Two years on, and DA-led metros have brought change to millions of South Africans

The following remarks were delivered by the Leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), Mmusi Maimane, in Greater Ellis Park in Johannesburg today. The Leader was joined by the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, and the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Solly Msimanga.

Two years ago to the day, history was made when the Democratic Alliance (DA) was elected into government in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay – the first time the ANC had lost control of these cities. As soon as agreements were finalised, coalition governments with several political parties were formed to serve the people and bring about real change.

From day one, it was clear that the governments inherited from previous administrations were in shambles – both financially and administratively. These administrations were endemically corrupt and heavily bloated which will again be the case if the ANC are ever again trusted to govern these cities.

Since then, these governments have been hard at work putting residents first by cutting corruption, prioritising service delivery, and passing pro-poor budgets in order to create jobs. This is a responsibility that we do not take lightly.

Any modern economy’s prospect for sustainable development and growth hinges on the effectiveness of city-led economic growth. And the Greater Ellis Park area that we find ourselves in today is a visionary example of the sustainable growth of a city within a city. This is an example of how Mayor Mashaba is turning dilapidated and abandoned land in the Johannesburg inner city and revitalising it – creating low-cost housing and job creating industry to address historical injustices.

The very property we are on today is one of 71 pieces of inner city land earmarked as commercial and residential development for the benefit of the people of eGoli. This 1 640 square metre site is intended for the development of mixed income housing.

Johannesburg’s New Doornfontein City Improvement District (CID) continues to pioneer the utility of industrial land in the east inner city. What was the City’s historic manufacturing hub went to ruin under the previous ANC government, but is now on the cusp of being transformed.

The diverse space of land is set to be used as a manufacturing hub for mostly warehousing, light industry and amenities, an educational precinct, a mixed-use area for largely manufacturing, light engineering, warehousing, office and retail and at the heart of the development, a sports mecca space.

This is only one shining example of the DA difference that continues to transform the lives of more than 16 million South Africans living under a DA government. While we may have inherited metro governments that had long been forgotten by the ANC, DA governments will never take for granted those we serve – and the more than R100 billion in pro-poor budgets that were successfully passed in these governments are testament to this.

Today is a day to celebrate the first 24 months of DA-led coalition governments in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay as they lead in the fight to create jobs, stand up against crime, cut corruption and build One South Africa For All. These DA-led governments will continue to stand tall as beacons of hope for the South Africa of tomorrow.

City of Johannesburg

This hope was cultivated when upon assuming office in August 2016, the City of Johannesburg set itself the ambitious task of growing Johannesburg’s economy to 5% by 2021. This remains a high target but was a goal the Mayor’s team needed to reach to create jobs and turn the rising tide against unemployment in the City.

From day one, the DA-led City of Johannesburg made jobs and growth its primary focus. By creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurs and businesses to grow, it was only a matter of time before the results began to show.

Despite the continued rise in the national expanded unemployment rate to 37.2% in the second quarter of 2018, the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Stats SA earlier this week shows this government has created an environment that produced 109 000 new jobs since the beginning of the year. This was achieved while reducing the expanded unemployment rate from 32.3% to 30.8%. If this trend continues, the City is well on its way to reaching the goal of 5% growth by 2021.

Quality infrastructure and the stabilisation of services will always be a non-negotiable for business in the continent’s economic capital. The City has met this expectation by not only renewing infrastructure and stabilising services but establishing a responsive, dedicated, accountable and professional civil service that inspires confidence with the people of Johannesburg and delivers world-class services that will continue to make Johannesburg an attractive destination for investment.

The Khoebo Opportunity Centre has seen hundreds of young entrepreneurs walk through its doors, turning ideas into small businesses. The roll out of these Opportunity Centres are beginning to assist residents with crucial skills and support to grow their businesses so that they too can create job opportunities. In addition to Khoebo, the City’s goal is to create 13 more Opportunity Centres through Johannesburg, deepening access to jobs with two in every one of the seven regions throughout the City by 2021.

Crime and corruption have become public enemy number one in the City of Johannesburg, and we are winning the war. More than 3 500 cases of corruption and maladministration involving almost R18 billion has been uncovered by the newly established Group Forensics and Investigation Services (GFIS) and the recruitment of an additional 1 500 Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officers has ensured the streets of Johannesburg are much safer. The launch of Operation Buya Mthetho has seen to more than 8 000 arrests by law enforcement officials since the beginning of the year.

Over 20 000 arrests have been made by the JMPD, and the GFIS has a specialised unit that counter-acts building hijacking syndicates and returns properties that have been hijacked to their rightful owners. With the assistance of the JMPD, this unit has already returned 73 buildings to their rightful owners.

A free Community Substance Abuse Treatment Centres has been opened which includes provision for a 24-hour crisis line where the people of Johannesburg can speak with caring professional staff to get the help that they need. By the end of this financial year there will be eight of these Centres reaching areas such as Poortjie, Bophelong and Cosmo City.

In order to open up access to health services, extended operating hours within City clinics have ensured that residents do not have to decide between making it to work and receiving medical attention, and so that students never have to choose between going to school and accessing healthcare.

City of Tshwane

The City of Tshwane has also become the talk of the town with the Capital City having allocated R137.2 million towards Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) initiatives this financial year. In September last year, much needed reforms to the City’s EPWP recruitment policy were introduced, effectively ending the system of insiders and outsiders that have previously marred EPWP job opportunities.

Tshwane’s reformed EPWP recruitment policy framework is built on the principle of transparency. The selection process involves an open public lottery system where beneficiaries are randomly selected so that no individual can be approached or lobbied to occupy any of the work opportunities available in the City.

The new DA government inherited a major housing backlog, and corruption and maladministration had taken over the building and allocation of houses to the poorest of residents. While many live without the dignity of a brick and mortar home, previous ANC mayors lived in lavish luxury in the so called “Mayoral Mansion”. This mansion was put up for sale and on 23 November last year it was sold for R5.1 million in order to build houses for those without. Proceeds made from the sale are already being used to build 40 houses for those without.

Over the past two years, great strides have been made towards stabilising the City’s finances. This was achieved by strengthening the controls over supply chain processes, slashing unauthorised and unnecessary expenditure and extricating the City from unlawful and expensive contracts.

This has resulted in turning a R2 billion inherited deficit into a surplus. The reported operating deficit for 2015/16 was R2.1 billion which was restated to R1.3 billion during the next financial year’s audit process. This is evidence of a DA-run City handling public money with care, ensuring it is spent on the people, not politicians.

The Capital City closed the financial year with an operating surplus of R704 million.

Nelson Mandela Bay

On the other end of the country, the Nelson Mandela Bay coalition government has had all the odds stacked against them from day one. But in the face of adversity, a budget that focused on low-income communities, housing and informal settlement upgrades, roads, lights and community facilities was passed.

Prudent budgeting enabled the first Metro Police Service in the Eastern Cape to have been launched in Nelson Mandela Bay to tackle the scourge of crime in the City. Working closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS), they have seen to an 11% decrease in gang related crimes in the City’s most dangerous communities such as Helenvale where a pilot project with Shot Spotter has improved response times and seen a number of critical arrests made.

The service has grown to 135 officers and 38 patrol vehicles with a specialised bicycle unit, ghost squad and bylaw enforcement unit in operation. It has been such a success that the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Police Department’s Annual Police Plan format was adopted as the blueprint to be used by all Metro Police Departments nationwide.

In two years, the rooting out of corrupt senior officials, securing and monitoring of SCM offices and opening up of the Bid Adjudication Committee (BIC) to the public has turned around the City’s finances and SCM and ensured that every penny is accounted for. The City is now liquid with over R2 billion in the bank, has a steadily rising collection rate and achieves some of the best capital expenditure in the country.

NMB recently received a AAA credit rating and a windfall Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) allocation of R178.8 million on top of the R911 million received at the beginning of the financial year. The City has succeeded in spending close to R1.1 billion on capital works that has directly improve the lives of the poor and made for better service delivery.

Services such as the Assistance to the Poor (ATTP) will see recipients receive R2 billion over the medium term, while R1.5 million is going to be spent on informal trading (EDTA) infrastructure. Almost half a billion rand has been apportioned to upgrading housing and informal settlements, human settlement projects, a bucket eradication programme, informal housing and electrification programmes. To date 9 000 of the 16 000 bucket toilets inherited from the previous ANC government have been eradicated.

To ensure the safety of their roads, more than half a billion rand has been put aside for roads and lighting. In addition to this, R150 million has been reserved for the upgrading and development of community facilities like Multi-Purpose Centres, libraries, sports facilities, parks and open public spaces.

Conclusion

These DA-led governments have put the people of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay first by creating jobs, waging war on crime, crushing corruption, delivering nothing but the best services and passing over R100 billion in pro-poor budgets. This is a total change for more than 16 million South Africans.

Change forced the ANC to realise that they cannot govern with impunity. This DA difference has come to be expected of us where govern and we would not have it any other way. South Africans deserve excellence in government and we hold ourselves to very high standards in pursuit of this.

These are not simply cherry-picked success stories. They are very real examples of the opportunities that exist for more than 16 million people who live under DA-led governments.

One of the greatest privileges one can ever be entrusted with is a mandate from the people to serve and it is these DA-led governments’ past two years of service to the residents of these great cities that we should all be celebrating today.

City to boost its Metro Policing by another 180 traffic wardens

On Thursday, 19 July, the Mayoral Committee of the City of Johannesburg passed a resolution to boost the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) with a further 180 traffic wardens.

The City is growing at a substantial rate of about 3 000 new residents per month, as more and more people from around the world choose to make Johannesburg their home, and this rapid growth in population has necessitated that the City increase and improve capacity in all areas in order to deliver services efficiently and effectively.

This is part of “Diphetogo”, the City’s multi-party government’s initiative to improve the lives of our people by allocating a bigger share of funds only to priority projects that touch the lives of residents in a meaningful way.

Public safety is essential in maintaining stable economic growth and attracting investment to the City, which is why JMPD has been spearheading the restoration of law and order across the City.

Since the launch of Operation Buya Mthetho, a multi-disciplinary operation aimed at restoring law and order, more than 500 un-roadworthy and illegal mini bus taxis have been impounded by JMPD.

The metro police’s K9 Narcotics and Tactical Unit has effected 1 193 arrests, recovering 123 illegal firearms, 136 kilograms of drugs and over 1000 hijacked vehicles.

Noting that safety challenges in the City remain a mammoth task, it is important to ensure that there are adequate policing resources to serve its residents.

To this end, the City will be recruiting about 180 traffic wardens from the former Extended Public Works Program employees who were previously trained to perform traffic pointsman duties.

The Department of Public Safety identified the need to capacitate traffic wardens with additional powers in order to allow them to perform at optimum level.

JMPD Chief of Police David Tembe has engaged with the Gauteng Provincial Government and Transport MEC Dr. Ismail Vadi has agreed to this initiative to further endow JMPD traffic wardens with the following powers:

In terms of the National Road Traffic Act of 1996, a traffic warden may, in addition to their usual traffic management functions;

  1. When in uniform, require a driver of any vehicle to stop such vehicle;
  2. Regulate and control traffic upon any public road and give such directions as may be necessary;
  3. Require any person to give his/ her name, address, and other particulars or any process which are required for identification purposes if the traffic warden suspects the person having committed an offence;
  4. In respect of any motor vehicle, demand the owner, operator or driver to produce any documents as may be prescribed in terms of the Act.

The recruitment process will commence shortly and qualifying beneficiaries in terms of this first Traffic Warden Recruitment Program will be contacted to present themselves for the relevant processes. Once the recruitment program is completed, the City will see 180 traffic wardens servicing the residents of Johannesburg.

In closing, I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to MEC Vadi for accepting our application and extending the above powers to the City of Johannesburg as this allows us to bring back the Rule of Law to the City.

MEC Vadi’s assistance is a perfect example of the kind of intergovernmental relations that we wish to have.

 

Residents get electricity in their homes for the first time in DA-led Jozi

In 2015, the residents of Slovo Park took the City of Johannesburg to court for its failure to provide services to them after, what was then, 21 years of democracy.

On 19 February 2018, installation of electricity infrastructure commenced in the area and today, after waiting for over 20 years to receive basic services, each of the 3734 informal households in Slovo Park and the 3000 RDP homes in Elias Motsoaledi have been successfully connected to electricity.

“Today I had the pleasure of seeing first-hand the smiles on resident’s faces as we officially declared the electrification of Slovo Park and Elias Motsoaledi complete.”

 – Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba

City Power has also completed an awareness campaign aimed at educating the community of Slovo Park on the importance of taking ownership of the electricity network, dangers of illegal connections, saving electricity and the importance of paying for services rendered by the City of Joburg.

“This is part of our pro-poor agenda to uplift those communities that cannot help themselves. As part of the electricity roll-out, we aim to bring dignity to our people and steer them away from connecting to electricity illegally.”

–  Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba

You can read the full story here

 

DA-led Jozi takes the fight to un-roadworthy vehicles

As part of Operation Buya Mthetho, an initiative between the City of Johannesburg and the JMPD, the DA-led City of Johannesburg has been removing un-roadworthy, unlicensed and illegal vehicles from the roads across the city since the beginning of the year.

One of the 500 impounded vehicles that used to transport children to school every single day.

One part of this multi-focused operation is to ensure the restoration of road safety and law and order on the roads.

Over 500 un-roadworthy, unlicensed and illegal minibus taxis, and over 60 illegal dumper trucks have been impounded by JMPD since the commencement of Operation.

Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba investigating one of the impounded taxis.

“We will not surrender to lawlessness. Illegal, non-compliant and irresponsible operators cannot expect us to look away whilst they play with the lives of commuters and other motorists on the roads”

– Herman Mashaba, Mayor of Johannesburg

DA to table a pro-poor budget in Johannesburg today

Today the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, will table a pro-poor budget which is committed to improving the lives of poor residents in the City and increasing service delivery to the people of Johannesburg.

The DA-led government in Johannesburg have inherited a massive service delivery backlog from the ANC and we have committed ourselves to put the people of Johannesburg first in our efforts to restore good governance and services.

The DA is confident that our coalition partners will put politics aside and support the people’s budget. Political grandstanding will not put the people first or solve the massive challenges facing the City.

Mayor Mashaba’s has worked hard to ensure that his budget is inclusive of poor and marginalised residents and rejuvenates service delivery in the City. Some of the main pro-poor budget allocations include:

  1. Pro-poor delivery
  • Next year’s housing budget will be the largest ever in the City’s history at over R1.142 billion.
  • R12.5 million for the rollout of 3 Mobile Clinics.
  • R1.1 billion will be spent over the next 3 years to tar gravel roads in informal settlements.
  • In 2018/19 the City will be extending the operating hours at another 13 clinics, bringing the number to 26.
  1. Infrastructure investment
  • Over R1,2 billion on roads including; R250 million for road rehabilitation/reconstruction, R226 million for stormwater upgrades, R181 million on bridges.
  • City Power has received R1 billion which will be used to upgrade key substations across the City and bring stability to the network.
  • Over R900 million on the water network, expected to reduce the number of pipe bursts by 6 000 in 2018/19.
  1. Visible service delivery
  • The City has doubled its budget for grass cutting and tree pruning from R107 million to R207 million in 2018/19.
  • R45 million will be spent to install new public lighting across the City with the budget for street light repairs going from R1.6 million to R21 million in 2018/19.
  • An additional R40 million has been allocated for road markings.
  1. Public safety and substance abuse
  • R12.5 million on three more Community Substance Abuse Treatment Centres to bring the total to 9.
  • R10 million for traffic calming measures.

By voting to pass this budget, together we can get to work and deliver long overdue services to those who need it most and continue to improve the lives of the residents of Johannesburg.

DA brings change to Soweto business owners

On 11 May 2018 the DA brought change to business owners in Soweto who have been waiting thirty years to own land by handing over title deeds. See photo here.

This forms part of the City of Johannesburg’s Land Regularisation Programme, which aims to redress the distribution of council-owned land.

This programme is important as it can become a catalyst for development that benefits the community, small businesses and developers. Where we govern, the DA is leading by example by ensuring that our people are becoming land owners.

Land ownership plays an important role in growing our economy. By handing over these title deeds, we are ensuring that our people who previously did not have an opportunity to own land are now given this chance.

This is how we are creating a South Africa that is alive with possibilities and builds a legacy for generations to come.

Come 2019, the DA will bring about Change across the province.

DA-led City of Johannesburg is financially stable and will continue delivering services to residents

The DA notes the report in the City Press today that the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) is ‘cash-strapped’ and ‘heading for a bailout’ and rejects the allegations as false and a misrepresentation of the city’s finances. The new DA-led administration has worked tirelessly to stabilise finances and this intervention is already yielding positive results.

Thanks to the City’s revenue collection drive, Operation Buya Mthetho, the month of May was one of the highest revenue collection months in the City’s history. This can be directly attributed to a team of highly skilled professionals in the city, who are putting the interests of residents first as part of a fruitful turnaround plan.

Our ongoing fight to reverse the damage done to the city’s finances by previous ANC administrations has has been well-documented. Since taking over the CoJ after our 2016 Local Government Election victory, the DA-led administration has committed itself to ensuring efficient service delivery for all citizens of Johannesburg, especially the poor.

The previous ANC administration’s corruption has robbed the poor of not only quality service delivery, but much-needed jobs as well. The DA’s determination to address the consequences of this corruption is evidenced by our pursuit of 3500 graft cases in the city.

The City Press report appears to be critical of the money the CoJ spent on forensic investigations into corruption in the city administration. This is, however, exactly what is required to ensure that corruption never rears its head again in the CoJ as it is the reason for the country’s skyrocketing unemployment rate – which currently stands at 9.5 million.

Despite the money lost to ANC corruption, the city still has a balance of R3.279 billion and this will be carefully managed as we continue to provide quality services.

Furthermore, we will attract much needed investment to improve the city in order to create more jobs for residents and maintain Johannesburg’s reputation as one of Africa’s economic powerhouses.

The City of Johannesburg will continue to prioritise its citizens through efficient service delivery and a pro-poor agenda that will lift its people out of poverty.

DA-led Jozi opens one of 5 Substance Abuse Treatment Centres in Eldorado Park

As part of the DA-led Jozi’s strategy to eradicate drug abuse and other social problems, today Mayor, Herman Mashaba opened the Eldorado Park Community Based Substance Abuse Treatment Centre.

This centre is one of five that the City will be opening this year to fight the scourge of drug abuse and drug peddling that is ravaging the communities, particularly the youth.

There will be no charge for treatment at these clinics. Drugs are killing our children. They are our future. Without a vibrant youth, this City and this country will be doomed.

–       Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba

The City of Johannesburg will also be working closely with relevant Departments in the City to provide skills development and other interventions to limit chances of relapse.

You can read the full story here.

Over 6000 Jozi households to receive electricity for the first time

In 2015, the residents of Slovo Park took the City to court for its failure to provide services to them after, what was then, 21 years of democracy.

The judgement stated: “For all of this time they have lived in deplorable conditions, they have no access to electricity, shack fires break out at a rate of 1 every 2 months and are often fatal and ambulances refuse to collect the sick from Slovo Park because the roads are not formally demarcated, do not appear on a map, are not signposted and as a result individual residents cannot be located.”

I made a promise to the people of Slovo Park that our government will bring electricity to their homes. This is part of our pro-poor agenda to uplift those communities that cannot help themselves.

– Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba

On the 19th of February this year, the residents of Slovo Park, for the first time, awoke to the sounds of the City installing electricity and roads in their community.

In addition, a total of 3734 informal households in Slovo Park will be electrified by the first week of June 2018, and a total of 3000 RDP homes in Elias Motsoaledi will be connected to electricity towards the end of June 2018.

This matter is not only about service delivery. It is about bringing dignity to our people.

– Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba

You can read the full story here

BOKAMOSO | Johannesburg has a long way to go, but it’s heading in the right direction.

Joburg Mayor Herman Mashaba gave his second State of the City address on Wednesday, marking the first full reporting year under his leadership. I urge you to read this extract from his speech. Without doubt the Johannesburg we dream of is still a very long way away. But I am 100% confident the City is heading in the right direction.

Turning around a city in decline is like turning around a large ocean-going liner that is travelling in the wrong direction. First you must slow it down, then stop it, turn it around, get it moving in the right direction, and then power it up to full speed.

When a seven-party DA-led coalition took over the running of Cape Town in mid-2006, this is exactly the process that played out. By the end of 2007, visible change was not as marked as residents had expected. And yet behind the scenes, the right systems and processes were being put in place to get the city moving forward.

Mashaba’s team inherited road, water and electrical networks all in a dire state of decay, a massive service delivery backlog and a monstrous debt of R17 billion, R5 billion of which was due this year. With scarce resources and huge demands on multiple fronts, prioritizing is everything and trade-offs are unavoidable. Mashaba is clear about his top priorities.

Firstly, he is determined that the rule of law will prevail in Johannesburg. His team has taken a zero tolerance approach to crime and corruption because the social costs of these are unacceptable. As he points out, the R18 billion of fraud and corruption under investigation would have been enough to build houses for all 152 000 people on Joburg’s housing list. “Our fight against corruption WILL NEVER rest in this City.”  

They are building a well-trained, well-equipped metro police force to fight deep-rooted lawlessness, with 1500 newly recruited additional JMPD officers currently undergoing training. They are targeting criminal syndicates (particularly the major dealers and distributors of drugs) through a dedicated narcotics unit, reclaiming hijacked buildings, cracking down on the illegal consumption of services and facilitating the processing of undocumented immigrants by Home Affairs. Joburg must be “a dangerous place for criminals”.

Secondly, Mashaba is determined to build a highly capable, professionalized civil service that prioritises service delivery to the poor. “Nothing we do will be more important than this, because the accumulative effort of having 33 000 employees committed to a common cause – which is our people – will exceed all other interventions we can possibly achieve.”

Already they have cut wasteful expenditure by R480 million and tripled the spend on repairs and maintenance of infrastructure from 2% under the previous government to 6% this year. If wealthier residents can’t yet see any visible change in delivery, it is because Herman’s team is concentrating their efforts on where services are needed most: in the informal settlements where communities still lack even the most basic of services.

RDP houses are being built, serviced sites and other housing options are being planned, title deeds are being delivered, potholes are being filled, roads are being tarred and maintained – all at a significantly higher rate than under the previous government. But the backlog is staggering; even many township residents are yet to experience material improvements to their lives. The ship is well and truly turned around, but it is by no means moving at full speed.

Mashaba is the first to admit this. “It has to be the focus of our government to ensure that the pace of change increases, and that it reaches into the lives of more people, more businesses and more communities.”

And thirdly, Mashaba is determined to make Joburg a place that is attractive to investors and entrepreneurs. He recognizes this is the only way to ensure sustainable job creation, which is the only viable route to economic freedom and social stability.

And already his commitment to cleaning up the inner city, fighting lawlessness and wooing investors is bearing fruit. “At this mid-year point, R5.6 Billion of external investment has been injected into our City which has already exceeded the annual target, and the achievement of any full prior year in our City’s history.”

He is rolling out Opportunity Centres, which offer a basket of services to assist small businesses, including registering companies on the City’s supplier database and training to improve the ability of SMMEs to tender for city projects. These Centres will house a Work Seekers’ Database where qualifying people can register to benefit from temporary work opportunities in the City on a fair and rotational basis.

An artisan training programme is in the pipeline for young people, which will serve the dual purpose of fighting youth unemployment and providing the skills needed by a growing economy. Red-tape is being progressively cut. In the past financial year, they have processed 95% of submitted building plans within 30 – 60 days.

In fighting crime and corruption, growing a capable state and making Joburg attractive to investors, Mashaba’s team is laying the foundations for what they call “Diphetogo”, a seSotho word that can be directly interpreted to mean real, transformational change. “It captures the idea that change is not an event but a process.” I am confident that Diphetogo has taken root, and that all the people of Johannesburg will one day share in its fruit.

In the coming weeks, I will share with you the progress we are making in the DA-led metros of Tshwane, NMB and Cape Town, and in the Western Cape.