SOUTHBROOM NEWS - FEBRUARY 2007

A Southbroom Ratepayers, Conservancy & Community Policing initiative.

This newsletter is intended for ratepayers & residents of Southbroom, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS

The "Say NO to Fireworks" petition was handed to the Mayor of the Hibiscus Coast Municipality on 30 January 2007.

In total, 7404 signatures were collected as well as letters of support from 15 community based organisations.

The petition calls for the amendment of the municipal bylaws to effect more stringent control over the sale and discharge of fireworks:

●Total ban of “Explosive Fireworks”

● “Fireworks” only to be discharged by licensed pyrotechnicians in public display

●General public to be prohibited from discharging fireworks

●Authorised venues for public displays to be seriously scrutinized

●Guy Fawkes fireworks to be prohibited

●Diwali fireworks to be restricted to 1 day

● Fines for non-compliance to be harsh: R5,000 or 6 months in prison

DEFINITIONS: “Explosive Fireworks” and “Fireworks” - those that are accompanied by an explosion or bang, and those that do not produce an explosion when lit or fired.

We thank Hazel Voice, and all those who helped her, for the tremendous time and effort spent in making the petition meaningful.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS WEBSITE
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DIARISE THIS VERY IMPORTANT MEETING

S A POLICE SERVICES DIRECTOR MOODLEY
TO ADDRESS PUBLIC MEETING

• Uvongo Town Hall

• 22 February 2007

• 17h30 for 18h00

Public notices will appear in the local press nearer the time.
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GRANNY'S POOL PALM DEFACED

At first it was thought to be political: "P.A.C." Then we learnt that 2PAC is an R&B singer! (Pronounced two-pack).

The vandals also sprayed a weird dollar sign in red paint on the road - perhaps in honour of a band called "Money" ?

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THE SWALLOWS ARE BACK

Make time to see millions of swallows assemble and roost at sunset in the reed beds of the Umkobi lagoon. Amazing!
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HOUSEHOLD
REFUSE COLLECTION
SCHEDULE

Out of season
Mondays

In season
Mondays & Thursdays

.

December season has come and gone and we wish our subscribers a wonderful 2007. We hope that it will be good to us all and especially good to Southbroom.

For that to be the case, please bear in mind that we all have a role to play. We all need to be the eyes and ears of the village and to report maintenance issues, criminal activity, and the like, as soon as possible.

● Maintenance issues: Municipal Depot - 039-316-6125

● Criminal activity: Southbroom Sector Policing - 039-316-6760

We advise that the cell phone number for Southbroom Sector Policing is no longer operational as the control room is in radio contact with vehicles.

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES - 2007 OFFICE BEARERS

Sincere thanks to all who attended the Annual General Meetings held in December. It is good to get feedback from concerned members of the community and it is also good to know that the various community committees enjoy your support.

Contact numbers and Office Bearers for 2007 follow:

Community Policing Forum - 2007
Chairman - Len Harvey - 083-700-8806
Vice Chairman - Dick Holtshausen - 039-316-8543 or 083-306-1672
Secretary - Paul Reynolds

Southbroom Conservancy - to be elected at March meeting
2006 Chairman - David Hallé - 039-312-2448
2006 Vice Chairman - Richard Savage
2006 Secretary - Pearl McGregor
2006 Treasurer - Bob Kempthorne

Southbroom Ratepayers Association - 2007
Chairman - Joy Crutchfield - 083-292-7788
Vice Chairman - Gary Purtell - 039-316-8190 or 082-558-3325
Secretary - Di Morris
Treasurer - Graham Volck

SAPS RESTRUCTURE & SOUTHBROOM SECTOR POLICING

The restructuring of SAPS has come into effect.

Director Morris Moodley is the new Station Commander at Margate Police Station and also the Cluster Commander. Our cluster comprises Margate, Port Edward, Paddock, Izingolweni, Harding and Gamalakhe Police Stations.

Senior Superintendent David Govender is now at Margate Police Station and heads up "VISPOL" (Visible Policing).

On Friday 2 February 2007, Southbroom UIP representatives met with Superintendent Dawood Kader, head of Social Crime Prevention, Superintendent Tabete and Captain Mfeka. Captain Mfeka has assumed responsibility for the Southbroom Sector Policing operation. His duties include Sector Policing and Community Policing in Gclima, Mfutshini, Marina Beach and Trafalgar.

The meeting was very encouraging and we are sure that the intensified police focus will add tremendous value to our UIP and Sector Policing operation.

We advise that former Station Commissioner William Slabbert has been deployed to the Port Shepstone Police Station. We wish him every success in his new position and thank him for his time, effort and valued contribution to the establishment of the Southbroom Urban Improvement Precinct and related Sector Policing operation.

We also thank Inspector Gideon Basson who has managed our operation since inception. Gideon will still be in the area but not necessarily directly attached to Southbroom.

THERE'S A NEW DENTIST IN TOWN ...

We welcome Doctor Ricky Govender who has bought the dental practice on Gilbert Road. The surgery is now open Monday to Friday and Ricky can be contacted on 039-316-8101 or 078-113-3629.

Ricky recently returned to South Africa, with his young family, from gaining further experience in the UK. Prior to that he had a practice in Scottburgh for 5 years.

 ...AND A NEW DOCTOR

Dr Grant Rogers and wife Wendy recently moved to Southbroom.

Grant practices at the Southbroom Medical Centre, with Stephen Stewart, and is available to do house calls.

Call the Southbroom Medical Centre on 039-316-8046. After hours the voice message will direct you to the doctor on call.

PLEASE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR TENANTS

Many homes in Southbroom are let out as holiday homes and we appeal to landlords to please take responsibility for your tenants, or to ensure that your letting agent does so on your behalf.

This season again saw household refuse placed on the pavements on non-collection days only to be strewn around the neighbourhood by domestic pets and monkeys.

Certain groups also adopted totally unacceptable behaviour (seriously drunk and disorderly) and had to be cautioned by the police.

And, whilst we cannot lay it at the feet of tenants alone, vandals again did their bit to detract from the image of Southbroom.

GARDEN REFUSE TRANSFER STATION NOW OPERATIONAL

The garden refuse transfer station on Outlook Road at the Southbroom south entrance is now operational.

The current teething problems have been reported to Council and we expect more skips to be positioned and more regular removal to now take place.

Please use the facility and ensure that your garden service does the same. Considering the convenience of the facility, there is no longer an excuse for garden refuse to be dumped wherever, or for piles of cuttings to be left littering our pavements for weeks on end.

We remind ratepayers and residents that you are permitted to dispose of 2 bags of soft garden refuse with your normal household refuse collection.

INDIGENOUS PLANTS FOR THE TAKING

Please contact David Hallé on 039-312-2448 if you are in need of indigenous plant material.

David has managed to source several species of saplings and ground-covers thanks to the closure of certain wholesale nursery grounds.

A donation to the Southbroom Conservancy would be appreciated if the plants are for private use.

CONSERVANCY LITTER CART - SPONSORSHIP REQUIRED

To date, ratepayer John Bailey has kindly sponsored the annual cost of the labourer that trundles Southbroom collecting litter.

Whilst John is happy and willing to give continued support to Conservancy issues, he would like to see if others would share the cost of the litter cart service and thus give him an opportunity to support other initiatives as well.

E-mail your pledge to Conservancy Treasurer Bob Kempthorne. No matter how big or small, every donation will make a difference to Southbroom.