Newsletter, December 2021

NEWS

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1

Van Riebeeckshof

H O M E OW N E R S A SS O C I A T I O N

IN THIS ISSUE

General Message

Renosterveld

Dog Park

Security

Van Riebeeckshof Welcome Sign

Finance

GENERAL MESSAGE

The newspapers are full of news snippets related

to the Grade 12 Exams, and the planned “Matric

rave parties”! Adverts proclaiming “a once in a

lifetime bargain” are everywhere! The reality is

that 2021 is swiftly drawing to a close.

In the past year the Van Riebeeckshof MHOA-

RENOSTERVELD

team have been busy – as you will see from the We are fortunate to live in an area where endangered flora forms part of news snippets. Hopefully you would also have our natural environment. As residents of Van Riebeeckshof, we have a noticed some of the enhancements that have responsibility to preserve the natural floral heritage that is to be found in been made to our security arrangements and the our area. environment. This newsletter also includes news snippets relating to the wider Van Riebeeckshof One Saturday morning in mid-September `21 an educational guided tour was Valley area that will hopefully be of interest. arranged for residents and children. The tour guide is a resident living in Protea Valley. The purpose of the session was to create awareness of the As the year winds down, the Van Riebeeckshof beauty of the indigenous “Renosterbos” to be found in the “green belts” that MHOA wishes all members and residents in our the City of Cape Town (COCT) has created. beautiful area a well-deserved period of rest.

When traveling or staying at home, please focus The smaller plants need to reach maturity and on your personal safety. With the threat of flower prior to forming seeds. This life cycle is Covid-19 being ever present, social distancing and at times disrupted by “mowing on the green common sense is called for. Notwithstanding, belts”. The COCT has adopted a policy of enjoy the love and friendship of family and friends “Don’t mow” in areas where endangered plants during this time. are to be found during specific periods of the year. This is part of an attempt to preserve our Our best wishes for a wonderful festive period. valuable floral heritage.

May 2022 be a prosperous new year and live up to

everyone`s expectations. Everyone could benefit from attending such a guided tour of the “Renosterveld” to be found The Trustees on our doorstep. Communication on future Van Riebeeckshof MHOA events is planned.

DOG PARK

The COCT has recently finished a tarred/paved walkway along Van Riebeeckshof Road. This should encourage everyone to walk their dogs and enjoy the fresh air and beauty of the local environment.

Based on the success of the “Dog Park” that has been created in Kenridge, an investigation was launched into the feasibility of creating a similar “Dog Park” on one of the green belts in Van Riebeeckshof. Based on the inputs received from the COCT, the development of such a “Dog Park” is (among others) dependent on the availability of off-road parking. As such a project may create parking problems along existing roads, re-zoning of the green belts may be required. This is a time-consuming process, and resident involvement on the decision on whether to create such a facility, is planned in 2022.

SECURITY

A focus area of the Van Riebeeckshof MHOA is to create a safe Consider the following safety tips over the festive season:

living environment for all its residents. To assist the VRH MHOA in this ideal, ADT has been contracted to provide an ongoing 1. Get to know all the neighbours around you: It is important security surveillance presence in the area. However, every to know when people are coming or going and if they are homeowner and resident is responsible to arrange for their own perhaps going on holiday. This will make it a lot easier to spot personal security arrangements. suspicious people and/or movement in your neighbourhood.

2. Don’t advertise what you got for Christmas: There will be The security system is based on camera surveillance of access gift giving, which inevitably leads to packaging that ends up roads to van Riebeeckshof, and the construction of a +- 2 km in the bins. These boxes give an indication to the criminal electrified perimeter security fence along the border of Van element out there of what is inside your house. Try and find Riebeeckshof and the adjacent Durbanville wine farms. This some other way to get rid of these boxes. security fence is also linked to the similar security fence 3. Vary your movement patterns: Don’t fall into too obvious constructed by the Oude Westhof MHOA. routines. Vary the times when you leave home, and try never to create the impression that “no one is home”. This is where Recently, the efficiency of the security fence has been enhanced point number one comes into play again. by the erection of 12 “concrete pillars”. The intention is to install 4. Make sure all your security measures are working: Test your lights on the pillars to deter any incursion. Should an alarm be alarm regularly, ensure that we have your latest details. activated by an incident along the security fence, the security 5. Ensure the perimeter of your house is protected: Make sure lights in that area will be activated to facilitate a security that there are no weak spots in your fence and/or boundary response. It is planned to install the security lights during the wall. Check your roof to ensure that there are no easy access. course of the first half of 2022.

VAN RIEBEECKSHOF

WELCOME SIGN

FINANCE

The Van Riebeeckshof MHOA is in a very privileged financial

situation which allowed the VRH MHOA not to institute any levy increases since the 2019 financial year. A healthy surplus was accumulated over the years which the VRH MHOA was able to use this to beautify the area and upgrade the security for Van Riebeeckshof. Some of the projects include the following:

• Van Riebeeckshof Welcome sign;

• Camera surveillance; and

• Upgrading of the security fence.

The Van Riebeeckshof welcome sign is up and looking very

impressive. Many thanks to Eddie Stemmet Builders for

completing the Van Riebeeckshof welcome sign.

The design concept, by Insite architects for the sign originated from the following:

• The stonework represents the community between the

valley and the mountain.

• The timber panelling is installed to represent the mountain. • And finally, the concrete protrusion represents the valley connecting the mountain to the community. The final touch will be landscaping to the retaining wall and sidewalk to soften the edge and further enhance the valley concept.

It has been so refreshing to be welcomed into the Van

Riebeeckshof neighbourhood.

Many thanks to all involved in bringing the concept to life.

Thelouise,

Insite architects

One of the 20 Waterpear Trees that have been planted.