Welcome to January 2012

With the festive season winding down and work returning to normal, it's time to catch up on what's been happening in our CIDs and find out what to look forward to over the next couple of months.

The OKCID turns 10 years old on 15 January 2012 so we have lots to celebrate this month and lots of people to thank. The success we have achieved over the past decade would not be possible without the support and feedback from residents, business owners, Vetus Scholar, SAPS, Metro, Law Enforcement and the City through its various line-departments.

We have worked hard to made both Green Point and Oranje-Kloof more accessible, safe, clean and attractive places to live, work and play and believe we have made positive steps in all these areas and will continue to do so. Pop us an email with your feedback or chat to us on Twitter (GP, OK), we'd love to hear what you think.

Other highlights in our newsletter this month include reviews of two new businesses in Oranje-Kloof, Myög Genuine Frozen Yogurt and Wow Cosmetics, as well as an article about the Volunteer Wildfire Services.

With summer in full swing there is no excuse to stay indoors, so take advantage of the mountain, our beautiful beaches and restaurants in both our CIDs. Don't forget to browse through the events section on our website for information on upcoming theatre, concerts, comedy and horse racing in Cape Town too.

Best wishes,

Marc Truss

OK/GP CID CEO

In December 2011, supplementary cleansing resulted in the collection and removal of an estimated 12 600kgs (1 800 bags) of waste from the GPCID and 13 300kgs (1 900 bags) from the OKCID.

Festive season wrap up

There were very few incidents of crime in Green Point or Oranje-Kloof over the holidays, so well done to all role players involved for their coordinated efforts to keep law and order.

In mid-November we introduced a paramedic to our team of staff, to be on call for all emergencies in our CIDs. Working with Shannon Kane has been a pleasure and has really boosted the top-up level of services we have on offer. A big thank you must also go out to Garth Miller from Bantry Bay Pharmacy for sponsoring all consumables used by Shannon. This pilot project will run until the end of February and based on the early success, we hope to make it a permanent addition to our list of added-value services later this year.

OKCID celebrates a decade of top up services in Oranje-Kloof

Up until the introduction of the OKCID in 2002, Oranje-Kloof showed serious signs of urban degeneration and distress. Over the past decade there has been a significant reduction in crime and litter, new businesses have moved into the area, upgrades take place regularly and there is an influx of both residents and visitors meandering through the streets, enjoying what the area has to offer.

As a testament to this, Arnold Bettendorf, owner of Arnold's on Kloof Street, says, "The OKCID team is doing a really good job and often goes beyond the call of duty. For example they recently arranged for motorbike bays to be created outside our restaurant. We like the fact that they are highly visible, easily contactable and when there is an issue they sort it out quickly." Visit our gallery for an array of photos of Oranje-Kloof.

Myög Genuine Frozen Yogurt

Bold colours, modern décor, two dashing Frenchmen behind the counter and a unique product is not a bad combination for a new business, especially in the heart of Kloof Street. Their recipe seems to be working so far, with a steady stream of customers stepping into this vibrant little yogurt bar throughout the day.

I decided on the plain natural flavour and as that first spoonful slipped down my throat I realised what all the fuss was about: its soft, silky consistency lingers on your palate and its natural sweetness tickles taste buds you didn't even know existed. Sharing is definitely not an option on this one! Read more

WOW! Ways of Wellness

Ways of Wellness on Kloof Street is a 100% organic beauty salon that works on a no-appointment schedule, catering for walk-in customers only. They offer a diverse range of treatments for both men and women, and all products used are environmentally friendly, certified organic and natural.

If you're game to try something a little unusual and new to the South African market then their fish spa is a great place to start. You simply place your feet in a tank of warm water containing hundreds of tiny Garra rufa fish that suck and gently nibble away at dry and dead skin, leaving your feet feeling refreshed and healthy. Read more

A big thumbs up for Cape Town's Fire Fighters

The GP/OKCID would like to commend the combined efforts of the South African Fire Department, Disaster Management Department and the Volunteer Wildfire Services over the festive season. They certainly had their work cut out for them and were in top form. Read more about their recent escapade on Signal Hill and how you can get involved and offer support.

"There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them." Denis Waitley