Dear Betty’s Bay Residents
Thank you for your valuable contributions and ongoing support over the past month. It has been a busy period for all of us. We appreciate your financial contributions and donations towards our three essential services.
Additionally, I would like to formally inform you that I intend to step down from my position as Chairman at the end of the year. However, I remain available to serve for an additional year if the committee considers it beneficial.
KNOW YOUR BBRA COMMITTEE
Executive Committee
- Wayne Jackson Chairman & Membership Stony Point
- Amund Beneke. Vice Chair & Engineering Sunny Seas
- Hannelie Coetzee Treasurer Stony Point
- 4. Julia Frylinck. Secretary Stony Point
Essential Services
- Rob Boyd. BEST Central
- Jorika Rabie. Fire and Rescue Stony Point
- Wayne Jackon Neighbourhood Watch Stony Point
- Elsa Stofberg Conservation Stony Point
Community Services
- Abigail Davids. Community development Central
- Shameez Joubert Markets Rondevlei
- Claudele Jackson Crassula Hall Stony Point
Communications
- Wendy Lucas Website custodian Silversands
- Tersia Starke Website assistant Bass Lake
Oversight
- Andre Kotze Rondevlei Rep Rondevlei
- Calan Bennett Central Rep Central
- Road Safety: Community Collaboration in Action
This winter, Betty’s Bay residents have rallied to flag high-risk zones along Clarence Drive and Disa Circle. Thanks to community-led mapping, we’ve submitted formal recommendations to Overstrand for improved signage, visibility upgrades, and traffic calming measures. Every reflector and speed bump makes a difference, and your voice continues to drive change.
- Sewage Infrastructure: A Pivotal Shift for Overhills
After months of advocacy, municipal engineers have acknowledged the urgency of formalising Overhills. While temporary towns buy time, they’re no substitute for lasting infrastructure. Our task is to keep the pressure on, and ensure implementation is prioritized in upcoming budget cycles. There is also an anticipated new Ward for our area which will be finalised next year some time.
- Eradicating Aliens, Restoring Ecosystems
Alien vegetation removal has taken a bold step forward this month, especially across the Kogelberg Biosphere overlay. Volunteers have cleared over 1.5 hectares, paving the way for indigenous regrowth. We urge property owners to keep momentum going. Together, we’re reviving Betty’s Bay’s unique ecological identity.
- Verge Maintenance & Ditch Clearing: Practical Progress
Recent rains revealed just how vital verge and ditch management truly is. Strategic clearing has prevented runoff damage near Mooiuitsig and Porter Drive. Let’s thank the residents who gave up weekends and let’s explore rotating neighbourhood crews for long-term upkeep.
- Marine Stewardship: A Community-Driven Proposal
Our position paper on abalone poaching and unemployment has sparked interest well beyond Ward 10. By advocating for decentralized marine management and co-managed fishing zones, we’re building a model rooted in accountability and local oversight.
- Crassula Hall: Renewed Lease, Expanded Purpose
Crassula Hall’s lease renewal ensures community access for the next decade. With new kitchen renovations underway later in the year, the space will serve not only as a hub for meetings, but also for youth workshops, disaster relief coordination, and festive gatherings. This is your hall, help shape its future.
- Off-Grid Energy: 2030 Vision Takes Shape
Discussions with local contractors are underway to assess partial off-grid energy solutions for key public sites and households. The goal? By 2030, increase resilience to load-shedding and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Updates to follow, but your insights are welcome now.
- WhatsApp Positivity Campaign: Changing the Tone
Too often, neighbourhood WhatsApp groups spiral into frustration. This month, we’ve seen a shift, photos from verge cleanups, thoughtful queries, and even jokes about line-trimming. A gentle nudge from several admins is helping reshape group dynamics. Keep sharing kindness, and it’ll stick.
- Crime Update: Betty’s Bay’s Ongoing Struggle for Safety
Betty’s Bay continues to face persistent criminal activity by a very few, with recent incidents reflecting a troubling pattern of opportunistic and organized theft. While overall crime rates remain relatively low, the impact on residents is significant, emotionally and financially.
Key Observations:
Most crimes occur under cover of darkness, often targeting homes with predictable routines or inadequate security.
Criminals are reportedly gathering information from domestic workers and gardeners, using this to plan their movements.
Items are often hidden in nearby bushland before being picked up and sold outside the Overstrand region, making recovery difficult.
Community Response:
The Betty’s Bay Neighbourhood Watch (BBNW) has intensified foot patrols and expanded its camera network, now boasting 101 strategically placed cameras made up of private and Watch cameras. We are working on appropriate interphase units to streamline feeds. Once this is up and running we will make a request for monitors.
Residents are urged to install panic buttons, motion-sensitive lighting, and independent camera systems to bolster home security.
The Watch has identified several “triggers” – barking dogs, silent frogs, and activated spotlights – that help detect suspicious activity.
Challenges:
Drugs, and poverty remain underlying contributors to crime, with limited employment opportunities exacerbating the issue.
The justice system’s limitations mean that criminals often escape prosecution unless caught red-handed.
Call to Action:
Stay connected with your local Watch group.
Report even minor incidents, they may be part of a larger pattern.
Support initiatives like the camera monitoring program and community patrols.
Betty’s Bay’s strength lies in its unity. With vigilance, technology and collaboration we can reclaim our peace and protect what matters most.
Wayne Jackson
Chairman