Peninsula road in a wet winter

Dear Friends,

Thank you to those who responded with offers of help to refurbish the Zeekoevlei Recreation Club in Peninsula Road and those who have helped in the maintenance of Van Bloemenstein Park. (There seems to be some debate as to how Van Blommerstein should be spelt and in fact who Van Bloomenstein was – any thoughts?). The work has started on the re- fencing of the tennis courts and we trust that that will be completed in time for the Christmas break. The perimeter fence around the club house is not included in this contract so we must do that ourselves. Labour and expertise required there! A big thank you to FOZR who have donated equipment and cleaning materials from their most successful fund raiser the other night at the yacht club. It goes to show how our social events can help to make a difference in the community.

Planting phase 2

A number of people have asked that the fourth court be made into a basket ball court. This is indeed very doable! The main cost there is the poles and hoops themselves. Does anyone have any contacts or is there a basket ball enthusiast who would like to make a generous donation? ( We also need to know who Noel Tunbridge is, as one of the courts is named after him and whether his family still live on the Vlei?)

after the first planting

Weather looks good tomorrow so we will be working in the park again. Please just pop in and have a walk around or better still bring spade rake or hoe and help clear the paths. (Does anyone know who has left a heavy duty goods trolley at Grysbok Hoekie?)

Look forward to meeting you in the park!

John

John Oliver
082 7333500
revjohn@iafrica.com

Please Note: this entry has been entered LATE by MoonDance and the last paragraph applies to Saturday past – how useless is me? please vote… I did get another letter from a resident regarding the park see below

Hi John,

Way back in the days of the Civic Association, I did tell you about van Blommenstein Park. (Note from MoonDance – Seems to be implying that John is suffering from old age)

Van Blommenstein was the Vice Chairman of the now defeunct Cape Division Council who controlled all the non urban affairs/land in the then known Cape Province

Through his actions he made the land (Park) available as public open space so as to never allow any private development on it

Noel Tunbridge is a leading lawyer still alive in Cape Town who gave the founding members of the Zeekoevlei Recreation Club, much assistance on the legal side in the obtaining and constitution of the Club.

He currently lives in a retirement village in Rondebosch.

Cheers

(name deleted to protect the innocent)

I seem to remember a Tunbridge living in the home on Flamingo road that had the squash court on it – anyone confirm this?

park signs

Pippa and Friends

We had some sad news over the weekend, Pippa the tame porcupine at Rondevlei died on Saturday afternoon. Please could you put word out to the Friends about this, as I know Pippa was much enjoyed by children & families in the community.

Pippa was Loved

Pippa had recently recovered from a bout of biliary for which she received treatment, so we suspect that perhaps she may have had a sudden relapse, however, it could also have been natural causes, given that she was already eight years old.

Goodbye Pippa, we will miss you

We will all miss having Pippa at Rondevlei, where she became quite a personality over the years & a part of our “family”. We would like to thank all her “fans” in the community for all the loving attention & donations of fruits & vegetables she received over the years, for which we are very grateful.

Kind regards
Tamaryn

Enjoy a romantic walk and watch the sun go down!

Many thanks to the residents who have responded to the redevelopment programme for Van Bloemenstein Park and Recreation Centre.(see below). Another ten bags of garbage have been removed from the park! Including the ‘first condoms of spring’ !

The path is now open from ‘Victoria Junction’ to ‘Vlei View’ and the ‘painted ladies ‘ have appeared on all their glory.
Another challenge is the Commelina bengalensis which is destroying the reed beds and must be removed. As an Interfaith activist I hesitate to use the popular name – Wandering Jew – although maybe like the Commelina bengalensis, I can acknowledge the Jewish Community for always being well rooted in their tradition and having a wide ranging influence in their community. If any one wants to join me in the water on a hot sunny afternoon, the Commelina is easy to remove, much like water hyacinth but with a little more of a tug!

Call 082 7333 500 if you can help in any way.( Hackers, gardeners, womblers!)

Stop Press: The tendering process for the replacement of the fencing at the Recreation Centre is well under way.
We hope to have the new fence up by the end of November.!

John

The view from Fisherman’s Rest

Hi there

I thought you might be interested in this poem written by a boy who lives near Rondevlei…

Many thanks

Andrew Caldwell
Gr 6 Teacher at Bishops Prep.

Rondevlei Nature Reserve

Be quiet and observe the otter’s play-fight,
Catch the pink wings of flamingos in-flight,
Only at Rondevlei.

Listen to the Hippos snort and grunt,
Watch the Fish Eagle swoop down on the hunt,
This is Rondevlei.

Prepare for a night at the rustic island camp,
Remember to ensure there’s oil in the lamp,
Forever at Rondevlei.

Kingfishers, Herons, Ducks and Owls,
Make up the collection of fresh water fowls,
Together at Rondevlei.

MEDIA RELEASE

10 OCTOBER 2011

Disruption of water supply in sections of Grassy Park/Pelican Park/ Zeekoevlei on Tuesday night

The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Department will be installing the connection to a new pressure management system on the water supply lines situated at the intersection of Perth and Rooikrans Avenue in Grassy Park on Tuesday night 11 October 2011.

This will result in the disruption/reduced pressure of the water supply to residents in the general area from 22:00 until 04:00 on 12 October.

This forms part of the City’s Water Demand Management Strategy that aims to optimize the City’s water resources by eliminating undue pressure within the water pipelines thereby reducing the probability of bursts and subsequent water losses.

In order to minimize the inconvenience, residents are kindly requested to store sufficient water in clean sealed containers for domestic consumption.

A water tanker will be located close to the intersection of Fisherman’s Walk and Victoria Roads, Grassy Park should residents require any water for domestic consumption.

Residents must also ensure that their taps are closed whilst the work is in progress to eliminate the possibility of water loss or damage being incurred when the water supply and pressure is restored and nobody is at home.

The City wishes to apologize for any inconvenience caused. It is imperative that we maintain our water supply infrastructure to ensure the continued supply of quality drinking water to our citizens.

End

Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town

Media enquiries: Farouk Robertson, Communication Officer: Water and Sanitation Department, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 487 2318 or Cell: 084 307 2001

BEFORE

Due to the False Bay Ecology Park funding crises, volunteers are urgently needed to join the team to protect and uplift Van Blomenstein Park.

Please note, this will not detract from the current work some community members and FOZR are doing to get the city to make budget available, it shows our willingness to support the council and co-operate, giving them even less reason to abuse us.

In light of of the severe lack of resources available to him, Josh Gericke, Manager of Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve, is asking the community to help him maintain and uplift our beautiful park. John Oliver has offered to head up a team who will work under the direction of Josh, with the support and sponsorship of the Friends of Zeekoevlei and Rondevlei (FOZR), on a long-term plan to uplift the park. Volunteers should contact John Oliver on 021 7055502 or email to: revjohn@iafrica.com as soon as possible.

This is our park, take a look at the work we have already done in changing this “ASSET” from an alien infested dead space into a stunning indigenous jewel. Please note that the before and after shots are the same area.

This is another initiative supported and sponsored by The Friends of Zeekoevlei and Rondevlei. To support your community Join FOZR today – every membership counts!

AFTER

Sadieka Hatogh arriving at work

Leaving school at an early age she worked as a cashier at a local Seven Eleven until she was married. After being a dedicated house wife for ten years she decided to apply for a position with the Skills Development Programme. After a screening process in 2009 her application was successful and she began working at Rondevlei Nature Reserve. Working among the students and permanent staff she became recognised as the shy and polite lady with the permanent smile. During this time she attended a chainsaw and brush cutter competency course along with a basic wild fire suppression course and excelled at both.

After a year she was then redeployed at Pelican Park Nature Reserve where she again brought her cheerful presence along with a new ‘never say die’ attitude. During this time she received a certificate for First aid level 1 and level 3. In October 2010 she had the opportunity to attended the ‘Unarmed field ranger training’ at the Southern African Wildlife College in Kruger National Park. Here she underwent rigorous physical and mental military grade training. Here she quickly stood out among her fellow classmates and as no surprised returned home a month later with a certificate for the ‘Most improved field ranger’. She later went on and acquired her C1 learners licence through the programme and is currently pursuing her drivers licence.

At the end of June 2011 the Skills Development Programme ended.
Fortunately Sadieka stayed on a contract basis and assisted with administration duties at the False Bay Ecology Park Headquarters situated at Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve.

In mid-July a permanent field ranger post was advertised for the False Bay Ecology Park. Eight candidates from the previous Skills Development Programmes were interviewed, among them Sadieka. After all the paperwork and red tape was covered by Human Resources Sadieka again stood out among the rest.

Sadieka is now the latest addition to the False Bay team. She is appointed as a field ranger for the entire False Bay Ecology Park and is sure to brighten things up with her cheerful personality and permanent smile.

Credits:
Mogamat Samsodien (Community Conservation Officer)
Pelican Park Nature Reserve
False Bay Ecology Park
Regards, Asieff

The Department of Environmental Affairs: National Resource Management Program (DEA: NRMP) has given R1,462,002.00 to fund the pilot project for one year. This will enable us to employ a team of 30 unemployed and unskilled people to start clearing water hyacinth from S3. If at the end of the one year period there is no more hyacinth left at Strandfontein, the project can move on to another water hyacinth infected site and continue the pilot project there.

The purpose of this pilot is to evaluate whether there is an international market for the type of furniture that will be made. As water hyacinth is a plant we are already trying to eradicate it is the perfect candidate for the project. It will be used in a completely unsustainable way so once it has all gone, and if the project is a success, we will then be able to look to another resource that can be used in a sustainable way.

The team of 30 people will be run as a Skills Development Team. This is a project whereby unskilled people are employed from the local community and given work, as well as training in certain skills: Nature conservation awareness, alien clearing, chainsaw and brush cutter competency, basic fire fighting, learners licence for code 10 and motor bike (possibly drivers licences if time permits), first aid level 1 and level 3, snake handling, water safety and processing the water hyacinth to remove the fibre for the rope. This type of skills-development oriented project has already been successfully run until recently in other contexts across the FBEP.

The duration of the project is aimed to be about one year. This means that at the end of the one year period the project will have taken 30 unemployed, unskilled people and given them a chance to better their circumstances by giving them the skills to find meaningful employment.

By Victoria Elizabeth Day

Reserve Manager

Strandfontein Birding Area

False Bay Ecology Park