Dear Property Owners and Interested Parties

Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter. As we move into April, we are officially heading into the final quarter of the LGCID’s first year of operations. It has been a foundational year of growth, and we are determined to end on a strong footing. Our focus remains on enhancing the safety, cleanliness, and social fabric of our neighbourhood. To achieve this, we are continuing to work closely with both property owners and the City of Cape Town (CoCT) to roll out impactful projects that benefit everyone in our community.

In this month’s report, you will see the tangible results of these partnerships from record-breaking enforcement and public space interventions to the intensive "winter-ready" landscaping being carried out by our dedicated teams and the Work Readiness participants. Thank you for your ongoing support as we strive to finish our inaugural year with excellence and clear results.

Important Notices from the Lower Gardens CID.

City of Cape Town draft budget for 2026-2027

The City of Cape Town's draft budget reflects its key policy decisions and priorities, determines rates increases and indicates where money will be spent on programmes and services. View the full draft Budget 2026/27 with associated documentation. For a summary of the budget, see the advert (English | Afrikaans | isiXhosa) and the summary presentation. You can also use the handy calculator to work out an estimate of your monthly rates and tariffs.

More information can be found on the following link:

• • capetown.gov.za/Family and home/Meet-the-City/the-city-budget/the-citys-budget-2026-2027

General Incidents Update

To provide stakeholders with a clearer understanding of our data, we have categorised General Incidents (formerly Urban Management incidents) as a distinct section. These metrics track matters that fall outside our standard day-to-day reporting but are essential for monitoring the overall health and safety of the precinct. During the month of March, we recorded a notable decrease in general incidents, dropping from 10 to 6 compared to February 2026.  

Public officers collecting trollies used in the public space.

Public officers assisting in jump starting a vehicle on Maynard Street

City of Cape Town Update

The data for March indicates a decrease in new service requests alongside a consistent resolution rate. While the volume of new requests has dropped, the output of resolved cases remains stable.

• Total Requests Logged: 41 (Decreased from 56 in February)
• Total Resolutions: 16 (Consistent with February performance)

A significant "boots-on-the-ground" presence was noted this month. The City’s road and  infrastructure teams have been highly active in the following areas:

• Road Markings: Repainting and refreshing of traffic lines and safety indicators.
• Pavement Defects: Active repair and maintenance of damaged walkways and sidewalk surfaces.

Road markings being carried out along Glynn Street nearest corner Upper Canterbury Street.

The majority of these requests are currently with the Roads and Infrastructure Management team. The CID continues to monitor these logs to ensure municipal attention is directed toward these outstanding infrastructure repairs. 

Water and sanitation attending to an underground leak on Vrede Street nearest corner Hatfield Street.

Reinstatement after the under ground leak on Vrede Street nearest corner Hatfield Street.

Defects in the pavement on Glynn Street between Clare and McKenzie Street.

 Pavement repaired on Glynn Street between Clare and McKenzie Street by Roads and Infrastructure Management team.

Did you know?

When a burst pipe occurs, the repair process is managed in two distinct phases by the City’s departments:

• Leak Repair & Safety: The Water Department excavates the area to repair the underground leak. The trench is then backfilled with soil or gravel to make the area safe for pedestrians and vehicles.
• Final Resurfacing: Permanent tar or paving reinstatement is not immediate, as a waiting period is required to allow the ground to settle. Following this, the Roads and Infrastructure Management team schedules the final resurfacing.

The CID has recently escalated 7 of these water reinstatements directly to the Water team for final repair and maintenance to ensure these sites are complete.

 Before reinstatement by the water and sanitation team on Vrede Street nearest corner Hatfield Street. 

After reinstatement by the water and sanitation team on Vrede Street nearest corner Hatfield Street.

Before reinstatement by the water and sanitation team on Vrede Street nearest corner Hatfield Street.

 After reinstatement by the water and sanitation team on Vrede Street nearest corner Hatfield Street. 

You can contact us on WhatsApp to report any service delivery issues you see in the Lower Gardens CID. This is the most effective way in assisting us address outstanding service delivery concerns in the neighbourhood. 

March saw a significant surge in enforcement activity, reaching record highs for the year. This increase is a direct result of a strategic shift toward a "zero-tolerance" approach regarding public space management and road safety. Both primary citation categories saw month-on-month growth, with Section 341 notices showing the most dramatic escalation.

• Section 341 (Traffic & Parking Notices): 268 issued (Increased from 180).
• Section 56 (Citations/Summons): 101 issued (Increased from 94).

The record-high of 268 notices is attributed to a tougher stance on illegal parking. This high volume reflects consistent patrolling and immediate enforcement action. The increase to 101 Section 56 notices underscores a high level of vigilance by the enforcement officer. These citations address "moving" and "behavioural" violations that impact public order and safety, including:

• Reckless/Bad Driving: Correcting motorist behaviour on the road.
• Public Consumption: Addressing alcohol use in restricted public areas.
• General Compliance: Monitoring and penalising non-social behaviour.

Law enforcement officer issuing fines to bikes along Mill Street corner Buitenkant Street.

Law enforcement along Hope Street closing off the road due to protest action along Roeland Street.

 
Public Safety Update

The month of March recorded an unprecedented level of activity regarding public space management. Interventions reached an all-time high, driven by shifting urban dynamics and an intensified enforcement strategy.

We recorded 464 interventions this month, a sharp increase from the 253 reported in February. This represents the highest volume of interventions ever recorded by the team. The spike is largely attributed to recent evictions within the city centre. These actions have resulted in an influx of displaced individuals "rough sleeping" within our specific neighbourhood, requiring constant engagement and monitoring by our teams. This situation is being monitored on an ongoing basis to balance public space bylaws with the complexities of urban displacement. 

In addition to standard monitoring, the team adopted a more rigorous "tough stance" through collaborative operations with Law Enforcement. A total of 16 Stop and Search operations were conducted during the period. These targeted actions were highly effective in mitigating potential violence and criminal activity within the area. 

 Public officers carrying out stop and searches with law enforcement along Glynville Street

Public officers carrying out stop and searches with law enforcement along Brandweeer Street

The criminal statistics for March show a significant reduction in reported incidents. The total number of criminal incidents dropped by over 50% this month. While the volume was low, the incidents recorded this month were characterised as "nuisance" or low-level offenses. In hindsight, these were minor occurrences that did not escalate into serious criminal threats. 

Notable Incidents

Foiled criminal attempt.

Three male suspects attempted to rob a 61-year-old man between Hatfield and Wandel Street. LGCID officers caught and apprehended the suspects in conjuncture with CBAR. SAPS were called to the scene who with the perpetrators being searched and taken by SAPS for profiling. No valuables were taken from the victim.

 Trespassing on previously evicted property. 

LGCID public officers noticed the main gate at Tuin Plein park was open. A number of people were settling in the park drinking. Public officers were able to remove them from the park despite confrontation.

Cleaning & Maintenance Update

While overall cleaning and incident numbers have improved, illegal dumping remains a persistent challenge within the neighbourhood. This activity undermines the hard work of our sanitation teams and negatively impacts the area's hygiene and aesthetic appeal. Despite the collection of 1,433 bags of refuse this month, unsanctioned dumping continues to occur in specific hotspots. These incidents often involve:

• Household bulk waste.
• Construction debris.
• Commercial refuse disposed of outside of regulated schedules.

The public safety team requests that all property owners take their bins out on the day of refuse collection. It has been observed that several property owners place their 240-litre wheelie bins on the street the night before collection. According to the City of Cape Town (COCT) Refuse Removal Contract, bins should only be placed outside on the day of collection. This non-compliance:

• Provides gathering points for vagrants.

• Encourages scavenging behaviour (as per the image attached)

• Increases the risk of theft or misuse of refuse bins for criminal activities.

• Negatively impacts the cleanliness and safety of the precinct.
  

Your assistance in complying is highly appreciated.

In March, the team successfully cleared 39 stormwater drains. This is a decrease from the 67 drains cleaned during the February period. As of the end of the month, 122 of 158 total drains have been completed to date. 

Social Services Update 

The Work Readiness Programme has successfully entered its second month, continuing to provide valuable developmental opportunities while bolstering our local service delivery. The transition into the second month marks a shift from basic orientation to active collaboration.

By working across different urban management functions, the participants are gaining a well-rounded understanding of municipal maintenance while providing the extra capacity needed to maintain our public spaces.. While the primary goal of the programme is skill development and work exposure, the team’s physical output remains a key contribution to the neighborhood's cleanliness.The decrease from 193 to 110 bags collected this month is a notable shift.

Work readiness programme staff removing plastics off the fences along Glynn Street between Hope and Buitenkant Street.

In addition to the Work Readiness Programme, our social outreach efforts continued with a focus on direct engagement and administrative support for displaced individuals. The team has been hard at work following up with existing clients and engaged new clients aiming to assist those in need. Despite these efforts, the transition to formal support structures faced significant hurdles this month. Engagement with the homeless population increased this month, reflecting the higher volume of public space interventions previously noted.

• Total Individuals Engaged: 53 (Up from 43 in February)
• Shelter Placements: 0 (Down from 3 in February)

Despite an increase in the number of people reached, none of the individuals engaged chose to take up shelter opportunities during this period. This highlights the ongoing challenges in moving people off the streets, particularly following the recent city-centre evictions.

Social services interactions in the month of March 2026

Assistance with ID applications in the month of March 2026.

Assisting individuals with obtaining legal identification is a critical step toward reintegration and employment. However, March saw a sharp decline in both applications and successful outcomes. The drop from 16 to 4 applications suggests a lower level of readiness or documentation availability among the newly engaged group. None of the applications were successful this month, compared to the 10 successful issues in February. This lack of progress can often be attributed to stringent Home Affairs requirements, lack of supporting documentation, or individuals being unable to attend follow-up appointments. 

Parks Recreation Update

March saw a significant increase in targeted cleaning efforts across our green spaces and street  verges. The surge in waste collection reflects a concentrated effort to improve both the safety and the aesthetic appeal of our public areas. The volume of waste removed from our parks saw a sharp upward trend this month. The majority of this collection took place at Jutland Park. The team focused specifically on the removal of glass to ensure the park remains a safe environment for children, pets, and the general public.

Removal of weeds and invasive plants in Maynard Park

Re-designed flower bed by work readiness team in Maynard Street.

 The Work Readiness Team played a vital role in working with the parks team in cleaning street verges across the community. The substantial increase in waste collection from our community verges (from 37 to 108 bags) is directly linked to a major seasonal landscaping project. This surge in productivity highlights how the programme is not only developing skills for the participants but also significantly elevating the aesthetic standards of our public verges and squares.   

Bags filled in Green Public Spaces in March 2026

Trees Pruned in March 2026

Sub-council 16 at Jutland Park carrying out public participation to make a section of the park an off-leash dog zone.

Announcements

 Sub-Council 16 Notices

As part of our commitment to keeping the community informed, we would like to highlight several matters currently before Subcouncil 16 that require public awareness or formal comment. Public participation is a vital tool for ensuring that the development of the Gardens and Lower Gardens area aligns with the needs of its residents and businesses. They can be found on the following links:

•  Call on public to participate in rethinking Harrington Square and surrounds strategy. 

Interactive Lower Gardens CID Dashboard

We are happy to launch our new interactive dashboard, providing full transparency into all incidents and logs recorded by the CID since inception.

This platform helps us track trends and shares insight into what directly informs our daily operations. Going forward, this will be our primary tool for weekly incident reporting. Our goal is to keep you better informed with real-time insights into our neighborhood's safety and maintenance. View the live data here: https://stats.lowergardenscid.co.za/

Last Month of the Exploded View Exhibition

Time is running out to experience Exploded View: Edoardo Villa and 21st Century Sculpture, a "mind-blowing" exhibition hosted at BlackBrick Gardens (2 Roodehek Street, Cape Town). Ending its run on 19 May 2026, this showcase bridges the legacy of Edoardo Villa—South Africa’s most prolific sculptor—with the boldest contemporary voices in the country.

Set against the site’s deconstructed architecture, the exhibition challenges "North-South" divides by placing Villa’s iconic industrialism in dialogue with modern masters like Chris Soal, Robin Rhode, Kamyar Bineshtarigh, and Hedwig Barry. It is a raw, essential look at the evolution of African aesthetics, available to Cape Town audiences for just a few more weeks thanks to the vision of BlackBrick and the University of Pretoria.

Your Eyes, Our Impact: See it, Share it

As we work to establish Lower Gardens as the best inner-city suburb in South Africa, we want to ensure our efforts are measured by clear data, not just opinion. The performance of the board, our operations team, and all our suppliers will be judged on concrete evidence of continued improvement across the precinct.

To make this possible, we need your active participation. Your feedback and reporting are vital. We ask that you report all incidents, report all crimes with SAPS and provide case numbers, log all service delivery requests, and provide constant feedback on the success of our operations. You can do this by calling our LGCID control room, which is operated 24/7, on 087 330 2177. Alternatively, you can contact us via our website at LGCID reporting.

We are happy to share that you use Whatsapp to report incidents via our LGCID Connect channel. This is our primary communication channel for staying updated on community matters and logging incidents directly to our control room. Please take note that should you WhatsApp call the Control Room, it will be declined and you will receive a call from our Control Room on 087 330 2177

Contact Us
For general inquiries, suggestions, or to report an issue, please contact us at:

Email: cidmanager@lowergardenscid.co.za
Office Phone: 087 330 2177
Website: www.lowergardenscid.co.za
Physical Address: Lower Gardens City Improvement, Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape, 8001, South Africa 

Lower Gardens City Improvement District