A least once a year my wife loves to do a spring clean at home. She will tell you that she hates to do it, but secretly I think she loves doing it as it gives her the chance to re-organised the kids messy cupboards.

First task is to go through our kids cupboards and take all the clothes and shoes that no longer fit them and put them in a big black bag. Once that has been done task two is to sit with each of our kids and go through all their toys and stuff in their rooms that they accumulated during the year from birthday parties and Christmas, see what they no longer play with, or want anymore and that gets put in a separate bag. From a young age we have told our kids that there are people that are less fortunate then us and not to be wasteful.

After the rooms have been cleaned, cupboards re-organised we sometimes have one or two bags of goodies. Our domestic who has been with us for many years always gets first dibs at the bags and she always only takes a few items for her children. When we stayed on the Atlantic Seaboard side we would venture to Nazareth House and drop the bags off and the nuns there were always so grateful and happy to see a bag of goodies.

A month ago it was spring cleaning time again, and like every year wife and kids would go through their cupboards and put what they didn’t want anymore into bags. Since we moved to Monte Vista a year ago  I was dreading of having to drive all the way to Nazareth House to go an donate the bags of clothes. (I just hate driving all the way to town now days as traffic is just horrendous anytime of the day)

I started to then think there must be a NPO or place close by in Monte Vista or surrounding areas where we could donate these clothes and toys. Posting on Facebook someone suggested Nehemiah Safe House which was just in Tulbagh Street, great just down the road and no need to venture to town I thought. Googling Nehemiah Safe House I came across and article (can’t remember where) about Nehemiah Safe House which was started by Bronson and Amy Vos and was really touched about what they were doing.

Nehemiah Safe House is a registered NPO (167-855), who look after and care for abused, neglected and abandoned children in a loving and stable family home.

Their main mission is to install in their children that their pasts don’t define their future and offer them a safe place to live out their purpose. It made me think, looking after your own kids is a hard task in itself, looking after abandoned, abused and neglected kids that are not your own, wow that takes a huge amount of dedication. and courage.

So if you want to donate food, clothing etc. please donate wisely and rather donate to a NPO like Nehemiah Safe House rather than dumping it or giving it to the vagrants at the traffic lights. For more information on Nehemiah Safe House please visit their website: www.fostercare.co.za or email Amy on amy@fostercare.co.za

Anyone know of any other NPO’s or organisations around the area where the community can make donations, let me know and I will gladly post their details on the Monte Vista Ratepayers website.

written by

John Rufino

Did you know that if you are retired or your total household income is less than R6000.00 per month that you can qualify for up to 100% discount on certain services that the City supplies.

The name Regenize was created through the combination of three words which describes Regenize.

​One Re – representing reduce, reuse or recycling.

Two Gen – represents generation. Three

Nize – it sounds nice so we added it.

The Why of Regenize

Like many of you, we believe in making a difference. That is why we created Regenize, a recycling collections company based in Cape Town. Regenize is driven by sustainability and innovation – all geared towards making a social impact.

We reward people to recycle because our mission is to get Africa recycling! However, we don’t only reward people to recycle, we also educate our youth through our Regenize Education programmes. Furthermore, we spend time researching and designing new ways we can reuse waste into products that can benefit many.

We are not your average recycling company. We are evangelists of recycling. We collect, educate and transform waste. WE ARE REGENIZE!

Pot holes in the road, street light out, drain covers missing, leaking water pipes, tree removal and cutting, illegal dumping and more. You can help, get involved!!

Below is a details step by step guide on how you can log a C3 Server Request

Logging a C3 service request with the City of Cape Town. Below is a easy guide that you can follow.

• Go to https://eservices1.capetown.gov.za/coct/wapl/zsreq_app/index.html
• Select Create Service Request

• Select what service
  • Select Group First
  • Then Select Service
  • Click Step 2 to continue

• Enter in a description of the problem and as much information as possible
• Click on Step 3

• Enter in the Address where the issue is or closest location
• Click Step 4

• If you have any photo’s or images please upload them, save them to your computer and browse to the location that you saved them and upload
• Click Step 5

• Enter in your contact details and select your preferred feedback method
• Click on Review

• Check all the details are correct and then click on the Submit Button at the bottom of the page

• You will receive a reference number, please email any service requests that you have logged to
• Dave Bresler  – freshairbreather@gmail.com
• Anna-Marie Vercueil – annamarie.vercueil@gmail.com

Housekeeping is a broad portfolio, which covers everything that can be reported via the C3 system, which is a reporting system on the City of Cape Town’s website.

These include potholes, damaged roads, streetlights not working, missing drain covers, faulty or damaged fire hydrants, missing stop signs, roots uplifting roads or pavements, trees overhanging roads, etc.

C3s are logged, then, after approximately 3 weeks, we check the tracker, to ensure the job is closed. If we find the job incomplete, we log another C3 for the same issue, and escalate to Cheryl Visser for escalation and feedback.

The C3 system has two tabs, namely 1) Create Service Request, and 2) Search Service Request. The former (1) requests the nature of the repair requested, as well as location, and photograph if possible, which later produces a reference number. The latter (2), is the Tracker, to monitor the progress of the repair.

The team consists of:

David Bresler (Dave B on Facebook)

Annamarie Vercueil ( Team Lead)

Paul Lehmann

Council Matters covers the various aspects of municipal engagement with communities. In particular how the engagement affects the residents of Monte Vista directly. The issues Council Matters focuses on are Town Planning matters, Traffic control, Law Enforcement, Transportation, Roads Planning, construction e.g. road resurfacing/pipe replacement/rehabilitation and municipal services.

Council Matters does not focus on issues that can be resolved by means of C3 notifications such as potholes, streetlights, individuals, etc but where engagement of the Councillor and/or Council officials is required for residents benefit.

Currently the very low water pressure to many residents in Monte Vista is of great concern and information is being gathered to ascertain the extent of the problem to take the information to the Council to try and resolve the problem.

David Bresler is assisting me with the various initiatives.

We are a group of concerned residents who volunteer our services to fight rising crime in our community.

We make ourselves visible by actively patrolling our area (i.e. walking, jogging, cycling or driving a vehicle – even taking our dogs for a walk).

Our vehicle patrols are visible with white roof lights and reflective MVNHW magnets.  Patrolling members wear high visibility jackets, and carry official neighbourhood watch identity cards.

The aim of patrols is to keep an eye out for anything unusual or suspicious and report these to the relevant authorities – we are the eyes and ears of the community.

We fall under the Goodwood Community Police Forum, accredited with the Department of Community Safety, and work in partnership with Goodwood SAPS.

We are the only officially recognized accredited Neighbourhood Watch within the Monte Vista and Plattekloof Glen area. We invite any street watch / WhatsApp group in the area to link up with us.

Want to Join

Contact: Vic Barra – chairperson@mvnhw.co.za

http://www.mvnhw.co.za/

We have admins that maintain the Monte Vista Facebook Group page. As well as share information relevant to our community. All comments and posts are monitored on the Facebook group page to ensure that at it’s relevant and respectful.

This is a subcommittee that consists of dedicated members of the Rate Payers Association and Monte vista residents who focus on the parks and open spaces.

We assist the council by being the eyes in the area to report damages so the relevant people can repair them asap.

We strive to ensure community based initiatives take place in the park such as the paved walkway and that the parks be more secure for all in the community who use them.

Bringing the community together, and growing and supporting local businesses. Above all celebrating our beautiful area. We organize events so make sure to check out the calendar on the main page for upcoming events.

A full council meeting held on Wednesday marked Northpine in Brackenfell, Beaconvale in Parow, Penzance Estate in Hout Bay and Marconi Beam in Montague Gardens as SRAs in terms of the City’s Special Rating Area By-law.

This followed the initiative taken by property owners who had identified a need to take ownership of their area and assist in its maintenance and sustain conducive local environments, said the city.

SRAs are clearly defined geographical areas where the property owners contribute additional rates to fund further services. This includes urban management issues such as additional public safety measures, cleaning services, the maintenance of infrastructure, upgrading of the environment, and social services.

Mayco member for Finance, Johan van der Merwe, said the Northpine City Improvement District application had depicted true active citizenship, where residential property owners from a previously disadvantaged residential area identified the need to take ownership of their neighbourhood and assist the city.

“Residents were most concerned about public safety, the state of the public areas and the general beautification of their neighbourhood as a whole, and as a City we look forward to addressing these needs,” said Van der Merwe.

Marconi Beam in Montague Gardens is one of Cape Town’s most modern industrial areas, and is said to be the gateway to the rapid urban and economic growth of the West Coast Region.

Van der Merwe said there was a desire in Beaconvale to establish and maintain a safe, clean and well-managed industrial area that would attract new investment.

“Once these SRAs are operational, the individual property owners will enjoy the collective benefits of an enhancement of their areas, along with a shared sense of communal pride, safety and social responsibility.

“To me, this illustrates the true value of a partnership and joint service delivery initiative,” said Van der Merwe.

Article provided by IOL News –

https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/new-special-rating-areas-declared-in-cape-town-8850009

Our biggest drive at the moment is to get more LPR cameras at the main entrances and exits around Monte Vista. We are looking for someone in Monte Vista / Plattekloof Glen that can take control of the Fundraising sub-committee and help us raise some much needed funds.

We already have a number of sub-committees and volunteers that are actively looking after other areas in Monte Vista.

We need your help !!

If you are interested please email secretary@mvratepayers.co.za or contact Rianna 071 606 5637

WHAT IS LPR?

An LPR camera continuously reads number plates, day and night, and alerts local authorities and registered security companies of any suspicious vehicle which is retrieved from a national database.

Once a suspicious vehicle enters an area all relevant cameras will pick up and indicate the movement of that vehicle, allowing for security to take necessary action. Cameras will have to be installed at strategic entry and exit points.

BENEFITS OF LPR

• Enables us to monitor who enters and exits the neighbourhood.
•  Safer neighbourhood
•  Reduced criminal activity, insurance claims
•  More effective prosecution
•  Crime moves from area to area so sharing data for analysis results in crime prevention rather than combating crime.
•  Increased property values
•  LPR is able to recognise number plates better than the conventional cameras.
•  LPR is able to recognise plate numbers during the day and night.

HOW DO YOU PARTICIPATE?

Your participation is called for in the form of a donation.
There are approximately 2400 residential dwellings in Monte Vista/Plattekloof Glen and it is the responsibility of all residents to contribute to the safety and security of our neighbourhood. Any donation will be appreciated.

Want more information, please contact Lorraine Pretorius – him.her@telkomsa.net

FUNDS REQUIRED

We still require funds for two cameras that are needed for the area. There are two entrances into Monte Vista whereby we urgently need to raise funds so that we can get these cameras installed.

Once funds have been raised and the cameras installed we will be looking at getting filler cameras installed in and around the Monte Vista area.

If you would like to donate please do so – Below are the banking details

Donations can be made by EFT, details as follows:

Bank: Standard Bank
Account holder name: Monte Vista Ratepayers Association
Account number: 07 190 295 3
Branch code: 051001
Reference: LPR (Plus street name and number)

Please email proof of payment to the secretary@mvratepayers.co.za
Follow us on our Facebook page, Monte Vista Ratepayers Association to stay informed.

A big thank you to the below businesses that have donated