CITYVIEWS
Photo: Mouton van Zyl
CLEAN | SAFE | CAR I NG
Dec 2010/Jan 2011
Time to LIGHT UP‌ Join the Twilight Team Run under the Festive Lights of the Central City on 7th December
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2 CityViews
Dec 2010/Jan 2011
MESSAGE
Here at the CCID we are preparing for the annual influx of visitors, but we’d like to take some time to wish you all the best over the festive season. It’s been a big year for us in the Mother City. We hosted one of the biggest events in the world and, as a city which is becoming increasingly an events destination, we are ready to take on whatever might come our way over the next 365 days. Along these lines, we’re
LETTER
“Clean Cape Town makes me proud” This edited letter to Mayor Dan Plato was received from a Pretoria-based tour operator Dear Mr Plato I own and run a tour operator business (based in Pretoria) for incoming visitors to South Africa and, in this capacity, visit Cape Town on a regular basis. For some time now I have wanted to express my appreciation. This morning I was standing in front of the Fountains Hotel (Adderly street looking towards the fountain) and, again, came under the impression of how clean Cape Town City is. I noticed a street cleaner meticulously working around and looking for some rubbish to pick-up – he had a difficult time finding anything!! Almost every time I travel around Cape Town with international visitors they will comment on how clean Cape Town is. This is a well-deserved comment because personally I have never seen a city so clean!! Although Cape Town is not “my city” it makes me extremely proud and it also makes me a positive citizen with great hope for the future of our nation. I know this may be difficult, but in some way I would like to extend my appreciation and congratulations not only to the management of the City, but also to the workers on the streets. By whatever means of communication you have to those men and woman who clean the City, PLEASE tell them that the work they do is noticed, that it is appreciated and that with every can, paper or plastic bag they pick up, they are sending a positive message far beyond South Africa’s borders – THEY are really making a difference!! Regards Cecil Harley
very proud of the kudos we’ve recently received from the City‘s Solid Waste Department, who awarded a Certificate of Excellence to the CCID (and its partners in cleansing – J&M Cleansing and Straatwerk) in recognition of our contribution to keeping the City of Cape Town clean during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. As we head towards the new year, and with 10 years behind us, CCID looks forward not only to continuing
with its work of keeping the Central City clean, safe and caring for everyone but also to introducing some fantastic new projects. A few of our new directions are listed on page three in the reportback from our recent AGM. We’d like to remind you of one more thing before you wind down completely: have you signed up yet for the Community Chest Twilight Team Run on 7 December? If not, you, your colleagues, friends and family
could be missing out on one of the Central City’s most fun events. And don’t forget to bring your friends and families into the Central City in the evening to see our wonderful festive lights, switched on annually at the end of November. Many of you will be taking a break, and in this regard we wish you a safe one, and look forward to seeing you all again in the new year! Tasso
Published by: The Central City Improvement District (CCID) For more info: Sue Segar: 021 419 1881 sues@capetownpartnership.co.za Website: www.capetowncid.co.za Design: Infestation 021 424 6701
SAVE THESE NUMBERS ON YOUR PHONE CCID Security Manager: 082 453 2942 CCID Deputy Security Manager: 082 442 2112 CCID 24-hour number: 082 415 7127 SAPS Control Room: 021 467 8002 Social Department 082 563 4289
Community philanthropists start limbering up for the Twilight Team Run It’s that time of year again when entries open for the Twilight Team Run and 20 000 people begin pondering the outrageous outfits they’ll wear to run, walk, skip and dance through the City’s streets for a good cause.
E
ntries are already flooding in for the 28th running of this extraordinary event, where there are no medals, and prizes are awarded for dressing up rather than athletic prowess. Nobody is quite sure who came up with the idea of dressing in garish costumes, but it has caught on, making the event a visual spectacle as well as a demonstration of philanthropy. “The Twilight Team Run is much more than just a fun fundraising event; it’s community philanthropy in action with Capetonians coming out en masse to offer a helping hand to their fellow citizens,” says Amelia Jones, Community Chest CEO. Teams of between four and six, comprising people from just about every walk of life including families, groups of friends, school children, nurses, factory workers, lawyers, municipal workers, accountants, to name a few, pay R180 to enter. The money raised goes to the Community Chest which supports some 400 social development agencies across 10 sectors. These include providing care to children, families, the elderly, homeless, physically
Creativity knows no bounds when it comes to dressing up for the Twilight Team Run
and mentally challenged, people living with HIV/AIDS as well as supporting rehabilitation and community development projects. In some rural areas Community Chest is the only service provider to these beneficiaries. There is no limit to the number of teams that a company or individual can enter, something that has led to many companies adopting the Twilight Team Run as a form of team-building exercise or year end celebration. The Twilight Team Run starts at the Grand Parade at 19h00 on 7 December and winds through the City Centre for 5km be-
fore arriving back at the Parade. Teams are advised to get there early as the judging for the best-dressed team starts at 17h00. n Entry forms are available online at
www.comchest.org.za or www.topevents.co.za or from the Community Chest, 82 Bree Street Cape Town.
Photos: Anita van Zyl
Welcome to the festive season in the Central City. It’s time to start winding down, celebrating the year’s end, shopping for the holidays and looking forward to the year ahead.
Photo: New Media Publishing
Enjoy the big wind down
CITYVIEWS
CityViews 3
Dec 2010/Jan 2011
A FORWARD PLANNING CITY
High praise and a path forward for CCID at 10-year AGM
W
hen Cape Town’s Central City Improvement District (CCID) held its AGM at the Taj Hotel on 9 November, the spotlight was on more than just the past year’s operations. The AGM marked ten years since a small group of committed and concerned people got together to make a difference to their downtown area. Following an introductory welcome by Alderman Felicity Purchase, CCID Chief Operations Officer, Tasso Evangelinos noted: “It took vision and commitment, but our journey to where we are today would not have been possible without our partners, and most importantly the City of Cape Town itself.” Commenting on what the public could expect of the CCID during the next year and indeed the next ten years, Evangelinos elaborated: “We’ve completed a successful decade of uplifting the Central City in terms of it being safe, clean and caring. Now we need to move to the next level of complimentary achievements. We want a Central City that is also seen as ‘safe, clean and creative’ or ‘safe, clean and open for business 24/7’. We need to drive the factors that will improve the environment for all our Central City stakeholders.” Keynote speaker Jane Jenkins, chairman of the International Downtown Association and President of Downtown Oklahoma Inc, confessed to being “awed by the phenomenal achievements” of the CCID in the past 10 years. “I know of no city anywhere in the world where transformation has happened so fast,” she said. “You have set the bar for turning around a community from a place of ‘crime and grime’ to a place where people really want to be. “We have done some great things in Oklahoma, but in my city you have to go back 17 years to see the kind of impact that you have achieved in just ten. And we didn’t have the same crime problem to deal with that you had here.”
She singled out the CCID’s social development programme for particular praise. “The issue of the homeless is common in all central business districts across the globe. But you are doing an excellent job. I walked around the Central City with your CCID colleagues today and it really struck me that you honesty have relationships with all the people in the CBD – this is truly noteworthy.” Convincing families to move to downtown areas was also one of the major challenges across the globe, particularly in the provision of affordable housing – or workforce housing as Jenkins said it is
“It took vision and commitment, but our journey to where we are today would not have been possible without our partners, and most importantly the City of Cape Town itself.”
called in the USA: “Living big in suburban housing is no longer sustainable and transportation is getting ever more expensive. The need to create good, workforce housing in our central business districts is an issue which is facing cities all over the world. Construction costs and land costs are prohibitive, so it is very difficult to build new construction housing for workforce families, especially as
From top to bottom: Martin Rippon & Julian Leibman, CCID Chair Rob Kane, Jane Jenkins with Tasso Evangelinos, CCID 10th year birthday cake, Felicity Purchase with Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana
people are wanting more and more amenities and more family-friendly spaces.” In Oklahoma, one solution has been to create affordable rental housing in converted office blocks. This has seen an occupancy rate of over 96%, markedly higher that the buildings that were converted into apartments for sale. Says Jenkins: “Returns have proved to be so good that even when the original developers were given the option to sell the units after a few years, a number chose to hold on their buildings and continue to rent them out.” Jenkins declared that she had no magic solutions to offer Capetonians. “In the US we are still struggling with the same issues - social, affordable housing and shockingly poor public transportation, plus a whole host of other issues. But what I can say is that at least you are not alone. “Building transformed cities is a task that transcends borders and governments. We can learn from each other, but the solutions are unique to each place. What I can say is that the future is exciting, and I am very positive about all that the CCID is achieving here.”
SUMMARY
Charting a path forward Summing up this vision moving forward, Rob Kane, Chairman of the CCID said: “We have created high standards for ourselves over the past decade. We now need to ensure that we continue to maintain and indeed improve these levels of service, while ever aspiring to new levels of achievement that will we see us ultimately become a round-theclock, work, live and play destination.” An example of some of the projects with which the CCID hopes to be hands-on over the next few years include:
Continuing beautification of the Central City: Projects in just the past year, and undertaken in collaboration with the City’s Department of Parks and Forests, include the enormous pot plants and containers that have been placed in the Harrington Street area as well as Upper Long Street, and the hanging gardens that now adorn St George’s Mall.
Research and the collection of data: This has become a main ingredient in the CCID’s communication and marketing strategy. The data that has been compiled over the past few years is now seeing the CCID become a highly trusted and knowledgeable information hub. This research will continue into 2011 and beyond and form a vital basis for the CCID to roll out important retail strategies that hit the target market.
A navigable city: Just as the City will be expanding its IRT and new mobility strategy throughout the Central City (and beyond) so too will the CCID become involved in projects to assist the City with the rollout of public maps and enhanced directional signage, in an aim to make the Central City of Cape Town the most navigable and informative Central City in South Africa.
Improved lighting and parking: The CCID also aims to assist with rolling out lighting improvements across the Central City in both public and private areas, and will continue to strive towards the provision of ample, affordable parking options. With this in mind, it has already begun a pilot project which will appear in the next issue of its Time Out Central City Guide (available from December 2010), in which it will be linking retail outlets featured in the publication to the closest possible parking opportunity in terms of walking distance and time.
Photos: Anita van Zyl
When the CCID held its tenth AGM last month, it received high praise for its work from far and wide and revealed its plans for the next ten years.
4 CityViews
Dec 2010/Jan 2011
A SAFE CITY
travel tips
The CCID’s security component works closely with the South African Police Services and law enforcement agencies to ensure that we have a safe and secure Central City. The CCID’s security force is deployed in the Central City with officers on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
should you be a victim of crime
Stay calm; do not panic.
Don’t resist – follow all instructions.
Try and remember the description/characteristics of the attacker.
Report the crime to the SAPS.
in the street
hotel safety
Place your valuables/passport in a hotel safe.
Never leave your property unattended.
Close and lock the door when you are in your room.
Don’t open the door without first checking who it is.
Don’t walk in deserted or dark areas. Keep your handbag and possessions close to your body. Don’t use your cell phone while walking. Plan your route before you set out on an excursion. Keep your cell phone and wallet tucked away. Avoid wearing expensive jewellery or visibly carrying cameras and other valuables. Don’t carry large sums of money and avoid counting it in the open. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.
car
beach and pool
Keep your doors locked at all times.
Park in well-lit areas at night.
Keep enough distance from the car in front of you to enable you to change lanes and drive away in a hurry.
Don’t pick up hitchhikers or strangers. Look around before entering your driveway.
Be alert of strangers begging at intersections and avoid giving them money – rather donate to a known charity. Never open your window when approached by a stranger. If you think you are being followed, drive to a busy place or a police station.
It is recommended that you use registered, qualified tour guides. Don’t leave handbags under tables, on the backs of chairs or on restroom hooks. Don’t leave cell phones or wallets on restaurant tables.
Keep your credit card in sight all the time.
Don’t leave drinks unattended.
give responsibly
Don’t give directly to people begging on the street. Support recognised NGOs and projects assisting homeless adults and children.
Give of your time and skills.
attending conferences or meetings in town
Stay in a group.
Don’t keep all your money in one pocket.
Stay on lit paths.
Use accredited taxis and cabs.
Don’t leave your belongings unattended when swimming.
Be vigilant while withdrawing money from ATMs.
Use ATMs in well-lit and safe places. Don’t allow your card to be removed from your sight. Don’t accept help from strangers or give out your pin, not even to persons claiming to be bank officials. Watch out for the people standing very close to you and looking over your shoulder as you type in your pin. Never leave your card in the ATM; if stuck, follow instructions provided on the ATM machine. Make sure you are not followed after a transaction.
home
Don’t dive into shallow water.
atm and bank
Don’t keep any items visible on the seat of your vehicle.
entertainment
Read and obey warning notices.
Always have your car/house keys ready when walking to your car/entrance to your home.
Children can drown in shallow water; watch them constantly.
Don’t drink alcohol and swim.
Never allow strangers into your house, building, foyer or flat – always confirm their legitimacy. Invest in and utilise a good overall security system. Adequate lighting around the perimeter of your house acts as a good deterrent. Trim shrubs around windows and entrances so they cannot conceal intruders. When you leave your home at night leave interior lights on, as well as your television or radio, so that your house looks and sounds occupied.
Police
10111
Ambulance
10177
If living in a complex don’t open entrance/foyer doors to strangers and prevent tailgating.
CT Police Station
021 467 8002
Fire Department
021 535 1100
Never disclose that you are home alone.
All Emergencies
107
Always be alert to vehicles or persons following you into your entrance or the garage.
Metro Police
021 596 1999
Emergencies
112
Educate everyone regarding these safety precautions. Don’t leave firearms unattended. Keep a list of emergency numbers next to the telephone.
(landlines only)
(cellphones only)
Netcare 911 & NSRI 082 911 CCID 24-hr no.
CityViews 5
Dec 2010/Jan 2011
A HAPPENING CITY
DESIGNER/ARTISAN festive market to be held in conjunction with the Evangelical Lutheran Church's Annual Carols by Candlelight
T
he historic Evangelical Lutheran Church circa 1780 (the oldest operating church in Cape Town), and Freeworld Coatings (South Africa’s leading coatings company), will jointly host a designer artisan Christmas exhibition and market on the afternoon and evening of the church’s popular annual Carols by Candlelight. This combined event will take place on 15 December at Freeworld Coatings’ new premises along Cape Town’s Fan Walk, with the market in the courtyard that lies between Freeworld Coatings and the church, and the carols taking place within the church itself. Visitors to the market will be able to enter the church from the courtyard and all faiths are welcome to attend the carols. There is no cost to attend either the market or the carols. Designer exhibitors, which include Heartworks, Helon Melon, Lorenzo Nassimbeni, Textures, Design Africa and Clementina van der Walt were all hand-picked by Lauren Shantall,
Head of the Freeworld Design Centre, and formerly curator and manager of the Design Indaba Expo. “The idea to have a high-quality event, in celebration of the festive season, offering really beautiful design objects ties in with Freeworld’s design philosophy, which is that by improving our environment we improve our general wellbeing,” says Shantall. Market guests are invited to bring along a kiddies’ Christmas gift to be donated to the church orphanage. In addition to the exquisite handmade goodies on offer, there will be traditional German Christmas fare courtesy of Birds, and food from Jacques Erasmus’s new Hemelhuijs cafe. Kicking off at 15h30 the market culminates with the carols at 20h00. The carols last for approximately 90 minutes. This event forms part of WalkCapeTown, a post-World Cup initiative, which aims to re-energise the Fan Walk through public events and ultimately enhance the cultural life of the Central City.
TAKE NOTE What: A Cape Town artisan market jointly hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Freeworld Design Centre, followed by the church’s annual Carols by Candlelight
Reconciliation Day 5th Interfaith Pilgrimage
Date
Join us at St George’s Cathedral labyrinth at 09h00. We’ll walk thoughtfully to The Gardens Shul & The Palm Tree Mosque, with addresses at each venue
Thurs 16 December 2010
Time
9am – 11am Journeying with: n Judge Dennis Davis n Prof Jonathan Jansen n Dr Sa’diyya Shaikh & Mayor Dan Plato
Organised by: The Gardens Shul, The Palm Tree Mosque, St George’s Cathedral All welcome! Please bring comfortable shoes, a hat and water!
Take all your visitors to the Cape Town Show at the Rainbow Room Don’t miss the Cape Town Show, featuring ten talented youngsters who were chosen to be part of a brand new experiential show at The Rainbow Room at Mandela Rhodes Place in the heart of Cape Town’s Old City. The ten are the first young adults selected for the Rainbow Academy, a non-profit organisation aimed at young adults who are passionate about the performing arts but lack the resources for tertiary training. And they shine in this new production. The show uses music, dialogue and audio visuals to explain the history, struggle and eventually the freedom of the people of South Africa. The essence of this show
is Cape Town contextualized in a way that finally tells the Mother City’s story. Celebrating many of the unsung heroes, our shameful and magical moments, but above all Cape Town’s unique people whose tenacity, endurance and hilarious sense of humour has prevailed, the Cape Town Show captures our unique history. Sizzling, soulful, energetic and a cultural celebration of our rainbow nation and the city's people, lives and heritage you’ll be taken on a historical journey in two acts defining six decades of our struggle and fight for freedom. The city's colorful and collective past and present is told
When: 15 December 2010 Market from 15h30 Carols by Candlelight at 20h00
through the works of legendary and contemporary musical and performing greats: Robbie Jansen; Winston Mankuku, David Kramer, Taliep Pietersen, Miriam Makeba, Johnny Clegg and more. Across the divide of color, race and ethnicity this unified voice of protest for freedom and equality laid the foundations for the Rainbow Nation as we know it today. From Cape Jazz, Goemma and the Kaapse Klopse - Township jive, Kwela and Mpantsulato "Liedjies", "Grappies","Pata Pata" and gum-boot dancing, the Cape Town show captures the very heart and essence of our people, our legacy and the soul of the city.
Where: The Rainbow Room in Mandela Rhodes Place, Cape Town When: Watch the press for details.
Where: The courtyard at the Cape Waters Building, 71 Waterkant Street
Cost: R295 per person which includes a three course dinner or R120 per person (show only)
Cost of entry: Free
n For more information:
Bring: A Christmas gift to be donated to a local orphanage Cast of the CT show
contact Alison on 021 422 1418 / alison@rainbowcpt.co.za.
6 CityViews
Dec 2010/Jan 2011
A CITY OPEN FOR BUSINESS
LOOP STREET
Cape Town’s Chelsea What attracts the artistic temperament to Loop Street? In the space of just a few blocks are iArt Gallery, focusing on South African contemporary art, João Ferreira Gallery, and Future Classics, a wellknown brand retailer of furniture and homeware.
P
erhaps art thrives on subtlety, on nuance – and this elegant street with a cultured past is the ideal spot for an art gallery or a fashionable retailer. Almost two hundred years ago Loop street was stocked with language teachers offering French and other foreign languages. Now the subtle and well-proportioned facades of this long road attest to the same quiet grace that has always attracted creative and cultured tenants – and in past times, residents. The high stoeps, for example, are characteristic of some of the older buildings in this street, indicating the wealth of the area. From stoeps to coffee shops, Loop Street is on the move. Like Manhattan’s Chelsea, a district that has been tastefully gentrified and excitingly stocked with art galleries, Loop Street exudes the sense not only of art but also of money – a traditional alliance. “Loop Street is regenerating,” says Rob Kane, the CCID chair and director of Vunani Properites, “especially the part closest to the Foreshore, which is attached to the financial heart of the district.” The sea, once the end point of Loop Street, has been pushed back: now the only captains to be found here are the captains of
Up and coming Loop Street
industry in financial powerhouses at the bottom end of Loop Street. The regeneration of existing buildings makes financial sense, if one considers the costs of erecting new structures. “Between R16 000 to R25 000 per square metre,” states Kane. No wonder John Prevost, co-owner of 19 Loop Street (Barry Streek House) has decided to refurbish his five-storey building, complete with 15 basement parking bays, especially in light of Kane’s prediction: “There will be a run on rental stock,” he says, “due to high building costs.” “Our building has art deco traces,” says Prevost, “which we would like to accentuate. This architectural style is eclectic, borrowing from a variety of artistic influences, including cubism, modernism and futurism.” Considering the layers of history that nestle beneath Loop Street’s elegant facade – for example, Floris
A careful collar, a coffee table that doubles as a designer installation…
Doctor West, I presume?
Yes. Give Dokter and Misses, the interior design duo, and couturier, David West one door each, and a frame, and you have the entrance to a new concept store in Long Street focusing on fashion and furniture. The frame is actually Dokter and Misses’ Co-op – a “platform for new and emerging work in the fields of contemporary art and design” in Johannesburg that facilitates exhibitions, events and exclusive collaborations. As good ideas can only do, the concept expanded till it touched Cape Town’s arty, sartorial shores and made friends with West. What resulted was one of an emerging trend of
Smit Huijs, built in 1758 by the Dutch immigrant after whom it is named –the area requires little polishing to reveal its intrinsic charm.
“Although Long Street and St George’s Mall are high foot traffic streets in town, a destination type retailer would work well in Loop Street" So what kind of tenant should set up home here? “Although Long Street and St George’s Mall are high foot traffic streets in town,” says Andrew Dewey, from Swindon Property services, “a destination type retailer would work well in Loop Street. For office space, the area of Loop Street below Strand Street forms part of the financial district of the CBD, where the majority of the financial, accounting and legal fraternity are
multi-functional consumer spaces that make multi-modal shopping chic and quick. David West’s Summer 2010 collection “How to find true love and happiness in the present day” is currently instore, fresh from Cape Town Fashion Week and full of spring. In addition to ready-to-wear clothes, you’ll also find choice pieces of contemporary furniture and lighting, all boasting clean cuts and curves, and calm tones. Well placed, it sits comfortably amongst a bevy of fashion, interior and antique stores, around the corner from the vintage arcade and Church Street’s collectables and quaint eateries. Good products keeping good company? Good idea. n 113 Long Street | 021 801 4733
David West Dokter and Misses
housed – and is certainly considered up-market. Rental rates are also reasonable. 19 Loop Street, for example, offers retail space at approximately R65 per square metre, and office space at around R50 per square metre.” Jacqueline Nurse, the curator of iArt Gallery, is more than happy with her gallery’s location in Loop Street’s creative hub. “We cater for a niche market,” she explains, “but we still experience a good deal of foot traffic.” Setting up shop, office, or residence in town is a complex matter, much influenced by personal taste. But to understand the Central City, one needs to look at the twin poles of Cape Town’s CBD – Long Street, the extroverted showman, and Loop, its dignified and elegant neighbor, on a path to becoming Cape Town’s Chelsea. Both streets lend Cape Town’s downtown its rich and historically dense character.
TAKE NOTE
Schneider & van Niekerk Opticians have moved Respected opticians Schneider & Van Niekerk have moved from 31 Heerengracht to the ground floor of Vogue House on Thibault Square. Known for their personal, hands-on treatment of their clients and their tailor-made products, Schneider & Van Niekerk intend continuing with their 40-year legacy. They made their move to the new premises in September this year. “We still offer the same professional eye testing, filling of prescriptions and our
extensive range of eyewear,” said Harry Schneider in an interview with City Views. “The fact that we have our own inhouse laboratory means we can offer a prompt after sales service.” Schneider paid tribute to his loyal clientele and said he is enjoying the “marvellous” vibe of Thibault Square and the range of coffee shops and restaurants in the area. “It’s a great place to be.” n Schneider & Van Niekerk
opticians. T: 021 425 4932/419 1545 F: 021 419 2507 E: Schneider@medi.co.za
CityViews 7
Dec 2010/Jan 2011
Merchants on Long, one of the latest stores to open in Long Street, is worth a visit just to see how the building has been refurbished. The store, which opened in October, has been restored to its former glory. The woman at the helm, Hannelie Rupert told City Views the store was previously owned by an art gallery, 34 on Long. “I got the keys and started renovations in January. I stripped the walls of their dry walling and took off the false ceiling to reveal the original 'koffie-klip' slate and Oregon pine beams. I also re-tiled the entrance and restored the gold foiling on the facade," said Rupert. Rupert, who comes from an arts background, and is a painter by trade, is delighted with the outcome. “Merchants on Long aims to sell the top African brands from around the continent. Many of the brands we are stocking are available abroad
but have never been sold in Africa before. “Some of our suppliers include Patrick Mavros, Suno, Lalesso, Frazer Parfum, LemLem, Ardmore Ceramics, the LetterpressCompany and Suzaan Heynes,” she said. As expected, Capetonians and visitors to the Central City, have welcomed the store enthusiastically. “The feedback so far has been brilliant. Everyone I speak to (locally and internationally) seems genuinely passionate about finding the best of Africa in one place,” Rupert said. “To re-work Tony Blair's infamous quote, Merchants on Long aims to make Africa the 'star' rather than 'scar' on everyones conscience.” Rupert said she plans to keep sourcing in Africa and to concentrate on her handbag line Okapi which she will launch in the next few months. n Merchants on Long
34 Long Street, Cape Town, 8001 www.merchantsonlong.com
The shop window at Merchants on Long
Photo: Bruce Sutherland
New Store in Long Street includes top African brands
Increased valuations
good news for Central City property owners Properties in the Cape Town Central City have increased in value by over R6-billion in the three years between the City Council’s 2006 and 2009 general valuations, and at the same time the Central City Improvement District (CCID) levies have dropped by 28%. This was the finding of a report on CCID Levies and Property Valuations presented to the financial management team of the CCID at a meeting held in October. Although the budget of the CCID continues to grow, allowing it to offer more and improved service, the rising values of individual properties have contributed to spread the levy contributions more evenly amongst properties in the CCID. This has led to the 28% decrease. On average, the more than 7000 individual properties (both commercial and residential) that fall within the four downtown CCID precincts have seen an average increase in value, which is a clear indication of the confidence that investors and property developers
have in the Central City. “We believe that the increases are partly attributable to the work done by the CCID and its partners to ensure that Cape Town is a safe and clean environment in which to live and work,” said Tasso Evangelinos, CCID COO. “The result is that we have seen many new developments and, significantly, more property refurbishments and upgrades which have also pushed the valuations higher.” A snapshot of the Central City ten years ago would have shown a few high value properties in a sea of lower value buildings. Today the picture is very different, with some properties showing an increase in value of as much as 40% after extensive redevelopment or
CTICC CREATES R 2.3 BILLION of opportunity for South Africa The recent contribution of R2.3 billion by the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product is further testament to the pivotal role that the centre plays in driving sustainable economic growth in the province.
C
hief Executive Officer, Rashid Toefy said that since opening its doors in 2003, the centre has contributed to the creation of a burgeoning conference and convention industry for Cape Town, and South Africa. Speaking at the CTICC’s annual press conference, Toefy said the year under review was one characterised by a number of notable achievements, not least of which was a net profit of over R13-million, and the creation of over 7080 direct and indirect jobs
Property values are on the up
refurbishment. “There has been a marked decrease in vacancy levels in both residential and commercial properties,” Evangelinos said. Average office vacancies have dropped to between 6% and 7% for A and B grade offices between 2006 and July 2010. “This is another clear vote of confidence in the Central City and a testament to the efforts that we and our partners are putting in,” said Rob Kane, CCID Chairman. “As we celebrate ten years of contributing to make downtown Cape Town a better and more prosperous place to be, it is figures like these that reinforce our commitment to keep making a real difference to our City.”
“Cape Town must be run as a permanent events city”
Andrew Boraine
The CTICC - a vibrant meeting place.
in South Africa. It is anticipated that, by 2015, the CTICC will contribute to the creation of over 8000 direct and indirect jobs per annum. Toefy said that, despite the current global recession, the CTICC has continued to deliver and exceed all expectations in terms of its contribution to the economy of South Africa and the Western Cape. “With total revenues of R139million and a contribution to its
holding company, Convenco of almost R43-million, the CTICC performed 7 % better than budget.” Toefy said as far as the cumulative macroeconomic benefits are concerned, the CTICC has, to date, made a contribution of R14-billion to the national economy (GDP) and is expected to contribute another R17-billion over the next five years. He said at a time when the global recession has impacted
negatively on many businesses around the world, the CTICC has produced a result that serves to entrench the status of Cape Town and the Western Cape as a highly attractive national and international business tourism destination. “I am confident that the CTICC has the grounding, vision and innovative thinking to continue differentiating itself as one of the world’s leading international convention centres,” said Toefy.
The Central City of Cape Town must, from now onwards, be managed as a permanent events area which offers all the relevant venues, public spaces, entertainment and safety provisions needed to fulfil this purpose.So said Cape Town Partnership CE Andrew Boraine when he addressed the 11th Annual General Meeting of the Cape Town Partnership at the Townhouse Hotel. A key need, going forward, Boraine said, is for Cape Town to gear itself to be “on a permanent standing” for the full range of events, in terms of providing the venues, public art, built and natural heritage, walking and cycling routes. Additionally, public transport, varied accommodation, retailing and trading, as well as outdoor advertising and the “dressing” of the City must be permanently geared to such events.
8 CityViews
Dec 2010/Jan 2011
ng a Feeli nfused sn co littlepublic traand n t abou options iCity? t e r po und th n aro Here’s a te … upda
A MOBILE CITY
MyCiTi airport shuttle “clean, neat and quick”
Which MyCiTi bus can I catch now?
The MyCiTi Airport Shuttle Bus is the only service currently running, although more routes are expected soon (see below). The shuttle runs between the Civic Centre Station in the Central Business District and the bus station at Cape Town International Airport. The bus departs every 20 minutes from both destinations, and tickets are on sale at both stations. There are several ticket options. An adult one-way adult ticket costs R50; tickets for children aged four to 11 cost R25, and children under four travel free. The cost is R40 per ticket when books of 20 or more tickets are bought (tickets valid for three months) and a clipcard costing R400 is valid for an unlimited number of trips in one calendar month. This clipcard is not transferable. n For more information on fares and schedules, phone the Transport Information Centre on 0800 656463. For more information on MyCiTi, log on to www.capetown.gov.za/myciti.
What is coming next?
n Ma apma midsh Navy
“For busin it’s g essp reat, eople beca to fe tch y use n ou a flying o on t e has t he air to Oli ver T port. Gaut ham I’ rain a m now bo, th nd th en ta e Ga me f king utrain eel v the bus ery in Paul mak terna Spen e cer, Jo s t iona hann l.” esbu rg ar chite ct
“The le vel of servic e is exc ellent, up to Eu ropean Whene s ta ndards. ver I go to the a What a irport, I pity tha use it. t many more p don’t ta eople k e the bus Karsten .” Folck, st aff mem ber in a hospita lity com pany
The interim inner-city service
This service will go to the Waterfront, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town International Convention Centre, the Cape Town train station, and Long and Loop Streets up to the Gardens Centre. A service will also run in the opposite direction. The cost will be R5 per trip, but discounted tickets for regular users will be available for this service, as for the airport. Log on to
www.capetown.gov.za/myciti for more information
Why an IRT?
Public transport in Cape Town, as in other cities in South Africa, is widely regarded as inadequate. Furthermore, there is a high and rising level of congestion on our roads, and a limit on the ability to provide increased road space for private cars. These factors, along with increasing environmental concerns and economic factors, show that the City needs a significant intervention. The MyCiTi system is being rolled out in accordance with national policy, with full backing and financial support from national government.
tic – “It’s fantas ses e of the bu m ds in m re ’t use any on w I . as overse e airport ort from th other transp .” from now on architect tuliiba, junior Nyakwezi Ka
neat lean, hole “It’s c he w t If . k this, ic u q li is ke and s.” rvice e s c s uc es i bu uge s MyCiT be a h er g o a t n e a r m it’s su ntracts on, co Wats Frank
real “It’s cool, and really I’m . ey value for mon It gives e. ic rv se e th happy about ey than on value for m much better ” n. tio op rt other transpo na, tax advisor Leevas Moya
MyCiTi airport shuttle
Photos: Anita van Zyl & supplied
ice is ’s serv here “The and t plain table r m o o f n oc com retur t all t n my o ing a it s h t u d o n en he b omm use t d rec t. I’ll y, an a abou d .” n s n Su riend trip o my f atiba to all vis M
An interim inner-city service (below) is expected to begin next. There will also be a service up the West Coast to Table View, which will be launched in 2011. Later in the year there will be a new, permanent inner-city service, which will include a link to the Atlantic Seaboard suburbs and Hout Bay. These are the first steps of Phase 1A, which will then be extended to Du Noon, Montague Gardens, Century City, Atlantis and Melkbosstrand.
The second phase is planned to connect the southeast parts of the City, including Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, to destinations across the City. This phase will also include the Southern Suburbs. The third phase will include Bellville, Delft and the rest of the Northern Suburbs, and the fourth phase the Helderberg area. It is expected to take 15-20 years to roll out the entire service.
CityViews 9
Dec 2010/Jan 2011
A KNOWLEDGE CITY
FOCUS ON
Cape Town entrepreneurs pioneer
WIND-POWER PROJECTS
In an achievement which demonstrates that creativity and design are not just about gorgeous chairs and cushions, a Central City duo are making waves in the crucial area of energy.
MY CAPE TOWN: METHULI MBANJWA G7’s project manager, Methuli Mbanjwa tells us what he loves about the Central City:
MM
Kilian Hagemann
T
he two ambitious young entrepreneurs are preparing to build a series of wind-energy projects across South Africa, at sites identified in the country’s latest and most accurate “wind atlas”. Their company, G7 Renewable Energies, operates from offices at the Bandwidth Barn, the trendy business hub in the Central City. The wind atlas used to identify key sites was the PhD project of scientist and entrepreneur Killian Hagemann, who was approached by G7 founder Nicolas Rolland, a businessman and environmentalist, to join his company. “There’s nothing better than working with something you’re passionate about. And the opportunities in wind power - not to mention the advantages of it - are enormous,” says Rolland. Hagemann’s PhD thesis concluded there is enough wind in South Africa to provide an unexpected 35% of South Africa’s electricity. His calculations, done in 2008, were based on electricity demand in 2007. “The wind resource is vast in South Africa,” says Hagemann. “Supply is not a limiting factor – there is a percentage you can rely on no matter what the weather conditions.” G7 has five new generation wind-power plant projects in the pipeline that would
Nicolas Rolland
make a major contribution to South Africa’s growing renewable energy industry. The sites are near Lamberts Bay; near Klawer; in the Richtersveld south of Alexander Bay; near Witberg; and in the Roggersveld between Matjiesfontein and Sutherland. These projects, each producing up to 50MW of power, would precede several larger projects G7 envisions, producing up to 750MW of power each. There are only two existing wind farms in South Africa. One is Eskom’s experimental project at Klipheuwel, which produces 3.2MW of power. The other is the project at Darling, which has four 1.3MW turbines. However, the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) estimates that 20% of the country’s total electricity could be produced by wind, in just 15 years’ time. “Wind power offers so many opportunities and advantages that South Africa cannot afford not to utilise it,” says Rolland. “Once a turbine is built, the energy it produces is clean, and it is inexhaustible in sites where the wind blows optimally. There are so many positives that even though there’s a sea of admin to plough through, we cannot afford to take our minds off our goal.” n For more information, go to www.g7ener-
gies.com <http://www.g7energies.com>
MM
MM
“There’s nothing better than working with something you’re passionate about."
“Once a turbine is built, the energy it produces is clean, and it is inexhaustible in sites where the wind blows optimally."
MM
MM
Where is your favourite lunch spot in the Central City? I love Rotisserie 360 on Bree Street. I usually have the best free-range chicken with vegetables/salad. What is your favourite coffee spot in the Central City? Jardine on the corner of Bree and Bloem Streets. What’s fun to do after work in the Central City? I work hard and normally go home after work, but there are some great hangout spots in the area. What is your favourite drinking/ music spot in the Central City? Our offices are close to Long Street, which offers a plethora of hip and happening spots for drinks and live music. One of my favourites is Long Street Cafe; it’s been around for ages and has a laid back vibe which I enjoy. Can Cape Town become the World Design Capital in 2014 – and what do we need to win the title? Cape Town is the entrepreneurial hub of the country and it needs to focus on strengthening and reselling its diversity profile. That way the City will always offer what is uniquely African, South African, and lastly but not least - Capetonian, while still being a world-class destination for leisure and business.
10 CityViews
Dec 2010/Jan 2011
A Crafty
Success Story D
espite all the recent global economic wobblies, the creativity of the Cape’s craft sector has come out on top. The Cape Craft and Design Institute (CCDI), one of provincial government’s most successful Sector Development Agencies, fa-
Cape Provincial Government and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. CCDI chair Reuben Kadalie said the CCDI’s key objectives have been to consolidate and grow. “Craft has been identified as a key priority sector to drive industry development and trade promotion
A beautifully styled CCDI stand displaying craft items
cilitated over R2.7-million in sales and orders for over 460 producers during the 2009/10 financial year (April 2009 to March 2010). These sales, up 60% on the previous financial year, came from producers taking part in CCDI stands on consumer and trade shows, and direct orders received by its order facilitation service. The number of craft producers and enterprises registered on the CCDI database has nearly doubled this year to around 1900, compared to only 63 when the CCDI was set up in 2001 by the Western
in the Western Cape. The CCDI has partnered seamlessly with national, provincial and local government to develop the craft sector into a competitive, world- class innovation and manufacturing sector,” Kadalie said. CCDI executive director Erika Elk said funders contributed over R11-million in 2009/10, leading to greater financial stability and easier planning despite the tough economic climate.The main funders are the Department of Trade and Industry, and the province’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism, as well as bodies such as the City
of Cape Town, the Kellogg Foundation and MAPPP-Seta. “In a recession where trade slows down, we have had two priorities,” said Elk. “The first was maximising market access opportunities, and this seems to have paid off in the increase in sales.
Erica Elk
“The second was to use the opportunity to try and encourage producers to look critically at the what, why and how of their businesses. To this end our training offering increased, both in business administration, and through creativity and innovation programmes.” At least 143 training or workshop opportunitieswereofferedin2009/ 10 (many of these comprised several sessions), attended by nearly 2000 participants. This is a 411% increase in activities on the previous year, and a 351% increase in attendance figures. CCDI activities extend
The Cape Craft and Design Institute has doubled enterprises on its database, facilitated direct trade of R2.7-million for producers and launched into the export market during a dynamic 2009/10 financial year. beyond the metropole to support rural enterprises in the Karoo, Eden, Overberg, Winelands and West Coast districts. Challenges include the vastness of some rural areas, great distances between towns and fundamental differences between each region, said Elk. Nonetheless, the CCDI held 15 creativity and design workshops in the rural areas during the second, third and fourth quarters, attended by 157 craft producers. During the same period, 16 information workshops on the soccer mega-festival were held in rural areas for 290 craft producers, bringing them up to date on FIFA rules and regulations and outlining the opportunities that the soccer event offered. Some 24 rural craft producers also attended the annual CCDI winter school in Cape Town, while 20 rural craft producers visited Cape Town in February this year on an inspiration workshop that included viewing the best of home-grown design at the iconic Design Indaba Expo. The CCDI has also developed the Handmade Cape brand to promote craft products from the province. “Handmade Cape is a professional brand that reflects our growing confidence in engaging with sophisticated market platforms, buyers and systems,” said Elk. While the CCDI focused on facilitating local market access during its first nine years, more craft and design enterprises are trading globally. The CCDI set up an export readiness programme this year, with a series of workshops dealing with critical
Veldt soft furnishings and accessories
topics such as export regulatory requirements. Fifteen people attended, laying the foundation for a new generation of exporters.
"The CCDI has also developed the Handmade Cape brand to promote craft products from the province." Fourteen Western Cape companies (half of the South African contingent of 28 companies), took part in Ambiente in Germany, one of the largest trade shows in the world. The 14 companies collectively made over 400 contacts with buyers at the show, and notched up R550 000 in sales and orders. “The many achievements this year have been made possible by our staff, who have grown from a small group of pioneers into a multi-disciplinary team of highly skilled, dedicated and efficient individuals,” Elk said.
Selected CCDI-linked craft producers man their stands at a lifestyle show in Cape Town
Photos supplied
Y CITY T F A R C A
CityViews 11
Dec 2010/Jan 2011
A DESIGN CITY World Design Capital 2014
CAN CAPE TOWN DO IT?
Race begins for World Design Capital 2014 The bidding process is now officially open for the designation of World Design Capital 2014, according to the International Council for Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID).
T
he bi-annual award is bestowed by the Icsid to cities dedicated to using design for their social, economic and cultural development. A World Design Capital designation gives a winning city global focus during a year-long programme of design-led events, and Cape Town is bidding for the 2014 opportunity. Previous winners have included Torino, Italy (2008), and Seoul, South Korea (this year’s title-holder) while Helsinki, Finland will be World Design Capital in 2012. With Cape Town’s theme being ‘Live Design. Transform Life’, the City of Cape Town has mandated the Cape Town Partnership to coordinate the City’s bid, and already a vital network of partners from local and provincial government, creative industry organisations and institutions, the media and leaders in local design have come together to lend support for the initiative. Other cities currently in the running for the 2014 title are reportedly Bilbao, Dublin and a number of Chinese cities. Says Lorelle Bell, the Cape Town Partnership’s bid coordinator: “Cape Town may not have Bilbao’s design assets or Dublin’s locale, or for that matter China’s financial resources, but what we do have as a city is a strong story to tell 20 years post-democracy of how design is being used to undo how the City was historically designed to divide people. Icsid is understood to be looking for a city from a developing country.” The theme of the bid will broadly be connection and reconnection and focus on the way Cape Town has been using design to reconnect people through projects such as the IRT, the public spaces programme, the dark fibre network, research and design being conducted at educational institu-
tions, and even how our calendar of major public events draws on the talents of designers, their networks and design programmes to incorporate as wide a citizen base as possible. It will also look at public architecture, as well as art and memorialisation, in terms of their contribution to place-making. The bid allows the City, for example, to leverage the gains made during the 2010 FIFA World Cup which demonstrated the positive impact of people-centred design. Cape Town will also use the bid process to promote City design assets and designers, and use this process to put design and the City’s design-led projects in the public domain, so that people generally can begin to understand the impact design can have on City development, how important designers are, and how critical design education is to the City if we are to create strategicthinkers and innovative design entrepreneurs for the future. Adds Bell: “We have a thriving design community – from our internationally awarded and recognised industrial designers, to our architects and even our animation industry. This is an ideal opportunity for all creative industries to showcase our talent to the world, and achieve important recognition for design among our own communities in terms of educational transformation and development.” The first step in the bidding process is the preparation of a bid book to specific guidelines laid out by the Icsid, and to be submitted by the end of March. Says Bell: “We are therefore calling for all those involved in design, in whatever way, to look at submitting their projects and programmes for consideration for the bid book. We are also asking all those in the creative industries to lend support to the bid by displaying the ‘I support World Design Capital 2014’ logo on their own property – from websites and blogs to promotional material.” For more information on World Design Capital 2014, please visit www.capetown2014.co.za or call 021 419 1881.
Andrew Putter
I’m Andrew Putter and I support Cape Town for World Design Capital 2014 Andrew Putter is a Cape Town based artist, designer and teacher. He was co-originator of the MCQP with Andre Vorster, a founder member of Public Eye, and a co-writer of the South African national secondary school design curriculum. He was winner of the Spier Contemporary Award in 2007, and a National Teacher Award in 2004. He says, “I have never lived more than a half an hour’s walk from where I was born, a few kilometers away from the centre of the city. I love the smell of curry-bush on a south easter wind, the salty sound of a foghorn when the sky goes black, and the view of the Hottentots Holland from Devil’s Peak.” CV How can design help Cape Town become a better city for all?
By working across disciplines (imagine what a chef, a b-girl, a chemist and landscape gardener might make together?); by assembling collaborative, intergenerational design-gangs who use their neighbourhoods as spaces for small-scale, temporary, collective expression; and by focusing on the experimental, the processual, and the imaginary. GB
I’m Guto Bussab and I support Cape Town for World Design Capital 2014 Guto Bussab is the founder and owner of Muti, a parent brand for Muti Films (film production), Muti Photography (commercial photography) and TheMutiGallery (contemporary art gallery). A Brazilian by birth, he lives and works in Cape Town. How can design help Cape Town become a better city for all? CV
GB Design can help by making positive changes to our public and personal experiences.
People engage and change their behaviour only when they are moved by a new idea. To me, design that has meaning beyond overcoming a practical problem is great design the type that carries such a powerful message that it changes one’s perceptions and attitudes. Cape Town can be better not only by improving its physical infrastructures, but also by changing those wellentrenched social patterns that plague the developing world. What examples of design make Cape Town a better city? CV
I am interested in designers that achieve innovation through a simple, cheap and environmentally friendly approach. GB
I think the “Nested Bed Bunk” by Tsai Design Studio is a
perfect example of a great idea that was met with a great execution. It’s not just only a practical solution for overcrowded dwellings in poor areas, but it uses materials in a sustainable way. I am also a big supporter of public art as I believe that thought generates debate, and debate can lead to positive behaviour changes. With public art the City not only benefits from the tourism trade point of view, but also helps to consolidate our social identity as a city and country. I particularly like the work of Porky Hefer, who took the task on himself to poetically address environmental issues. With his “Wood Fire Extinguisher” he made the experience of hiking in our mountains more meaningful. Extinguishers made of reclaimed exotic tree wood educates us to the fact that exotic trees fuel velt fires to uncontrollable levels. With his work “Coke Man”, a sculpture made of soft drink crates, Hefer created a piece of public art that has no wastage in its production at all. Once disassembled, the material used in the artwork returns to the suppliers as it came, unchanged. So, in the end, the only by-product of this artwork is the thought that it provoked.
CV What examples of design make Cape Town a better city? GB Peet Pienaar’s work at the President; the clothing of David West, and Richard de Jager; Superette, the restaurant in Woodstock; the theatre of Brett Bailey…
Woodstock; the theatre
of Brett Bailey
12 CityViews
Dec 2010/Jan 2011
Y TIME CIT T H G I N A
Notes from a
e d i s d l i W y d e Com
A
uthor Jilly Cooper once said: "Never drink black coffee at lunch; it will keep you awake all afternoon." She must have anticipated the now thriving comedy industry in Cape Town, which demands plenty of rest during the day and insists on late nights filled with hilarity. Being a comedian myself, I have grown to love the Mother City’s comedy scene, which is often unfairly compared to its more established, big brother, Johannesburg. Cape Town’s circuit, while smaller, offers little enclaves of hilarity, the two most popular situated in Long Street at Zula Bar and The Purple Turtle (Zula Sound Bar, 149 Long Street and The Purple Turtle, Corner of Long Street and Shortmarket Street). I am often joined on my comedy game drives in the City by my somewhat comically-challenged friend, Jenny, who has started to show a keen interest in what I do, which she refers to as "chatting on stage". After some persuasion, mostly involving begging and a sushi dinner she convinced me to escort her to the regular Tuesday night Funny Bones comedy gig at The Purple Turtle. After reassuring her that the venue had nothing to do with strange aquatic life, we entered, passing two burly bouncers and a friendly
young lady who insisted we give her R40 each (I assume that was the cover charge and that she wasn’t a kind thief) and we were seated at our table in the front row. This venue is legendary in Cape Town and has recently been given a face-lift to restore its previous flamboyant image. Jenny made some reference to the smoke-filled room, the smell of stale beer and the sound of slot machines in the background but I assured her that it was all part of the experience and that stand-up comedy thrives in this kind of atmosphere. She ordered a shot of cheap tequila and suddenly seemed more relaxed. The line-up on the Tuesday we visited the Turtle was hosted by the energetic Cockney, Martin Davis, who had the audience in the palm of his hand (not literally of course, the audience wasn’t that small). There were also two open-mic acts, newcomers to the comedy scene. I explained to Jenny that because they were starting out, the open mic volunteers often “die” onstage. She grew increasingly worried as we watched and when one of them let out a cough during his routine, Jenny leapt to her feet. I realised she had thought that the comic might actually die, as in "pass on" so I grabbed her arm and ordered her another shot of tequila. There were
still four other acts on the bill with a short interval in-between. The headliner for the evening was the versatile and remarkable Rob van Vuuren (also known as Twakkie from The Most Amazing Show) and he slayed the audience. Jenny asked me why a lot of stand-up terminology is so violent. I ordered her to be quiet because I’m missing the punch lines. The audience was in hysterics. The gig (Jenny made some reference to a computer and I irritably explained that gig means show and bought her yet another shot of tequila) was a huge success. The venue, albeit slightly alternative, is the perfect setting for comedy; intimate, fairly priced and relaxed. Because of all the tequila, Jenny can’t remember the night but insists her stomach muscles are more contoured from laughing. Funny Bones runs every Tuesday night at The Purple Turtle, corner of Long Street and Short Market Street. Doors open 8pm. Gig starts 9pm. R40. Line-ups vary. Book @ 021 424 0811
won the TV comedy talent search, “So You Think You’re Funny - Season Two”. She featured in the all-women comedy show Cracks And The City at On Broadway in LongStreet in November.
Anne Hirsch
n Anne Hirsch is an
accomplished comedianwho lives in Cape Town. She was voted the country’s funniest comic when she
FOCUS ON
MY CAPE TOWN: RASHID LOMBARD history of live music and live music performances. Unlike any other city in SA, Cape Town has the most music schools - formal and informal - and music taught and performed in most churches. Many of our established musicians come from these institutions. What do you love about Cape Town?
The mountain, the sea, open green spaces and its people. Cape Town is a highly creative city with events large and small taking place on a regular basis. RL
What is your latest project in your work in the City?
Our biggest project is the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF), now in its 11th year. This takes planning from year-to-year. Also smaller year-end corporate parties. Outside of Cape Town the music projects are based in Port Elizabeth, Angola, Botswana and Mozambique. RL
Is the City of Cape Town a musical City? RL
Yes, Cape Town has a
What irritates you about Cape Town City?
It’s not integrated enough. We need to see more young people of colour living in the City. RL
What are your favourite design features of Cape Town? RL The design features/art work currently in open
spaces and squares around the CBD. Which areas of design in the City could be improved upon? RL The Good Hope Centre was the first home of the CTIJF from 2000 to 2003 and occupied every space in the precinct. I then worked with an architect and town planner to create a cultural precinct around urban renewal . The GHC is located on the historical corridor below District Six. It is one of the gateway points into the City. Studies from around the world show the value of cultural hearts (precincts) in cities for urban regeneration, job creation, increased tourism (tourism hub), increased cultural business, commercial events and greater social development possibilities. Cape Town is a creative and vibrant city (among one of the five top creative cities) yet its shortage of facilities, infrastructure and
networks limits it in making it truly effective as a vibrant city. The structural redevelopment of the GHC has private sector investment support and is intended as a private-public partneship. My proposal has been with the City of Cape Town since 2004. Do you think Cape Town could be World Design Capital 2014? RL Yes. The CBD is the home to many large and small established creative industry enterprises such as design practices, advertising agencies, architectural firms, jewellery design etc. The design of the CTIJF music programme is such that it brings people together nationally, the continent and the rest of the world.
music on every corner. But nothing like Cape Town. What’s missing for you in Cape Town? RL A key challenge is to program our City so that we are always a destination for great events over a more sustained period of time and a Jazz Club in the true sense like The Blue Note or Village Vanguard in New York.
Where do you go, in the City, for a decent cup of coffee?
At my office in Loop Street made by Hadjiera Jabaar. The best in town. RL
Your favourite eating spot in the Central City? RL
New York for its jazz clubs and photographic hub of the world. Dakar in Senegal which has RL
At the V&A Waterfront.
What are your shopping vices? RL
What building would you happily demolish in the CBD? RL The incomplete freeway.
If you could pass any law in the City, what would you do? RL Make the CBD a carfree zone.
What is the trait you like most about Capetonians? RL They are friendly and courteous people.
Zorina’s in Loop Street.
Where do you prefer to shop in Cape Town? RL
What are your favourite cities abroad and what have you learnt from them?
Monthly subscriptions of music magazines like Downbeat (USA), Jazzwise (UK) etc. The Man Who Moved the World – The Life & Work of Mohamed Amin by Bob Smith and Salim Amin. RL
Magazines and music.
What are you reading at the moment?
If you could choose to live anywhere else in the world where would it be? RL The Island N’gor, off the coast of Senegal.
If you had one piece of advice for tourists to Cape Town, what would that be? RL Meet and hang out with the locals.