This site is aimed at giving the history, background and news about the area covered by Ward 53 in the City of Cape Town. The emphasis is on Local Government issues.      

Councillor Brian Watkyns has represented the Pinelands area since 1982. The original Pinelands Town Council consisted of 6 Councillors . With the first amalgamation of local councils in 1996, Thornton, Epping 1,   Ndabeni and Maitland Garden Village were added to Pinelands with a part of Maitland to create  Ward 37.

The year 2000 saw the introduction of mega- cities with 200 Councillors. Ward 37 had areas of Langa, Kensington, Observatory, Mowbray and Hazendal included to create new Ward 53. In 2005, the boundaries were changed to exclude Kensington but Maitland Garden Village was once again included.

He is currently the Chairperson of the Planning and Environment Portfolio Committee and the Chairperson for Sub Council 15. Brian also serves on the Spatial Planning,Environment and Land Use Management Committee. In addition he is a trustee on the Cape Municipal Pension Fund and a member of the Table Mountain Advisory Forum Steering Committee.

From time to time Brian issues printed report backs in the form of a Pinelands Focus and a Thornton Focus. Updates are issued on a regular basis in an e-mail format. If you want to be included in the mailing list send your details to bwatkyns@icon.co.za. Separate updates are sent to Pinelands, Thornton and Epping, so please indicate which you would like to receive. If you would also like to receive news of a more political nature, please indicate and you will be added to the political news database.

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PROPOSED HERITAGE AREA FOR PINELANDS

CLICK HERE FOR THE LIST OF WARD FORUM MEMBERS

. If you have comments, questions or suggestions please drop a line to bwatkyns@icon.co.za

The site also gives information on the Pinelands Branch of the Democratic Alliance