Dear Property Owners and Interested Parties

 Welcome to our February edition of the Lower Gardens CID newsletter. In this issue, we highlight the successful launch and progress of our Work Readiness Programme, which is already making a tangible impact on the cleanliness and social fabric of our community.

While crime remains a persistent challenge, February saw significant operational successes, including a number of high-impact arrests made possible through the vigilance of our public safety team and our partnerships with SAPS. Additionally, our cleaning operations have reached a new milestone as we ramp up our specialised stormwater drain maintenance to ensure our infrastructure is prepared for the seasons ahead. 

Important Notices from the Lower Gardens CID.

Lower Gardens CID stance on occupied buildings.

The CID would like to clarify its operational mandate regarding illegally occupied buildings within the district. Our primary mandate is the management and safety of the public space. It is important to note that the CID does not have jurisdiction over private property or buildings. While we monitor the impact of these sites on the surrounding public environment, we do not have the legal authority to enter, manage, or clear occupied structures. Where buildings are illegally occupied, we engage through the following channels by:

• Maintaining regular contact with the affected property owners and relevant stakeholders to monitor the situation.
• Enagaging consistently with the City of Cape Town to track the progress of formal eviction orders and legal proceedings.

The legal process surrounding evictions is often complex and time-sensitive. We are committed to sharing specific updates with our members as soon as we are legally and procedurally in a position to do so. We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we navigate these matters within the boundaries of our mandate.

SAPS attending to a complaint on Hope Street.

 Resignation of Michael Power

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Michael for his foundational role in the establishment of this CID. His early work and dedication were instrumental in setting the core fundamentals of our current operations. Michael’s vision helped create the framework that allows us to serve the district effectively today. We thank him for his service and wish him the very best in his future endeavours.

With Michael’s departure, we are inviting property owners within the district to put themselves forward to fill this position on the board. If you are interested in contributing to the strategic oversight of the LGCID until the next Lower Gardens CID AGM, please reach out to info@lowergardenscid.co.za.

Urban Management Update

While crime prevention and relocation efforts are high-visibility tasks, our Public Safety team spends a significant portion of their daily operations managing the functional and aesthetic health of our streets. We noted an overall decrease in the matters we attend which are:

• A reduction in vehicle-related incidents requiring scene management.
• A decrease in general contraventions, such as drinking in public and urinating in public.
• A decrease in the number of proactive security interventions needed, such as officers identifying open garages, unsecured doors, or open car windows.

Motor vehicle accident corner Annadale and Hatfield Street.

Public safety officers attending to drinking in public outside Jutland Park.

In February, 56 C3 requests were logged by the CID, an increase from the 48 logged in January. There was a decrease in the resolution rate during this period, with 16 requests resolved compared to 40 in the previous month. This decrease follows a period where a significant volume of historical municipal work reached completion. The CID is currently focused on re-logging and following up on all outstanding matters that were not addressed during that phase. 

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. 

Defect in the pavement along Wandel Street nearest corner Glynville Street.

Defect in the pavement along Wandel Street nearest corner Glynville Street successfully repaired by the Roads and Infrastructure Management team.

Defect in the pavement along Courville Street nearest corner Hopeville Street.

 Defect in the pavement along Courville Street nearest corner Wandel Street successfully repaired by the 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.

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.

 An example of a water reinstatement along Scott Street nearest corner Clare Road which was made safe after attending to a burst pipe and now requires resurfacing .

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. 

The total number of notices were issued by law-enforcement over the course of February:

• Section 56 Notices: Increased from 86 in January to 94 in February. (These are notices issued by the officer directly to a person, usually for by-law contraventions).
• Section 341 Notices: Decreased from 185 in January to 180 in February. (These are primarily stationery vehicle/parking-related fines).

We have noted growing challenges regarding parking availability in the district. Our Law Enforcement officer attends to these concerns as they arise; however, we recognise that enforcement is only one part of the solution. Following our ongoing engagement with property owners, the CID is actively lobbying the City to review the current state and number of parking bays within the Gardens area. Our objectives are:

• Encouraging the City to evaluate if the current parking infrastructure matches the recent residential and commercial development in the community.
• Increasing the number of designated bays to reduce illegal or obstructive parking, which currently complicates traffic flow.

By doing so, we intend to use this data to leverage and advocate for better-developed parking spaces that align with the area's growth.

 
Public Safety Update

We saw a notable increase in the number of public space interventions this past month. This trend mirrors a broader challenge currently facing the entire city due to several large-scale eviction orders about to take place. Our officers are continuing to ensure that public spaces remain clear and safe for businesses and pedestrians. We recognise that enforcement is only one side of the coin. Our Social Services team remains on the frontline, offering direct assistance and resources to those in need during these transitions. 

We noted an increase in criminal incidents, rising from 9 in January to 12 in February. Our public safety team, with the assistance of SAPS and Law Enforcement, successfully facilitating 4 arrests. Albeit the case, we also noted and experienced several instances of opportunistic theft and attempted infrastructure damage. 

Notable Incidents

Caught red handed!

 At approximately 04:10 two suspects were observed walking through the area pushing a wheelie bin marked address. Public safety officers requested backup and upon further investigation it was discovered that vehicle wheels and other items were inside the bin, which were suspected to be stolen property. When questioned, the two male suspects alleged that they had received the items from a resident in the area. They were escorted to the address indicated on the wheelie bin for further investigation. At the premises, it was found that a vehicle was damaged, with a broken window and one wheel missing. SAPS was notified and responded to the scene. The two suspects were subsequently arrested by SAPS. 

LGCID officers apprehending suspects in possession of stolen items.

Recovery of stolen items!

LGCID public safety officer was informed by a security officer at the parking lot in Glynn street about a car that had been broken into on the corner of Buitenkant and Glynn street. A description of the suspect was provided and it was confirmed that the suspect entered the illegally occupied building on Hope Street. LGCID officers and Law enforcement proceeded into the building and searched for the stolen goods as well as the suspect. All the stolen items were retrieved, hidden away with the two suspects in the ceiling of the building. SAPS were called on site and arrested three men. 

Suspect arrested for being in possession of stolen goods.

Cleaning & Maintenance Update

The commencement of the Work Readiness Programme has provided vital additional support to our ground teams, allowing for a more intensive cleaning schedule across the district. We recorded a steady increase in waste collection this month from 1,599 to 1,671 bags collected. 

 The expanded team has enabled us to focus on critical infrastructure that often requires manual clearing. Within the CID boundaries, there are a total of 142 stormwater drains. In this month, 67 stormwater drains cleaned. This represents nearly 47% of the total drains within our boundaries, as we try to ensure better run-off management ahead of the winter season. 

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

Social Services Update 

The Work Readiness Programme has officially commenced, providing those affected by recent eviction orders a pathway toward the formal job market through practical work experience. Most of the work they have undertaken has been under the supervision of the Essential cleaning team who have imparted their skills in addressing public space cleanliness. Over the next month the team will be ramping up their efforts, focusing on the removal of plastics off fences and the removal of graffiti. 

Work readiness team cleaning along Harrington Street outside the unoccupied council houses.

After the work readiness team cleaned outside the unoccupied council houses along Harrington Street.

This initiative serves as a stepping stone for individuals to gain employment experience while contributing to the district's upkeep. 193 Bags of refuse collected specifically by the Work Readiness team. 

Over and above this programme, the social services team continues their daily work assisting the homeless. While the team maintains a high level of outreach, the data shows the ongoing challenge of placement:

• 43 Engagements with the homeless community.
• 3 Individuals accepted referrals to Safe Spaces or shelters (representing 7% of total engagements).
• 16 ID applications facilitated (10 successfully issued).

Social services interactions in the month of February 2026

Assistance with ID applications in the month of February 2026.

Parks Recreation Update

Maintaining our green public spaces remains a priority for the CID. We are working closely with City departments to ensure these areas remain accessible and well-kept. This serves as an update on what has been happening within our green public spaces:

• Water Access: Work is still ongoing to secure reliable water services to Jutland and Maynard parks to support long-term landscaping and maintenance.
• Tuin Plein Renovations: We are currently awaiting the commencement of renovation work at Tuin Plein. This project will include sanding and painting the perimeter fences and a comprehensive redesign of the children’s play area. Plans have been submitted to the city.

 CoCT Parks and Recreation team assisting with the cleaning up and removal of dumping at Jutland Park along Brandweer Street.  

While we wait for these major projects to begin, our parks team has pivoted their focus toward immediate horticultural maintenance. This includes

• Pruning of trees and the removal of low-hanging branches to improve visibility and safety.
• Intensive weeding and grass cutting across all green public spaces to ensure a clean environment for residents.

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:

• Notice for Jutland Park to become a dog off-leash park
• Notice on the update of the Freight Management Strategy

Interactive Lower Gardens CID Dashboard

 We are happy to share that we are in the final stages of completing an interactive dashboard which will be hosted on our website. This dashboard will offer a view of our latest incident reports and what the current trends are. The image below provides a sneak peak as to what it will look like and will give you as stakeholders insight as to how our operations are informed.  

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