Dear Property Owners and Interested Parties

Happy February! It’s hard to believe we’ve already tucked the first month of 2026 under our belts. January is often seen as a slow climb, but for us, it was a month of decisive action and setting the stage for a productive year ahead. A key part of our start-of-year operations included the finalisation of the scheduled eviction order in collaboration with the City of Cape Town.

Beyond this operational milestone, the last month has been defined by energy and focus. Whether you’ve been finding your rhythm or hitting the ground running, we’re glad to have you with us as we look back on our progress.

Message from the Chairman: Eviction Order

During the process of establishing the Lower Gardens CID, 82.9% of respondents to the urban management survey saw homelessness and vagrancy as the biggest issue within Lower Gardens. The 6th January 2026 evictions mark the first major milestone in the roll out of our social services strategy, focusing on hand up programmes to support those within our community living on the streets. We would like to thank the City of Cape Town, their various departments and our social services team from Streetscapes for the professional and empathetic manner in which they handled the eviction process.

We are excited to announce the start of our work readiness programme in conjunction with our social services partner Streetscapes, this is where former street people from our community will be able to join the ‘LGCID Task Force’ to support cleaning, greening and maintenance projects across the Lower Gardens Precinct. Please look out for them in their pink LGCID bibs.

Urban Management Update

 We are encouraged to report a sharp decline in urban management incidents, which dropped from 283 to 209 over the course of the month. A breakdown of this month’s 209 incidents:

• 190 Removals of suspicious persons
• 8 By-law infringements
• 5 Proactive actions
• 2 Emergency medical and assistance calls

With fewer people hanging around the Lower Gardens, we are shifting the mindsets of our teams to now shift more focus toward proactive actions and community enhancements rather than just incident response.

Our commitment to maintaining the quality of our local environment remains a top priority. January saw a high volume of activity as we balanced immediate maintenance requests with long-term infrastructure improvements. We logged a total of 48 service requests, with 40 of those successfully attended to and resolved.

It is important to note that the resolution rate this month is an outlier compared to our usual metrics. This is primarily due to the nature of the requests logged; specifically, issues related to illegal dumping and electricity which have a quicker resolution rate.

There was a decrease in the number of road and infrastructure concerns logged by the CID. This is taking into consideration that the City has undertaken extensive road resurfacing works along Wesley Street, Harrington Street, Glynville Street and Barnet Street. Now that the overall programme has been finalised, we have a clearer understanding of areas that were not attended to and we will now commence logging again.

City of Cape Town Roads and Infrastructure Management team carrying out road resurfacing on Barnet Street.

City of Cape Town Roads and Infrastructure Management team carrying out road resurfacing on Glynville Street.

City of Cape Town Roads and Infrastructure Management team carrying out road resurfacing on Wesley Street.

After City of Cape Town Roads and Infrastructure Management team carrying out road resurfacing on Wesley Street.

You can 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.

Our law enforcement officer continued to provide support to the LGCID teams throughout the month of January. This is to ensure municipal regulations are upheld and public spaces remain orderly. In relation to the fines issued:

• Section 341 Notices (Traffic/Statutory Infringements): These saw a significant increase, rising from 155 to 185. This increase is directly attributed to the higher volume of traffic in the area as residents returned to work and schools reopened. With more vehicles back on the road, our officer was active in ensuring compliance.
• Section 56 Notices (Summary Fines/Criminal Summons): These remained consistent at 86, matching the previous month’s total. This stability indicates a steady, controlled environment regarding general law enforcement matters.

Law enforcement officer issuing Section 341 notices along Upper Canterbury Street.

 
Public Safety Update

January was a busy period for our public safety team. This period saw 9 criminal incidents with 2 arrests being carried out. Whilst this was a decrease from the December festive period, the biggest priority for the CID is managing post-eviction. Throughout January, the CID deployed extra officers who had the sole mandate of monitoring the areas where the evicted persons were previously staying. This increased presence was focused solely on the prevention of new structures being erected, ensuring that the reclaimed public spaces remain clear and accessible.

As the community dynamic shifts post-eviction, our public safety team has been active in profiling new characters observed in the area. By identifying and tracking these individuals early, we can better anticipate and mitigate potential risks before they escalate.

Joint patrolling by LGCID and CCID officers along our shared boundary on Hatfield Street corner Dunkley Street.

Notable Incidents

Chain snatchers caught!

Two suspects who were involved in a chain snatching incident were spotted opposite the Engen Garage in Hatfield street. Both suspects were apprehended and were transported to SAPS via LGCID bakkie with our law enforcement officer.

Recovery of stolen items!

LGCID control room dispatched units G5, G6, and Law Enforcement Officer following a report from a resident regarding a smash and grab near the bridge at Buitenkant and Mill Street. Three male suspects smashed the window of a silver Land Rover Discovery and fled toward Lower Gardens with various items, including a laptop. One suspect was apprehended in possession of stolen goods and was taken to SAPS. The other two suspects remain at large.

Housebreaking along Barnet Street.

The Lower Gardens CID Control room received a message indicating that a housebreaking occurred at their residency. It was reported that the perpetrators accessed the property from the roof, came down the roof terrace staircase, and forced entry via a sliding door by lifting it off its tracks, gaining access to the first-floor level. The perpetrators stole a laptop, a Stanley knife and an extendable police baton.

Cleaning & Maintenance Update

The cleaning team increased the volume of waste removed from the precinct during January through both routine and the roll out of new initiatives. A total of 1,599 bags were collected and removed, an increase from 1,396 bags in the previous month. The higher volume is attributed to regular servitude cleaning initiatives and the prevalence of stronger-than-usual winds, which increased the amount of wind-blown litter.

In the final week of January, the team commenced the cleaning of stormwater drains. This initiative follows training provided by the City of Cape Town (CoCT) Roads and Infrastructure Management team. There are 87 stormwater drains within the suburb. In collaboration with the City, the team intends to have all 87 drains cleared prior to the onset of the winter rains. To date, 162 bags have been collected from cleaning 14 stormwater drains along Hope Street.

To date, 162 bags have been collected from cleaning 7 stormwater drains along Hope Street.

Lower Gardens CID cleaning team cleaning stormwater drain at Hope Street corner Roeland Street.    

Lower Gardens CID cleaning team cleaning stormwater drain at Hope Street corner Wandel Street.

Social Services Update 

The Social Services team provided critical support during the transition period surrounding the January 6th eviction order. A big thank you to Tandeka, Chantel, and Clinton who played a key role in facilitating the CID’s management of the eviction process. Their role involved continuous follow-ups with affected individuals and providing guidance and logistical assistance to those seeking relocation to formal shelters.

As Lower Gardens enters the post-eviction phase, the Social Services team has assisted in the development of a work readiness program titled the "LGCID Task Force." This initiative is designed to provide clients affected by the eviction order with a pathway toward the formal job market through practical work experience. This is to provide a stepping stone for individuals to gain the experience necessary for future employment while contributing to the upkeep of the area.

The clients will work alongside the Cleaning and Parks & Recreation teams carrying out daily operational tasks. Part of their programme will then also include receiving training in graffiti removal techniques and the painting and maintenance of traffic signage.

Parks Recreation Update

Planning work has commenced on the revitalisation of the Tuin Plein Park precinct. Following the clearance of the previously occupied site, the restoration project is focusing on several key infrastructure and landscaping objectives that include the fences being sanded and repainted, the removal of old topsoil to prepare the grounds for a new community garden and surface preparation has begun for the installation of the children’s park.

Proposed plan and design of the new children's park in Tuin Plein.

In addition to the Tuin Plein project, general maintenance and cleaning operations have remained ongoing at Maynard Park and Jutland Park.

Before the removal of dead grass along Wembley Road corner Mckenzie Street.

Before the removal of dead grass along Wembley Road corner Mckenzie Street.

Announcements

Become a Lower Gardens CID Member

To ensure that the Lower Gardens City Improvement District (LGCID) remains representative of our community’s interests, we encourage all eligible property owners to formally register as members. Being a registered member allows you to:

• Vote on the Budget: Influence how your contributions are allocated across urban management, security, and social services.

• Approve the Implementation Plan: Have a say in the strategic projects scheduled for the upcoming year.

• Elect Board Members: Vote for the directors who oversee the CID’s operations and governance.

Membership is divided into two distinct categories based on the nature of the property ownership:

1. Private Membership (Natural Person)

This category is for individual property owners. Registering as a Private Member ensures that you are kept informed of CID developments and provides a platform to contribute to the safety and maintenance of the neighborhood.
Application Link: Private Membership Form

2. Juristic Membership (Companies, Trusts, or Bodies Corporate)

This category is for properties owned by legal entities, such as companies, close corporations, trusts, or bodies corporate. A designated representative must be appointed to act on behalf of the entity.
Application Link: Juristic Membership Form

While all property owners contribute to the CID, only registered members are eligible to vote on critical matters at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Formal membership is the primary mechanism through which you can exercise your right to shape the future of the Lower Gardens community. We urge all owners to complete the relevant registration form to ensure their voice is heard at the next AGM.

Thank you for visiting Lower Gardens Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis!

Whilst conducting his site walk, our CID manager Rorisang was fortunate to run into the Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis. The mayor was impressed with the progress made in Lower Gardens and looks forward to seeing future developments within the community.

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