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August
2007
What we’re doing about crime ***************
It is common sense to take a method and try
it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try
something. Franklin D Roosevelt
A brief update from the Crime portfolio
We own the problem.
Our society is under
siege but, ironically, the very real danger is more the lack of
involvement (apathy?) of our communities – do we want crime to tear us
apart?
Did you know that
Parkview Police Station precinct covers over 196 000 people? That does
not include the thousands that pass through its precinct every day. The
Station comprises a force of about 115 officers and a limited number of
patrol vans. As you can understand, it’s a tough task. Unless we are
prepared to get involved and support them, the battle will not be won.
That is our challenge. It’s also the reason for the CRA introducing
the Community Security Scheme. At a maximum of R182 a
month this has to be good value – probably less than a meal out.
Please note – if you are an ADT client, it is not an extra R500 a
month – ADT has guaranteed that its clients will not pay more than
R500 a month both for their armed reaction service and for the Craigpark
patrol service.
So
what’s happening?
Four residents have
decided to take on the challenge of the Crime Portfolio from John
Turpin, who steps down completely at the end of this month. The only way
crime is going to be reduced in our suburbs is by the active
participation of the entire community. You simply have to get
involved and there are a host of opportunities in which you can play
your part - this is not about big, beefy men walking the streets with
baseball bats! Contact any one of the team below if you have a
suggestion / what to get involved.
Your new team, which
is meeting regularly, initially with input from John, comprises:
Richard King
- has lived in Craighall Park since 2004 (although he lived here in the
early 1990s). Married to Leigh and has two teenage daughters. He has
been with BP for over 25 years working in the Middle East, Russia and
the United States. He currently runs their retail petrol station
business in South Africa. Richard.king@za.bp.com.
Mike Wilmot,
a Craighall Park resident, married to Jacqui. Mike can be contacted at MichaelW@boe.co.za
Eric Glover
has lived in Craighall for 30 years. He is married to Sue and has two
daughters. Now retired having worked at Wits and IBM South Africa for
over 17 years at each organisation. He served on the Residents’
Association some 15 years ago for a period of about 3 years. Eric can be
contacted on Ericglover@wns.co.za
Philip Bond
lives in Craighall. He and his wife Vanessa have their own business,
Bond Stationers. Philip can be contacted on philip.b@bondstationers.co.za
Contact Richard or Philip re SAPS and related
queries, and Mike or Eric re Security Scheme queries/joining up or
download a form at www.cra.org.za/fight_crime.htm.
Environment -
let’s set the trend with recycling
The CRA is in
discussion with a firm that offers collection of waste suitable for
recycling, free of charge. Remade Recycling has come recommended via our
Ward Councillor, Ian Ollis. The company (as long as it is able to
organise a sufficient number of households from which to collect waste)
operates by leaving a bag a week with householders into which all
recyclable waste material (including paper, plastic, glass and metal)
can be placed for collection. We’ll give you more information,
hopefully in the forthcoming Crier, but if you want to
check it out, the website is www.remade.co.za.
Property
rates
The City Council has
approved a Rates Policy for the City of Johannesburg, a policy intended
to determine the new structure for property assessment rates to be
charged in terms of the Municipal Property Rates Act, 2004. The policy
will be implemented from 1 July 2008. The declared intention of the city
is to collect approximately the same amount per currently rated
property, other than the normal inflation related increase. The new act
also allows the collection of rates on certain previously unrated
properties.
A DA media release
warns, however, that some owners could find themselves paying
substantially more if, for instance, they have built mansions on
relatively low cost land, or have been differently classified in terms
of the rates policy.
Closing date for
comments is 31 October 2007. If you would like to find out more about
the policy, public meetings or how to submit comments, please visit the
website at www.joburg.org.za/rates.
We will endeavour to give you more information in the forthcoming Crier.
Precinct
plan update
The precinct plan is
currently being reviewed by Council. All issues that were raised have
been addressed and it is expected that we will have Council approval of
the Precinct Plan for Craighall and Craighall Park by the end of August.
This has been a long road to travel, but the end is in sight!
CRA
executive news
We are still
operating on a revolving chairperson basis. Lee Whitfield (fieldsta@iafrica.com)
has taken over the position for August and September. This is not an
ideal situation but we’re a strong enough committee to cope –we will
keep appealing to our community, however, for someone to come forward
for this position and for those of Treasurer and Community Affairs. As
we say above, apathy doesn’t really get us moving forward…
Also – wanted!
Someone to help update CRA records. You’d need to know something about
Excel and having your own laptop would be good. If there’s a student
or someone with some spare time out there, the CRA will pay R70 per
hour. Please contact Wendy McAllister (011 325 7165) or wendym@creativecoms.co.za
Have you paid
your 2007 subs yet? Only
R220 per annum… Subs
are our lifeline.
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