LET’S TALK
Vote for Onrus-Vermont SRA! I would like to urge everyone to vote for the Onrus-Vermont SRA. I have lived in a high crime area before, and I have seen the results of a Special Rating Area firsthand. The crime rate dropped to near zero and any potential crime was dealt with swiftly. You might think that we have a low crime rate now and that we do not need it at present – most people have the attitude of ‘I am OK, Jack’ because I have not had a break in yet. Or I am OK because I live in a security complex. Come on, people, that is not in the spirit of standing together as a community, is it? How high do you want the crime rate to be before serious action must be taken? I think a couple of armed robberies as we have had in the Vermont and Onrus area is enough cause for serious concern and action! I did not attend the public meeting on the proposed SRA held in September, but I believe that people were very negative and complained about the costs and distribution thereof. And apparently, ‘ALSO love Onrus’ (Proposed SRA levy for Onrus-Vermont ‘hugely unfair’, The Village NEWS, 30 October) feels that calculating the cost in terms of the valuation of your property is
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www.thevillagenews.co.za
6 November 2019
unfair, as those with higher priced properties would get the same “value” out of the SRA as those whose properties are valued at a lesser amount and therefore will pay less. I don’t see you guys running to the council to have your rates reduced or to the Receiver of Revenue to have your taxes lowered, because you earn and have more than others. And to make this even more outrageous, we are talking about a negligent amount of something like R175 per month for a house valued at 6 million. Really! Just think about how much your property might grow in value if our area becomes safer and cleaner. Think about how “unfair” it will be if your precious property, your biggest investment, loses value because of crime and grime… over a mere R175 or even much less per month! (If you have a R1 million property, think of that R22 per month as one cup of coffee, or if you are privileged enough to own a R6 million property, think of that R175 per month as one meal with drinks in an average restaurant!)
the following story to tell: A good friend of mine who is an excellent mother and educator, sat her three children down one day and explained to them that “life is unfair” and that complaining about it will get them nowhere. She insisted that they get “over themselves right now” and move on. Living in South Africa is expensive (unfair), the police are understaffed and the government is not helping enough (unfair), combating crime costs the community extra money (unfair) and the SRA is going to have a slight cost implication for the more affluent to keep everyone safe (unfair). So, I say the same to this community: “Life is unfair.” Please guys, just get over it! If we do not do this now, the crime rate will just escalate, and those of you who are bemoaning the “unfairness” of it all, will be the first ones in a couple of years’ time to be complaining about rampant crime and falling property prices! Be bold, face the unfair challenges we as a community can overcome, by voting YES for the SRA!
Well, to those of you who do not want to pay their fair or unfair share, I have
D Stevens, Vermont
Help Hermanus SRA by having your say The Public Perception Survey recently issued to property owners to determine their requirements for the proposed Special Rating Area (SRA) for Hermanus has met with a poor initial response, with only 16% bothering to reply. For the process to continue, a 20% response is required in terms of the Municipality’s SRA Policy. The question we must ask ourselves is, “Do we want to continue with a sustainable public protection service in Hermanus?” A safe environment within the CBD, along the cliff paths, and in public areas is a pre-requisite for attracting tourists and all the benefits that will bring to the town. Before answering the question, consider the following extract from the Western Cape Police Ombudsman’s report August 2019, addressing
Another extract from the HPP Operations Report September 2019 reads: For the year ending 30th September 2019, HPP reported 2 365 incidents of illegal activity and public distress, including assisting in the arrest of 97 suspects. Around 40% of incidents were reported by the CCTV operators. It takes just five minutes to complete the Public Perception Survey. You can access the questionnaire at www.surveymonkey.com/r/3FMYKGZ
FIBRE
Dave Worral, Westcliff
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Hospice thanks the Gansbaai community The significance and relevance of Overstrand Hospice as a service provider is shaped by the involvement and support from the communities we serve. Last Friday evening, a very successful seafood evening was arranged in Gansbaai by a local resident, Emily Nowers, whose husband was one of the patients we had cared for in the area, as a token of her appreciation for the service provided by the patient care team of Overstrand Hospice. The response to, and support from the Gansbaai community at this event was overwhelming and heartening. This can be attributed to a variety of factors, a major one being Emily’s standing and influence among the local people; she is well-known and greatly respected.
Hemel-en-Aarde Estate | Hermanus Heights
On behalf of Overstrand Hospice, I would like to thank Emily and the Gansbaai community for their participation and generous support at this event, further enabling us to continue to provide this necessary service to those who require it in the Overstrand sub-district. Fran Tong, General Manager – Overstrand Hospice
As an organisation that provides a
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Izibusiso Place of Safety held their very successful Annual Golf Day on 31 October, and thanks to all the wonderful sponsors and supporters, we were able to raise over R100 000 to help children abandoned in the Overstrand.
It is only though the ongoing support of people far and wide that we can keep this very special home for abandoned babies going. Thank you to you all. Sheila Lyle Izibusiso Place of Safety
Fee excuse not valid anymore Being a regular shopper and visitor to both the CBD (now aptly called Hermanus Old Town) and the mall, I can vouch for the fact that parking fees have become superfluous. At any given time, there is ample parking available in the Old Town and there is a continuous flow of cars coming in and leaving. I believe the long-used excuse that parking fees are
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from R495.00
critical service to patients (and their families) diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, we would like to believe (and hope) that the fantastic support experienced at this event was also as a result of a growing awareness of our relevance, and the difference we are able to make to the lives of people who are profoundly ill in the Gansbaai community.
Support appreciated
complaints on policing in the Overstrand: It also became clear that SAPS in the Overstrand Stations and at the Provincial level, do not have the resources or the ability to protect and secure the inhabitants of the Overstrand, and their property…
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The Village NEWS firmly believes in freedom of the press as well as the right of individuals to freely express themselves, as long as they don’t infringe upon the rights of others. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors therefore do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Village NEWS. Letters may be shortened and/or edited for clarity and style. Send your letters to letters@thevillagenews.co.za
used to encourage vehicle turnover is not valid anymore. It might have been before we had a choice between town and the mall. But times have changed, and we need to actively attract people to our Old Town. Testament to this is the number of empty shops. Anti-fee
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