Latest news with #RobQuintas
Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
City of Cape Town cutting routes on its Dial-a-Ride service
CAPE TOWN - The City of Cape Town has announced that it is cutting routes on its Dial-a-Ride service. City bosses said the service catered to 2,000 ad hoc users and at least 200 eligible commuters with disabilities. From September, the metro-subsidised transport service will only commute users between home and work. Social visits, hospital visits, and trips to school will no longer be permitted. The municipality said it's running at a loss operating the service at a cost of R40 million a year. MMC for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas added that from September, only eligible wheelchair users and those with severe walking impairments would be able to use the service. "Where the MyCiti operates, that is a universally accessible system, so between the available public transport options as well as the e-hailing platforms, there are supplementary ways of moving persons with disabilities around that were not an option before."
Eyewitness News
16-07-2025
- Climate
- Eyewitness News
City of Cape Town embarks on temporary pothole repairs
Tasleem Gierdien 16 July 2025 | 4:14 The City of Cape Town's Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas, joined the City's Roads Infrastructure Management team as they embarked on temporary pothole repairs in Gugulethu, Manenberg and Newlands on Wednesday, 9 July 2025. "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." - Rob Quintas, Urban Mobility - City of Cape Town Excessive mountain run-off that includes leaves, which blocked drains and led to flooding in some of our areas. Whereas in Gugulethu and Manenberg, the City found that illegal dumping of tyres, rocks and even mattresses 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 cause potholes. This greywater contains soaps, and 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 reused, and keep it off our road surfaces. Together, we can reduce winter flooding and prevent the formation of new potholes." - Rob Quintas, Urban Mobility - City of Cape Town 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
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.
Daily Maverick
03-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Extortionists ‘hell-bent' on derailing MyCiTi bus project, says City of Cape Town
But Crossroads and Philippi business forums deny the city's allegations of intimidation and say they are being sidelined. Extortionists are 'hell-bent on derailing' the MyCiTi bus project along Govan Mbeki Road in Philippi, says the City of Cape Town. The project was launched in 2022. This week, the city welcomed a decision by the Western Cape High Court to extend an interim interdict obtained last month against the Philippi Business Forum and Crossroads Business Forum and two of their members. The interdict against intimidating and threatening officials and workers or entering the site without permission is effective until 21 April 2026, when the matter will be argued in court. The city said contractors had received death threats. According to the city, the forums failed to present their answering affidavits as to why the order should not be made permanent. Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas said: 'Self-proclaimed 'activists' within the Philippi Business Forum, Crossroads Business Forum and other affiliated entities have engaged in intimidation, threats and blatant misinformation campaigns in their shameless efforts to dictate how and to whom employment opportunities are awarded. '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.' In its statement the city said: '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.' Attorney Ashley Leeuw, for the business forums, told GroundUp that the city labelling his clients extortionist (in the media release) was 'damning to their reputation'. 'It is very unfair to our clients,' Leeuw said. 'Due to insufficient time we could not oppose an interim interdict but we filed a motion to oppose,' he said. 'There is no final court interdict against my clients.' He said the interim order had been granted to allow work to continue at the site. 'The allegations set out in the city's court application are denied as false,' he said. He said his clients have no intention of going to the site. 'It is all lies they're spreading that we have intimidated workers at the site,' Thanduxolo Xokoza, Philippi Business Forum secretary, told GroundUp. 'This started last year when the subcouncil invited us to an information service on how we will participate and benefit from the project and that was the last time the city had a meeting with us.' He said small businesses in Philippi had gone to the site on 15 May to seek answers from the community liaison officers. Xokoza said their approach had been peaceful. On 28 May, the businesses had again gone to stop construction until their demands were met. 'The project was halted last week until our businesses are given an opportunity,' said Xokoza. 'We also have companies that are able to do some work at the construction of the project. The community also joined in because they also want to be part of the project. 'We are business people and have a right to be part of the project,' he said. Crossroads Business Forum member Nokuzola Mpimpi said: 'We were surprised to see the work continuing last month and this prompted businesses to rally and go to confront the main contractor at the site.'
IOL News
03-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Business Forum ready to fight extortion claims
MyCiTi Image: File THE Philippi Business Forum has distanced itself from the City's claims that it was responsible for derailing the MyCiTi construction project along Govan Mbeki Road in Philippi through extortion. The City recently confirmed having secured an interim interdict against alleged extortionists after officials and the contractor's staff received death threats and were verbally intimidated. The Philippi Business Forum and Crossroads Business Forum were cited as respondents in the application. The City said both failed to present their answering affidavits to the Western Cape High Court concerning why the order should not be made permanent. 'Self-proclaimed 'activists' within the Philippi Business Forum, Crossroads Business Forum and other affiliated entities had engaged in intimidation, threats, and blatant misinformation campaigns in their shameless efforts to dictate how and to whom employment opportunities are awarded. '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. 'Those who have been involved in the intimidation, death threats, and other disruptive tactics are well aware of these 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,' said Urban Mobility mayco member Rob Quintas. He said the interdict does not prevent anyone from participating in the project. 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 ✕ '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.' Philippi Business Forum member Lonwabo Matshisi denied the allegations. 'It is not true. They (contractors) want to do the work on their own and take the money given by the municipality. They did the same thing during the last project. Everywhere they go, they accuse the SMMEs. We are just looking for an opportunity to grow. We never did what they're claiming. They just took pictures of our cars and formed a story, saying we were involved in extortion. "That's false. Our cars were stopped and searched for guns. There were no guns. We've never stopped any project, we just want them to come and meet with us. We've sent several emails and tried calling them. We asked them (the main contractor) to come and sit with us, to make a presentation. They never came. Meanwhile, we've followed every step we're supposed to take,' Matshisi said. He said they had just recently found out the City received an interdict against them. 'They just made accusations. On Tuesday, we hired an advocate. We never did what they're claiming. They (the contractor) are working on-site. They promised our community jobs but delivered nothing. That's why the community is also upset,' Matshisi said. Attempts to contact the Crossroads Business Forum were unsuccessful. The Building Industry Bargaining Council (BIBC) said the country's construction sector was being 'systematically undermined' by criminal syndicates. The impact has been severe, including forced stoppages and heightened security requirements which have led to significant project delays and cost overruns. 'These criminal networks are not simply disruptive, they're deeply embedded in some areas and operate with increasing sophistication,' said Danie Hattingh, spokesperson for business at the BIBC. The council explained that the 'construction mafia' initially emerged around 2015, 'often misrepresented as attempts at economic transformation. Exploiting clauses in procurement policy, particularly the requirement that 30% of public contracts benefit local communities, these groups claimed to represent local interests'. According to the BIBC, contractors, workers, and even government officials have reported intimidation, assaults, and in some cases, killings. Armed gangs have stormed construction sites demanding a cut of the project (usually 30%, under the false interpretation of local empowerment policies). 'What began as calls for inclusion quickly devolved into extortion and violence. We have seen armed site invasions, demands for 'protection fees,' sabotage of equipment, and even threats to life. These are not empowerment activists. These are criminal syndicates exploiting legitimate policies for personal gain,' Hattingh said. 'The construction mafia exploits every gap. They scare and threaten without facing any punishment or consequences, manipulate the tender process, and operate freely due to legal delays and poor coordination between stakeholders.' Cape Times
