It will be business as usual for the Cape Town Central Improvement District (CCID) during lockdown, which is set to end on Friday April 17.
The CEO of the CCID, Tasso Evangelinos, said the company’s safety and security department would be fully functional during lockdown, with all 300 of its public safety officers on duty, working shifts 24/7.
“As we anticipate there will be far less people in the central city, we will be changing the deployment strategy of our public safety officers during this time,” said Mr Evangelinos.
The CCID’s safety officers will still work day and night, and maintain a visible presence in the city centre.
“Protecting people, possessions and property will be paramount for the CCID during the lockdown period – when many buildings and businesses will be empty – in a bid to prevent crime from occurring, especially night-time break-ins and theft out of motor vehicles, “ he said.
Regarding the safety of the company’s operational teams, Mr Evangelinos said workers were the “backbone of the business”.
“The threat of Covid-19 is very real for these workers, and their safety is paramount to the CCID and, together with our service providers, we are doing everything we can to protect them as we cannot stop operating.”
Business and property owners are advised to secure their properties during lockdown by:
Removing all visible items from the display windows.
Displaying an emergency contact number clearly in the windows.
Ensuring the property is effectively secured.
Keeping the lights on if possible if the shop interior is visible from the street.
Ensuring the alarm system is operational.
Displaying the number of your security/ alarm company clearly in the window.
The public can call or WhatsApp the CCID 24-hour control centre to report an incident at 082 415 7127.
Certain city centre medical facilities, supermarkets and pharmacies, as well as petrol stations and the Cape Town Central police station will be open and continue to trade or offer their services during lockdown.
Call the establishment before you go to check that their hours of operation have not changed. Here are a list of facilities that will remain open:
Chris Barnaard Hospital at the Foreshore; Barr’s and Olsen’s pharmacies in Long Street; Clicks pharmacies in Long and Strand streets, and St George’s Mall; Dis-Chem in St George’s Mall and Lit-Kem pharmacies in Darling Street; Tothills Chemist in Burg Street and Dorp Street; and the Reproductive Health Clinic in Dorp Street.
Woolworths in Foreshore and Adderley Street; Shoprite in Adderley Street and Pick * Pay in Strand Street; OK Express in Buitengracht Street; Game in Grand Central and Food Lover’s Market in St George’s Mall, The Icon Building and The Towers on Foreshore.
Bo-Kaap service station (Shell) in Church Street; Mother City Motors (Shell) in Hertzog Boulevard and Winch Motors (Caltex) in Buitengracht Street.
Meanwhile, at the V&A Waterfront, the majority of businesses will not be open until Friday April 17. However, a section of the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre will remain open to allow the grocery stores to trade, along with the pharmacies and the ATMs.
The stores which will be open during lcokdown are:
Pick * Pay will be open everyday from 8am to 6pm, and on Wednesdays from 7am to 8am for pensioners over 65;
Woolworths will be open everyday from 9am to 6pm, except on Saturdays, when stores open from 8am to 6pm;
BLOB: Clicks in Victoria Wharf will be open everyday from 8am to 6pm;
Clicks Clock Tower trades from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and on Sundays from 9am to 4pm; and
Waterfront Pharmacy opens everyday from 9am to 6pm.
ABSA and Nedbank is open from Monday to Friday and ATMs will continue to operate across the precinct.
Parking garages will remain operational.
Some areas of commercial operations such as the marine and fishing industries and financial services will still conduct their business on a limited scale.
These trading hours are subject to change.