This latest Inside Guide has the answers for cold winters! With a stormy winter on the horizon, we’ve rounded up the cosiest restaurants in Cape Town, where fireplaces provide warmth and atmosphere.
Restaurants with Fireplaces in Cape Town 2019
Free Online Valuation Offer
Valuator: Our computer-assisted valuation is now only provided free of charge to property owners in the Southern Suburbs, Constantiaberg and False Bay areas of Cape Town.
The valuation will be sent to you by email.
Valuator is a service marketed by Homeimage (in association with Chas Everitt Cape Town South). HomeImage provides real estate marketing services such as floor plans, professional property photography.
Your local Chas Everitt agent will be able to review the valuation at your request without any obligation or cost to you. If you subsequently wish to have a local agent provide you with a more detailed valuation assessment after a viewing of your property, please let them know directly.
REGISTERING SOLAR POWER INSTALLATIONS
CAPE TOWN DUE DATE FOR REGISTERING SOLAR POWER INSTALLATIONS
Owners of properties with solar power systems, and which properties are situated in the jurisdiction of the City of Cape Town Municipality, must register their installation with the City by 31 May. The initial deadline was set for the end of February 2019, but the City extended the grace period to Thursday this week.
In this Youtube video, the City explains why such regulation is necessary and also which exceptions apply, such as in the case of solar powered water geysers.
According to the City’s website, applicants can either register a grid-tied system or an off-grid SSEG.
For a complete guide to registering your systems, visit: Grid-tied systems application process or Off-grid systems application process
The Winter Garden in Cape Town
There’s always work to be done in the garden to keep green fingers busy – even in winter. Our June gardening guide is packed with tips, from keeping your garden healthy to which vegetables to grow in winter.
Spotlight on: Indoor projects for kids
Keep your children busy these winter holidays with fun indoor-garden projects:
- We love this eggshell succulent garden, and so will your kids. They’re easy to make and an effective way to teach the basics of gardening.
- Dress up ordinary flowerpots with these creative gumboot gardens. They are also the best way to upcycle your old boots!
- Transform an ordinary herb pot into a work of art with just two creative tools: blackboard paint and chalk. Simply paint the rim or base of your terracotta pots (whichever style you prefer) with blackboard paint, then label with the herb name in chalk when it’s dry.
ON YOUR TO-DO LIST FOR JUNE
Plant and sow
- Plant cool-season bedding plants such as alyssum, calendula, dianthus, lobelia, nemesia, pansies, sweet peas and violas.
- Liliums, azaleas and camellias can be planted in dappled shade.
- Add Brussels sprouts, kale, radish, leeks, onions, turnips and members of the cabbage family (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and spinach) to your vegetable garden.
Feed
- Feed lemon trees with a 2:3:2 general fertiliser.
- Remedy yellowing leaves with a micro-element mixture such as Trelmix.
- Feed bulbs with bulb food once every two weeks and water well.
- Winter- and spring-flowering seedlings require an organic fertiliser such as Nitrosol or Atlantic All-purpose fertiliser every two weeks with a weekly watering.
- Check the edges of sweet peas. If they’re brown and papery, feed with a 3:1:5 fertiliser.
- Feed indoor plants with Nitrosol weekly.
Prune & Trim
- Remove side shoots on sweet peas to encourage strong upward growth.
- Trim autumn-flowering shrubs like pride of India, ribbon bush, wild dagga and barleria.
- Prune fruit trees such as peach, plum and apricot.
- Prune roses after transplanting.
Pests
Post Elections Activities!
The Best May Events in Cape Town 2019 as curated by The Inside Guide
Food trucks, olives, cab franc and design… These are the things to look forward to in Cape Town during May 2019.
The Mother of all cities is hotting up with a festive lineup of cool events! Here’s their pick of where to go and what to do in May 2019.
Take a look at The Inside Guide
Newlands Diary Dates
PINOT NOIR FESTIVAL
Sunday 28 April 2019
https://www.vineyard.co.za/pinot_noir_festival/
Vineyard Hotel, Newlands
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN PHOTOGRAPHY OF ALEXANDER LINDSAY
Exhibition until 5 May 2019
https://www.vineyard.co.za/the_sublime__the_beautiful_the-tame__the_terrible/
Vineyard Hotel, Newlands
KIRSTENBOSCH PLANT SALE
Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May 2019
Kirstenbosch hosts its annual Plant Fair and fundraiser, offering the biggest range of indigenous plants in one place. Thousands of plants are carefully selected from a variety of local growers, including Kirstenbosch and put on show. Local plant gurus are also available to offer their gardening advice. Garden-related products, and food and beverages are on sale.
Venue: Kirstenbosch Stone Cottages, Newlands, Cape Town
Time: Sat 9am to 4pm | Sun 9am to 2pm
Tel: 021 671 5468
Email: plantfair@botsoc-kirstenbosch.org.za
Facebook: Kirstenbosch Plant Fair
https://www.whatsonincapetown.com/post/kirstenbosch-national-botanical-gardens-plant-fair/
Curated content by eNeighbourhoods for Chas Everitt ‘s Newlands Team – www.cei.co.za
The City of Cape Town has opened their draft budget for public comment and is asking for your input on the proposed increases in rates, taxes, water, electricity and refuse removal.
By calling for public comment, the CoCT has provided an excellent opportunity for you to directly influence the budget in the direction you want it to go.
We urge you to have your say by clicking the green button below and to encourage everyone you know to participate in this essential process. As an extra measure, DearSA will compile a report from all comments received and will present it to the City to ensure the voice of the public is not ignored.
Please take action and participate now as the closing date is Monday 29 April.
Thank you for participating in your democracy.
The team at Dear South Africa.
Should the green button not show, please use this link; https://www.dearcapetown.co.
Editor’s Note:
PROPERTY VALUATION and RATES
The 2019/20 Budget tabled on 28 March 2019 has changes to the way property rates will be calculated in future.
There is an increase from the point where property rates start to be payable. It was increased from R200 000 to R300 000. The Rate in Rand was lowered from 0.007154 to 0.00555. It represents a 22% drop in the Rate in Rand rate.
The nett effect of these changes is that properties that had a property valuation (GV2018) increase of 30% will be paying the same rates as before. Lower than 30% property valuation will see a decrease in property rates. Those with a property valuation increase (GV2018) of more than 30% will progressively see an increase in their property rates bill.
Curated content by eNeighbourhood for Chas Everitt Cape Town South
OYAMA BONSAI KAI SHOW
On display at Kirstenbosch’s Richard Crowie Hall over the Easter Weekend will be a collection of trees grown by members of Oyama Bonsai Kai.
The club meets monthly in Plumstead and offers a friendly environment for people to get together and learn more about bonsai with interesting demonstrations, talks, workshops and friendly experienced members always willing to give newcomers a helping hand with their trees. We welcome anyone from the serious grower to the complete novice for whom we offer a fantastic beginners course!
Come to Kirstenbosh and see the wonderful little trees. Bring along your own tree for some advice, watch experienced growers working on their creations or find a new bonsai to take home with you from the extensive range on offer at the sales area where there will also be pots, wire, potting soil and other bonsai supplies available for sale. We look forward to meeting you, and hope you’ll enjoy our show!
More detailshttps://www.sanbi.org/event/oyama-bonsai-kai-show/
Two Oceans – Road Closures and More
Local Real Estate MD Predicts Increases in Sales Activity after Elections
Sally Gracie, an experienced local agent and MD of Chas Everitt Cape Town South with offices in Fish Hoek, Tokai and Bergvliet says there are plenty of buyers waiting to take action after the election.
“It is not just an observation based on gut feel, it is the clear imbalance between those viewing properties on the portals and the offers being taken. As an agency that monitors many key indicators, we see an issue here showing considerable interest by buyers but a reluctance to follow through with offers. This usually indicates a confidence issue and it’s clear that at the moment we can attribute this to the imminent elections”, says Sally Gracie.
“We measure four major indicators; the number of people viewing our listings online, the number of appointments that result from this interest and then the number of offers taken and sales concluded,” said Sally. “When the number of people viewing property increases, but the number of offers taken decreases, then it is clear there is a confidence issue we need to identify. Based on our recent discussions with buyers it is clear that it is not Eskom but the election that is impacting on buyers taking action. “
Sally cautioned sellers to not misread the market. “This situation does not mean that we are expecting an increase in prices as we have had a build-up of stock, in particular at the top end of the market where supply has increased substantially since the start of the year. Sellers need to remain competitive! What is needed is turnover, and we expect that movement will pick up, absorbing the increase in stock that we are currently servicing. I think we can say this is good news for everyone,” she said.
For a free market evaluation email Sally Gracie