Our Story

We are a civic organisation that acts on behalf of our members in municipal matters such as those relating to property development, business licencing, public events and the use of public spaces.

CIBRA is an independent organisation, run by members on income raised through membership fees. We receive no funds from the City.

History

The City Bowl Ratepayers’ & Residents’ Association (CIBRA) was the result of the amalgamation of three civic associations in the City Bowl in 1997. This amalgamation took place partly to provide a greater pool of volunteers and expertise and partly to meet the City of Cape Town’s aim of dealing with only one organisation for each ward. ClBRA’s mandate stems from the inaugural AGM and its subsequent AGMs.

Structure

CIBRA is led by an executive committee (Exco) of volunteer members elected at each AGM. Portfolios are drawn up based on the various areas of concern from our members. Additional members can also be temporarily co-opted for specific tasks, projects or issues. CIBRA also relies on a permanent Urban Conservation Advisory Panel of built environment professionals, and ad hoc advisers for urban and town planning issues.

The Exco and Advisory Panel are made up of civically minded local residents and property owners who give freely of their time, energy and expertise to tackle local issues affecting the City Bowl.

Area of influence

CIBRA is the civic association for the residential City Bowl. The CBD has its own business linked organisations addressing matters of concern in that area. In 2015 the Heritage Protection Overlay Zones (HPOZ) for Bo-Kaap and Vredehoek had not yet been confirmed by the City and those areas formed their own civic associations as did District 6. Working in collaboration with these organisations, CIBRA now mainly acts for Oranjezicht, Higgovale, Gardens and Tamboerskloof. Additionally, the CIBRA Urban Conservation Advisory Panel deals with ward 115 development referrals from Heritage Western Cape.