CRA news August 2014 - CraigPark Residents Association

CRA news August 2014
An extremely important date this month is 13 August: Ward 90 Byelection.
There are two candidates for the Ward 90 Councillor’s position – Anthony Still [DA] and Joy
Coplan [ANC]. It really is important for you to vote – the more votes recorded, the greater is
the successful candidate’s mandate. Politics is essentially a numbers game… According to
the IEC there are 15 982 registered voters in Ward 90.
To the best of our knowledge, registered voters in Craighall and Craighall Park will vote at
Craighall Primary School, Grosvenor Ave CHP. Voting hours are from 07:00 to 21:00. You
cannot vote at any other voting station.
Voters can check their registration on www.elections.org.za or by sending an SMS with
their ID number to 32 810 (charged at R1). [Just tested via the website – an almost immediate
response, confirming registration and voting station.]
Waterfall Ave park and Scout Hall
Ward 90 committee and CRA representatives had a long and intense meeting with the Joburg
Property Co and City Parks this week. JPC informed us that 2 of the 3 erven are zoned
residential, the other commercial. The lease pertains only to the erf where the old Scout Hall
is. JPC says it will arrange for the other two erf to be rezoned ‘public open space’ which
should ensure that they cannot be easily used for any other purpose.
JPC insists that it followed all the correct procedures – and these do not include public
participation. It is perhaps unfortunate that the lease for the use of erf 24 was signed in June
when we had no Ward Councillor… Craighall’s Sunshine Centre is also concerned that an
early learning school in the immediate vicinity may affect its viability.
A number of recommendations were put forward. Once the report of the meeting is approved,
we’ll share more with you.
SECURITY AND CRIME
After a relatively quiet period, CSS warns that there has been a recent crime spike in the
Parkview Precinct. They are arranging with SAPS to do a special ops to combat this.
Of note – one property in Rutland Ave has had two attempted robberies in the past fortnight.
They do not have armed response nor are they PSS members. Neighbours noted suspicious
activity and called CSS who responded promptly although the criminals quickly disappeared.
Question – should the neighbours approach the property owner to suggest that in the
interests of all in the vicinity, if not of the suburb, that at the very least they could join the PSS
scheme? Is R425 a month not a small price to pay to play your part in our collective
endeavour to reduce crime in our area? Your views?
NB!! The CRA security team did an analysis of crime incidents in our area - 60% of burglaries/
armed robberies took place when GATES WERE LEFT OPEN... even if eg you have builders
we urge you not to leave your gate open.
Additional feedback from the CSS co-ordinated Spruit special op in July: in the several
kilometres of the Spruit area covered, there were some 400 people found to be living there.
Onsite fingerprinting picked up that 114 people were already on the SAPS data base and it
was these people who were detained.
Vagrants are making shelters in many open spaces, including the Beaufort koppie: CSS has
been asked to assist with this problem. There is an NPO initiative to provide container housing
for homeless people; we hope to get more information about this.
Fibre to your home and lightning fast Internet !
The CRA meets with CSS next week to iron out more details re internet connection. As there
will be 2 or more service providers, a number of options with different costs will be offered. In
the coming weeks you will be receiving detailed information on how this network is going to
reduce your cost of living and improve the quality of your life.
Meantime, join the CRA and the PSS scheme [Public Spaces Security] as both will be a
requirement to take advantage of the internet connection! See CSS’s info video on cameras
and proactive PSS patrolling.
Contact Ryan or Glen for info/ security issues / PSS information.
Next Domestic Watch – Friday 29 August, 12:00-13:00, at the Wesleyan Church, cnr Norfolk
& Beaufort Aves, CHP. The topic for WOMANS MONTH is: “Abuse is a crime”!
CRA info
Street reps – for whom to contact and see where the gaps are click here. Contact Martin
Williams for more information or to volunteer.
Insurance benefits for residents
In these days of rising costs, the CRA negotiated two short-term insurance affinity
arrangements to save CRA members money. A percentage of either service provider's
commission goes to the CRA, which means more revenue for us to manage our two suburbs
and improve the quality of your life in Craighall and Craighall Park.
Commrisk Brokers will work out the best deal to suit CRA residents’ needs. Contact Pieter van
Zyl: [email protected] / 084 525 5164. http://www.commrisk.co.za/
Alexander Forbes offers to beat any short term insurance our residents may have with
discounts ranging from 10-50%, depending on the risk profile.
We need you – and you need us!
TOWN PLANNING
Urgent appeal to anyone who is building, PLEASE ask your builders to manage and keep tidy
the building site. Builders are leaving on the roads items such as nails, screws and loose
pieces of steel leading to a number of residents complaining of [expensive] tyre damage.
For town planning help contact Bianca de Roland Phillips or John Ansell, assisted by Louise
Kelly.
City news
Power outage alert 11 August
Parts of Craighall, Hyde Park, Craighall Park, Dunkeld, Dunkeld West, Parkwood, Melrose,
Saxonwold and Parktown North will be without power from 10pm on 11 August until 6am the
next day. According to Ward 117 councillor, Tim Truluck, the power outages will be due to
maintenance by City Power on a Rosebank sub-station which serves the area.
Smart meters
The debate continues. Of interest may be this research paper.
Business Liaison
The CRA would like to thank Yuill Damaso who has the art studio beside the Cnr Café in
Rothesay Ave. A percentage from the sale of work at a recent exhibition was donated to the
Sunshine Centre and REEA…. http://www.yiull.com/.
Yuill visited the Sunshine Centre and has undertaken to hold a fund raising art auction to
benefit the Centre.
Don’t forget the Craighall Park hairdresser specials [proceeds to REEA]: Wash and blow
dry R100: La Moda 011 447 8641 (1st Wednesday of each month) and The Fringe 011 880
0077 (2nd Wednesday of each month).
Visits have been made to Maestro Antonio and the Peartree Family Centre, with both wanting
to get more involved. If you have a business in our area and would like to meet with the CRA
to see how we can provide mutual support, contact Grant Flaum.
Traffic & Infrastructure
‘look and log’: report anything you see that needs fixing – don’t give up! If you report via
email, cc the fault to the CRA’s Mack Rogan.
Environment update
The Spruit clean-up takes place on Saturday 20 September. The meeting point will be the
Craighall Park Scout Hall; more information will be sent out closer to the time.
Contact Environment portfolio’s Brendon Wolff-Piggott or Sue Wilson if you have comments /
ideas /can help with this portfolio or want more information.
Reminding you…
CRA interactive page – share memories, past events, comment on issues or the open page CRA Face book.
2014 subs reminder [never too late to pay for 2014!]. As per the subs form: EFT into the
following bank account:
Standard Bank: Hyde Park Branch; Branch Code: 006605
Account No: 200874977 (Craig park Residents’ Association)
If using EFT, please email the ‘Transaction successful’ details to the Treasurer Lee Whitfield
[[email protected]] and include your name/s and contact information.
CRA Community adverts
Thank you to these advertisers who have paid their subs for 2014. If you are a member of the
CRA email Wendy to place an ad. [Note: community ads can be placed in every issue:
business ads may be limited to 4 per annum, except where the business renders additional
services to the CRA.]
Please note that the CRA takes no responsibility for advertised products and services.
If you want to change your weight, improve your fitness level or just want to know if your
lifestyle is impacting your health, come in for a body analysis.
We will give you an easy-to-understand, comprehensive analysis that will help you understand
how well you are doing.
For more information contact George [email protected] or 082 456 1392.
Els Karate: we have Junior and Senior classes every Monday and Wednesday at the CHP
Bowling Club. For more information, contact Sensei Andrew Els: [email protected];
072 140 1839
The Peartree Family Centre, 41 St Albans Ave, Craighall Park, offers a fabulous indoor &
outdoor kids playground (R50 per child over two for a day's play), a hair & nail/beauty salon,
yoga & Pilates classes, coffee kiosk serving light meals to Peartree patrons. Treat yourself
while your kids are under the eye of our professional child-minders. Plenty of secure off-street
parking. 011 781 0682 www.thepeartree.co.za
Looking for accommodation! I’m Lindsey Johnson and I’ve just started working in the salon
at Peartree. I’m looking for reasonably priced accommodation in the area. 071 895 4587;
[email protected]

Craighall Village Market – FIRST Saturday of each month – next one – 6
September at the Wesleyan Church, Norfolk Ave, CHP, from 08:30 - 13:00. Lovely
fresh organic veges, tasty food, great for gifts. Pony rides. Pop in for a R5 cup of tea,
meet neighbours - and just enjoy the vibe! Enquiries: Paulette Malcolm 082 452 9322.
Red Chilli Spice Indian restaurant in the Colony, 345 Jan Smuts Ave. Open Tues-Sun
from 11:00 to 22:00. To book: 011 447 8386; www.redchillspice.co.za.
Come browse thru the Rambling Rose Charity Shoppe at REEA. You will be amazed at the
array. Mon – Sat from 9.00 till 12.30. Cnr Marlborough and Richmond Ave. We also always
need volunteers who love working with stuff. Contact Daniella 072 207 8196.
COMPOST, Vermiboost [worm compost], potting soil, lawn dressing, Pokashi, Effective Micro
Organisms and plants available at very reasonable prices from Paulette - part of the BKB
award-winning project that has put Ward 90 on the eco map. Call during office hours at 41
Abercorn Ave CHP.
Social tennis close to home - Craighall Tennis Club, St Albans Avenue, CHP. Come any
Wednesday at 09:00 for a game – small charge. Call Bianca 083 390 7194 or Mike at 083 228
1693
For any general enquiry, contact part-time administrator Wendy: for specific issues eg
security, town planning, please contact the relevant CRA exec member.
For regular updates, see the CRA Facebook site.
You’re most welcome to forward this email if you know someone who might be interested in
receiving this newsletter. We hope you see value in being kept informed – so again - support
us by paying your annual subs (an investment of a mere R18 - R37 a month).
USEFUL LINKS:
>> CRA : Contact us
>> CRA Face book site
>> CRA subs form
>> PSS Debit order
>> PSS information
>> Feedback/
Comment Form
>> Looklocal Rosebank Killarney
>> Update your details
>> www.cra.org.za
CRA interactive page

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