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		<title>After the Overstrand Eco-Indaba</title>
		<link>https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/2026/07/23/after-the-overstrand-eco-indaba-2/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Carol Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:08:45 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Conservation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/?p=4928</guid>

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				<div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bbc19-300x282.jpg" width="300" height="282" alt="" class="wp-image-4801 alignright size-medium" />Ten of the 23 organisations that attended the Eco Indaba in March 2026 were represented at the inaugural meeting. Various reasons were given why more didn’t attend, such as ‘not enough time before the invite was sent out’ and possible public march disruption on the day.</p>
<p>Six organisations present became full members of the Alliance, namely Coastal Rewilding, Betty’s Bay Conservancy (BBC), Kogelberg Villages Environmental Trust (KVET), Rooiels Conservancy, Betty’s Bay Baboon Action Group (BBBAG), and the  Kogelberg Branch of the Botanical Society of South Africa. Each of these will have representation on the <em>first council</em>, with two additional members and a coordinator elected at their first meeting.  Their main work is to <em>organise the AGM in early September</em>.</p>
<p><em><img decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/eco_indaba-1024x500.jpg" width="1024" height="500" alt="" class="wp-image-4930 alignleft size-large" srcset="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/eco_indaba-1024x500.jpg 1024w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/eco_indaba-980x478.jpg 980w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/eco_indaba-480x234.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw" /></em></p>
<p><em>Photo: Bernadette Crewe-Brown</em></p>
<p>The rest of the 23 organisations need to be contacted and invited to become members. The council members need to be <em>represented from across the region</em>, in order to fairly include the important concerns that might not affect e.g. the Kogelberg groups directly yet be of importance to everyone.</p>
<p>I liked the fact that the Alliance intends to be inclusive, and with a council of eight, plus a coordinator. The council will respect all concerns presented by the member organisations and by individuals, across the greater Overstrand region.</p>
<p>I enjoyed the vigorous discussion over the constitution contents, going over each clause, which was in language that was easy to understand.</p>
<p>Only ‘<em>suggestions of concerns</em>’ were made, and it was emphasised that each concern raised would be thoroughly discussed and assessed by the full council. Rules as to whether a concern is strategically carried out depends on a 75% threshold on members. Some suggestions were poaching of resources, plastic pollution, baboon and penguin management, and nuclear issues.</p>
<p>How members conduct themselves to the public and authorities is important in order to present the correct facts and have an approach that is appealing rather than abrasive.</p>
<p>Overall, the knowledge base of people in that meeting was impressive with a multitude of skills present and insights into a host of wide topics that can meaningfully contribute to the betterment of the natural environment in the greater Overstrand region.</p>
<p>I wish the Alliance well in their interactions with each other and any government authority as well. </p>
<p><em>Barbara Jenman   </em></p>
<p><em>Compiled by Carol Clark and proofread by Patrick Bolttler</em></p></div>
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		<title>Speeding on the R44: Twenty-Five Wild Animals Killed on the Road in First Five Months in 2026</title>
		<link>https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/2026/07/23/speeding-on-the-r44-twenty-five-wild-animals-killed-on-the-road-in-first-five-months-in-2026/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Carol Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:05:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Conservation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/?p=4923</guid>

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				<div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/R44speeding.jpg" width="297" height="384" alt="" class="wp-image-4924 alignright size-full" srcset="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/R44speeding.jpg 462w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/R44speeding-233x300.jpg 233w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/R44speeding-400x516.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px" />Since the start of 2026, the Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Centre has recorded 25 roadkill incidents in the Kogelberg Biosphere on roads including the R44 and R43.</p>
<p>These incidents include:</p>
<p>4 porcupines</p>
<p>3 grysboks</p>
<p>3 spotted eagle owls</p>
<p>3 caracals</p>
<p>2 tortoises</p>
<p>And several other species that call the biosphere home.</p>
<p>Since 2023, the number stands at 58 deaths, but this is not the full picture. These are only the stats collected by the Rescue Centre &#8211; many incidents are never reported, and some injured wildlife are never found.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>As development, tourism and traffic increase across the biosphere, so does the risk to the wildlife.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Wildlife death on the roads is one of the less visible conservation challenges facing our biosphere – but one where every driver can help to make a difference to reduce these tragic deaths.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Slow down, keep alert, and take extra care when driving at dawn and dusk.</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><em>Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Centre</em></p>
<p><em> </em><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>And more &#8211; another heartbreaking incident on 7 July</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/R44speeding2-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" alt="" class="wp-image-4925 alignright size-medium" />Yet another grysbokkie was knocked down and killed on Clarence Drive within the 100 km zone, just before the Disa Circle turnoff. The adult male bokkie had sustained a broken leg. Hopefully, he died on impact and was not injured and just left to suffer.</p>
<p>This is particularly sad as only a few days ago Wayne Jackson posted a beautiful picture of a bokkie, pleading to the public to drive carefully and to watch out for our wildlife.</p>
<p>According to Michele Watson from the Kogelberg Wildlife Rescue Centre, three bokkies have succumbed on the R44 and R43 within the last four weeks. These are only the deaths we know about!</p>
<p>This section of the road from Pringle Bay to Betty’s Bay central shops is treacherous.</p>
<p>There is an urgent need for speed reduction and signage to create awareness that traffic needs to “slow down” as there is “wildlife crossing.” I am aware of the public outcry, which led to the Speed Reduction Petition initiated by the Steering Committee. This is currently following the legal process, but this process really needs to move faster.</p>
<p>We are constantly reminded that Clarence Drive is a provincial road. We expect the Overstrand Municipality to be more proactive and supportive of our endeavour to reduce the speed and to increase traffic calming through Betty’s Bay. We live in a UNESCO-recognised biosphere area with unique flora and fauna. Surely, this must account for our conservation status, which needs better protection.</p>
<p><em>Lenore Watermeyer</em></p></div>
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		<title>Wildlife: In Honour of our Bokkie &#8211; A Reminder For Responsible Dog Ownership in Betty&#8217;s Bay</title>
		<link>https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/2026/07/23/wildlife-in-honour-of-our-bokkie-a-reminder-for-responsible-dog-ownership-in-bettys-bay/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Patrick Bolttler]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:59:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Conservation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/?p=4917</guid>

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				<div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p>Living in Betty’s Bay, one is blessed each day with wonderful sightings of our resident wildlife and birds, surrounded by gorgeous seascapes and mountains. On a morning walk through the Harold Porter Botanical Garden, you may come across our 23‑strong baboon troop going about their business, youngsters chattering and clambering in the leafy trees, elders keeping watch. Their interactions are cuteness personified.</p>
<p>On walks, jogs, and bicycle rides, you are surely captivated by the sight of sunbirds in every colour of the rainbow, Cape sugarbirds, chats, turtle doves, prinias, spurfowl, guineafowl, oystercatchers and penguins — just a few of the birds that call this place home. Mongooses streak across the road, while tortoises and chameleons move at a slower pace. The chorus of frogs rises from every corner of Betty’s Bay, accompanied by the melodious calls of more than 240 different bird species.</p>
<p>And then there are our resident grysbokkies — those graceful, shy antelope who often stand their ground just long enough for you to take in their beauty before they move delicately into the fynbos. It is impossible not to feel a sense of tenderness toward these gentle creatures.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/bokkie-300x248.jpg" width="277" height="229" alt="" class="wp-image-4918 alignleft size-medium" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/bokkie2-300x275.jpg" width="255" height="233" alt="" class="wp-image-4919 alignleft size-medium" /></p>
<p>Photos: Graeme McGregor                                    Wayne Jackson</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/bokkie3-300x221.jpg" width="300" height="221" alt="" class="wp-image-4920 alignleft size-medium" />That is why the news on 27 June struck so heartbreakingly. Wayne Jackson reported that a bokkie had been killed by dogs. The little antelope was found on the property next to Crassula Hall. Wayne made it clear that he was not taking the incident lightly, and we are grateful to him for sounding the alarm: dogs must be kept inside their owners’ properties and must not roam off‑leash at night.</p>
<p>In the days that followed, several videos surfaced showing dogs being walked off‑leash. This prompted renewed awareness of the bylaw, which clearly states that dogs must be on a leash when being walked. The bylaws were shared across WhatsApp groups, accompanied by appeals for residents to be part of the solution &#8211; to help build a considerate, wildlife‑respecting community.</p>
<p>Since the incident, many residents have noticed a marked improvement: more dogs are being walked on‑leash, and fewer are seen roaming freely. In this sense, our bokkie’s death was not in vain. It has brought about greater awareness, greater responsibility, and a renewed commitment to protecting the wildlife that makes Betty’s Bay the amazing place it is.</p>
<p><em>Patrick Bolttler</em></p></div>
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		<title>We Know How to Mourn Other Humans &#8211; But What About Ecological Grief?</title>
		<link>https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/2026/07/23/we-know-how-to-mourn-other-humans-but-what-about-ecological-grief/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Carol Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:54:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Conservation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/?p=4912</guid>

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				<div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/megan-mayhew-bergman"><strong>Megan Mayhew Bergman</strong></a> Fri 10 Jul 2026 12.00 BST</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/10/ecological-grief?CMP"><span>https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/10/ecological-grief?CMP</span></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>As so much of the world is changing and habitat, ecosystems, areas as we knew and loved, and species are transformed and lost – we may not know how to express and deal with the feeling we experience. It’s like a grief that we keep silent.</p>
<p>Though this article is set in America, we know too well the local destruction of habitat and ecosystems in our area and in the Biosphere. Development destroys wetland habitat, indigenous vegetation, wildlife corridors, safe spaces and food sources. Fireflies and other wildlife are lost due to bright outdoor lights, wildlife is hit on our roads, poisons kill vegetation and creatures small and large. Our neighbours, the African Penguin, face potential extinction in less than ten years’ time.</p>
<p>Here are a few quotes from Megan’s article:</p>
<p>“Scientists who spend years studying endangered species inevitably form attachments to them. So do many of us, whether to an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/20/joshua-trees-climate-crisis-wildfires">endangered tree</a>, a stretch of crumbling coastline, or summer nights <a href="https://www.fws.gov/story/save-fireflies">once filled with fireflies</a>.”</p>
<p>Yet our culture has almost no language or rituals for this kind of grief.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecogrief-300x241.jpg" width="300" height="241" alt="" class="wp-image-4913 alignright size-medium" srcset="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecogrief-300x241.jpg 300w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecogrief.jpg 448w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Just outside Manchester, Vermont, there’s a heron rookery I’ve driven past for nearly two decades. Each year, the elegant great blue herons and their nests dotted the skeletal marsh trees. The birds stood guard over their young through sleet and torrential rain, their stoic devotion a marker of Vermont’s tenuous spring.</p>
<p>Then, gradually, there were fewer herons. This spring, there was only one. I passed her on my way to dentist appointments and while driving my children to soccer games. The trees and marsh remain. But the once-visible community of herons does not.</p>
<p>This heron raises her young alone.</p>
<p>No one held a memorial service. There was no public acknowledgement that something beloved or integral to the landscape had diminished. Yet each time I pass the rookery, I feel an ache that does not seem entirely polite to share. It feels like a contradiction at the centre of modern life: we experience profound environmental loss and largely pretend nothing is happening.”</p>
<p>“As a culture, we know what to do when a person dies. We gather, tell stories and hold sacred space. We make room for sadness. But what do we do when a species disappears from a landscape? What do we do when a coastline changes beyond recognition, when a forest is felled for wood pellets and lumber, or when a rookery we love becomes an empty, ghostly landscape of broken trees and still water, with nothing but the sound of the highway to drown out the chorus of the frogs?”</p>
<p>“The word “grief” can feel excessive. Yet what else should we call the feeling that arises when a beloved place, species or ecosystem is altered before our eyes?”</p>
<p>“We know how to mourn grandparents, spouses, friends, and neighbours, but we do not know how to mourn disappearing species, damaged rivers, altered coastlines, democratic institutions, or the healthy futures we expected to inherit.”</p>
<p>“People do not simply need scientific information in an era of such rapid environmental degradation. They also need more formal places to share their feelings: monuments, ceremonies, obituaries, even legislation. Our current practices do not match the magnitude of our losses, and I believe we’ve underestimated how much environmental degradation will continue to affect us emotionally, physically and spiritually.”</p>
<p>In Betty’s Bay and the Biosphere, do we want to sit back and lose the &#8230;</p>
<ul>
<li>wetlands to infill by tons of builders’ rubble when appropriate building methods avoid this,</li>
<li>areas drained by pipes as the water is ‘inconvenient’ on erfs,</li>
<li>biodiversity and habitat to bulldozed erfs,</li>
<li>porous surfaces to concrete driveways and gardens,</li>
<li>indigenous vegetation to grassed erfs (green deserts),</li>
<li>dark skies to light pollution from houses,</li>
<li>wildlife to roadkill, poisons, dogs and cats,</li>
<li>wildlife corridors and movements to solid walls and fences all around erfs,</li>
<li>African Penguins to threats such as predation, loss of their food sources, stress from uninformed visitors.</li>
</ul>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecogrief2.jpg" width="576" height="300" alt="" class="wp-image-4915 alignleft size-full" srcset="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecogrief2.jpg 576w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ecogrief2-480x250.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 576px, 100vw" /></p>
<p>In 2026, this number has decreased more.</p>
<p><em>Carol Clark</em></p></div>
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		<title>Honouring the Biosphere: A Call for Responsible Baboon Management</title>
		<link>https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/2026/07/23/honouring-the-biosphere-a-call-for-responsible-baboon-management/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Patrick Bolttler]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:48:55 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Conservation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/?p=4907</guid>

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				<div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p>In an article published in the <em>Argus</em> on 10 July, titled <em>Don’t Fall for the Big ‘Us‑and‑Them’</em>, Rudi Buys explores how polarising narratives are used to divide communities, particularly in political contexts. He warns of the destructive consequences when groups are encouraged to see one another as adversaries, often leading to hostility, fear, and even violence.</p>
<p>This pattern is sadly visible in Betty’s Bay, where discussions around baboon management have become increasingly fraught. A small but vocal group has adopted an ‘Us‑and‑Them’ stance that frames the baboons — and those advocating for their protection — as obstacles rather than part of the natural heritage of this biosphere. The result is a climate of tension in which misinformation, personal attacks, and calls for harmful action against these animals have begun to overshadow constructive, evidence‑based management.</p>
<p>The EMS Foundation has recently initiated High Court proceedings against both CapeNature and the Overstrand Municipality after efforts to resolve concerns about weapon‑based baboon management through formal correspondence did not yield the assurances sought. In its letter of demand, the Foundation requested that no weapons be used in managing the Betty’s Bay troop, emphasising that these animals form an important part of the Kogelberg Biosphere and should be protected in accordance with South Africa’s constitutional values, environmental legislation and humane conservation principles.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/baboons-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" alt="" class="wp-image-4909 alignright size-medium" />On 9 June, the Overstrand Municipality confirmed that it was reviewing aspects of the current management approach — a step welcomed by the EMS Foundation. However, the suspension of weapon‑based interventions has not yet been implemented during this review period.</p>
<p>According to senior researcher Megan Carr, this left the Foundation with no option but to seek relief through the courts. Importantly, Dr Dean O’Neill, the Overstrand Municipal Manager, has called for a comprehensive review, grounded in biodiversity considerations, conservation science, public safety and animal welfare. The revised draft of the Strategic Baboon Management Plan (SBMP) is expected to be submitted to an independent panel of wildlife and conservation experts for specialist assessment by August.</p>
<p>Against this backdrop, the question that now faces Betty’s Bay is not simply how baboons should be managed, but how we understand our role within a protected biosphere. The current debate has revealed a deeper tension between development pressures and the responsibility that comes with living in an ecologically sensitive area. For some, the presence of baboons is seen as an inconvenience; for others, it is a reminder of the natural heritage that defines this place. The challenge before us is to move beyond entrenched positions and consider what it truly means to share a landscape with wildlife that has inhabited it for generations.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/baboon2-300x200.png" width="300" height="200" alt="" class="wp-image-4908 alignright size-medium" />The recent kind of rhetoric witnessed has no place in a community situated within a protected biosphere. Living in Betty’s Bay is a privilege, and with that comes a responsibility to conserve and preserve the natural environment of which we are part. It is difficult to reconcile the idea of living in a biosphere with calls for the eradication of the very wildlife that defines it. Recently, a few members of our community used highly inflammatory language on social media, calling for harm to the local baboon troop. Such statements highlight how far the conversation has drifted from evidence‑based management and respectful coexistence, and how urgently we need to return to principles of stewardship and shared responsibility.</p>
<p>Living in a biosphere carries obligations that cannot be set aside when they become inconvenient. The baboons are not intruders; they are part of the ecology of this region, forming an integral part of its history long before any of us arrived. As the review of the Strategic Baboon Management Plan proceeds, we have an opportunity to reset the conversation — to move away from polarisation and towards science, ethics and long‑term conservation. The question before us is simple: do we honour the principles of the biosphere, or do we abandon them? Our answer will define the legacy we leave in Betty’s Bay, for both the community and the wildlife that shares this landscape.</p>
<p><em>Patrick Bolttler</em></p>
<p><em>Photos: Pete Oxford</em></p></div>
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		<title>Perspectives on Biosphere Living: Lights at Night</title>
		<link>https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/2026/07/23/perspectives-on-biosphere-living-lights-at-night/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Carol Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:43:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Conservation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/?p=4899</guid>

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				<div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><strong>Ode to <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">the</span> <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">Starry Night</span> My Neighbour’s </strong><strong>☠☣⚠</strong><strong>‼ </strong><strong>Light</strong></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/nightlight-300x143.jpg" width="265" height="126" alt="" class="wp-image-4900 alignleft size-medium" srcset="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/nightlight-300x143.jpg 300w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/nightlight.jpg 408w" sizes="(max-width: 265px) 100vw, 265px" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/nightlight2-300x145.jpg" width="266" height="129" alt="" class="wp-image-4901 alignleft size-medium" srcset="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/nightlight2-300x145.jpg 300w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/nightlight2-400x194.jpg 400w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/nightlight2.jpg 402w" sizes="(max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Starry, starry wonderful starry night</p>
<p>Oh how beautiful, how bright</p>
<p>Wait, oh wait, oh dear wait</p>
<p>It’s my neighbour’s <strong>☠☣⚠</strong><strong>‼ </strong><strong>light</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>That has blinded my night sight</p>
<p>How I wish upon star</p>
<p>That I could see so far</p>
<p>To see the night light shine</p>
<p>Instead, I have to whine:</p>
<p>It’s my neighbour’s <strong>☠☣⚠</strong><strong>‼ </strong><strong>light</strong></p>
<p>That makes the dark night white</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Is that light a star from afar?</p>
<p>Is it a meteorite?</p>
<p>No, not even a car</p>
<p>It’s my neighbour’s <strong>☠☣⚠</strong><strong>‼ </strong><strong>light</strong></p>
<p>Blinding me in the night.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Lying on my bed dreaming of the moon</p>
<p>I can see the man! I can see the cow jump!</p>
<p>Alas, instead,</p>
<p>It’s my neighbour’s <strong>☠☣⚠</strong><strong>‼ </strong><strong>light</strong></p>
<p>Protecting his shed from an imaginary goon</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Awake, awake, Great Grandma yells</p>
<p>Frantically ringing on her bedside bells!</p>
<p>Danger is near! The bombers are here!</p>
<p>Fear not Gran!</p>
<p>It’s my neighbour’s <strong>☠☣⚠</strong><strong>‼ </strong><strong>light</strong></p>
<p>Pretending to be a roving searchlight!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The ode is written in jest, but for many people, the “It’s my neighbour’s <strong>☠☣⚠</strong><strong>‼</strong><strong>light</strong>” is real and very intrusive and inconsiderate.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Most houses with intrusive outside lights on the outside, have their lights shining directly onto other houses, into their windows, and into the roads.  They are not directed lights that point down onto their own properties, but rather flat bulkhead lights that blast out light in every direction.</p>
<p>Some houses have lights so bright that they light up the walls of neighbours’ houses 200m away.</p>
<p>And destroy the enjoyment of the dark skies for neighbours.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/nightlight3-300x136.jpg" width="300" height="136" alt="" class="wp-image-4902 alignright size-medium" />Most of these bright-light users claim it is for security. This is pseudo security. These lights, and internal lights left on, are a magnet for the few thieves around. The lights show them that no one is home and create shadows for them to hide in. They also blind people if they look out of their windows.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/nightlight4-300x143.jpg" width="300" height="143" alt="" class="wp-image-4903 alignleft size-medium" />If you have external lights, I invite you to go out at night or in the early morning.</p>
<p>Have a look at the effect your lights have on your neighbours and drivers on the roads.</p>
<p>Invite your neighbour to test your security &#8211; ask them to sneak up to your house and leave a post-it sticker on a window, door, anywhere, and see if you spot them!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>If security is really a concern, then look into proper security for the area e.g. beams, security company response, 24-hour monitored cameras or even a guard standing outside. </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Besides the inconsiderate effects on your neighbours, there are also environmental effects.</p>
<p>Creatures of the night have eyes designed to function in the dark. To understand what you are doing to them, invite your neighbour over in the evening and while outside, get them to shine their bright LED light in your eyes the whole time.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Please check the light pollution that you home creates. Be considerate to neighbours and kind to the wildlife; turn those <strong>☠☣⚠</strong><strong>‼ </strong>lights off that disturb them. Replace them with shielded lights, down lights, motions sensors. Look after your neighbour and they will look after you!</p>
<p>For more information about suitable lights, read the BBC light pollution leaflet: <a href="https://bettysbayconservancy.co.za/biosphere-living-lighting/"><span>https://bettysbayconservancy.co.za/biosphere-living-lighting/</span></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>William Davids</em></p></div>
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		<title>Stony Point Nature Reserve: Caracal Predation and the Fence</title>
		<link>https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/2026/07/23/stony-point-nature-reserve/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Carol Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:33:37 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Conservation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/?p=4890</guid>

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				<div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p>I missed the 9 June Community Engagement due to illness, but on 9 July I heard a shortened form of the SANCCOB and CapeNature presentations at the Protected Area Advisory Committee (PAAC) for Stony Point Nature Reserve and MPA.</p>
<p>Here are some of the points and my thoughts: </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>The drastic decline in the number of breeding pairs of the African Penguin</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/stonypoint-1024x644.jpg" width="1024" height="644" alt="" class="wp-image-4891 alignleft size-large" srcset="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/stonypoint-1024x644.jpg 1024w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/stonypoint-980x616.jpg 980w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/stonypoint-480x302.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Lisa Nupen of SANCCOB presented this graph. It shows the steady decline in the number of breeding pairs since 1999, and the corresponding change in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/">https://www.iucnredlist.org/</a>.</p>
<p>The African Penguin dropped to Vulnerable in 2002, Endangered in 2010 and to Critically Endangered in 2024. The next level of listing is Extinct in the Wild (EW) i.e. meaning it only lives in captivity, and then Extinct (EX) when there are no living individuals left.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>The organisations working to protect the penguins</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>SANCCOB, supported by organisations such as BirdLife South Africa, CapeNature and many dedicated volunteers, is working tirelessly to support the African Penguin. They incubate eggs that need to be rescued from colonies, hand-rear chicks, rescue sick or injured juveniles and adults, give veterinary care and perform surgeries to save birds, and release penguins that are able to return to the wild. They also collect data, conduct research, prepare for disasters, support SANCCOB Sea Rangers at colonies, source funding, educate the public, train volunteers, network with other organisations, and more.</p>
<p>Alongside BirdLife SA, they fought for fishing closures around penguin colonies to improve food availability. They understand the specific marine and land threats to the African Penguin at the different colonies. Their Seabird Rangers, CapeNature staff and the SANCCOB centre see the grim consequences of all the injuries and predator kills.  SANCCOB remains committed to securing a future for the African Penguin.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>The stats for the land predation at Stony Point</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>These show a marked increase in caracal predation in 2025 and 2026. In 2026, up to 8 July, caracals have killed about 60 adult penguins. A lot of this is surplus killing i.e. the caracal doesn’t just kill what it wants to eat, it kills and leaves the carcasses.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>For a critically endangered species, each bird is vital</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/stonypoint2-300x192.jpg" width="300" height="192" alt="" class="wp-image-4892 alignleft size-medium" />The death of one adult means the loss of a breeding pair and the loss of their current eggs or chicks for this breeding season, as a solo adult can’t raise the eggs or chicks alone. Beyond that, it also means this ‘pair’ isn’t able to breed in future years and, therefore, the loss of their potential eggs and chicks in all future seasons. It is also the loss of all their eggs and chicks as future breeding adults and all their potential offspring. Together, these are far-reaching consequences for a species with possible extinction in the wild, hanging over their heads in less than ten years.</p>
<p>Sixty dead adults in the last six months is a devastating loss for the Stony Point population. If this predation carries on, the population at Stony Point faces an even more serious crisis.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Land-based colonies like at Stony Point and Boulders face both marine and terrestrial threats</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Penguins used to live on islands and burrow in guano for their nests. They aren’t adapted to land predators, and do not have much defence against them, so they are very vulnerable.</p>
<p>At sea, these predators include seals and sharks that prey on the penguins, fishing stress with low food availability, oil spills, increased marine traffic and noise pollution, and marine pollution.</p>
<p>On land, the threats include mongooses, caracals, kelp gulls, humans, dogs, cars, the loss of breeding habitat, climatic events and others.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Human stress</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>People are a stressor for penguins, especially with the insatiable drive of those who want “close-up selfies” to post on their social media accounts to boost their egos with lots of “likes”! The “cute” birds may not look stressed, but their internal stress responses rise. Remember, they used to live on islands without daily invasions of curious human visitors.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Access times and entrance fees</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Many people seem to view Stony Point as a freebie place to come and go as they like. People enter at all times in the mornings and evenings, due to faulty gates, when the reserve should be closed to visitors. Tour companies include Stony Point in the cost of their packages, but their clients can visit the reserve without paying entrance fees if they don’t go on the boardwalk. The same goes for ‘kombi tours’ and private individuals.</p>
<p>SANParks and other CapeNature Reserves charge entrance fees. This is one way of raising revenue to cover conservation and other reserve costs.  Because of the faulty gates and the current pay-point, Stony Point has lost revenue that would normally contribute to CapeNature’s management of its reserves.</p>
<p>The plan is to fix the gates at Stony Point. These will close when the reserve closes at 4:30 p.m. in winter and a later time in summer. Most ‘day’ reserves are closed ‘after hours’ when the staff leave. The penguins should have time out from human interference by visitors.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Should there be a social venue open at night in the midst of a conservation area for a critically endangered species?</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>I </strong>will leave that for you to consider.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Proposed change in visitor flow and a new pay-point</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The pay-point will be moved from its current site on the boardwalk. Its new site will be to the right of the restaurant – near the ramp from the small car park near the CapeNature office. Visitors will be directed via railings.</p>
<p>Visitors won’t pay to visit the restaurant. They will only pay to go into the penguin area – on the left of the coastal area, or right, onto the boardwalk.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Wild Card</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Visitors and residents can use a Wild Card at the pay-point.</p>
<p><strong><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-23-at-21.01.26-1024x309.png" width="1024" height="309" alt="" class="wp-image-4895 alignleft size-large" srcset="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-23-at-21.01.26-980x296.png 980w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-23-at-21.01.26-480x145.png 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw" /> </strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>The Fence</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The growing use of fencing in the village is fragmenting what were once open corridors for wildlife. In recent years, so many new homeowners have fenced their properties, dividing the village’s natural spaces into ‘blocks’ that inhibit wildlife movement. However, many homeowners have dogs and these pets need to be ‘fenced in.’</p>
<p>Most reserves are fenced.</p>
<p>The installation of a predator-deterrent fence has been motivated by the increased and devastating caracal predation over the past 18 months.  The fence is a black, 2.1 m Clearview structure with a 50 cm overhang at 45 degrees, and with a cement base dug underground to prevent predators from digging under the fence.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>There are many concerns and questions:</strong></li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li><strong> </strong><strong>Why has caracal predation increased? </strong>What factors have changed? Are there more caracals in the area? How many caracals are doing the killing? Is there time to wait and do research to find this out – while losing so many breeding adults to predation?</li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="2">
<li><strong> </strong><strong>What is currently being done to stop the predation? </strong>There are camera traps to monitor the caracal activity, baited traps to try to catch and then relocate the caracals and staff presence at night. Penguin-Pals patrols will also be implemented.</li>
<li><strong> </strong><strong>What will happen to the penguins who are currently breeding outside the designated colony area when the fence is installed?</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>The intention is to bring these birds back into the colony before it is fenced. Being ‘naïve’ about land predators, humans and cars, the penguins are at risk outside the colony area.</p>
<ol start="4">
<li><strong> </strong><strong>If they chose to nest outside the colony for a reason, will they try to go back to those sites?</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>This is a big concern of many residents. The fence does not have ‘penguin gaps’ for any penguin outside to get back into the colony (should they have made it out) before the gates open in the morning. Gaps like this would be an open invitation for caracals to get through.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="5">
<li><strong> </strong><strong>Will this cause increased stress for penguins who may try to go back to ‘their spot’ outside?</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>There is currently no clear answer to this, and it will need to be monitored and responded to with adaptive management.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="6">
<li><strong> </strong><strong>Will the construction disturb and stress the penguins?</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>To mitigate this, the initial phase has been planned for October &#8211; December at a time when the penguins’ movement is less, as they are moulting. Construction workers will be educated and working hours per day will be limited to times when the penguins are less active on land.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I understand that the organisations are desperately working to protect the African Penguin at Stony Point &#8211; to try to give them a chance to recover their breeding success and save the population. Each colony has a slightly different group of factors that threaten the penguins.  At Stony Point in the past 18 months, caracal predation has increased and become a major factor threatening the survival of the colony. The predator-deterrent fence is seen as a means of mitigating the predation of a critically endangered species in crisis.</p>
<p>If nothing is done – what will happen at Stony Point if predation of this number of adult penguins continues or increases during the next crucial nine years as the clock ticks towards their potential predicted extinction in the wild in 2035?</p>
<p>Positive observations since the fishing closures are that the penguins are in better physical  condition – but the sad situation is the caracals are now killing “better-fed” penguins. Having won one battle, there is now another to fight in the survival of this crucial species.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>How does this affect us as Betty’s Bay residents in 2026?</strong></li>
<li>Stony Point is a conservation area for a now critically endangered species.</li>
<li>I think it’s time to change our thinking and behaviour to match their crisis state. We need to help to support this colony and the organisations that manage and support it. That’s an aim of the BBC Penguin-Pals, initiated in 2024.</li>
<li>We need to embrace a role as custodians of our neighbours in crisis.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>The vision of a Betty’s Bay community project</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Supporting the organisation and the Stony Point colony could be a significant Betty’s Bay community project. The village is full of people with an amazing variety of skills, as well as time availability.</p>
<p>If you would like to be involved in the BBC Penguin-Pals in some way, please email <a href="mailto:bettysbayconservancy@gmail.com">bettysbayconservancy@gmail.com</a> or WhatsApp 079 753 0166.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>The last Penguin: </strong>Credit to The Current Times and Jan Schaafsma</p>
<p>You might have read this on page nine of ‘The Current Times’ as a runner-up to their Long Short Story Competition.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/stonypoint3-300x160.jpg" width="300" height="160" alt="" class="wp-image-4893 alignleft size-medium" /></p>
<p>May it never come to this at Stony Point!</p>
<p><strong>As a village, let us join our good attitudes, willing hands, skills and time to support our neighbours in crises.</strong></p>
<p><em>Carol Clark</em></p></div>
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		<title>BBC4thSaturday: Winter Birding, 27 June 2026</title>
		<link>https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/2026/07/23/bbc4thsaturday-winter-birding-27-june-2026/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Carol Clark]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:24:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Conservation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/?p=4882</guid>

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				<div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/birding-228x300.jpg" width="228" height="300" alt="" class="wp-image-4883 alignright size-medium" srcset="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/birding-228x300.jpg 228w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/birding.jpg 440w" sizes="(max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px" />Thanks to Keith Hamilton for his fascinating talk on winter birding, presented with his beautiful bird photographs. Contrary to what you may think, Keith pointed out that winter is a good time for birding as  the fynbos is in flower and the proteas, ericas and aloes attract nectar and insect feeders, the weather can be better, there is good light for photography, you can sleep in and there are fewer snakes around.</p>
<p>He gave us a breakdown of the ‘who is in town in winter’ of the 287 bird species in the Kogelberg. The ‘resident’ birds top the chart at 167 of these 287 species, with Palearctic migrants, Intra-African migrants, vagrants (those who have ‘lost their way’ and don’t usually come here), visitors and pelagic visitors making up the other species. Vagrants include birds such as the Grey Wagtail and the African Crake.</p>
<p>His stunning photographs featured owls, a variety of sunbirds, the rock thrush, coastal birds and many others.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/birding2-300x190.jpg" width="267" height="169" alt="" class="wp-image-4884 alignleft size-medium" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/birding3-300x198.jpg" width="258" height="170" alt="" class="wp-image-4885 alignleft size-medium" /> </p>
<p>   Malachite Sunbird                                              Southern Double-collared Sunbird</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/birding4-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="" class="wp-image-4886 alignright size-thumbnail" srcset="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/birding4-150x150.jpg 150w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/birding4-300x300.jpg 300w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/birding4-400x403.jpg 400w, https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/birding4.jpg 403w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />He also showed us good places in Betty’s Bay to view birds, and good spots to view some of the pelagic birds from land.</p>
<p>These photos of his slides obviously don’t do justice to his  pictures – so treat yourself to a copy of his book<strong> ‘Birds of the Kogelberg’ </strong>which is available at the BotSoc bookshop in the Harold Porter Garden.</p>
<p><em>Carol Clark</em></p></div>
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		<title>Hacking &#8211; The Battle for Betty&#8217;s Bay: Report on Hack No 748</title>
		<link>https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/2026/07/23/hacking-the-battle-for-bettys-bay-report-on-hack-no-748/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Rob Boyd]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 18:56:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Conservation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/?p=4872</guid>

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				<div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p>Twenty-eight volunteers met on a chilly morning at the parking area on the western side of Malkopvlei (Bass Lake) to clear the public open space bounded by Edward Avenue, Green, Bass and Anglers roads. The goal was to complete the removal of, primarily, rooikrans from this area following the excellent work done by the Hangklip Hardcore Hackers (HHH) on Wednesday, 10 June 2026. Of historical interest, in the late 1950’s, this land was part of a nine-hole golf course surrounding Bass Lake. It was never completed and abandoned in 1960.</p>
<p>Two first time hackers, Vanessa Pitlo and Angus Mackintosch were welcomed. Daniela Pobuda from the HHH was welcomed to her first Betty’s Bay hack and a very welcome was extended to returning seasoned hackers, Karin and Louw Toerien and Tim Attwell. Last but by no means least, from hacking royalty, Brian Silberbauer joined us, continuing the proud family tradition of hacking dating back to the 1960’s.</p>
<p>The hackers dispersed to locate the remaining rooikrans trees. The hack involved chainsaw work, dragging the branches through the fynbos and stacking them neatly on the verge for easy removal by the municipality.  OM arrived at the mid morning break to remove the heaped branches from the 10 June 2026 hack.  The break was perfectly timed with the completion of the removal of the last rooikrans tree.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hack-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="" class="wp-image-4873 alignleft size-thumbnail" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hack2-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="" class="wp-image-4874 alignleft size-thumbnail" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hack3-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="" class="wp-image-4875 alignleft size-thumbnail" /></p>
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<p>A big thank you to Dave Mourant for providing all that is needed for the monthly tea and coffee requirements and to Lee Boyd for making all the egg mayo and grated cheese and cucumber sarmies in Mary Whitelaw’s absence.</p>
<p>After the break, the battle continued with cutting, dragging and stacking of the seemingly endless waterberry trees (waterbessies) growing in the northern wetland of Bass Lake in the vicinity of Mimetes Road.  The hack came to a rather abrupt end a half hour early when angry bees started stinging hackers close to the road verge after the swarm had been disturbed. Ken Meiring came off worst with numerous stings to his head, back and arms.  Fortunately, Dave Mourant was unscathed.  Dave carries an epipen in his pocket following his bee attack at a HH Hack several years ago when he was stung four hundred times and was rescued by courageous hackers who were also severely stung.  A huge thank you to Jonathan Beattie who provided antihistamine tablets to those who needed.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hack4-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="" class="wp-image-4876 alignleft size-thumbnail" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hack5-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="" class="wp-image-4877 alignleft size-thumbnail" /><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hack6-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="" class="wp-image-4878 alignleft size-thumbnail" /></p>
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<p>The early aftermath was enjoyed by all. Hackers were strongly encouraged to become members of the Hangklip Botanical Society (NPC) for R200 per annum as it provides the funding for the hack and many other environmental activities in the Hangklip area.</p>
<p>Tim Attwell gave a thorough explanation for the branch name change and confirmed that it remains an external branch of the Botanical Society of South Africa.</p>
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<p>Many thanks to our neighbours for their ongoing, invaluable support: Christine Coupar from Kleinmond who came despite planned protest action, Anne Woods, Daniela Pobuda, Karin &amp; Louw Toerien, Ken Meiring and Chris Geldenhuys from Pringle Bay and Megs Tweedie from Rooiels.</p>
<p>As ever, on behalf of the Betty’s Bay Fynbos, thank you all for your efforts.</p>
<p><em>Rob Boyd</em></p>
<p><span><em>Convener Betty’s Bay Hack Group</em></span></p></div>
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		<title>Hangklip Community Care Centre (HCCC)</title>
		<link>https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/2026/07/20/hangklip-community-care-centre-hccc-3/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Fritz]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:02:26 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Community & Cultural Matters]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://bettysbayratepayers.co.za/?p=4866</guid>

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				<div class="et_pb_text_inner"><p>HCCC provides welfare services to the Hangklip community, i.e. residents of Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooi Els.  During the month of June our kitchen distributed 58 food parcels and prepared 590 scrumptious meals.</p>
<p>Our semiweekly pilates classes, weekly bridge afternoons and monthly friendship circle meetings continued during June as usual.</p>
<p>Following on from our HAIL (Home Assisted Independent Living) home carers’ courses in October 2022, March 2023 and May 2025, we have set up carers’ support groups in each of Sunny Seas, Jock’s Bay, Central Betty’s Bay, and Silversands.</p>
<p>A series of informative and practical health talks by Dr Jacques Jordaan, aimed at helping residents better understand common cardiovascular medical conditions and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment thereof and monitoring and long-term care, will be presented on 21 August and 18 September at HCC Centre.</p>
<p>Proceedings will begin at 12h00 with soup and bread, followed by the talk and an opportunity for questions and discussion.</p>
<p>Cost&#8230;&#8230;.: R50 per person</p>
<p>Bookings: Ella Loots – 076 284 4313</p>
<p>If anyone would like to know more about our activities and the work that we do, please contact our secretary, Jannie van der Walt, at <a href="Jh.vanderwalt@gmail.com"><span>Jh.vanderwalt@gmail.com</span></a>.</p>
<p>If anyone would like to volunteer to assist with any of our activities, or if anyone needs assistance from HCCC, please contact our Manager, Marion Green at <a href="mailto:manager@hccc.co.za"><span>manager@hccc.co.za</span></a>.</p>
<p><em>David Fritz</em></p></div>
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