News | Woodstock Improvement District

AGM 2023 Save the Date + spring cleaning & greening Woodstock

September 25, 2023 November 1, 2023

Come October, we hold our Annual General Meeting (AGM 2023) to review the year’s activities and begin our planning for 2024/25. This Spring, we have also undertaken several urban beautification projects, adding greenery and cleaning up public areas of Woodstock to improve the community experience of people living in, working in and visiting Woodstock.

SAVE THE DATE! Our AGM 2023 is coming up

All stakeholders are invited to a review of the year’s activities and planning for 2024/25.

Resolutions presented at the AGM can only be voted for by bonafide members. All non-members wishing to take part must be registered before 16 October.

AGM Details

Wednesday, 25 October 2023, 12:00
No 1 De Waal House, 172 Victoria Road, Woodstock
RSVP to info@wid.co.za

Spring cleaning and greening Woodstock

The Woodstock ID embarked on small urban beautification projects this year, which we hope to continue into the next year. The project initially started with the revamping of some of the old public benches in Victoria Road with the help of local businesses. As part of the ongoing project, the WID augmented these seating areas with large planter pots to bring some greenery to the area and will also add public cigarette bins in their vicinity to keep the area clean.

More potted plants were also placed along Victoria Road near the intersection of Mountain Road to create a barrier between pedestrians and vehicle traffic in the adjacent parking area.

Are You Ready to Go with the Cape Town Winter Flow? Essential Tips for a Smooth Season + Loadshedding Updates from the City

May 25, 2023 June 8, 2023

As the chilly and wet winter season approaches, it’s time to prepare ourselves for the unique challenges and delights that it brings.

From the brisk air to the rain-soaked streets, Cape Town winter demands our attention and readiness. Here, we explore practical tips to help you navigate the winter months with ease. From maintaining your home and business’ functionality to prioritising safety on the roads, these essential suggestions will ensure you’re well-prepared to go with the flow this winter. Let’s dive in and discover how to make the most of the wet season while keeping everything running smoothly.

Cape Town winter readiness tips

Are You Ready to Go with the Winter Flow?

Clear the Clutter from Your Gutter
Keep your gutters in optimal condition by ensuring they are undamaged, securely attached to your building, and free from any branches.

Shine A Little Light
Combat the winter darkness by checking your outdoor lights. Make sure they are waterproof, functioning properly, and free from obstructions.

Trim Your Trees
Give your trees the care they deserve. Trim any dead, diseased, or damaged branches to prevent breakage during storms.

Stop the Slip
Create a safe environment by adding doormats, anti-slip coatings, and slip grip strips to stairs and slippery tiles, reducing the risk of accidents.

Clean Your Cameras
Maintain clear visibility by cleaning the lenses of your cameras. Remove dust particles that can cause a muddy mess when it rains.

Be Reliably Roadworthy
Ensure the safety and punctuality of your employees by keeping your vehicle fleet in top shape. Check headlights, rear and brake lights, tyre tread, and windshield wipers.

Protect Our Pedestrians
Promote pedestrian safety by encouraging your staff to wear bright reflective clothing and to drive with caution on the roads.

Report and Respond
Take action when needed. Report instances of flooding or blocked drains through www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests or the Call Centre on 0860 103 089. Power outages can be reported via SMS to 31220 or email power@capetown.gov.za. In case of emergencies, dial 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cell phone to reach the Public Emergency Communication Centre.

First quarter 2023 updates & meet our WID managers

April 11, 2023 April 12, 2023

2023 is well underway and as we embark on a year set to take our Woodstock Improvement District to new heights, we introduce you to our core team and share some important reminders from WID and the City.

Meet our Woodstock Improvement District managers!

Woodstock Improvement District 2022 roundup & safety tips for the holiday season

December 3, 2022 December 3, 2022

2022 has been a year for celebrating successes for Woodstock Improvement District and tackling new and ongoing challenges. With our new five-year business plan term commencing in July 2022 we renew our commitment to providing top-up services to the City of Cape Town with a special focus on public safety, urban cleaning and management, continuing to lead the charge in the continual improvement of Woodstock as a residential and business area.

As we round up 2022 following our recent AGM held in November, we recap on the year’s work, successes and statistics.

Woodstock Improvement District’s achievements of the last year are a testament to the team’s commitment, experience and increased on-the-ground presence – led by the capable hands of Geocentric, who have been working with city improvement district initiatives since 2001 and responsible for a total of thirteen of Cape Town’s improvement districts from Salt River through to Strand, Tyger Valley and Wynberg.

“The rollercoasting aftermath of Covid lockdowns steadily calmed down in 2022, yet conditions remained difficult as significant increases in the cost of living and the continuous challenges of load-shedding remained at the forefront,” says Gene Lohrentz, director of Geocentric.

“In the face of these new challenges, the WID board and management team have remained steadfast in our commitment to providing high-quality top-up services in Woodstock. Embracing and implementing adaptability into our vision now seems entrenched in our day-to-day operations as well as our strategic thinking.”

2022 Woodstock Improvement District stats

Spring update: upgrade to Woodstock Town Hall Park and spring cleaning our community

September 21, 2022 November 17, 2022

What better focus for Spring than cleaning and greening? Our Woodstock community has recently benefited from an upgrade to the Woodstock Town Hall Park, which was ceremoniously opened along with the new Woodstock Town Hall by Cape Town Mayor Geordin Gwyn Hill-Lewis.

The WID cleaning team has had its hands full – and we had a special visit from learners from the Holy Cross High School, working towards a cleaner environment.

And while we battle with illegal dumping on a daily basis, you can join us in the fight to crack down by reporting any illegal activity through the correct channels.

Woodstock Town Hall Park upgrade - Image credit: City of Cape Town — *Cape Town Mayor Geordin Gwyn Hill-Lewis opens the new Woodstock Town Hall and park at the Woodstock Community Open Day. Image credit: City of Cape Town*

Woodstock 2022 – results update from WID

July 26, 2022 November 17, 2022

Rounding up the financial year, Woodstock 2022 has seen some great results from WID, our city improvement district.

The Woodstock Improvement District works together with residents, local businesses and urban management specialists to create a rich urban environment where the Woodstock community can thrive.

Together with the City’s Cleansing Department and the SAPS, we provide public safety and urban cleansing services to boost the sanitation and safety of the Woodstock area. View Woodstock 2022 Map

Working towards our most important goals – public safety, cleaning and urban management – here are some of our achievements for the last quarter of 2022.

Woodstock 2022 – results update from Woodstock Improvement District

Woodstock 2022 – results update from Woodstock Improvement District - Graffiti removed

Visit our Contact page for more details and our About page for more information about WID.

Visit capetown.gov.za for more City of Cape Town Emergency Numbers.

Illegal Dumping: What It Is and How to Stop It

June 30, 2022 December 3, 2022

Did you know? Annually, over 180 000 tons of waste are cleared from illegal dumping hot spots! That costs the city, and you as the taxpayer, a staggering R350 million a year just in clean-up. In other words, cleaning illegal dumping costs 20 times more than collecting waste from wheelie bins. That is why to create a clean, healthy and safe community we take our work tackling illegal dumping very seriously.

“Illegal dumping is a severe problem that puts our community at risk of injury and illness and pollutes our ecosystem. In addition, illegal dumpsites can serve as magnets for other criminal activities,” says Gene Lohrentz, CEO of urban management company Geocentric.

*Image: Tracey Adams/African News Agency(ANA)*

Here is what we have learnt when it comes to illegal dumping.

Blown Away – How we are preparing to weather the Cape of Storms

May 26, 2022 November 17, 2022

The saying goes that ‘Great floods flow from simple sources’. As we prepare for the harshness of the howling gales and pelting rain that make up Cape Town storms, we couldn’t agree more. Many of us are even more conscious now of the pivotal role that winter preparation plays in city management – and what the lack of it can look like – in the aftermath of the 2022 KZN floods.

“A combination of terrain challenges, insufficient or ill-maintained infrastructure and increased population density are the main contributors to flooding problems,” says Gene Lohrentz, CEO of urban management company Geocentric, and current management team of the Woodstock Improvement District.

rain Cape Town weather winter preparedness

Here is how we at WID are making sure we are ready to weather the storm:

Request for Proposal – Woodstock Improvement District (WID) CCTV Extension Project

May 3, 2022 May 3, 2022

The Board of the WID has taken the initiative to extend the CCTV camera network of the WID. The proposed intervention will focus on supporting the current public safety and urban management activities thereby contributing to securing the area and driving incidents of crime down.

The project will focus on the implementation of additional Static and PTZ cameras.

The detailed Request for Proposal document can be found here.

Road safety 101: Stay Egg-xtra safe on the roads this Easter

April 13, 2022 April 13, 2022

As we approach the Easter weekend many families are looking forward to much needed time spent bonding over Easter egg hunts and delicious lunches. However, as we all travel to our destinations, the days leading up to Easter weekend see many more motorists driving further in the first rains of our wet season.

As we set off in these conditions, we urge all motorists to take extreme caution and increase their awareness of the common causes of accidents and other road safety pointers for drivers and pedestrians.