Newsletter, March 2022

NEWS

M A R C H 2 0 2 2

Van Riebeeckshof

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

IN THIS ISSUE

Levy Increase

Van Riebeeckshof Valley NPC

Vleiland

Picking Up After Your Dog

Forest Clean-Up

Beggars

VRHOA LEVY INCREASE

1 MARCH 2022

After 3 consecutive years of no levy increase, the Trustees of the van page 3 Riebeeckshof MHOA have decided to increase the levy by 5%. This decision Forest clean-up was driven by infl ationary pressures. This means that as from 1 March 2022, the following levy increase will apply for the 2022/23 financial year. The monthly levy will increase as set out below:

• Free standing Erf – R255

• Gated communities – R127

A 5% discount is applicable if the levies for the period March 2021 to February 2022 are paid before 31 March 2022. The annual discounted amounts payable are:

• Free Standing Erf – R2 907

• Gated communities – R1 448

page 3

Forest clean-up

VAN RIEBEECKSHOF

VALLEY NPC

The Van Riebeeckshof MHOA forms part of NPC and contributes to the overall funding stops along van Riebeeckshof Road and wider geographical area. This is comprised of its activities. Some of the focus areas littering by passengers and pedestrians of the following: that should be noted are: are unsightly and project an unkept image of the area. For this reason, a • Van Riebeeckshof; • Security – The VRH MHOA forms part of contractor has been appointed to pick • Oude Westhof; an integrated License Plate Recognition up litter and remove this to a municipal • Welgedacht; (LPR) security camera system that has dumping site. We wish to encourage • Kanonberg; been installed along van Riebeeckshof residents to carry a small refuse bag for • Protea Valley; and Road. Such a camera system identifies personal use (empty water bottles or • De Uitkijk. motor vehicles that have been listed “doggy poop”) with them when walking as “stolen” or “involved in criminal in the area. These can be disposed of in Although the COCT provides services to all activity”. The footage is monitored the refuse bins along van Riebeeckshof the above areas, a non-profit organization on an ongoing basis. Should such a Road. was created in 2019 to enhance such suspicious vehicle be identified, the services. The focus is primarily of security vehicles in the area (ADT) are enhancing the overall security and natural alerted to respond. environment of the area. • Environment – The intention is to develop the Van Riebeeckshof Valley The Van Riebeeckshof Valley NPC is legally geographical area into a tree-filled area constituted to facilitate and provide by adding to the existing trees that have community driven urban management been planted along van Riebeeckshof coordination for the Van Riebeeckshof Road. Over the last year, the COCT has Valley. The organization plays a major donated 30 indigenous trees. The VRHV coordination role as well as having NPC has arranged for the planting and dedicated resources to appropriately ongoing maintenance of such trees. A respond to local problems and provide concerted effort has been made to also top-up municipal services where maintain and prune the existing trees necessary. The Van Riebeeckshof MHOA along van Riebeeckshof Road. forms part of the Van Riebeeckshof Valley • Littering – There are numerous taxi

VAN RIEBEECKSHOF

“VLEILAND”

The “Vleiland” is used to describe the wetland area forming an enclosed central area along the van Riebeeckshof Road.

Background Recent developments

• The area forms a central focus in VRHV; • The Wetlands Association has recently accepted MHOA`s and • Part of the Tygerberg aquafer system; individuals interested in conservation as Trustees to manage • Many endangered flora found in the “Vleiland”; the Wetlands Association. • Previously a builder`s dumping ground with squatters; • Trustees have been appointed to plot out future • The VRH Wetlands Nature Conservation Association formed developments and conservation activities in the area. to manage the area; • Future conservation initiatives will be communicated when • Area enclosed with the assistance of COCT. finalized.

PICKING UP AFTER

YOUR DOG: WHY

MAJIK FOREST

IT’S IMPORTANT CLEAN-UP

There is a group of amazing individuals who on a regular basis Picking up after your dog volunteer to collect rubbish in the Majik Forest. A whatsapp isn’t exactly the most group was created and we will welcome more volunteers who enjoyable chore. Let’s face are willing to assist in keeping our area & surroundings neat & it, it’s gross! It can be clean. tempting to skip this task but doing so is not only bad Beginning of each month the coordinator will post the clean-up for the environment and dates for the month on the group inviting everyone to join. public health, in many places, it’s also illegal. For the month of March 2022, the clean updates are:

Keep reading for all of the • Saturday, 2 April 9h00-10h00

reasons you really do need • Thursday 7 April 17h00-18h00

• Tuesday 19 April 07h30-08h30

to pick up your dog’s poop

• Sunday 24 April 9h00-10h00

and read on to learn how to

clean dog poop from grass. If you want to be part of the group, please open this link to join the whatsapp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/K7JwSxH4KF Why Picking Up After Your Dog Matters c10nnrLf68OF 1. It is required by Law 2. Dog poop Is NOT a fertilizer 3. Its no fun to clear it from your shoes 4. It’s an environmental pollutant 5. It carries diseases 6. Is smells bad 7. It’s Common Courtesy – It’s simply the right thing to do.

DON’T SUPPORT BEGGARS

Many traffic intersections in our cities are occupied by beggars but at the same time feel a sense of guilt because of their privilege. and pedlars of wares/services, who pursue a captive audience Beggars exploit this to the maximum, providing an opportunity for when the lights turn red. “caring” folk to give away a few rand from the comfort of their cars to ease their consciences. Unfortunately, beggars distract us from The definition of harassment involves a person not being able the true poverty in the country. to escape unwanted demands or threats. Demanding a driver’s attention while trapped at a robot falls under this definition. Few Many people want to give to the needy, but some don’t feel people are aware that it is illegal to loiter at traffic intersections. comfortable going into impoverished areas, so they end up offering The National Road Traffic Act (duties of pedestrians) states that, their change to professional drifters who hang around shops, “A pedestrian shall not walk on a roadway except for the purpose restaurants and other places where money changes hands. To of crossing from one side to the other or for some other sufficient prevent bin scratchers entering the neighbourhood, the best thing reason”. to do with all of your food & food waste, is to properly store and dispose of it in a trash can or compost bin. Please do NOT leave it There seems to be a perception in South African that begging and on the black bins. selling goods / services constitutes a “sufficient reason” to be there.

This perception is reinforced by a lack of will from law enforcement If someone really wants to help those in need then the responsible agencies to remove the offenders. Beggars and sellers of wares way, make a donation to MES by clicking on this link https://mes.org. make people feel unsafe at traffic lights, particularly at night. za/donations/ People tend to forget that begging is an age-old profession and an art, and beggars in South Africa have a veritable gold mine at their Alternatively, contact the Western Cape Emergency Services on (021) disposal – a wealthy segment of the population made up of people 480-7700 or 112 (from a mobile phone) to have the beggar / vagrant who enjoy their comforts and who want to steer clear of poverty, removed.