Councillor Peter Helfrich

02/02/2025

𝐀 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞

Good Morning All,

This morning, I would like to express my gratitude for a very successful week, during which our community was able to achieve so much in just one week. Some of these accomplishments are the result of countless hours of hard work over many years, and I am deeply thankful for the strength and ability I’ve been given to work towards these goals on behalf of our community.

This week, we were finally able to secure state-of-the-art software to update the traffic lights on Macassar Road, which will improve traffic flow during peak hours for our residents. We also received a significant injection of services into our ward to address illegal dumping, including the removal of hundreds of carcasses that had been discarded. We made substantial progress on the upgrades of some of our flats. We initiated the program to construct structures and bays for our informal traders - this will be implemented soon. Additionally, one of our residents acted swiftly and effectively to prevent criminals from causing a major disruption to our power supply by reporting it immediately. Finally, one of the largest city projects our ward has ever seen was brought to us - the upgrade of the Macassar Waste Water Treatment Works. This multi-billion-rand project will not only inject much-needed opportunities into our ward, but it will also address any unpleasant odours that may be emanating from the plant.

I am also very proud of our Development and Education Forums for the achievement they accomplished. They recently met with the Education Department to address the need for additional teachers at some of our schools. Together with the Education Department, they successfully secured the placement of additional teachers. This is a clear testament that the councillor does not need to be involved in every single project. I am often asked to be in many places at once and will not always be available everywhere, but this shows that our residents and leaders in the ward are more than capable of making progress, even when I am not directly involved. I want you to know that I am so proud of you for this achievement. Well done!

It’s important for me to always mention that there will always be a handful of individuals who are bitter and seek to break down any progress being made in our ward for misguided reasons. Do not be discouraged by them. Please know that the vast majority of our residents want to see our ward move forward. We won’t always be perfect, and there will be times when mistakes are made, but don’t let anyone discourage you. Continue to do good, no matter how difficult it may become at times - remember, we are also doing this for our children and their children.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JjkLgEpOhLqEvub8nTNLJ4

31/01/2025

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬' 𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 109

Dear residents,

This morning, I was contacted by concerned residents and community leaders who alerted me to suspicious activity involving two individuals digging near the location of the main Eskom cables that supply our ward with power. This is the same area where, in the past, criminals vandalised and stole cables, leaving our ward without power for days and causing significant disruptions.

In response to this urgent concern, I immediately contacted our City of Cape Town Metal Theft Unit. Within minutes, they arrived, and together we found two suspects hiding in one of our stormwater drains. We acted quickly and apprehended them before they could get away. While we did not find any cables on them, we do believe that we managed to prevent another major power crisis for our ward.

I want to take a moment to thank the residents who were vigilant and reported this suspicious activity. Your quick action has helped us stop a potential disaster and protect our community. I urge all other residents to remain equally vigilant. We are already facing enough challenges with Eskom power disruptions due to aging infrastructure. We cannot afford to suffer further setbacks caused by vandalism and cable theft. If you notice any suspicious activity, please don’t hesitate to call us on 021 480 7700. Your identity will be kept anonymous.

To those who think they can get away with vandalising our infrastructure and leaving our community without power, let me be clear: you will not escape justice. Just like your predecessors, I will not rest until you are held accountable and face jail time for your actions.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JjkLgEpOhLqEvub8nTNLJ4

30/01/2025

❌ The DA rejects NERSA’s decision to approve Eskom’s 12.7% electricity increase on top of the 4% already added for 2025. This means higher costs for struggling households that are already grappling with the cost-of-living crisis.

South Africans should not be forced to pay for Eskom’s financial mismanagement failures! We reject this unjustified increase and will continue fighting for affordable electricity for South Africans.

Read more:

The Democratic Alliance (DA) firmly rejects the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (NERSA) approval of electricity tariff increases, including a staggering 12.7% for the 2025/26 financial year, followed by further hikes of 5.36% for 2026/27 and 6.19% for 2027/28.

29/01/2025

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 109: 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐧

Dear Residents,

It is with great excitement and pride that I announce a major development for our community. The much-needed Informal Traders Structures and Bays will soon be erected at the entrance of Shoprite in Macassar, a project that will bring about meaningful change for both our informal traders and the entire community.

For a long time, our residents have been calling for a dedicated space for informal traders to work with dignity, and we have listened. I have worked tirelessly, alongside the informal traders' leadership, to engage with the City of Cape Town to make this vision a reality. Together, we have managed to overcome many hurdles to get to this point, and we are now on the brink of providing a safer, more organised environment for our local traders. This project will unlock new economic opportunities, create a sense of pride and dignity for our traders, and improve the overall economic landscape for the entire community.

The good news is that we are hopeful for this project to commence in February 2025, and once completed, the structures will provide informal traders with a formalised, safer space to do business. It will also foster an environment where customers feel comfortable and confident in supporting local entrepreneurs. This is not just about the traders – it is about the entire community benefitting from the economic activity, job creation, and the spirit of local enterprise. I truly believe that when our traders thrive, our community thrives.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the City of Cape Town team and the leadership of the informal traders for their commitment, hard work, and collaboration. Together, we’ve made significant strides – and this project is a testament to what can be achieved when we all work together. I also want to thank them for their dedication, which included working at odd hours, over weekends, and even public holidays to make this dream a reality. It’s this kind of commitment that makes change happen.

In the spirit of transparency and inclusion, I would like to invite all residents to an Open Day at the entrance of Shoprite in Macassar on 7th February 2025, from 10:00 to 14:00. During this time, you will have the opportunity to view the structural drawings of the project. This will also be a great opportunity to ask questions, engage in discussions, and better understand how this development will benefit you and our community. Additionally, there will be local employment opportunities created during the construction phase, providing even more chances for our residents to be involved and employed.

As your ward councillor, I am committed to continuing the hard work necessary to bring more opportunities to our community. I want nothing more than to see our residents prosper, and this project is just the beginning. We will continue working with all stakeholders to ensure that Ward 109 remains a thriving, vibrant, and successful place for all who live here.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to address those who prefer to criticise rather than work towards solutions. There are those who call themselves leaders, but who only offer complaints and negativity. I urge you to join me and the rest of our dedicated community in working towards a better future. Together, we can achieve more, and we can move forward faster when we work in unity. Let us put our community first and build the progress we all deserve.

Thank you once again to everyone who has contributed to this success. Your efforts have made this project possible, and I look forward to more positive changes for Ward 109.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JjkLgEpOhLqEvub8nTNLJ4

28/01/2025

𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬: 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬!

Dear Residents,

Many of you have raised concerns with me regarding the foul odour we experience in our ward from time to time. This has caused significant inconvenience for our residents. I understand how disruptive this is because I live in the ward and experience it myself.

As many of you are aware, I have been advocating for the relevant authorities to investigate the source of the foul odour, and extensive investigations have been underway since 2023. While no report has yet identified the Macassar Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) as the source, many residents believe it may be the cause. It’s important to note that this WWTW was commissioned around 1977, and due to rapid urbanisation and sustained population growth in the False Bay region, the plant is experiencing a shortfall in treatment capacity. This upgrade will address the capacity issues and will also resolve operational problems that impact the effluent quality being discharged into the Eerste River.

The upgrade will include state-of-the-art odour control and removal technology, which will help eliminate any unpleasant odours originating from the plant.

This is one of the City of Cape Town’s largest capital projects, a multi-billion rand initiative, and one of the biggest projects we have had in our ward. The project is set to begin in September 2025 and is expected to be completed around February 2030. It will also bring various opportunities, such as local labour participation, and the tender process also includes provisions for the "Participation of Targeted Enterprises" from the project area.

A public participation meeting will be held this week for anyone who has additional questions regarding this project. Please find the meeting details attached.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 𝙗𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBfqTrHgZWZjcsyg705

28/01/2025

𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐔𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬

Dear Residents,

On Friday, community leaders invited me to join them in investigating the site where animal carcasses were being illegally dumped. The very next working day, yesterday (Monday), I am pleased to report that the City of Cape Town responded swiftly, sending a major team to begin removing the carcasses.

I personally visited the site to express my thanks to the team for their quick action and dedication. It’s important to note that throughout the weekend, the team remained engaged, even visiting the site with me during their off-time to ensure that our concerns were taken seriously and promptly addressed.

A special thank you also goes to the leadership who reported this issue to me in the first place. Your vigilance is greatly appreciated.

As we continue working together to protect our community, I urge all residents to remain vigilant. If you have any information about those responsible for the illegal dumping, please report it so that we can ensure full accountability.

Thank you once again for your support and for helping make our community a safer, cleaner place for everyone.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JjkLgEpOhLqEvub8nTNLJ4

27/01/2025

𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 – 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬

Dear Residents,

As many of you are aware, traffic congestion on Macassar Road has been a longstanding issue, particularly during the busy morning hours. Over the past few months, I have been working closely with City officials to address this concern, and I’m excited to inform you that today, our team was on-site to adjust the traffic signal timings. I had the opportunity to join them during this important process.

These adjustments are designed to improve the flow of traffic, and we are hopeful that they will lead to positive changes. I would like to ask residents who pass through Macassar Road tomorrow morning, between 5:30 and 8:30, to let me know if they notice any improvements in the flow of traffic. Your feedback will be crucial in helping us assess the impact of these changes.

Thank you for your ongoing patience and support as we continue to work together to improve our community.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 𝙗𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBfqTrHgZWZjcsyg705

26/01/2025

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐂𝐑𝐔 (𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐬) 𝐔𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬

Dear Residents,

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit several of the City of Cape Town rental units (the Flats) where significant upgrades are currently underway. I am pleased to report that the progress made by our dedicated teams has been exceptional, and I am extremely satisfied with the results so far.

As many of you are aware, I have been advocating for the continuous upgrade of our Flats on an annual basis, in line with the available budget. I remain committed to this goal and will continue to push for the enhancement and beautification of every unit within our community.

These upgrades not only improve the living conditions for our residents but also contribute to local employment opportunities, as many of our fellow community members are directly involved in the work being carried out. I would like to extend my gratitude to all those involved, including both the local residents and the City of Cape Town teams, for their hard work and dedication.

I am proud of the progress we’ve achieved and the impact it’s having on our community.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JjkLgEpOhLqEvub8nTNLJ4

25/01/2025

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

Dear Residents,

Yesterday, I was requested by some of our community leaders to accompany them to a site where multiple animal carcasses have been illegally dumped which could pose a serious environmental and health risks.

I have immediately reported this issue to the relevant teams within the City of Cape Town and have urged them to address it as a matter of urgency.

I call on all residents: if you have any information about those who are responsible for consistently dumping these carcasses, please report it. It is important that those involved face the full consequences of their actions.

Let’s work together to protect the health and well-being of our community.

Thank you for your support.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JjkLgEpOhLqEvub8nTNLJ4

24/01/2025

𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐖𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧: 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲!

Dear Residents,

I took a drive through the ward today and saw many City vehicles, heavy machinery, contractors, and staff on the ground cleaning up illegal dumping hotspots. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every resident who has been logging calls. The work you are seeing happen was initiated by all of you because you took the time to report illegal dumping.

If you know of a spot where illegal dumping has occurred and it has not yet been cleaned, there is a strong likelihood that it has not been logged, and therefore has not been reported to the City. Remember, if you don’t report it, the City does not know about it. I encourage all residents to please log at least one call over the weekend.

To log a call for illegal dumping, simply click on the following link: https://eservices1.capetown.gov.za/coct/wapl/zsreq_app/index.html

Please select the following categories:

Category Level 1: Waste Services (Refuse)
Category Level 2: Dumping, Beaches, and Street Sweeping
Category Level 3: Illegal Dumping

The more people who log calls and report illegal dumping in our ward, the cleaner our ward will become. Let’s keep this momentum going!

Additionally, please take photographic and video evidence of those dumping illegally in our ward so that we can ensure they face the full consequences of the law, and so we can keep our ward clean once all the illegal dumping hotspots have been addressed.

Thank you to everyone for your commitment to cleaning up our ward. I am proud to serve as your ward councillor.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JjkLgEpOhLqEvub8nTNLJ4

23/01/2025

𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐬: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐢𝐝

Dear Residents,

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to join several community leaders in distributing food parcels to the fire victims in the Deep Freeze Informal Settlement. It was incredibly moving to witness the resilience and strength of those affected, as well as the outpouring of support from our community.

I would also like to acknowledge the presence of other NGOs who were on the ground, preparing and serving hot meals to those in need. Their efforts are a testament to the incredible compassion that exists within our community.

A special thank you once again to Rheinmetall Denel Munition for their generous support in providing the food parcels. Their continued sponsorship is invaluable and makes a huge difference to those in need.

To everyone who has donated, volunteered, or extended a helping hand in any way, your kindness is truly inspiring. This collective effort to support our neighbours during such a difficult time showcases the unity and care that define us as a community. Thank you for your generous hearts and continued commitment to rebuilding lives.

Together, we are stronger, and together, we will continue to support those affected by this tragedy.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JjkLgEpOhLqEvub8nTNLJ4

23/01/2025

𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Date: Thursday, 23 January 2025
Time: 08:00

Dear Residents,

Croydon, many of our estates within the ward, Sandvlei, and some of our other areas are still without power this morning. I have been following up with Eskom since our ward lost power yesterday and received the following feedback this morning:

“𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘭𝘭𝘳 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘋𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴.”

I will ensure that you are informed should I receive any additional information.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JjkLgEpOhLqEvub8nTNLJ4

22/01/2025

𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Date: Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Time: 20:45

Dear Residents,

Currently, Croydon, many of our estates within the ward, Sandvlei, and some of our other areas are without power once again. At this time, I do not have any information regarding the cause of the disruption, as I have not yet received feedback from Eskom management regarding this.

I have been informed by residents of an explosion at one of Eskom's mini-substations on the R102, and I have reported this to Eskom. I have visited the site and have also been driving around the ward for the last few hours but have not been able to find their teams on the ground. If anyone sees their teams, please reach out to me so that I can visit the site where they are currently working.

While I will continue to engage with Eskom on your behalf, it is important for each resident to also reach out to them directly. As clients of Eskom, you have every right to do so. While I will always do my best to obtain answers during these power supply disruptions, It is important to understand that I do not have any authority over Eskom, and they do not report to me. Eskom is a national utility that operates at the national level, and like SAPS and SASSA, I, as a ward councillor at the local government level, do not have oversight over them.

It is crucial that all residents log their calls, emails, and inquiries with Eskom directly to ensure that these ongoing power disruptions are addressed. As customers, you have the right to request answers and hold Eskom accountable.

To log a call with Eskom, please use the following link: https://alfred.eskom.co.za/chatroom/

Please also email Eskom at the following addresses with your reference numbers:

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

As always, I will continue to follow up with Eskom and will keep you updated with any information I receive.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JjkLgEpOhLqEvub8nTNLJ4

21/01/2025

𝐈𝐧 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐅𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐖𝐞’𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 – 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐆𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠!

Dear Residents,

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been actively logging calls with the City of Cape Town to report illegal dumping hotspots. Your efforts have made a visible impact, with several areas being cleaned in recent days.

A great example is the area shown in the attached photos, which was reported by our very own Safety Forum and promptly addressed by our dedicated Parks and Recreation teams. This is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together as a community.

If you are aware of any other dumping hotspots and have not yet logged a call, I strongly encourage you to do so. Simply use the link below to report the issue and help keep our ward clean and beautiful.

Link: https://eservices1.capetown.gov.za/coct/wapl/zsreq_app/index.html

Let’s continue to collaborate and ensure our ward remains a safe, clean, and welcoming place for all.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 𝙗𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBfqTrHgZWZjcsyg705

21/01/2025

𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐬: 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐢𝐝

Dear Residents,

This morning, I had the privilege of spending time in the Nyakatisha Informal Settlement, distributing food parcels to residents who have been severely impacted by the recent fire. This tragedy has been an incredibly difficult time for the affected individuals, who not only lost their homes but also everything they had, including their livelihoods.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the residents who have shown immense solidarity, not only with the fire victims in Nyakatisha but also with those residing in the Deep Freeze Informal Settlement. Their generosity in donating to those in need during this challenging time exemplifies the spirit of community.

A special thank you also goes to Rheinmetall Denel Munition for their generous sponsorship of the food parcels distributed today. In moments of hardship, I have witnessed the strength and unity of our community, coming together to support our fellow human beings. I am truly proud to serve as your ward councillor, and I remain committed to working alongside you all to rebuild and support those in need.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 𝙗𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBfqTrHgZWZjcsyg705

20/01/2025

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

On Saturday, I had the privilege of joining the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management team, led by Mr. Grove, along with our local Neighbourhood Watches, Ward 109 Safety Committee, and residents, to educate communities in our informal settlements on Fire Wise awareness. This initiative is particularly crucial, as we’ve recently witnessed the devastating impact of fires that have destroyed homes and livelihoods in two of our informal settlements.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone involved for their commitment and active participation in safeguarding our communities. Together, we are building a safer, more resilient future.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 𝙗𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBfqTrHgZWZjcsyg705

18/01/2025

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬

Honourable Residents,

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the selfless heroes who, through their unwavering compassion and generosity, embody the highest ideals of unity, kindness, and humanity. In a time of need, you came forward to help your fellow human beings, demonstrating the true spirit of community.

The beginning of this year was especially challenging for our community, with two devastating fires, one in the Deep Freeze Informal Settlement and another in the Nyakatisha Informal Settlement. These fires destroyed multiple informal structures, leaving residents not only homeless but also without their livelihoods. It was a difficult and uncertain start to the new year for many of these families. However, thanks to all of you, hope was restored in what seemed like a hopeless situation.

In the face of adversity, we saw remarkable collaboration from local businesses, NGOs, churches, community leaders, and ordinary residents. I would especially like to extend my thanks to Joe Adams, who has always shown a willingness to assist during times of crisis. Most importantly, I want to express my deepest appreciation to those residents who, despite having little for themselves, still found it in their hearts to donate and support the victims of the fire. You are the true heroes of our community.

This week, we also witnessed a contrast. Some individuals who call themselves leaders continue to complain, pointing fingers at what the councillor or others are doing, yet never contribute to positive change. But in the midst of this, we saw the true leaders - the ones who, despite challenges, stood up and took action. These individuals stepped forward to help rebuild our community and demonstrated that change cannot rest solely on the shoulders of one person. They showed us all what leadership truly looks like.

I have been deeply inspired by the selflessness and determination of our community over the past two weeks. It became clear to me that the voices of a few who only complain are far outnumbered by the many who are committed to making a positive difference. You have inspired me to work harder, alongside all of you, to ensure our ward continues to thrive.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment, for taking ownership, and for driving our community forward. Your contributions are truly appreciated, and I am proud to serve as your ward councillor.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 𝙗𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBfqTrHgZWZjcsyg705

17/01/2025

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐫, 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝: 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Good Evening Everyone,

I would like to take a moment to express my sincere pride in the newly established Safety Committee for our ward. Since its formation, they have made significant strides in improving safety and addressing key issues within our community.

This week, the committee joined me in a productive meeting with senior officials from various City departments to discuss the ongoing illegal dumping issues in our ward. We have observed a concerning increase in illegal dumping, both by residents of our ward and by individuals from neighbouring areas. In addition, there has been a troubling pattern of waste being dumped next to the skips we have placed in the ward, which were intended to help manage waste disposal responsibly.

During the meeting, we discussed the urgent need for behavioural change within our community to prevent illegal dumping and encourage proper waste disposal. In addition to addressing the immediate clean-up efforts, we also talked about the importance of educating our residents on proper waste management practices to avoid future dumping. The City officials committed to taking a comprehensive approach, which includes sending out teams to conduct educational drives to raise awareness and promote responsible waste management across the ward.

Furthermore, for residents who feel that their single refuse bin is not sufficient for their household's needs, we encourage you to visit the municipal office on Bind Avenue to apply for an additional 240 litre wheelie/refuse bin. This service is available to ensure that residents have the necessary resources to manage their waste effectively.

In response to the illegal dumping situation, the City has also committed to deploying additional teams starting this Monday to begin cleaning the identified hotspots. We kindly ask all residents to report any illegal dumping incidents using the following link and to forward the reference number to me via WhatsApp at 062 577 6942.

Link: https://eservices1.capetown.gov.za/coct/wapl/zsreq_app/index.html

Please ensure that you send your reference number to me by Sunday evening at 10pm, so I can forward it to the relevant officials for prompt attention.

The Safety Committee and I have worked diligently to bring together the appropriate departments to address the situation and organise a comprehensive clean-up effort. However, our collective success will depend on the continued commitment of every resident to refrain from illegal dumping once these areas are cleaned.

I believe that, with your continued cooperation, we can make our ward cleaner, more sustainable, and more responsible in terms of waste management. Together, we can have a lasting, positive impact.

Thank you for your attention and support.

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬,
Councillor Peter Helfrich

𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝘼𝙥𝙥 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡 𝙗𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBfqTrHgZWZjcsyg705