contributed towards the fight against domestic violence.
§
Women Waging Peace Awards: Gun Free South Africa supported by the City
Police, Social Crime Prevention Centre held their 2nd annual “Women Waging
Peace” Awards Ceremony.
This event acknowledges women who have
gained recognition and respect by working towards resolving conflict in their
communities.
§
Tafelsig Cultural Week and Heritage Bash: The Juvenetics Schools of Dance
and Movement provided the youth of Mitchell’s Plain an alternative to crime.
This was done through allowing the youth to develop their interests and
talents in the fields of dance, song and art. With the current focus of Urban
Renewal Projects in Tafelsig, the Juvenetics School of Dance and Movement
in conjunction with the City Police implemented a Youth Cultural Week. This
week culminated in a Heritage Day Bash Dance Competition. The objective
was to engage the youth in a crime prevention project by increasing cultural
awareness and artistic expression.
§
Elsies River – Sport Against Crime Project: The project funded by the Cape
Town City Police, aimed at targeting youth at risk in the community, as well as
gangsters and reformed gangsters and exposing them to alternative activities
other than that of crime and gangsterism. The community has resolved to
find alternative means to engage the target group in activities conducive to a
better quality of life.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
181
Safety and Security
§
Christmas Tree Project: The Social Crime Prevention Centre identified the
need to treat the impoverished children in Division Two to a Christmas
Celebration Party at the De Wet Road Hall on the Cape Flats. The aim of the
project was to identify 120 children between the ages of four and six years
from Mitchell’s Plain, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Mannenberg, Athlone and
Phillipi and give them a Christmas Celebration Party. It is hoped to make this
an annual event.
§
Hanover Park Youth Social Crime Prevention Programme: The Hanover Park
Youth Development Forum, with assistance from the City Police targeted 100
at-risk youth and engaged them in activities during the switching on of the
Cape Town Christmas Lights.
•
The 107 Public Emergency Communications Centre: 107 is a single emergency
number for the City of Cape Town that allows citizens to access all emergency
service providers (Police, Ambulance, Fire and Traffic) by dialling 107 from a land
line and (021) 480 7700 from a cell phone.
Table 13.5 Public Education and Awareness Programs run by the City of Cape
Town’s Public Emergency Communications Centre in 2002
Number of
Project
institutions /
events
Community and Special Events / Exhibitions
39
Shopping Malls
8
Libraries (Display Stands)
43
Direct Mail (Telkom Subscribers)
Schools
•
Number of
persons
10 900
257
141 839
The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Emergency Services Department were also
involved in a number of fire safety activities during the year 2002. The table
below (Table 13.6) shows these results.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
182
Safety and Security
Table 13.6 Fire Safety Activities involving the City of Cape Town’s Fire and
Emergency Services Department in 2002
Activities
Number
Building inspections
19 908
Flammable Storage
1 552
Business licences
2 781
Road Motor Tankers
•
67
Fire Hazards
2 304
Miscellaneous
3 656
Notices Served
2 224
Plans
7 467
Fire Hydrant Inspections
40 398
The City has a two-point strategy for Disaster Management, which is firstly to try
to prevent disasters that cannot be prevented, by managing the consequences.
The focus is on strengthening preventative strategies while maintaining adequate
response capacity. This preventative focus is in line with the recently
promulgated Disaster Management Act (Act 57 of 2002)
•
During 2002, lessons learnt from the flooding in informal settlements during 2001
were included in planning for flood prevention for the winter of 2002, and a
marked effect on the overall impact of flooding.
Through a multi-disciplinary
team, flood risk areas were identified and where possible, measures were put in
place to reduce flood risk and improve responses.
•
Large scale fires in informal settlements remain a critical concern and various
avenues are being pursued to build out risk in these areas and to strengthen
communities’ prevention awareness and preparedness for such events.
•
Planning for the above two hazards and many other that threaten life, property
and the environment in Cape Town is informed through ongoing risk
quantification.
Reflections and Summary - Safety and Security
The release of the crime statistics in September 2003 indicated that all crime
categories increased during 2002. There are, however, many City initiatives that are
promoting a safe and caring City.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
183
Environmental Governance
14 ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE
Governance is an essential element in ensuring a sustainable City. All three spheres
of government along with municipal – civic interactions currently influence Cape
Town’s environment. This results in differing degrees of effectiveness, given capacity
and financial resource constraints. Capacity and effectiveness, at a local level,
deteriorated in 2002, largely due to local government restructuring and loss of
personnel.
The issue is:
14.1
The Effectiveness of the Environmental Management Function in Local
Government
IMEP’s Vision for Cape Town (2020):
There will be a high expectation from the people, of the authorities in respect of
environmental management, monitoring, auditing, as well as accountability.
Environmental issues will be dealt with in a structured and efficient way, and impact
studies will have ensured a better aesthetic and ecologically balanced City of Cape
Town.
There will be a positive relationship between local government and civil society,
collective responsibility for the environment, and an ethic of partnership building.
14.1
The Effectiveness of the Environmental Management Function in Local
Government
State and Trends
What is the state of the environment?
The trends over the past year indicate a decrease in capacity in environmental
management and nature conservation in the City of Cape Town.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
184
Environmental Governance
Number
of
people
committed
by
local
government
to
environmental
management:
The staffing complement for the environmental management function in the City of
Cape Town (Figure 14.1) has declined during 2001 and 2002.
Figure 14.1 Environmental Management staff in the City of Cape Town
50
Permanent Staff
41
38
40
37
33
30
23
20
10
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
The City’s Nature Conservation staff complement has also declined during the past
three years, although the budget has increased (Figure 14.2).
Figure 14.2 Nature Conservation staff and annual budget in the City of Cape Town
Permanent staff
57
Permanent staff
13
12
50
40
14
54
11
10
43
10
8
30
6
20
4
10
2
0
Annual budget (R millions)
60
Annual budget
0
2000
2001
2002
Year
In the spirit of co-operative governance the City of Cape Town provided the Cape
Peninsula National Park with R 13 million and Santam / Cape Argus Ukuvuka
Operation Firestop with R 7.5 million.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
185
Environmental Governance
Number of EIA applications (scoping reports) per annum:
The Province’s Government’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Development
Planning received 320 scoping reports during 2002 (Figure 14.3). Improved capacity
during 2002 has reflected favourably on the ability to process more scoping reports.
Figure 14.3 Annual number of scoping reports processed by Provincial Government
Scoping Reports
No. of scoping reports
350
320
300
268
250
250
196
200
150
112
100
50
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
186
Environmental Governance
Summary of Responses
What is being done about it?
The following responses were underway in 2002:
•
Two progress reports on the Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy
(IMEP) were presented to Council during 2002. These reports gave a summary
of the progress made to-date, highlighted specific projects that were initiated and
provided the way forward for each strategy’s implementation of IMEP. Each
strategy is described in greater detail throughout the report. For further
information please visit www.capetown.gov.za/enviro/imep.
•
The City of Cape Town participated at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD), which was held in Johannesburg in September 2002.
108 countries were officially represented at the summit, 105 of them by their
heads of state. At least 500 parallel events took place in Johannesburg and
around the country and it is estimated that the total number of international
delegates attending numbered over 37 000. The main aim of the WSSD was to
review the implementation of Agenda 21 internationally. The City of Cape Town
decided to actively participate in the Summit through activities in Johannesburg
as well as in Cape Town.
The main reasons why Cape Town participated was:
§
To contribute towards international and local debate, policy and
governance.
§
To showcase Cape Town projects and ideas around sustainable
development.
§
To
seek
partnerships
and
funding
with
local
and
international
organisations.
§
To promote Cape Town as a tourist destination.
§
To promote a better understanding between council, civil society and
business.
§
To create awareness around sustainable development issues within
communities.
§
To promote a better future for all through working together, with the
slogan “Together we can move mountains.”
•
The focus in Johannesburg was on participation at the various forum discussions
and exhibitions including Ubuntu (Wanderers), SA Pavilion (Wanderers), Global
Forum (Nasrec), Waterdome (MTN Dome) and the Business Forum Exhibition
(Gallaghar Estate). The City’s stand at the SA Pavilion exhibition was awarded
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Environmental Governance
first prize for the best exhibition, which included a schematic model of Table
Mountain.
•
The Cape Town events focussed around the Cape Town Earth Festival, which
provided a platform for interaction and various community based festivals. In
addition to this the Cape Care Route, a Trail of Two Cities, was launched to
showcase projects and organisations that promote sustainable development in
practical way.
•
The activities at the WSSD were divided into various forums at the different
venues, including the following:
§
UN Heads of State Forum at Sandton Convention Centre, with the Ubuntu
exhibition centre at Wanderers;
•
•
§
Global Forum and exhibition for civil society at Nasrec;
§
Business Forum and exhibition at Gallagher Estate;
§
Local Government Forum at Crown Plaza;
The following main themes (WEHABET) were highlighted at the WSSD:
§
Water and Sanitation;
§
Energy;
§
Health;
§
Agriculture and Food Security;
§
Biodiversity;
§
Education; and
§
Technological Transfer.
In an attempt to draw people to our stands, various functions where held. These
included live music of young South African artists, as well as a fashion show of
recycled materials by students.
•
In order to represent Cape Town at the various stands and provide an opportunity
for exposure and interaction, the City decided to send up a delegation comprising
of politicians, council employees and civil society. Most of the delegation stayed
at a central venue (Heron Bridge) where daily briefing sessions were held and a
team spirit was built. A large contingency of the delegates went up to the Summit
on the Train of Good Hope, which acted as a preparation and team building.
•
The main outcome of the Summit for Cape Town was a better general
understanding of what sustainable development is. Various departments had to
work close together to make this a success and this has fostered new
partnerships and a better working relationship within council, as well as with civil
society.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Environmental Governance
•
In 2002 the City of Cape Town initiated the development of an Environmental
Information System (EIS).
This was in response to various planning and
research studies that resulted in a significant resource of environmental
information that needs to be managed and disseminated. The Environmental
Information System consists of various themes of information, including
Environmental
Significance
Mapping,
Biodiversity
information,
Coastal
information, Heritage information and information to assist with environmental
control, for example outdoor advertising and signage. The EIS is an important
tool to management environmental information and to ensure that it is available to
all officials in the City as well as the public, in support of sustainable
development.
For
more
information
please
visit
www.capetown.gov.za/enviro/esm.
•
One of the tools recognised for the implementation of IMEP is Integrated
Environmental
Management
(IEM).
The
IEM
Strategy
concerns
the
implementation of IEM in regard to Council’s own capital investments and
infrastructure such as for water supply, wastewater, transport and housing. The
IEM Strategy has been put on hold until the City’s restructuring has been
completed. IEM is the statutory procedure for ensuring that the environment is
taken into account throughout the life cycle of projects.
In particular for the
planning, assessment and implementation of development projects. There are a
number of tools that can be used in IEM. These include Strategic Environmental
Assessment (SEA), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Environmental
Management Plans (EMP) and Environmental Management System (EMS).
•
Responsibility for IEM for the City’s own projects rests with the relevant Service
Delivery Units.
In this regard Directorates such as Transport, Roads and
Stormwater, Water Services and Solid Waste Management routinely contract the
services of independent environmental consultants to prepare Scoping Reports
and Environmental Impact Assessments for new projects.
Where required
external Environmental Control Officers are also appointed to monitor the
implementation of Construction Environmental Management Plans.
•
Environmental
Management
Plans
(EMPs)
–
The
generic
EMP
(www.capetown.gov.za/enviro/emd/) for Civil Engineering Construction Activities
was updated so that it could be used throughout the CCT. The EMP is currently
incorporated into all civil contracts by the Water Department and the Wastewater
Department. An awareness campaign promoting the benefits of incorporating the
generic EMP into construction contracts was conducted for the City’s engineers.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Environmental Governance
•
Strategic projects moved forward in implementation, including Macassar Dunes
Management Plan, Nooiensfontein Vlei Management Plan and the Blaauwberg
Conservation Area (specifically controlling vehicular access to the beach and
coastal dunes and signage in the coastal section), Cape Flats Flora Programme,
Mainstreaming Biodiversity on the Cape Flats – Sustainable Management for
three pilot sites (Refer section 5.4 – Biodiversity – for more detail on these
strategic projects).
•
Work slowed down on the development of two pilot Environmental Management
System (EMS) projects that had been initiated during 2000:
¦
Due to the resignation of a key member of staff the implementation of the
EMS Pilot Projects at both the Vissershok Landfill and at the Macassar
Wastewater Treatment Works received a setback. An EMS Pilot Project is to
be developed by Consultants for the Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works.
This will be used to redevelop capacity within the City and then to revitalise
the Macassar Wastewater EMS Project.
¦
It is also planned to contract Consultants to finalise the Vissershok Pilot EMS.
The intention is to roll-out the EMS to other landfill sites after that.
•
Youth Environmental School (YES 2002) – The YES programme is an initiative of
the CCT and was held during World Environment Week to coincide with World
Environment Day held on 5 June every year.
There were a total of 49
organisations with 59 presenters presenting 69 different activities. In excess of
20 000 learners benefited from the YES programme held at the Chrysalis
Academy in Tokai and at three satellite events.
•
The Cheetah’s Challenge: The City of Cape Town hosted its 4th Cheetah’s
Challenge in 2002 with a 10km Fun Run and 5km Walk.
The aim of the
Cheetah’s Challenge is to raise awareness around the issue of endangered
species. 500 runners finished the 10km Fun Run and 350 walkers finished the
5km Walk.
•
School’s State of Environment (SoE) Competition – During 2001 the City
successfully hosted the first Schools SoE competition with 15 high schools taking
part. In 2002 the CCT hosted the second School’s SoE competition to raise
awareness of SoE amongst high school learners. (www.capetown.gov.za/soe).
•
The Draft Environmental Education and Training Strategy was developed through
a consultative process that included external and internal stakeholders and role
players through a series of workshops and questionnaires. The Draft Strategy
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Environmental Governance
was presented as one of the City of Cape Town’s brokerage projects at the World
Summit on Sustainable Development. It was well received and gained national
and international support. The Draft was approved as a public document and
circulated for stakeholder and public comment.
Comments received will be
attended to after a further internal consultative meeting, where it will be proposed
that a database on the City’s Environmental Education and Training projects be
developed as well as an evaluation tool to ensure the quality and assess the
effectiveness of projects.
•
Local Agenda 21 – Progress during 2002 included:
§
The City of Cape Town participated at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD), which aimed to review the implementation of Agenda
21 internationally.
§
Metro-wide LA21: The City of Cape Town is working on a LA21 Strategy, but
due to political changes and departmental uncertainties this has still not been
finalised. The need for an LA21 Working Group is still visible, however this
has been difficult to achieve due to a lack of staff and change in the
organisational structure. Some progress has however been made to promote
better working relationships with other departments such as the IDP.
§
One of the exciting outcomes of the WSSD was the implementation of the
Cape
Care
Route
/
Trail
of
Two
Cities
(www.cape-town.org
or
www.africandream.org), which promoted sustainable development (both
green and brown issues) in a very practical way. Tour guides have been
trained to take people to selected sites around the city showcasing good
practice projects initiated by both council and civil society.
•
The LA21 Partnership with the City of Aachen is still a great asset for the
implementation of LA21 in Cape Town. The aim of the partnership is to promote
a joint understanding of LA21, sharing experience in LA21 technique and
implementing joint partnership projects.
§
The Partnership Steering Committee (consisting of NGO and CBO
representatives, as well as officials) meets monthly and assists with the
strategy issues related to the partnership.
§
Three Partnership Forum Events were hosted (March, August and September
2002) to provide a better understanding of LA21 and to promote networking
and interaction between projects.
Although the initial focus was on the
Tygerberg area, it is slowly developing citywide.
The September Forum
Event focussed on providing feedback about the WSSD to the community
based organisations.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
191
Environmental Governance
§
The independent monitor, Emthunzani, continued with the monitoring of the
LA21 Partnership with Aachen.
Misereor, a German based funding
organisation, provided the funding for the monitoring.
This has been a
strategic element of the growth of the Partnership.
§
During 2002 a total of ten German volunteers came to work in Cape Town as
volunteers in various fields. Ten people from Cape Town visited Germany
through
the
partnership,
which
included
three
conferences
(WSSD
preparation, EcoProfit and AIDS) and an eighteen-month Technikon Training
Program.
§
A Swiss delegation was received in Cape Town in July 2002 to learn more
about the LA21 partnership between Cape Town and Aachen, as the city of
Basal wants to link up with Tswane.
§
Just after the WSSD a delegation from Cleaner Production Centre (CPC),
Austria, visited Cape Town.
The aim of their visit was to get a better
understanding of the Waste Wise Project and Waste Minimisation Clubs so
that a possible partnership around EcoProfit can be established in the future.
•
The following LA21 Partnership projects were implemented during 2002:
§
The second Aachen Greening Award was given to Eastville Primary in
Mitchell’s Plain for their food garden project.
This award promotes small
scale greening projects and is co-ordinated by the Aachen based NGO called
“Stadtoasen” and is sponsored by the city of Aachen and the province of
North Rhein Westphalia in Germany. For more information, you can visit:
http://www.stadtoasen.de/aktionen/faktionen/html
§
The 21 Households project was launched in Cape Town in October 2002.
This project aims to implement Agenda 21 at a household level and to provide
a better understanding about the issues relating to sustainable development,
with practical examples.
Households from Mannenberg, Khayelitsha and
Wynberg were selected to participate in the project. The first three themes
that were implemented were Waste (October), Energy (November) and Water
(December), with other themes following in 2003. An audit was done on each
household so that the impact of the project can be measured.
§
Preparation started with the second Bicycle Recycle Project, which will be
implemented in 2003. Funding was sourced from GZT for transporting used
bicycles from Aachen to Cape Town. These bicycles were all donated by the
people of Aachen and will be provided to community-based organisations in
Cape Town.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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Environmental Governance
§
A project was initiated to assist community-based organisations (CBOs) to
promote their projects at the WSSD. With the help of German volunteers
posters and pamphlets were compiled and formed part of the exhibition at the
Global Forum in Johannesburg.
The aim was for council to provide an
enabling environment for CBOs to promote their projects and to work towards
better relationships with civil society.
•
A German and a Canadian volunteer assisted with the compilation of the State of
the Energy Report for the City of Cape Town. This will be used to compile an
Energy Strategy for the City.
•
A study was conducted around women’s organisations based in Cape Town in an
attempt to create a better working relationship between Council and these
organisations. Many of the women’s projects are key initiators of sustainable
development projects in the communities.
Reflections and Summary - Environmental Governance
The Environmental Management function in the City of Cape Town has deteriorated
in terms of capacity and effectiveness during 2002, in part due to local government
restructuring. However, many projects and initiatives continued with implementation.
Since environmental management is a cross-cutting, integrating function of the City,
its effectiveness depends on both sufficient capacity in-house and the commitment of
other line functions and service delivery units. Although in-house capacity has
decreased, the development of detailed strategies for issues such as biodiversity, the
coastal zone and environmental education, indicates a growing commitment from
Directorates such as Open Space and Nature Conservation, Community Facilities
and Sports and Recreation.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
193
Appendix 1: Summary of measurable targets of the WSSD plan of implementation and implications for local government
Where targets were applicable, the information was arranged first in order of time priority and then paragraph numbering.
Target
Chapter &
Paragraph
Action: Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development: Ozone layer
2003 /
4.37
Facilitate implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer
2005
by ensuring adequate replenishment of its fund by 2003 / 2005.
Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development: oceans and fisheries
2004
4.30 (d)
Urgently develop and implement national plans of action to put into effect the FAO International
plans of action, in particular the international plan of action to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal,
unreported and unregulated fishing by 2004.
Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development: Water
2005
Water
Develop integrated water resources management and water efficiency plans by 2005, with
Resources
support
to
developing
countries,
through
actions
at
all
levels
to:
26(g)
(g) Facilitate the establishment of public-private partnerships and other forms of partnership that
give priority to the needs of the poor, within stable and transparent national regulatory
frameworks provided by Governments, while respecting local conditions, involving all concerned
stakeholders, and monitoring the performance and improving accountability of public institutions
and private companies.
Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development: Forests
2005
4.43 (g)
Accelerate implementation of the IPF/ IFF proposals for action and intensify efforts on reporting
to UN Forum on Forests to contribute to an assessment of progress in 2005.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
Possible policy &
legislative implications
for local government
Local level
multi
sectoral
involvement
Reduce air pollution
Measure, reduce and
assess the impacts of air
pollution, incl. health
impacts
IP&WM
Health
Transport
Environment
Industry
LG to assist in monitoring
and reporting
Groundwater management
water demand
management; allocation
among competing uses
transboundary issues;
• Public information
• Gender strategies
• Recycling of water,
desalination
Water User
Associations
Public-private
partnerships
Take immediate action on
domestic forest law
enforcement and illegal
trade in forest products
Data collection,
Partnerships
between
government,
private
sector, local
195
Health and sustainable development
2005
6.48
Implement, within agreed timeframes, all commitments agreed in the Declaration of
Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the GA at its twenty-sixth special assembly emphasizing
in particular the reduction of HIV among men and women aged 15 –24 years by 25 % in the
most affected countries by 2005 ….and globally by 2010 as well as combat malaria, TB and
other diseases...
Sustainable development for Africa
2005
8.61 (a)
Support the development and implementation of national policies and programmes, incl.
research programmes and development plans of African countries to regenerate their
agricultural sector and sustainably develop their fisheries, and increase investment in
infrastructure, technology and extension services, according to country needs. African countries
should be in the process of developing and implementing food security strategies, within the
context of national poverty eradication programmes by 2005
Means of implementation
2005
9.113
Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005, as provided in the
Dakar Framework for Action on Education for All, …..and at all levels of education no later than
2015, to meet the development goals contained in the Millennium Declaration, with action to
ensure, inter alia, equal access to all levels and forms of education, training and capacitybuilding by gender mainstreaming, and by creating a gender-sensitive educational system.
Strengthening institutional frameworks for sustainable development at the national level
2005
10.145 (b)
States should take immediate steps to make progress in the formulation and elaboration of
national strategies for sustainable development and begin their implementation by 2005…. Such
strategies could be formulated as poverty reduction strategies that integrate economic, social
and environmental aspects of SD… in accordance with national priorities.
Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development: oceans and fisheries
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
monitoring, reporting
Support community-based
forest management
systems
communities
and NGOs
National preventative and
treatment strategies
Protect health of workers
and promote occupational
safety
Research on diseases of
the poor
Reduce respiratory
diseases; phase out lead
in petrol and paint
Health
Public-private
partnerships
Develop and implement
food security strategies,
within the context of
national poverty
programmes
196
2006
Effects of
Land-based
Activities on
Marine
Environments
(33)
Advance implementation of the Global Plan of Action for the Protection of the Marine
Environment from Land-based activities with particular emphasis in the period 2002 –2006 on
municipal waste water, physical alteration and destruction of habitat and nutrients
2006
Effects of
Land-based
Activities on
Marine
Environments
(33(d)
Make every effort to achieve substantial progress by the next Global Plan of Action conference
in 2006 to protect the marine environment from land based activities.
STOPPED
Protecting and managing the natural resources base of economic and social development: Ozone layer
2010
Biodiversity
A more efficient and coherent implementation of the three objectives of the Convention on
(43 j,k,l)
Biological Diversity and the achievement by 2010 of a significant reduction in the current rate of
loss of biological diversity will actions at all levels to:
(j) Recognize the rights of local and indigenous communities who are holders of traditional
knowledge, innovations and practices, and, with the approval and involvement of the holders of
such knowledge, innovations and practices, develop and implement benefit-sharing
mechanisms on mutually agreed terms for the use of such knowledge, innovations and
practices;
(k) Encourage and enable all stakeholders to contribute to the implementation of the objectives
of the Convention, and in particular recognize the specific role of youth, women and indigenous
and local communities in conserving and using biodiversity in a sustainable way;
(l) Promote the effective participation of indigenous and local communities in decision and
policy-making concerning the use of their traditional knowledge.
Health and sustainable development
2010
6.47 (e)
Promote and develop partnerships to enhance health education with the objective of achieving
health literacy on a global basis by 2010.
2010
6.48
Implement, within agreed timeframes, all commitments agreed in the Declaration of Commitment
on HIV/AIDS adopted by the GA at its twenty sixth special assembly emphasizing in particular
the reduction of HIV among men and women aged 15 –24 years by 25 % ….globally by 2010.
Means of implementation
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
197
Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production
2002 –
3.14
Encourage and promote the development of a 10 year framework of programmes in support of
2012
regional and national initiatives to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and
production.
Poverty eradication
2015
2. 6 (a)
Halve by 2015 the proportion of people with income of less than $1 a day, and the proportion of
people who suffer from hunger and halve the proportion without access to safe drinking water
2015
2.7
Halve by 2015, the proportion of people unable to reach or afford safe drinking water and the
proportion of people without access to basic sanitation
2015
2.8
Half the proportion of people in poverty by 2015, incl. through improved access to reliable and
affordable clean energy
Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development: Water
2015
4.24
Launch a programme of actions, with financial and technical assistance, to achieve MDG on safe
drinking water, to halve by 2015 the proportion of people unable to reach or to afford safe
drinking water and halve proportion of people without access to basic sanitation
Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development: Oceans and fisheries
2015
4.30 (a)
Maintain or restore stocks to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield – for depleted
stocks urgently and where possible not later than 2015
Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development: Agriculture and food security
2015
4.38 (a)
Achieve the MDG to halve by year 2015 the proportion of the world’s people who suffer from
hunger and realize the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being… incl. food
… by promoting food security and fighting hunger in combination with measures that address
poverty
Health and sustainable development
2015
6.47 (f)
Develop programmes and initiatives to reduce by year 2015 the mortality rate for infants and
children under 5 by 2/3 and maternal mortality rates by ¾ of the prevailing rate in 2000 …and
reduce disparities between and within developed and developing countries as quickly as
possible, with particular attention to eliminating the pattern of gender inequalities.
Sustainable development for Africa
2015
8.56 (e)
Support the development of national programmes and strategies to promote education within the
context of nationally owned and led strategies for poverty reduction, and strengthen research
institutions in education in order to increase the capacity to fully support the achievement of
internationally agreed development goals related to education, including those contained in the
Millennium Declaration on ensuring that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will
be able to complete a full course of primary schooling, and that girls and boys will have equal
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
198
access to all levels of education relevant to national needs
Means of implementation: Education
2015
9.109 (a)
Meet the development goal contained in the Millennium Declaration of achieving universal
primary education, ensuring that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able
to complete a full course of primary schooling;
2015
9.113
Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005, as provided in the Dakar
Framework for Action on Education for All, …..and at all levels of education no later than 2015, to
meet the development goals contained in the Millennium Declaration, with action to ensure, inter
alia, equal access to all levels and forms of education, training and capacity-building by gender
mainstreaming, and by creating a gender-sensitive educational system.
Poverty eradication
2020
Cities without By 2020, achieve a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers, as
proposed in the "Cities without slums" initiative. This would include actions to
slums
(11 E)
(e) elaborating slum upgrading programmes within the framework of urban development plans
and facilitate access, particularly for the poor, to information on housing legislation.
Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production
2020
22
….aiming to achieve by 2020 that chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the
minimization of significant adverse effects…
Sustainable development for Africa
2022
8.56 (I)
Establish and promote programmes, partnerships and initiatives to support Africa’s efforts to
implement NEPAD objectives on energy, which seek to secure access for at least 35 per cent of
the African population within 20 years, especially in rural areas
ACTIONS WITHOUT SPECIFIC TARGETS
II Poverty Eradication
(7 c,k)
6. ... concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries
Poverty eradication
to achieve their sustainable development goals as related to the internationally agreed povertyrelated targets and goals, including those contained in Agenda 21, the relevant outcomes of
other United Nations conferences and the United Nations Millennium Declaration. This would
include
actions
at
all
levels
to:
(c) Develop national programmes for sustainable development and local and community
development, where appropriate within country-owned poverty reduction strategies, to promote
the empowerment of people living in poverty and their organizations. These programmes should
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
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reflect their priorities and enable them to increase access to productive resources, public
services and institutions, in particular land, water, employment opportunities, credit, education
and
health;
(k) Increase food availability and affordability, including through harvest and food technology and
management, as well as equitable and efficient distribution systems, by promoting, for example,
community-based partnerships linking urban and rural people and enterprises;
III Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production: Energy
Governments, relevant international organizations, the private sector and all major groups should play an active role in changing unsustainable consumption and
production patterns. (14)
Changing unsustainable Develop awareness-raising programmes on the importance of sustainable production and
patterns of consumption consumption patterns, particularly among youth and the relevant segments in all countries,
especially in developed countries, through, inter alia, education, public and consumer
& production (15 d)
information, advertising and other media, taking into account local, national and regional cultural
values.
Corporate Responsibility Enhance corporate environmental and social responsibility and accountability. This would include
(18b)
actions
at
all
levels
to:
(b) Encourage dialogue between enterprises and the communities in which they operate and
other stakeholders;
Corporate Responsibility Encourage relevant authorities at all levels to take sustainable development considerations into
(19b)
account in decision-making, including on national and local development planning, investment in
infrastructure, business development and public procurement.
Energy for Sustainable Call upon Governments, as well as relevant regional and international organizations and other Energy policy
Energy
Development (20 b,g)
relevant stakeholders, to implement, taking into account national and regional specificities and Public transport
Transport
circumstances, the recommendations and conclusions of the Commission on Sustainable
Development concerning energy for sustainable development adopted at its ninth session.....
This
would
include
actions
at
all
levels
to:
(b) Integrate energy considerations, including energy efficiency, affordability and accessibility,
into socio-economic programmes, especially into policies of major energy-consuming sectors,
and into the planning, operation and maintenance of long-lived energy consuming infrastructures,
such as the public sector, transport, industry, agriculture, urban land use, tourism and
construction sectors;
Energy for Sustainable g) Develop and utilize indigenous energy sources and infrastructures for various local uses and
Development (20 G)
promote rural community participation, including local Agenda 21 groups, with the support of the
3.19(c)
international community, in developing and utilizing renewable energy technologies to meet their
daily energy needs to find simple and local solutions.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
200
Develop alternative energy programmes… renewable energies, energy efficiency, cleaner
technologies
Transport Services and Promote an integrated approach to policy-making at the national, regional and local levels for
Systems (21 A)
transport services and systems to promote sustainable development, including policies and
planning for land use, infrastructure, public transport systems and goods delivery networks, with
a view to providing safe, affordable and efficient transportation, increasing energy efficiency,
reducing pollution, reducing congestion, reducing adverse health effects and limiting urban
sprawl.
(a)Implement transport strategies for sustainable development, reflecting specific regional,
national and local conditions, so as to improve the affordability, efficiency and convenience of
transportation, as well as improving urban air quality and health, and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, including through the development of better vehicle technologies that are more
environmentally sound, affordable and socially acceptable.
Waste Mangement (22 Prevent and minimize waste and maximize reuse, recycling and use of environmentally friendly
A)
alternative materials, with the participation of government authorities and all stakeholders, in
order to minimize adverse effects on the environment and improve resource efficiency, with
financial, technical and other assistance for developing countries. This would include actions at
all
levels
to:
(a) Develop waste management systems, with highest priorities placed on waste prevention and
minimization, reuse and recycling, and environmentally sound disposal facilities, including
technology to recapture the energy contained in waste, and encourage small-scale wasterecycling initiatives that support urban and rural waste management and provide incomegenerating opportunities, with international support for developing countries.
IV Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development
... to reverse the current trend in natural resource degradation as soon as possible, it is necessary to implement strategies which should include targets adopted at the
national and, where appropriate, regional levels to protect ecosystems and to achieve integrated management of land, water and living resources, while strengthening
regional, national and local capacities. (24)
Coastal Environments
Improve the scientific understanding and assessment of marine and coastal ecosystems as a
(35 D)
fundamental basis for sound decision-making, through actions at all levels to:
(d) Strengthen the ability of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, FAO and other relevant international
and regional and subregional organizations to build national and local capacity in marine science
and the sustainable management of oceans and their resources.
Disaster Management
An integrated, multi-hazard, inclusive approach to address vulnerability, risk assessment and
(36 F)
disaster management, including prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, is
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
201
Climate Change (37 I)
Agriculture, land and
water resources (39 B,
D)
Desertification (40 B, E)
Mountain eco-systems
(41 C, E and 56 M)
an essential element of a safer world in the twenty-first century. Actions are required at all levels
to:
(f) Encourage the dissemination and use of traditional and indigenous knowledge to mitigate the
impact of disasters, and promote community-based disaster management planning by local
authorities, including through training activities and raising public awareness.
(i)Support initiatives to assess the consequences of climate change, such as the Arctic Council
initiative, including the environmental, economic and social impacts on local and indigenous
communities
Enhancing the role of women at all levels and in all aspects of rural development, agriculture,
nutrition and food security is imperative. Sustainable agriculture and rural development are
essential to the implementation of an integrated approach to increasing food production and
enhancing food security and food safety in an environmentally sustainable way. This would
include
actions
at
all
levels
to:
(b) Develop and implement integrated land management and water-use plans that are based on
sustainable use of renewable resources and on integrated assessments of socio-economic and
environmental potentials, and strengthen the capacity of Governments, local authorities and
communities to monitor and manage the quantity and quality of land and water resources.
(d) Promote programmes to enhance in a sustainable manner the productivity of land and the
efficient use of water resources in agriculture, forestry, wetlands, artisanal fisheries and
aquaculture, especially through indigenous and local community-based approaches;
Strengthen the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in
Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa, to
address causes of desertification and land degradation in order to maintain and restore land, and
to address poverty resulting from land degradation. This would include actions at all levels to:
(b) Formulate national action programmes to ensure timely and effective implementation of the
Convention and its related projects, with the support of the international community, including
through
decentralized
projects
at
the
local
level.
(e) Provide affordable local access to information to improve monitoring and early warning
related to desertification and drought.
Mountain ecosystems support particular livelihoods, and include significant watershed resources,
biological diversity and unique flora and fauna. Many are particularly fragile and vulnerable to the
adverse effects of climate change and need specific protection. Actions at all levels are required
to:
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
Mitigate effects of drought
through
policies
and
programmes in land,
water,
forest
management, agriculture,
rural development, early
warning
systems,
environment,
energy,
natural resources, health,
education,
poverty
eradication and SD
Address
deforestation,
erosion,
land
degradation,
loss
of
biodiversity, disruption of
202
Tourism (42 B)
Forests (44)
Mining (45 b)
(c) Develop and implement, where appropriate, gender-sensitive policies and programmes,
including public and private investments that help eliminate inequities facing mountain
communities; (e) Promote full participation and involvement of mountain communities in
decisions that affect them and integrate indigenous knowledge, heritage and values in all
development
initiatives;
56. (m) Further to paragraph 40 above, address the poverty affecting mountain communities in
Africa;
Promote sustainable tourism development, including non-consumptive and eco-tourism, ... in
order to increase the benefits from tourism resources for the population in host communities
while maintaining the cultural and environmental integrity of the host communities and enhancing
the protection of ecologically sensitive areas and natural heritages. Promote sustainable tourism
development and capacity-building in order to contribute to the strengthening of rural and local
communities.
This
would
include
actions
at
all
levels
to:
(b) Develop programmes, including education and training programmes, that encourage people
to participate in eco-tourism, enable indigenous and local communities to develop and benefit
from eco-tourism, and enhance stakeholder cooperation in tourism development and heritage
preservation, in order to improve the protection of the environment, natural resources and
cultural
heritage.
(d) Assist host communities in managing visits to their tourism attractions for their maximum
benefit, while ensuring the least negative impacts on and risks for their traditions, culture and
environment, with the support of the World Tourism Organization and other relevant
organizations;
Achievement of sustainable forest management, nationally and globally, including through
partnerships among interested Governments and stakeholders, including the private sector,
indigenous and local communities and non-governmental organizations, is an essential goal of
sustainable development. This would include actions at all levels to:
(e) Develop and implement initiatives to address the needs of those parts of the world that
currently suffer from poverty and the highest rates of deforestation.
(f) Create and strengthen partnerships and international cooperation.
(g) Accelerate implementation of the IPF/IFF proposals for action.
(h) Recognize and support indigenous and community-based forest management systems.
(i) Implement the Convention on Biological Diversity's expanded action-oriented work
programme.
(b) Enhance the participation of stakeholders, including local and indigenous communities and
women, to play an active role in minerals, metals and mining development throughout the life
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
water flows (dams)
Promote
diversification
and traditional mountain
economies,
market
access
Develop sustainable
tourism, eco-tourism –
increase benefits of
tourism to local people,
maintain cultural and
environmental integrity
Enhance protection of
sensitive areas
Education and training
programmes
Develop SMEs
Address environmental,
economic, health and
203
cycles of mining operations, including after closure for rehabilitation purposes, in accordance with
national regulations and taking into account significant transboundary impacts;
social impacts and
benefits of mining
Full life-cycle analysis of
mining, minerals and
metals
Stakeholder participation
Rehabilitation
Small scale mining
VI. Health and sustainable development
(48 h,l)
(h) Promote the preservation, development and use of effective traditional medicine knowledge
and practices, where appropriate, in combination with modern medicine, recognizing indigenous
and local communities as custodians of traditional knowledge and practices, while promoting
effective protection of traditional knowledge, as appropriate, consistent with international law;
(l) Transfer and disseminate, on mutually agreed terms, including through public-private
multisector partnerships, technologies for safe water, sanitation and waste management for rural
and urban areas in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, with
international financial support, taking into account country-specific conditions and gender equality
including specific technology needs of women;
VIII. Sustainable Development for Africa (NEPAD)
(56 A, Jii)
(a) Create an enabling environment at the regional, subregional, national and local levels in order
to achieve sustained economic growth and sustainable development and support African efforts
for peace, stability and security, the resolution and prevention of conflicts, democracy, good
governance, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to
development and gender equality.
Africa (energy)
(j) Deal effectively with energy problems in Africa, including through initiatives to:
(57 Jii)
(ii) Provide support to implement other initiatives on energy, including the promotion of cleaner
and more efficient use of natural gas and increased use of renewable energy, and to improve
energy efficiency and access to advanced energy technologies, including cleaner fossil fuel
technologies, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas;
Africa (Natural disasters Deal effectively with natural disasters and conflicts, including their humanitarian and
and conflicts)
environmental impacts, recognizing that conflicts in Africa have hindered and in many cases
(60 A)
obliterated both the gains and efforts aimed at sustainable development, with the most
vulnerable members of society, particularly women and children, being the most impacted
victims,
through
efforts
and
initiatives,
at
all
levels,
to:
(a) Provide financial and technical assistance to strengthen the capacities of African countries,
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
204
including institutional and human capacity, including at the local level, for effective disaster
management, including observation and early warning systems, assessments, prevention,
preparedness, response and recovery;
Africa (water)
Promote integrated water resources development and optimize the upstream and downstream
(61 A)
benefits there from, the development and effective management of water resources across all
uses and the protection of water quality and aquatic ecosystems, including through initiatives at
all
levels,
to:
(a) Provide access to potable domestic water, hygiene education and improved sanitation and
waste management at the household level through initiatives to encourage public and private
investment in water supply and sanitation that give priority to the needs of the poor, within stable
and transparent national regulatory frameworks provided by Governments, while respecting local
conditions involving all concerned stakeholders and monitoring the performance and improving
the accountability of public institutions and private companies; and develop critical water supply,
reticulation and treatment infrastructure, and build capacity to maintain and manage systems to
deliver water and sanitation services, in both rural and urban areas.
Support Africa's efforts to attain sustainable tourism that contributes to social, economic and
Africa (sustainable
infrastructure development through the following measures:
tourism)
(a) Implementing projects at the local, national and subregional levels, with specific emphasis on
(65 A, C)
marketing African tourism products, such as adventure tourism, eco-tourism and cultural tourism.
(c) Respecting local traditions and cultures and promoting the use of indigenous knowledge in
natural resource management and eco-tourism;
(d) Assisting host communities in managing their tourism projects for maximum benefit, while
limiting negative impact on their traditions, culture and environment;
Africa (human
Support African countries in their efforts to implement the Habitat Agenda and the Istanbul
settlements)
Declaration through initiatives to strengthen national and local institutional capacities in the areas
(66)
of sustainable urbanization and human settlements, provide support for adequate shelter and
basic services and the development of efficient and effective governance systems in cities and
other human settlements, and strengthen, inter alia, the United Nations Human Settlements
Programme/UNEP managing water for African cities programme.
IX. Means of implementation Technology transfer
(101 A)
Improve the transfer of technologies to developing countries, in particular at the bilateral and
regional levels, including through urgent actions at all levels to:
(a) Improve interaction and collaboration, stakeholder relationships and networks between and
among universities, research institutions, government agencies and the private sector.
Education (116)
Develop, implement, monitor and review education action plans and programmes at the national,
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
205
subnational and local levels, as appropriate, that reflect the Dakar Framework for Action on
Education for All and that are relevant to local conditions and needs leading to the achievement
of community development, and make education for sustainable development a part of those
plans.
Education (118 A)
Support the use of education to promote sustainable development, including through urgent
actions at all levels to:
(a) Integrate information and communications technology in school curriculum development to
ensure its access by both rural and urban communities, and provide assistance particularly to
developing countries, inter alia, for the establishment of an appropriate enabling environment
required for such technology;
Capacity Building (120)
Support local, national, subregional and regional initiatives, with action to develop, use and adapt
knowledge and techniques and to enhance local, national, subregional and regional centres of
excellence for education, research and training in order to strengthen the knowledge capacity of
developing countries and countries with economies in transition through, inter alia, the
mobilization from all sources of adequate financial and other resources, including new and
additional resources;
Capacity Building (120)
Provide technical and financial assistance to developing countries, including through the
strengthening of capacity-building efforts, such as the United Nations Development Programme
capacity
21
programme,
to:
(b) Design programmes for capacity-building and support for local, national and community-level
programmes that focus on meeting the challenges of globalization more effectively and attaining
the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium
Declaration.
Decision Making for Promote and further develop methodologies at policy, strategy and project levels for sustainable
Sustainable
development decision-making at the local and national levels, and where relevant at the regional
Development
level. In this regard, emphasize that the choice of the appropriate methodology to be used in
(120.undecies)
countries should be adequate to their country-specific conditions and circumstances, should be
on a voluntary basis and should conform to their development priority needs.
X. Institutional framework for sustainable development
(121)
An effective institutional framework for sustainable development at all levels is key to the full
implementation of Agenda 21, the follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development and meeting emerging sustainable development challenges. .... It should lead to
the strengthening of international bodies and organizations dealing with sustainable
development, while respecting their existing mandates, as well as to the strengthening of
relevant regional, national and local institutions.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
206
Objectives (122)
Role of International
Institutions (136)
Strengthening
institutional frameworks national level
(148)
Strengthening
institutional frameworks national level
(149)
Strengthening
institutional frameworks national level
(150)
Participation of
groups (151)
major
Measures to strengthen sustainable development institutional arrangements at all levels should
be taken within the framework of Agenda 21 and should build on developments since UNCED,
and should lead to the achievement of, inter alia, the following objectives:
(a)
Strengthening
commitments
to
sustainable
development;
(g) Enhancing participation and effective involvement of civil society and other relevant
stakeholders in the implementation of Agenda 21, as well as promoting transparency and broad
public
participation;
(h) Strengthening capacities for sustainable development at all levels, including the local level, in
particular those of developing countries.
Significantly strengthen support for UNDP capacity-building programmes for sustainable
development, building on the experience gained from Capacity 21, as important mechanisms for
supporting local and national development capacity-building efforts, in particular in developing
countries.
Further promote the establishment or enhancement of sustainable development councils and/or
coordination structures at the national level, including at the local level, in order to provide a highlevel focus on sustainable development policies. In that context, multi-stakeholder participation
should be promoted.
Support efforts by all countries, particularly developing countries, as well as countries with
economies in transition, to enhance national institutional arrangements for sustainable
development, including at the local level. That could include promoting cross-sectoral
approaches in the formulation of strategies and plans for sustainable development, such as,
where applicable, poverty reduction strategies, aid coordination, encouraging participatory
approaches and enhancing policy analysis, management capacity and implementation capacity,
including mainstreaming a gender perspective in all those activities.
Enhance the role and capacity of local authorities as well as stakeholders in implementing
Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the Summit and in strengthening the continuing support for local
Agenda 21 programmes and associated initiatives and partnerships, and encourage, in
particular, partnerships among and between local authorities and other levels of government and
stakeholders to advance sustainable development as called for in, inter alia, the Habitat Agenda.
Enhance partnerships between governmental and non-governmental actors, including all major
groups, as well as volunteer groups, on programmes and activities for the achievement of
sustainable development at all levels.
Sources: DEAT & ICLEI’s Local Government Session at the Johannesburg Summit, Nov 2002
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
207
Appendix 2: A User Needs Assessment of the State of the Environment Report
for the City of Cape Town (2002) - prepared by Lize Jennings
Introduction
The City of Cape Town (CCT) produced its first State of the Environment report in
1999 as part of the Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy (IMEP)
development process. The first report was developed with assistance from the
Environmental Evaluation Unit at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and was
developed through a synthesis of the findings of specialise baseline studies,
information gathered from literature reviews and consultation with other specialists
and authorities in order to obtain a suitable reporting approach and structure. Every
year, the progress in each theme is assessed in the SoE report through the
collection of information.
This information is compared to the information in the
previous years’ SoE reports and long-terms trends are identified.
The CCT has been producing the SoE reporting since 1999 and has to date
produced four full reports and four accompanying summary reports. These
documents have been circulated to over 8 500 readers each year for the last four
years. There is however no clear indication of how they use. This study provides the
CCT with a better indication of the answers to these questions.
Aims
The aims of this study are to determine how people use the SoE report and whether
it meets their information needs and requirements. By understanding how and why
people use the report, we can produce a better product.
Methods
The data for this study was collected through a questionnaire sent to all the
individuals and organisations, with e-mail addresses, on the IMEP Database who
received the SoE report in the past four years. The questionnaire was made up of
ten multiple-choice questions and three open-ended questions. It was hoped to gain
the maximum amount of information and insight with the minimum amount of effort
from those answering questions.
The questionnaire was sent to 500 e-mail
addresses. Sixty-five of these e-mail addresses were no longer active or messages
could not be sent to them due to other problems. The total number of completed
questionnaires received was 43 as well as five responses from people who did not fill
in the questionnaire, but gave reasons why they did not complete it. The results of
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
208
this questionnaire have been used to develop recommendations for the future
development of the SoE report for the CCT.
Results
Some of the findings of the study are highlighted below.
1. The majority of the respondents use the SoE report as background
information for their work and to keep up-to-date, with environmental issues.
It was seen from the results that many viewed the SoE report as a ‘nice-tohave” report that provided them with accessible and easy to understand
information that could be used for personal knowledge, in reports and to
assist with decision-making.
2. The majority of the respondents would refer to the sections within the report
that were of interest to them, with a number just skimming through it
3. Generally people rated the SoE report positively with rankings of good or
excellent given to most of the attributes of the SoE report. One area of
concern is that it did not rate highly in terms of being up to date. This can be
due to the report only being released up to a year after the reporting year. In
terms of other reports, the CCT’s report is the only one in South Africa that is
produced annually and is therefore one of the most up to date reports
available in South Africa at the moment.
4. Another positive aspect of the SoE report is that it provides an integrated
overview of the environmental trends and issues within the CCT.
This
assists people who require environmental information and statistics for their
work, as it is a “one-stop-shop” of environmental information within the CCT.
This was the aspect that people like the most about the report.
5. The summary of trends section was referred to the most in terms of chapters
referred to by the respondents. This chapter provides a brief description of
the state of the each of the themes and will provide the user with an idea of
which themes would be of interest to them. This again shows that people
want easily accessible information and don’t want to spend time reading
through unnecessary information.
6. In terms of what people liked and didn’t like about the report, there were a
number of people who were concerned about the gap in terms of technical
information between the full report and the summary report. There is a need
for the gap between these two reports to be narrowed or for a third report to
be added to the list of products. This third product could provide them with
enough information to meet their needs, but not too much to make it
unusable.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
209
7. The majority of the respondents came from a background of environmental
management or the natural or social sciences.
This was totally
understandable as the report does concentrate on the environmental
aspects of the City of Cape Town and the majority of the people on the IMEP
database will be from an environmental background. It was also interesting
to note that most of the respondents came from a government department,
local, provincial and national.
Limitations and Conclusions
It should be stressed that the feelings and answers given in this study come from
respondents with e-mail addresses; there is a large percentage of users who do not
have access to e-mail. Therefore the findings need to be viewed with this constraint.
In terms of the findings of the report, the general consensus is that the report is a
very useful document, but that there is a need to reassess a number of aspects of
the report, such as the technical gap between the full report and the summary report,
reassessing the indicators and themes of the report. The main target group of the
report should also be identified. Although the majority of the respondents do come
from the government sector, it needs to be determined if this is the sector we want to
target. The City of Cape Town have however been commended for an excellent job
and encouraged to continue producing the SoE report in the future.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
210
Appendix 3: An Evaluation of the Impacts of State of Environment Reports on
Decision Making: The Case of Cape Town - Nosiku Sipilanyambe Munyinda
(2003)
Introduction
State of the Environment (SoE) Reports describe pressures on the environment, the
current state of the environment and the responses to these challenges. SoE reports
have been compiled for countries, regions and cities. The SoE reporting process is
designed
to
provide
information
to
the
public,
industry,
non-government
organizations and all levels of government to ensure better decisions are made on
issues which influence or are influenced by the environment.
Aims
•
Identify potential local, regional and international key players in tracing the
impact chain. That is, stakeholders in the “production-dissemination-adoptiondecision- impact” cycle.
•
Look at how the City of Cape Town used different frameworks, processes
and contents of SoE Reports in producing their reports and establish how
these directly or indirectly impacted on decision-making;
•
Seek to evaluate how various user sectors used the information contained in
the SoE reports to reach decisions with regard the environment;
•
Lastly, give recommendations for future SoER work in the City of Cape Town
and also establish a methodology for assessing the impact of SoE reports at
national, regional and global levels.
Methods
•
In depth guided personal interviews
•
Focused group discussions
The sample was deliberately chosen from the distribution list obtained from CCT and
consisted of academic institutions, NGOs, Government and parastatal institutions
and, in some cases, individuals.
City of Cape Town State of Environment Report Year 5 (2002)
211
Results
Some of the findings of the study are highlighted below.
•
People are happy that the City is making an effort to hear what they think of
the process and get some feedback;
•
The information in the SoE Reports is used in various ways and the resulting
decisions made are unique to the sector or area the interviewee is involved
in, e.g.. Canadian High Commission – employee placement; Lecturers Course material focus; NGOs - Work Plans and Government - Policy
formulation
•
The cross cutting nature of the report is commended as it gives a complete
picture of the city and as such can be used by a wide variety of specialists
and can be applied to different situations, but mostly used as a background
information source - consultants, students and the media;
•
Awareness raising is a residual impact from the reports after further
breakdown by other media, e.g. Teachers, workshop leaders, environmental
reporters etc;
•
People feel that the information should be broken down further and more
specific case studies given on work being done, There is an opportunity to
work with collaborating partners on the further breakdown of the information
into other products for more grass root audiences and also in the collection of
actual work being carried out on the ground - people will identify more if
township names are given;
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