Welcome to an exciting Betty’s Bay 2024. Although this year is an election year, we have much to do and much to plan for. We will engage on future concepts for Betty’s Bay.
We concluded 2023 with our AGM in December and I will go briefly over the contents of the meeting.
A new team of committee members was voted in.
Position Name Portfolio
Insert top left Viv Editor (Newsletters)
Insert top middle Shameez Business
Insert top right Cheryl Community Development.
Back left Rob BEST
Back second from left Graeme Water and Sanitation
Back middle Jorika Volunteer Fire and Rescue
Back second from right Wayne BBNW
Back right Amund Roads and Stormwater
Front left Wendy Website and media
Front second from left Hannelie Treasurer
Front middle Claudele Crassula Hall
Front second from right Karon Property and Development.
Front right Liezel Conservation
There has been one change already. Abigail Davids comes in for Cheryl Gleeson. At our first meeting of the year the committee elected Wayne Jackson as Chairman, Amund Beneke as Vice Chairman, Karon Scholefield as secretary and Hannelie Coetzee as treasurer, these members constituting the EXCO.
I would like to pay a special tribute and give thanks to Professor Ethelwyn Stellenberg and her team for the setting up and managing of the Betty’s Bay Senior Care Group. Our seniors are our matriarchs and patriarchs and we are thankful to have the Prof take care of this special group of people.
Please join the BBRA in 2024 to support what the volunteers do in each portfolio.
BANK DETAILS
Account Name: Betty’s Bay Ratepayers Association
Branch: ABSA Hermanus
Account type: Cheque
Account Number: 4066616439
Our Ref: Your Surname & Erf Number or your erf number and your course (BBNW, BEST etc)
2024
We begin this year with a final IEC registration weekend.
Our markets will resume.
We hope to have a successful voting weekend later in the year, for all portfolios to do well, for every ratepayer to become more active and to assist in our projects.
We introduced Sea Watch to Betty’s Bay and hope for support here too.
A shift
This year the BBRA volunteers are going to move away from as much negativity as possible, steering clear of the people who are demanding, or who find fault in everything we do. Most of all we are going to stay clear of the personal attacks. We do, however understand the dynamics of a community, and know the inevitabilities. We are not always innocent ourselves in how we speak to some of the above personalities and for that we apologise.
We are working with our Professional Advisory Group for guidance and wisdom in moving forward.
The future is not as secure or as cut and dried as it may seem now. For this reason, the BBRA will endeavour to keep our community prepared for the best of times as well as the worst. To do this we move into a new strategy. This has many different fronts, and I will touch on a few.
To start with we are committed to SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT and to REDUCING OUR DEMAND ON OUR MUNICIPALITY.
We need to move from a Ratepayers Association to a Non-profit Company.
Our focus will be on Electricity, Safety and Security, Infrastructure, Waste Management, Conservation and
Water: Inter alia: the addition of more catchment spaces, the control of saturation and water quality
Sewage: Inter alia the use of bacteria, irrigation, open land drying space, biscuit production and return on investment.
Employment: creating it in as many spheres as possible.
Tourism (hospitality): Inter alia the Penguin colony, Harold Porter Gardens, walks and paths, beaches, accommodation and sporting activities.
Health Care System: Inter alia a basic clinic, health care workers, evacuation mechanisms, Doctor’s offices, vicenarian offices, the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, a Wildlife management programme, and a food bank.
Education: Diverse and not yet understood but including the provision of sports facilities and clubs; developing appreciation of our fauna and flora and our marine and mountain reserves. Short courses and seminars.
2030 and Beyond
Pilot phase: Conceptualize (Realistic), Strategise (Brain tsunami), Execution (Doable) and Review (Learn)
Running and maintenance phase: Adapt the vision (Experience), Re-strategise (Brainstorm), Execution (Adjustment) and Review (Learn). Repeat the cycle.
CONCERNS that I will not comment on, but mention. I believe we have certain people problems in Betty’s Bay that can only be fixed by a change in heart.
Lighting: We have people that leave bright lights on all night. The lights I am referring to are the lights that irritate neighbours and make the lives of others unpleasant. These people refuse to change as they are within their rights and the law.
Dogs off leads: Despite all our efforts to ask people to walk with their dogs on a lead, there are some people that refuse.
Dogs barking unnecessarily: As with the lighting situation, so is it true for barking dogs. The lives of others in the neighourhood have become unpleasant.
Speeding by drivers, young and old.
Speeding on Clarence Drive: This too is a major problem, especially at the Centre Shops and Penguin Place. A serious accident at either section is inevitable. Please slow down in these areas and do not do a U-turn there either.
These are people problems and only people can fix this. Law enforcement and the police are not the problem, we are the problem, and we need to take a hard look at ourselves and at how we want to live with one another and coexist with our precious wildlife.
Poaching. This is the biggest criminal activity in Betty’s Bay by a criminal network that feeds two syndicates and a gang. We are outnumbered and out gunned in terms of resources. Betty’s Bay has launched Sea Watch in collaboration with Cape Nature, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Law Enforcement and Crime Intelligence to effect change in Betty’s Bay and the surrounding areas in this regard. We need everybody on board who can contribute especially in terms of passing on information. We believe our strategic intent is sound and that it will have a positive impact on marine life and a big negative impact on this criminality.
Keep in mind that, because of its clout and influence, the poaching game can be very dangerous at the levels of leadership on both sides. We must not lie down and roll over.
In closing I thank each one that has supported the BBRA and its structures, for renewing your membership, for joining as a new member, for your donations, for your good advice and for your community spirit. This year is going to need all of that as we take on more and more community driven projects in all portfolios. A special thank you to the BBRA TEAM and the recipients of certificates of appreciation. This was a call from our community. In this case we can say the tribe has spoken.
Kind regards
Wayne Jackson – Chairman
GENERAL EMERGENCY NUMBERS
BEST 066 165 6061
SAPS 028 271 8200
Ambulance Provincial 101 77
Ambulance ER24 Somerset West 084 124
Ambulance Hermanus: 066 222 7219
CMC Ambulance 066 222 7219
FIRE Control Room 028 312 2400
Law Enforcement Complaints 028 313 8996
Safety Issues 028 313 8980
DFFE (Poaching) 028 313 2703
NSRI: Sea Rescue 063 699 2765
MARKETPLACE
The markets will start in January and the contact person is Shameez Joubert on 073 199 0896.
