About CIBRA
CIBRA (City Bowl Ratepayers’ & Residents’ Association) is 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. We are an independent organisation, run by members on income raised through membership fees. We receive no funds from the City.
Our 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 had not yet been confirmed by the City and the area formed their own civic associations as did District 6.
Working in collaboration with these organisations, CIBRA now mainly acts for Oranjezicht, Higgovale, Gardens, Tamboerskloof, Vredehoek & Devil’s Peak. Additionally, the CIBRA Urban Conservation Advisory Panel deals with ward 115 development referrals from Heritage Western Cape.
CIBRA adds value by using the number of ratepayers it represents to influence and encourage the councilors of Ward 77 and 115.
Spatial Planning Collective
The City’s Urban Planning and Design Department (UPD) has launched a new form of engagement between the citizens and the department – the Spatial Planning Collectives
There will be twenty Collectives in total – one per Subcouncil. The Collectives will collaborate with the UPD officials through regular engagements and information sharing sessions and will be expected to also provide feedback to their respective communities, organisations and other stakeholders whom they represent.
CIBRA has a Representative in the Subcouncil 16 Spatial Planning Collective who has attended the Launch Event and the Conference organised by the UPD.
Executive Committee
Rod Stevens
Chair
Monique Vernooy
Vice Chair
Gregor Leigh
Secretary
Teresa Raposo
Treasurer
Niel Vernooy
Exco Member
Joeke Monteiro
Exco Member
Conservation Panel
Marcell Schuchardt
Chair
Karinina Ingwersen
Ivan Flint
Andrew Jones
Rod Stevens
Cape Town Collective Ratepayers’ Association (CTCRA)
CIBRA is one of the founding members of the Cape Town Collective Ratepayers’ Association. The CTCRA is an association with 45 ratepayer associations and civic organisations from across Cape Town as current members.
CTCRA’s mandate is to be a robust and constructive discussion partner on all matters that affect the interests of its members.
As a member of the CTCRA, CIBRA was Amicus Curiae in the High Court Case of SAPOA and Afriforum vs the City of Cape Town. It was argued that the City acted unlawfully by linking fixed charges for water, sanitation and “city wide cleaning” to property values.
All three judges, including the Judge President, agreed that the City had acted unlawfully and that it should pay the costs of the applicants. Unfortunately all the costs will be paid by ratepayers, because they are the City’s source of revenue. Fortunately the City has decided not to appeal against the court’s decision. It will now have to review its budget.