Latest news with #Quintas
The South African
12-07-2025
- Climate
- The South African
City of Cape Town carries out repairs on potholes
Officials from the City of Cape Town have undertaken temporary pothole repairs in Gugulethu, Manenberg and Newlands, as wet conditions persist. 'During winter, and as a result of heavy and ongoing rains, water seeps into cracks on the road surface. These cracks widen, and turn into potholes that damage tyres and cause accidents. 'Permanent pothole repairs require dry, warm conditions, thus during the wet months, we have to do cold mix asphalt repairs. 'In summer, we will return to monitor the performance of the cold mix and do permanent repairs with hot mix asphalts, where needed,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas. Quintas joined the city's Roads Infrastructure Management team this week as they embarked on temporary pothole repairs. Excessive mountain run-off has also led to flooding in some areas. In Gugulethu and Manenberg, the city found that illegal dumping of household items into stormwater drains increased the severity of flooding, as the drains were blocked. 'Another issue is illegal outlets or the dumping of greywater which contains chemicals that damage road surfaces and causes potholes. This greywater contains detergents and comes from baths, clothes, dishes and car washing. 'Our teams are working hard to clear blocked drains and keep roads safe this winter, but we need your help. 'Please dispose of greywater properly through the sewer system so it can be treated and re-used, and keep it off our road surfaces. Together, we can reduce winter flooding and prevent the forming of new potholes,' said Quintas. Residents are encouraged to report incidents of flooding and related issues to the city's call centre at 0860 103 089, via the City App, or alternatively via email on Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
02-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
City of Cape Town secures interim interdict to combat construction extortion in Philippi
The Western Cape High Court granted the order on Tuesday. Image: File The City of Cape Town has welcomed the decision by the Western Cape High Court to reinstate an interim interdict against extortionists and others who, it claims, are hell-bent on derailing its MyCiTi construction project along Govan Mbeki Road in Philippi. The interdict is effective until April 21, 2026, when the matter will be argued before the court. Any person threatening officials and contractors at the site or attempting to disrupt or delay the work will be arrested. The City obtained an interim order against the extortionists on June 3, 2025, after City officials and the contractor's staff received death threats and were verbally intimidated. Mayoral committee member for urban mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas, said the order was reinstituted after the respondents, among which were the Philippi Business Forum and Crossroads Business Forum, failed to present their answering affidavits to the Western Cape High Court on why the order should not be made permanent. 'I welcome this decision, and am relieved that the officials and contractor can continue their work at this site. The City will not give in to attempts by any individual or group to extort business and work opportunities, or to hijack our projects. There are lawful and transparent processes available to local businesses and residents from the affected wards to apply for the available opportunities that form part of this construction project,' Quintas said. He said those involved in the intimidation, death threats, and other disruptive tactics are well aware of the processes as they have been briefed at numerous public information days and during other engagements. 'There is only one way to benefit from the available opportunities at any City project – and that is by following the legal and transparent route. This route ensures equal access to all. We will not deviate from it. I have only one message to these business forums and other individuals who are known to us: We will not tolerate criminality and extortion, neither will we bend over backwards to accommodate those who do,' Quintas said. He said over the past weeks, self-proclaimed 'activists' within and other affiliated entities have engaged in intimidation, threats, and blatant misinformation campaigns in their efforts to dictate how and to whom employment opportunities are awarded. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'Their actions hold serious consequences and pose real threats to public safety and the delivery of essential services,' Quintas said. 'For clarity: All opportunities are allocated according to a rigorous and transparent process, which ensures equal access for all qualifying businesses and job seekers in the project footprint. Attempts to bypass or distort this process are not only unfair to others in the community, but also unlawful,' Quintas reiterated. He also reminded the broader community that: The interdict does not prevent anyone from participating in the project. It only stops those who are trying to hijack it through threats, violence and sabotage The City continues to encourage all eligible businesses to submit their profiles via the clearly marked boxes at the Subcouncil Offices. Those who choose to follow the process fairly will find the City ready and willing to support their participation. 'I call on the public and the media to remain vigilant against misinformation and disinformation. False claims designed to stoke division and derail progress do not serve the interests of the communities who will benefit from the roll-out of the MyCiTi bus service to these areas. Residents are encouraged to contact the City for more information about how to participate and get regular updates on the project,' Quintas said. IOL
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The South African
26-06-2025
- Climate
- The South African
Flooding in low-lying areas in Cape Town [video]
The City of Cape Town's Urban Mobility Directorate is currently monitoring the temporary flooding caused by the recent heavy rains. According to the City, heavy rainfall has resulted in flooding of low-lying areas, with some canals, vleis and retention ponds already filling to capacity. The storm, which made landfall in Cape Town yesterday, 25 June, is expected to persist until Sunday, 29 June, with maximum temperatures plunging below 10 degrees Celsius in certain high-lying areas and the possibility of snowfall and strong winds. Read the full version of the ' Heavy rainfall causes flooding of Cape Town's low-lying areas' article. 'The sheer volume of ongoing rainfall is causing vleis, rivers and canals to reach capacity. This causes water to back up in the stormwater system and onto our roads which then act as water conduits. Low-lying areas, areas below steep mountainous terrain and areas near canals and other water bodies will experience localised flooding whilst rainfall remains heavy,' the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas said. 'Downpours are expected to continue throughout the day and assessments on the ground are ongoing, as reports come in.' Quintas added. Looking for quick updates? Watch News in a Minute videos on The South African's YouTube page for all the key stories you need to know! Catch all the latest videos on news, lifestyle, travel, sports and more – there's always something to watch! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky to stay connected and get your news on the go!
The South African
26-06-2025
- Climate
- The South African
Heavy rainfall causes flooding of Cape Town's low-lying areas
The City of Cape Town's Urban Mobility Directorate is currently monitoring the temporary flooding caused by the recent heavy rains. According to the City, heavy rainfall has resulted in flooding of low-lying areas, with some canals, vleis and retention ponds already filling to capacity. The storm, which made landfall in Cape Town yesterday, 25 June, is expected to persist until Sunday, 29 June, with maximum temperatures plunging below 10 degrees Celsius in certain high-lying areas and the possibility of snowfall and strong winds. Clean up is underway in Tableview. Image: City of Cape Town 'The sheer volume of ongoing rainfall is causing vleis, rivers and canals to reach capacity. This causes water to back up in the stormwater system and onto our roads which then act as water conduits. Low-lying areas, areas below steep mountainous terrain and areas near canals and other water bodies will experience localised flooding whilst rainfall remains heavy,' the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas said. Motorists have been advised to proceed with caution. Image: City of Cape Town. 'Downpours are expected to continue throughout the day and assessments on the ground are ongoing, as reports come in.' Quintas added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
11-06-2025
- The South African
Cape Town's coolest street is now a cyclist's dream
Bree Street in Cape Town is known for its restaurants, boutiques, and urban buzz. Thanks to a recent upgrade to its existing cycling lane, the street now stands as a shining example of the City's vision for urban mobility. The City of Cape Town, in collaboration with local advocacy group Young Urbanists and the Central City Improvement District (CCID), has begun a pilot project to enhance cycling infrastructure along the busy route. While Bree Street already featured a designated cycle lane, the latest upgrade introduces protective elements like tactical bollards and kerbs, significantly improving safety and usability for cyclists. 'I have seen exciting progress being made with the upgrade of the Bree Street cycle lane between Shortmarket Street and Hans Strijdom Avenue,' said the City's Mayco Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas. 'These upgrades will definitely make the cycle lane along the much-loved and bustling Bree Street safer to use.' Tactical bollards and kerbs have been introduced to make the cycle lane safer. Image: CoCT The initiative is part of a broader vision by Young Urbanists to create a 'Safe Passage' – a connected, cyclist- and pedestrian-friendly network linking surrounding neighbourhoods to the city centre. The project is funded by Supplier Development Initiatives (SDI) and supported by various City Urban Mobility teams. 'Together the City, Young Urbanists and the CCID have made this progress possible,' Quintas added. 'This initiative is another way we are keeping Cape Town moving.' In related news, one of Cape Town's most scenic and photo-friendly routes has officially reopened to the public. Tafelberg Road – that winds along the foot of Table Mountain – leads to the iconic aerial cableway as well as to the starting points of several popular hiking trails. It has long been a favourite for tourists, photographers and Instagrammers seeking jaw-dropping and unparalleled views of the city. Now, thanks to extensive upgrades by the City of Cape Town, the route is not only more picturesque but also safer and more accessible. Read more on that story here. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
