2018 is a significant year for Richard Beesley, manager of the CCID Urban Management department, as he celebrates 12 years with the organisation.
Richard joined the CCID in 2006 originally as senior precinct manager, before heading up the department. Prior to joining the CCID, he served as an officer in the South African Police Service (SAPS) for 20 years, during which time he achieved the rank of Captain.
“Arriving here at the CCID,” says Richard, “I needed a complete mind shift as the environment at the CCID is completely different from being in the police service.
“What I loved most upon my arrival and would say keeps my fire burning even after all these years at the CCID is having the opportunity to interact daily with people from all walks of life; I love people and my interaction with the public and the teams our department works with gives me great joy.”
As senior precinct manager, Richard’s role required him to walk the beat daily, observing changes within the urban environment, acting as an intermediary between the public and private sectors, and communicating with retailers and property owners. What’s remarkable is that, even as a manager, Richard still walks the beat daily alongside his team.
Richard was born in District Six and says: “I took ownership of the space we work in and it makes me proud to be part of an organisation that, among other things, is striving to ensure the urban environment is clean and works at its best for all Cape Town Central City stakeholders.”
The CCID’s Urban Management department’s mandate is to deliver top-up services to those of the CBD’s primary service provider, the City of Cape Town, and it works tirelessly to provide a clean, attractive and risk-reduced urban environment in the CBD for all to enjoy.
CCID precinct manager, Mmiselo Ntsime, who celebrated his 11-year anniversary with the organisation in 2017, says he has learnt valuable lessons working with Richard over the years; “His experience and passion shine through and his knowledge of the CBD is amazing. We’re a great team and it’s admirable that even after all these years, he still walks around the City himself, doing inspections and talking to people.”
Image by: CCID