C A P E TOW N C E N T R A L C I T Y I M P R OV E M E N T D I S T R I C T N P C
YEAR IN REVIEW The year in review has been tumultuous, characterised by the chaos that swept the world due to the coronavirus pandemic. The country’s economy buckled, and with it the economies of its main metropoles. The Cape Town Central City, the area in which we operate, was deeply affected. Here we give a brief overview of the CCID’s Covid-19 year. 1. A WELCOME RESPITE
SOUTH AFRICA’S LOCKDOWN LEVELS 2020/21 •
Level 3: 1 June – 17 August 2020
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Level 2: 18 August – 20 September 2020
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Level 1: 21 September – 28 December 2020
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Level 3: 29 December 2020 – 28 February 2021
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Level 1: 1 March – 15 June 2021
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Level 3: 16 June – 27 June 2021
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Level 4: 28 June – 25 July 2021
the CCID launched a multi-dimensional, five-month Come Back To Town Campaign to encourage employees,
The CCID’s new financial year, which started on 1 July
businesses and local, national and international visitors to
2020, coincided with the start of Level 3 lockdown
return to the Central City. Communications also continued
which was not as onerous as levels 5 and 4 in the
to highlight the extraordinary resilience of stakeholders in
previous year. This was a welcome relief and heralded
adapting to the “new normal”: businesses not only survived
some economic recovery. However, the CBD was
but reinvented themselves. While some stakeholders closed
facing an exodus of tens of thousands of office workers
down, many others opened their doors for the first time.
thanks to the Disaster Management Act decree that anyone who could work from home, should do so.
4. SPEED BUMP
The alcohol and cigarette bans were in place and only food deliveries and collections were allowed.
The second wave of Covid-19 infections, which hit in Quarter 4 of 2020, were driven by a new, highly contagious
2. PROTECTING AND MAINTAINING THE CBD
variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This resulted in another tightening of lockdown restrictions in late-December with
While the city centre had reduced foot traffic, the CCID’s
the country back to Lockdown Level 3, scuppering hopes
operational departments – which had nimbly adapted
of a good Festive Season in the CBD. Beaches were closed,
to the unusual business environment – continued to
and alcohol sales were banned once more. Hopes for
deliver on their mandate of keeping the city centre
the revival of the hospitality sector were dampened, and
safe and clean. Safety & Security protected property,
further losses were suffered by hotels in the Central City.
people, and possessions. Urban Management changed their shifts and focussed on daytime cleaning while
5. THE YO-YO EFFECT
Social Development collaborated with NGO partners to ensure homeless clients had access to essential
The final six months of the year under review, from January
services. Communications continued to effectively
to June 2021, saw the country go from Level 3 to levels 1, 3
communicate the work of the CCID’s operational
and 4 respectively. With vaccination numbers increasing,
teams, inform stakeholders on the status quo, promote
and the Central City playing host to the Vaccination
retailers and get ready to embark on an unprecedented
Centre of Hope at the CTICC, the financial year ended
campaign to reinvigorate the CBD economy.
on a high with restrictions easing to Level 4. It was also encouraging to note that economic activity in the Central
3. REIGNITING THE CBD
City picked up, with visitors enjoying the buzz of the CBD at weekends, office workers starting to trickle back
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After months of doom and gloom, a ray of light appeared
to work slowly but surely, and property developments
in September when the country moved to Level 1
continuing unabated. According to the CCID's economic
lockdown. Travel restrictions eased, but most retailers
publication State of Cape Town Central City Report 2020
traded at 50 % capacity with alcohol sales being allowed
– A year in review [Covid-19 edition], the estimated value
from Monday to Friday between 09h00 and 17h00, as well
of property developments completed in 2020 was R972
as onsite consumption. With this window of opportunity,
million with those under construction valued at R2.9 billion.
