Category Archives: Up For Your Review

BVID 2025 Year-End Review & Festive Season Safety Tips

As the year draws to a close, the BVID looks back on twelve months of sustained progress in keeping Beaconvale cleaner, safer and more resilient. From public safety patrols to urban cleaning and rapid response to service requests, our team has remained focused on delivering the services that help businesses operate with confidence.

This year’s statistics, illustrated in the infographics below, highlight the day-to-day work that keeps our district running smoothly. Whether attending to service requests, responding to public safety incidents, clearing illegal dumping or maintaining public spaces, the CID continues to provide consistent, on-the-ground support for the precinct.

Public Safety & Security

Our public safety team continues to play a vital role in maintaining a safe and responsive environment. Regular vehicle and foot patrols, proactive engagement with the public, the recovery of stolen goods, and coordinated responses to incidents are all part of our commitment to crime prevention.

The festive season often brings increased movement, higher visitor numbers and a rise in opportunistic crime, making the presence of the CID’s public safety officers even more essential at this time of year.

Urban Cleaning & Management

Across Beaconvale, our cleaning and maintenance teams have worked throughout the year to keep streets, verges and public spaces clean and well managed. Activities such as removing litter, clearing illegal dumping, attending to urban defects, servicing public bins and keeping stormwater infrastructure clear have all contributed to creating a more inviting environment for workers, visitors and businesses.

These ongoing operations ensure that the district remains functional and well maintained despite seasonal changes, heavy usage and broader service delivery pressures.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Cape Town continues to experience strong growth, driven in part by ongoing semigration as more people and businesses relocate to the city. This shift brings both opportunity and increased pressure on urban environments, making the role of CIDs more important than ever. Against this backdrop, our focus remains on delivering reliable, high-quality public safety and urban cleaning services that support a well-managed and resilient district.

As Gene Lohrentz, Managing Director of Geocentric Urban Management, notes:

“Throughout the year, we have kept our focus on delivering consistent and effective public safety and urban cleaning services. The continued progress in these areas reflects the dedication of our teams. We look forward to building on this momentum as we move into 2026.”

Geocentric, now in its sixteenth year of partnership with City Improvement Districts, proudly oversees 14 of Cape Town’s 54 CIDs. Our commitment remains centred on strengthening service delivery, supporting business growth and ensuring that each district remains a thriving, welcoming space.

safety tips

Festive Season Safety Tips

As the holidays approach, it is important for businesses to remain vigilant. The festive season typically brings increased foot traffic, higher crime risks and a heightened chance of fire incidents. The following tips can help safeguard your property, staff and operations.

Protect Your Business & Property

  • Keep your security systems in good working order:
    Test alarms, CCTV cameras, access control systems, security lighting and gate mechanisms to ensure they are fully functional.
  • Improve exterior lighting:
    Well-lit areas act as a deterrent and support visibility for security personnel. Consider using timers and motion sensors to improve efficiency.
  • Make use of professional security services:
    Invest in reputable security or armed response services, and stay connected to community information channels such as WhatsApp groups or neighbourhood watch networks.
  • Fire safety matters:
    Check fire extinguishers, ensure flammable materials are stored safely, train staff in fire procedures and confirm that your fire detection systems are operational.

Retail & Business Operations

  • Install panic buttons and adequate surveillance:
    Strategically place panic buttons and ensure that cameras are positioned to avoid blind spots.
  • Be alert during opening and closing times:
    These periods are high-risk and require extra vigilance from staff.
  • Avoid predictable cash deposit patterns:
    Vary the timing and route of deposits to reduce the likelihood of targeting.
  • Secure all access points:
    Before leaving your premises, check all doors, windows, roller shutters and gates, ensuring they are properly locked and in good working order.

Staff & Customer Safety

  • Verify all new employees:
    Request identification, proof of residence and previous references before hiring.
  • Monitor stock and cash handling:
    Regularly review inventory, equipment and cash procedures.
  • Train staff for emergencies:
    Ensure all employees know what to do in the event of a fire, robbery or medical emergency.

Road Safety

  • Ensure vehicles are roadworthy:
    Service vehicles regularly and check essentials such as spare tyres, jacks and warning triangles.
  • Stay alert on the roads:
    The festive period sees increased traffic and higher numbers of intoxicated drivers. Take extra care and avoid driving when tired and when the roads are extremely busy over holidays.

Stay Vigilant: Road Crime & ATM Safety

  • Prevent road crime:
    Keep valuables out of sight, remain aware of your surroundings and ensure doors are locked when stationary or driving.
  • Stay safe at ATMs:
    Use well-lit machines, avoid distractions and never share your PIN with anyone.

See more Safety Tips

Emergency Contacts

Keep these essential numbers easily accessible:

  • SAPS: 10111
  • Metro Police & Traffic: 0860 765 423
  • City of Cape Town Disaster Management: 107
  • CID Control Room (24-hour public safety emergencies): 021 565 0900
  • Community WhatsApp Group: Message 081 869 8911 to join

View more important contacts

As we close out the year, thank you for helping us keep Beaconvale safe, clean and thriving.

Wishing you a safe, restful and prosperous festive season.

Update: The City of Cape Town Draft Budget 2025-2026 comment period is open until 13 June

June 2025 update:

NOTICE OF EXTENSION: DRAFT BUDGET 2025/26 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD

Following thorough consideration of all inputs received, the City has proposed several key amendments. Interested parties may view the draft budget in full and comment on the amendments between 28 May and 13 June 2025. Should any comments made during the initial public participation period not have been addressed, you are welcome to comment again. Please visit www.capetown.gov.za for the full amended draft budget documents and any supporting material. The residential calculator has also been updated to reflect the proposed amendments.

Visit www.capetown.gov.za/HaveYourSay to comment

April 2025 article:

The City of Cape Town Draft Budget 2025-2026 is available for comment until 16:30 on Friday, 2 May 2025; and until Thursday, 17 April 2025 for the proposed amendments to the 2022-2027 Integrated Development Plan (IDP).

Total Budget – R84,1 bn for 2025/26

A budget of R84,1 billion will be spent in the metropolitan area to ensure that services are maintained, improved and expanded, that capital projects are rolled out and that the IDP is implemented.

Budget Summary & Documentation

The City of Cape Town’s budget reflects its key policy decisions and priorities, determines rates increases and indicates where money will be spent on programmes and services. View the full Draft Budget 2025/26 with associated documentation on the City’s website. For a summary of the budget, see the presentation and the advert (English | Afrikaans | isiXhosa).

The documents can also be accessed on the City website from 28 March 2025 at www.capetown.gov.za/budget.

Continue reading Update: The City of Cape Town Draft Budget 2025-2026 comment period is open until 13 June

BVID 2024 Roundup & Safety Tips for the Festive Season

As 2024 draws to a close, the Beaconvale City Improvement District celebrates a year of notable achievements in making our area a cleaner, safer and more vibrant community. And, we share our festive season safety tips for businesses and all those going on holiday this season.

Urban Cleaning Success

This year, our urban cleaning and management efforts have continued to be a priority across our City Improvement District. Thanks to the tireless work of our team, our streets and public spaces remain clean and well maintained. Improved waste management, rapid response to urban defects, and efficient service delivery have all contributed to creating a cleaner environment for residents and businesses.

Looking Ahead

“Despite a tough economic climate, rising costs and ongoing service delivery challenges, we’ve stayed focused on delivering high-quality services,” says Gene Lohrentz, Managing Director of Geocentric Urban Management. “The achievements in urban cleaning and continual focus on crime prevention in deploying ever more safety officers this year are a testament to this commitment. We’re eager to continue this momentum into 2025.”

Geocentric, a partner in managing CIDs for 15 years, proudly oversees 13 of the 54 City Improvement Districts (CIDs).

Our Board and Geocentric management team are dedicated to innovative and effective approaches to service delivery, ensuring our district remains a thriving, inclusive community for all. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in these endeavours. Here’s to a safe, clean and prosperous 2025!

Continue reading BVID 2024 Roundup & Safety Tips for the Festive Season

Beaconvale Improvement District 2023 Roundup

It’s been another year of successes and tackling challenges head-on for the Beaconvale Improvement District. As part of our renewed commitment to public safety and urban cleaning and management, we persist in leading the way toward the continuous improvement of Beaconvale as a thriving business hub.

Our CID team has increased their presence on the ground, resulting in improved statistics across the board for 2023. We’ve driven more kilometres in our patrol vehicles, engaged with more members of the public and attended to more service requests and urban defects than ever before. We’ll continue with this increased presence in the community in 2024 and the years beyond.

This year, with 51 CIDs now in operation in the City of Cape Town, the new CID by-law and policy has come into effect. Geocentric, who has now been working with city improvement district initiatives for more than 2 decades, is proud to be responsible for over 25% of the total CIDs in operation. 

In addition to taking care of the public’s safety and urban cleaning, our CID placed a focus on greening areas across Beaconvale in 2023. These urban beautification projects will be continued throughout 2024, in line with the goal of continuously upgrading our community. 

2023 Beaconvale Improvement District Stats

“Despite the challenges of a struggling economy, ongoing load shedding and higher fuel prices, the aim of the BVID remained focussed on delivering top-up services to the public spaces of Beaconvale throughout the year,” says Gene Lohrentz of Geocentric Urban Management, tasked with the delivery of our City Improvement District services.

The BVID Board and Geocentric management team is committed to finding innovative, efficient and cost-effective ways to continue delivering on the vision for a safer, cleaner, well-maintained and vibrant community.  We look forward to more opportunities to make a tangible difference in 2024.

Meet Our New Manager!

Meet our Beaconvale Improvement District manager! Anton Nell is committed to making Beaconvale better for our community, working tirelessly in his key role at the BVID.⁠

Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

As the festive season approaches, it is essential to prioritise safety at this time, as crime, accidents and fire hazards are usually on the rise during the holiday period.

Being mindful of potential risks and hazards can help safeguard you, your business and your property – from road safety considerations to vigilance against petty crimes in crowded business premises to more serious crimes such as hijacking and robbery. 

Along with keeping your personal safety in mind, if you are a business owner, it is imperative to be vigilant and proactive in implementing strategies that protect your assets, property and staff during the busiest time of year. 


Prevention is better than cure. That’s why we urge property and business owners to make every effort to prepare their properties, businesses, staff and themselves against opportunists and criminals with our safety tips below:

Emergency Numbers

Quick access to relevant emergency numbers can be the difference between life and death. We have compiled a comprehensive list for you to save and share for easy access to these numbers.

Once again, our 24-hour security control room is always available for your public safety emergencies.

Whatsapp group info 

If you’re interested in staying informed about our initiatives, as well as the newest developments in your improvement district, you can become a member of our BVID business WhatsApp group by:

• Sending a WhatsApp message to 081 869 8911.

• You will need to include your Name and Surname or the name of your business

• You will need to include your street address, which should be within the boundary of the CID

• We will add you to the relevant CID Community Group

Rules and regulations for communicating will be stipulated in the group.

City Improvement District By-Law & City Improvement District Policy

We believe that you are an expert in your area and have seen the positive change we can make first-hand.  You know better than anyone, where our precious resources are best spent and we value your contribution in helping us plan for future projects. 

The legislative structure governing much of our work in your area is up for amendment. We hope that the proposed changes of making the processes of starting and running a CID  more structured will improve the efficiency of CIDs citywide. 

Your suggestions on the proposed amendments to the CID by-law and City improvement district policy can be submitted online here,   emailed to CityImprovement.Districts@capetown.gov.za or written to , City of Cape Town, PO Box 298, Cape Town 8000

*Comments and objections may be submitted from 16 August to 15 September 2021.*