tame TIMES Bedfordview 3 November 2015

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tame TIMES

tame TIMES

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HELICOPTER

LANDING RAISES CONCERN

A FRESH APPROACH TO LOCAL NEWS

STARS UNITE

Volume 06, 03 November 2015, Week 45

Delivered every Tuesday

Tel: 011 862 8500 Fax: 011 869 7335

INSIDE

FOR COMMUNITY

PAGE 7 GLITZ AND GLAMOUR: 2014 Mr South Africa finalist Clive Maistry (right) is among the celebrity guests who will judge and host the upcoming Face of tame TIMES competition. Here he is with radio and TV presenter Jen Su.

READ MORE ON PAGE 5.

03 November 2015

It snowed in Johannesburg in 1981, but I was too small to appreciate or remember this. So the first time I really saw snow, 8 August 2012, was an experience I will never forget. What amazed me the most about it was how in a matter of minutes, ordinary streets were completely transformed into majestic white landscapes. It was as though God had clicked a setting on a photo editing programme, and the colours and ambience of the entire city were literally changed in a moment. Everything for miles around was different because of the snow. Even barren and unassuming trees became magical in their beauty. It’s that time of the year when streets are transformed overnight into magnificent carpets of blues and purples, as the Jacarandas which line them shed their blossoms. Like the snow, they’re another reminder of how familiar, ordinary things, like the surfaces of roads, can transform to the extraordinary. Most people think Jacarandas are native to South Africa. According to the Invasion Biology website, the tree is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, the Caribbean and Mexico. They were introduced to South Africa in 1880 for

ornamental purposes. And it’s no wonder. If you’ve driven down a road of Jacarandalined streets, you will understand the beauty of the trees at this time of the year. The streets they line become a purple carpet, and the colours are breathtaking. The runners of the Bedfordview Athletics Club recently held their annual Grace Jacaranda Run down the jacaranda-lined streets of Kensington and Bedfordview. I was immediately captured by the name of the race because I have been thinking a lot about grace lately and about what this means. On page 5, the tame TIMES interviewed Bonolo Molemohi who showed something of the meaning of grace through her display of extravagant kindness towards a young man living with sight problems. Her kindness has literally changed the young man’s life – and sight. Like snow and jacaranda blossoms, grace covers everything and has the power to transform. As we enter the festive season, let’s remember to show this kind of extravagant kindness to others, but also, let’s remember the real reason for the season and the initiator of all grace, Jesus Christ. When He steps in, He comes like the snow and transforms everything.

TURN ANGER INTO ACTION An appeal has been made to Edenvale residents to stand behind the area’s policing authorities. Linda McKenzie, chairperson of the Edenvale Community Policing Forum (ECPF), explained the police were under-resourced, with statistics showing there was one policeman for every 700 residents in the area. In an example given at a recent meeting of the ECPF, McKenzie explained the tremendous pressure policemen were under. “One of my colleagues in the police force has received threats from foreign nationals in the community and had to take leave because of stress,” she said. The officer was still on leave at the time of the meeting.

“This is a job that requires a person’s utmost and for policemen to be successful in their services, they need your eyes and ears,” she continued. “It is no longer good to look away and assume that crime is someone else’s problem. When a problem happens in our backyard, we are quick to go on to social media to rant and rave there. But let’s take that anger we feel about the hijackings and house robberies and rapes, and turn it into something productive and use it as a positive force to get the streets cleaned up.” McKenzie explained that already, with the help of the community, crime stats had dropped. “We encourage all residents to become involved with the ECPF,” she said. For more information, contact lindamckenzie04@gmail.com.

EDENVALE’S FIRST MARDI GRAS Be a part of this momentous occasion. Over 90 stalls and live entertainment. A street party to remember! Lights will be turned on in the Edenvale CBD for the first time in seven years at 7pm. WHERE: Van Riebeeck Ave, Edenvale WHEN: 7 November CONTACT: lindamckenzie04@gmail.com MDFF DINNER AND DANCE FUNCTION Book your place for an evening of fine dining and dancing. WHERE: Pizza Del Forno, Park Meadows WHEN: 5 December, from 6.30pm CONTACT: mdffoundation@hotmail.com

Heather Djunga heather.djunga@tametimes.co.za Authorities have expressed concern over a recent wedding celebration at Gillooly’s Farm, Bedfordview in which a helicopter carrying the bride landed on the premises. What was meant to be a breathtaking display before the bride took her vows, has left local community leaders and policing authorities with many questions, as voiced at the recent meeting of the Bedfordview Community Policing Forum (BCPF). The ownership of Mrs Sippi Blues, the restaurant facility at Gillooly’s, said the helicopter landing had not been handled properly and there was concern about how authorities had allowed this kind of carelessness to have happened, since it was clearly a danger to visitors to the park. “Protocol definitely wasn’t obeyed for the landing. They landed close to the children’s play area with

someone waving frantically to get the children to move away.” Ward 20 councillor Jill Humphreys said permission had been given by the Civil Aviation Authority for the helicopter to land; however, protocol wasn’t followed. “The helicopter landed just 50 metres from a jungle gym area where kids were playing.” Gavin Henry, BCPF chairperson, said that, however well-meaning the organisers of the wedding were, a public park wasn’t the place to be landing a helicopter. “There are big questions that need to be answered here,” said Clr Humphreys.

RESIDENTS MAKE A

STAND AGAINST BEGGING Local residents and authorities have taken a firm stand against begging and loitering in the Bedfordview and Edenvale areas. Linda McKenzie, chairperson of the Edenvale Community Policing Forum (ECPF), made an appeal to all residents to stop paying money to the unofficial car guards in the area at an ECPF meeting on Wednesday last week. McKenzie explained that centres hiring car guards paid them for their services and in many incidents, the self-hired car guards had been found to be connected to crime in the area. “We have found many of them with drugs like nyaope on them and others with carjamming devices. There have been many positive links between them and car breakins in the area,” she said. “That man begging at the intersection might come and look into your window and be communicating with his friend at the next intersection and then you are surprised when a smash-and-grab incident happens.” Residents attending the recent meeting of the Bedfordview Community Policing Forum

(BCPF) expressed this same concern for beggars in the Bedfordview area, with a group made of residents, backed by policing authorities, having been established to strategically target the problem of begging and vagrancy in the area. In an incident mentioned in the meeting, a vagrant was found dead in the Bedfordview area. It was believed he had been drinking and had fallen into the road as a result. “We are the ones who funded this man’s drinking habit and helped keep him on the street,” said Gavin Henry, chairperson of the BCPF. “If your heart is to give and to support charity, there are many reputable charities and needy persons in the community whom you can give your money to.” McKenzie said that loitering would no longer be tolerated by policing officials. She gave the example of a recent police invasion of a home in Pretoria where 25 loiterers were found to be staying, and were arrested by the police. “Of these, eight were found to be connected with hijackings and house breakins in the area. Police will be investigating such loiterers in the area.”

GET INTO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT Book now for The Galaxy, the Little Eden Christmas concert, on 20 and 21 November. The children of the home have practised long and hard to bring the timeless Christmas story to life. Even though many of them cannot walk, or talk, or even sit up without support, they know how to make the most of life. Visit the concert and watch how their faces light up when they bang on a drum or open their hearts to sing. There will also be another concert at the

Elvira Rota Village, Bapsfontein on 27 and 28 November, about Songs of our Time, and including favourite carols, wise men, sheep, Baby Jesus and more - all guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and a lump to your throat. Concerts at both homes start at 10am and entrance is free. Afterwards there’ll be a Christmas stall where you can stock up on cards, calendars and other goodies. For more information and to RSVP (by 13 November) contact Gugu Mabizela on 011 609 7246 or info@littleeden.org.za.

Distribution: Bedfordview & Edenvale: 18 000 Alberton & Germiston South: 40 000 JHB South: 26 500 Kathorus: 55 000 Boksburg & Benoni: 40 000 Delivery on Tuesdays to all households and business in Alberton, Germiston South, JHB South and Bedfordview. Published by Tame Communications. Corner Michelle Avenue and 37 Sangiro CLose, Randhart. PO Box 17699, Randhart,1457 Tel: 011 862 8500, Fax: 011 869 7335

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