Brackengate Business Park

City builds new electricity switching station

The City Energy Directorate’s new R145 million electricity switching station in Morgen Gronde, Brackenfell is making steady progress towards completion. The new 132kV switching station enables the currently constrained networks in the surrounding Bellville and Oakdale areas to be upgraded. It is expected to be completed and operational by December 2023.

The Morgen Gronde electricity switching station in the Brackengate Business Park is a 132kV station and is built in proximity to the Eskom electricity substation in the area. This R145 million switching station will enable much needed upgrades to the currently constrained networks in the surrounding areas of Bellville and Oakdale. It will assist in enabling reliable supply to residents, businesses and a number of large power users in Brackenfell. The construction on site started in early 2021.

In a recent announcement, the stroke care unit achieved the esteemed gold status in this year’s World Stroke Organisation (WSO) Angels Awards and became the first healthcare facility in the Western Cape to receive this distinguished recognition. The gold status was conferred to the Hospital due to its active participation in the Angels Initiative, an initiative established by the WSO with a focus on enhancing stroke care and treatment for patients within the province. The Angels Initiative bestowed this honour upon Karl Bremer’s stroke unit for its outstanding performance, which includes providing valuable data to facilitate future research and identifying areas for improvement in the treatment of stroke patients.

Dr. De Vries Basson, Head of Internal Medicine at Karl Bremer, expressed the hospital’s motivation for joining the program, emphasizing their commitment to empowering staff members and delivering high-quality stroke care. Dr. Basson highlighted the primary objective of the Angels Initiative, which aims to assist hospitals in becoming “stroke ready” and providing improved stroke care to all individuals who seek treatment.

As Karl Bremer Hospital’s stroke unit continues to raise the bar in stroke care, their achievements serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for the healthcare community, reinforcing the importance of collaborative efforts to enhance stroke treatment and ultimately save lives.

This is an example of the City’s commitment to providing reliable and adequate electricity supply and investing in the electricity needs of a growing metro. The City will continue to invest in its critical electricity infrastructure that will provide reliable supply and services to residents and businesses across the metro.

| Tygerberg at forefront of surgical training

The future of advanced surgical operations undoubtedly lies in technology, and increasingly in using robotics for complicated surgical procedures. Therefore, it was a big moment for the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FMHS) when, in February 2022, the first operation using the newly acquired da Vinci Xi robot was performed at Tygerberg Hospital. Since then, dozens more operations have been successfully completed using this highly sophisticated system.

The da Vinci Xi is the most advanced surgical robot in Africa and one of only a few such robots in use on the African continent. It allows surgeons to operate remotely, using four dexterous “arms”, and is controlled in real time via an immersive 3D console. Tygerberg’s acquisition of the da Vinci Xi robot means that public sector patients have access to the best surgical technology available anywhere in the world.

In tandem with acquiring the robot, the FMHS developed a robotics training programme, with the aim of upskilling hospital surgeons and senior trainees in the use of modern surgical systems across multiple disciplines.

Walking into Henri’s, you’ll be greeted by the owner, Pierre and his staff, who will treat you like guests in our own home. Henri’s combines an inspired menu with a casually sophisticated setting in a heritage house conveniently situated on Somerset West Main Road.

We also welcome larger groups, our top floor has been renovated and can be used for private functions. Our inviting, comfortable dining room is the perfect place to enjoy a great meal.

Our menu can be described as comfort food with a modern global influence. We are well known for our aged grass-fed beef as well as the freshest local seafood. Alongside our à la carte menu, we offer a light lunch menu during the day and also have a kiddies menu. We also serve homemade, thin based pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven.

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Training relating to the robot consists of three phases: firstly, developing basic coordination and skills; then in-service training on how to use the robot; and lastly hands-on surgical training.

Dr Tim Forgan, colorectal surgeon at Tygerberg Hospital and a lecturer at the FMHS, said the availability of the robot offers a valuable opportunity to show how a state hospital can function at a very high level. The system is being used across multiple platforms – in general surgery, urology, and gynaecology – offering wideranging procedures.

Red Tape Reduction unit saves Western Cape economy R1.85 billion

Between May 2019 and September 2022, the Western Cape Government’s red tape reduction and ease of doing business interventions resulted in a saving of R1.85 billion to the Western Cape economy.

The interventions, implemented by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s Red Tape Reduction Unit (RTRU), and assessed by an internal analysis, realised the whopping R1.85 billion savings over the last three and a half years. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey data showed 62 000 new jobs were created in the Western Cape during the first quarter of 2023.

In addition to the financial savings achieved, the Red Tape Reduction Case Management System recorded a total of 519 cases in the 2022/2023 financial year, with a resolution rate of 93%.

The RTRU approaches reducing red tape, thereby making it easier to do business and create jobs by: Ensuring an effective and efficient Business e-Helpmail Support service to receive requests from the citizens and businesses for assistance; Proactively identifying legislation and regulatory processes that represent barriers to business, or the efficient delivery of services; Promoting a culture of making it easier to do business; and Designing interventions based on trend analysis reporting via the Business Helpline Support service to address systemic issues that need change.