As of 1 July, the City of Cape Town will only accept online submissions for building plans and land use applications.
According to the city’s development management department, the transition from paper to digital been a long journey, where residents, government departments and professionals have had the option to submit building plan applications via its e-services portal since 2015.
However, going forward, all applicants will be required to register for the city’s online services in order to submit development applications.
The department has, over the past few months, prepared and trained city officials, set up public workstations, and communicated with applicants and the public to ensure the transition happens as efficiently as possible, says the city’s statement.
In addition, the department, along with officials from the city’s revenue office, is hosting an e-services registration drive until 4 July.
Marian Nieuwoudt, mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment, explains: “We must embrace the digital information age and the advantages this technology offers us to become a smarter, faster and more forward-thinking and competitive city. Thus, as of Monday, 1 July 2019, district office counters will be replaced by the city’s e-services portal.
“Many residents have already made the transition from manual to online. Currently, up to 72% of building plan applications and 66% of land use applications are submitted through the city’s e-services portal. We’re now requesting other applicants to also make the switch.”
Nieuwoudt highlights the drive to become 100% digitised will not exclude those without Internet access.
“Each one of the city’s district planning offices have workstations available for public use. Officials will also be able to assist residents to register for e-services and to use city resources to access e-services for the submission of applications. Nobody will be excluded.
“I encourage residents and professionals to make use of the registration drive to get registered,” she concludes.
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