As we close out our first four months of operations and step into the final month of the year, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to all who attended our Members Meeting. It was fantastic to see so many faces, share insights, and lay down the foundations for our continued operations. Your presence made it an outstanding success!
With the year-end holidays just around the corner, excitement is building. As you prepare for your celebrations, shopping, or vacations, please keep security top of mind. Let’s all commit to watching out for each other so we can enjoy a safe and peaceful holiday season.
We would like to thank those who were able to attend and participate in the Members' Meeting held on Tuesday, 18 November 2025. In attendance at the venue we had 63 people and 21 people joining us online.
To ensure all stakeholders are fully informed and have access to the information shared, we have made the complete meeting materials available online. You can now access the full meeting presentation slides, transcript, and the recording on the link below:
We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and hear our updates. Should you have any further questions or require additional clarification on any of the items discussed, please do not hesitate to contact us.
In the month of November Our data shows a reduction from 352 incidents recorded in October down to 247 incidents in November. This is attributed to focused efforts on encouraging suspicious persons to move along and preventing loitering in key areas, which has clearly had a deterrent effect.
We unfortunately did have one major fire that broke out on Wesley Street on November 14th. The presence of strong winds fanned the flames, posing a serious challenge. Thanks to the swift response of emergency services, our public safety officers and stakeholders sharing about the fire. There was no reported damage to property and the fire was successfully contained and extinguished.
We are highly encouraged by the active participation of our property owners and stakeholders in reporting service delivery concerns. In November, we logged 79 C3 requests, marking a significant increase from the 52 requests received in October. The majority of these service issues (43 out of 79) were directed toward Roads and Infrastructure Management, indicating a clear priority area that requires continued attention and maintenance focus. Furthermore there was a slight increase in resolution efficiency, with 13 requests resolved in November, up from 8 in October.
This surge in reporting is largely due to the increased volume of direct WhatsApp messages being sent to our control room. To further improve the speed and accuracy of defect resolution, we strongly encourage all stakeholders to please share photos of any service defect along with the location details. This visual evidence is invaluable for the CID to accurately log, follow up, and push for faster action from the relevant entity.
Our law enforcement efforts continue to prioritise compliance across our area. The focus of our enforcement activities has seen a notable shift this past month:
Public Safety Update
We recorded 3 criminal incidents in November, a decrease from the 4 incidents reported in October. During this period, the public safety team was able to make 4 arrests. While this overall activity is encouraging, we must stress a critical point regarding the accurate monitoring and response to crime. It is crucial that all crimes reported to us have a formal SAPS Case Number. This case number is the single most important metric used in our ongoing interaction with the South African Police Service (SAPS), as it directly determines the official statistics and thus the level of resource deployment and prioritisation within our area. By ensuring a case number is obtained for every incident, you directly contribute to maintaining and improving the necessary police presence in our community.
In a proactive effort to enhance holiday season security, our team attended a vital SAPS Imbizo (community engagement meeting) on November 26th, 2025. The intention of this meeting was to bring together private security firms, Community Improvement Districts (CIDs), and SAPS to coordinate strategies and prepare for the unique challenges of the upcoming festive season.
A key takeaway from the Imbizo, which we urge our members to note, is the need to remain highly vigilant of chain snatchers and to be constantly aware of the risks posed by card scammers (especially at ATMs or payment points). Please keep these specific threats in mind as you conduct your holiday shopping and social activities.
Notable Incidents
Suspect Apprehended in Possession of a Dangerous Weapon and Drugs.
LGCID Public safety officer noticed a man repeatedly walking back and forth past students outside Commercial High School. This area had been the subject of prior complaints regarding casually dressed men selling drugs to schoolchildren. When the suspect was approached and asked to be searched by our Law Enforcement officer he agreed. It was then found that the suspect was in possession of a knife and illegal substances. The suspect was apprehended and taken to SAPS.
SAPS and Lower Gardens CID Public Safety Team carrying out the arrest of suspect in possession of dangerous weapon and drugs.
Cleaning & Maintenance Update
Our cleaning teams continue their essential work, although we reported a slight decrease in collected waste, moving from 1,666 bags in October to 1,592 bags in November. Gale force winds have caused a significant challenge for the team, scattering litter, palm tree branches and leaves. We extend a huge thank you for the much-needed assistance from the CoCT Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) in attending to our critical litter hot spot areas.
A notable activity the team is undertaking is the removal of vacant, derelict structures. We can confirm that 3 structures were removed along Hope Street, Wesley Street and Buitenkant Street, with more identified for removal in the coming weeks. We encourage you all to please inform us on 087 330 2177 if you see any new structures being built within the Lower Gardens area. The public safety team is monitoring these spaces however we need your support in reporting any new activities.
Social Services Update
We are pleased to report that our Social Services team completed their first full month of operations. The team's immediate priority has been to engage with homeless clients in identified hotspot areas. This vital outreach work focuses on informing clients about the eviction order and actively assisting them in finding alternative accommodation through the City of Cape Town's Safe Spaces programme.
The team successfully engaged with 89 clients during the month. Of those 89 clients, 2 have been successfully referred and have moved into a Safe Space or alternative shelter. While the number of relocations is small, this is an ongoing, complex process. The team's constant, patient engagement with clients is vital to build trust and encourage those remaining to take advantage of the available safe spaces and support services.
Parks Recreation Update
The Parks and Recreation team has completed their first full month of operations. Their immediate focus on rehabilitating Maynard Park and Jutland Park, both key green spaces in our area. Their current operations focus on essential maintenance such as removing weeds, collecting litter/dumping and cutting grass to restore the parks' aesthetics and usability.
The team collected 17 bags of waste at Maynard Park and 76 bags at Jutland Park. This difference reflects the considerable variation in size and activity usage between the two parks. Part of the ongoing work that the Parks team will undertake is to assess usage patterns to inform and guide the future development plans for both parks.
The most prevalent challenge facing the team is no access to water. This is needed to properly maintain these green spaces. Engagement with the City of Cape Town (CoCT) Parks and Recreation Department is ongoing to ensure that the water supply is turned on for the parks as soon as possible, allowing for the adequate watering and long-term health of our parks.
Announcements
Lower Gardens CID Compliance
Please be advised of a recent update to our Procurement Policy, specifically concerning Section 6: Confidentiality, Protection of Proposals, and Access to Information. This amendment reinforces our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and fairness throughout the procurement process.
Should stakeholders require access to confidential procurement documents, they will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) prior to the release of such information. We urge all stakeholders, suppliers, and prospective bidders to review the updated policy, which is available on our website, to ensure full adherence to these revised confidentiality and access requirements. Compliance with these protocols is mandatory for participation in future tenders.
LGCID Camera Network Survey
The CID is preparing to launch a new security camera network. Help us ensure maximum coverage and avoid duplication by completing a short survey about any private cameras you own facing the public space in Lower Gardens precinct. Your participation enables strategic planning and faster response to incidents. The City of Cape Town is currently undertaking a process regarding the Proposed Sale of three City-owned properties in Lower Gardens (Harrington Street and Upper Canterbury Street). Please kindly follow the link for more information.
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