This City better get their Sh1T together!!! And I thought it was just us in Zeekoevlei – grrrrr! This is a letter I received from a friend, please read it.

How very, very sad is this ?

Health Warning – Black River Paddle this Sunday

Dear Friends

As a Peninsula Paddle and Stand Up Paddle enthusiast, it saddens me to have to share the following health warning with you. (More paddle info at the end of this mail)

Paddlers will be exposed to serious health risks in the Black River, this coming Sunday!
One of Cape Town’s top freshwater experts, Dr Liz Day warned me yesterday that most of the consultants working on recent contract in the Black river contracted Hepatitis!

Living adjacent to the river I am constantly reminded of the sad state of this river via the odours, discoloration and floating litter and debris and sewage in the river. I have recently scrutinized the latest water quality results from the City, and can report that in addition to Hepatitis warnings

the most recent F Coli counts for the Black river at Raapenberg Rd are 480,000/100ml. The guidelines for safe recreation use is 1000 F Coli/100 ml.

The final straw came last nite, when we were (yet again) engulfed in a sulphar/methane cloud, eminating from the Black river, which is a sure indication that Athlone Wastewater Treatment plant is discharging sub standard effluent (if not raw effluent) into the Black river.
The City has confirmed that this plant is currently suffering serious technical problems (still!!).

In the absence of any rain between now and Sunday (to dilute the pollution) , I shudder to think what might be floating past my front door as I type this.

Kevin, please ensure that the paddlers this sunday are aware of this risks. I have decided to NOT enter the Black river in its current state as I have not managed to secure anti-nuclear protective gear to paddle in. I am still considering joining the paddlers either in the vlei or in the ocean at Milnerton. The risk here downstream of Athlone WWTW are just to high!

This is a very sad and unacceptable situation, the Black river is Biohazardous (look it up) and the City should note that health warning should be erected on the banks of the river to warn fisherman /informal waders and neigbouring residents (there are some, believe me) of these risks to humans and animals.

I am happy to be a part of the emerging Friends of the Black river group – where we WILL defend our Constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment along with social and environmental dignity!

Lets start a new chapter in the Cape Town river book !

Regards
Sonja

Then I will show you where the mellanistic sparrow-hawk has built her nest
and where the sunbird likes to frolic in the warm midday sun
bouncing and weaving from one tree to the next
as the dewdrops shimmer like pearls on the long grasses fluttering gently in the breeze
and we will walk to the hill that the shy cape gerbils have turned to emmenthal
and we will stop and look at their tiny paw-prints in the soft white sand
and smell the fynbos as we brush past, weaving a path through it
to where the grey-backed cisticolas play hide and seek, calling across the bush-tops
and we will watch the stilts take off in fright and fight the wind
their long legs trailing like red ribbons behind them
as the blacksmith plovers cry out in alarm at our intrusion.

We will walk along the hippo paths until we see, right in the middle of a hippo-spoor
the tiniest elongated heart-shaped print of a grysbok
and if we’re lucky we will see her moon-eyes staring up at us before she darts for cover,
her ears so long and fluffy, her back as dark as redwood
and we will look up and see squadrons of sacred ibises in perfect formation
as they bank to drop down to the shoreline to roost for the night
and we will hear the fish eagle as he calls his mate home for the night
and as we walk back bats will begin to dart and dive around us and over us
a water mongoose will scurry up the path ahead of us
and the nightjar will glide past on silent wings in the fading light
as one by one each star will appear in the evening sky.
One day, perhaps.

A newly born babe snuggled up to its mother;
And then there were two and then another;
Four little hippos soon closed their eyes,
But mother and father gave coughs and sighs
For they didn’t know what name to call
The babies at their feet so clumsy and small.

“Hipples”: Mother thought her name was best.
“Hippsters”: Father wished a name with zest.
Suddenly the parents had an idea,
They thought of a play and found something there-
Taken from Shakespeare’s “Midsummer’s Dream”,
The name: “Hippolyta” was best it did seem.

“Hippolyta” was thus for the eldest child,
While “Hippothomas” sounded warm and mild,
The parents then gave a grunt and a snort
And the others had names: “Hippomore”, “Hipposport”.
Now they stopped arguing over again,
For each little hippo at last had a name!

The family then strolled down to the pool
Where they lay in the water floating and cool;
After a drink they stood up with a sigh
And walked up the bank with heads held high,
Leading behind them a proud group of four -
“Hippolyta”, “Hippothomas”, “Hipposport”, “Hippomore”.

Her name is Dee, cute man!

The management of the Rondevlei Nature Reserve would like to alert residents in its vicinity that they will be conducting a controlled burn on a portion of the eastern boundary of the reserve, adjacent to Peninsula Road, Zeekoevlei.

The burning operation is scheduled for either the end of March or the beginning of April 2010, dependent on favourable weather conditions for conducting a safe controlled burn. It will take place from either 23 to 26 March, 29 to 31 or 06 to 09 April.

The required burning permit has been obtained from both the City of Cape Town Health Department’s Air Pollution Control Section as well as its Fire and Rescue Services and is valid from 1 February 2010 until 30 April 2010.

Residents in homes neighbouring the reserve are advised to close all windows and not hang out any laundry while the burning is underway, to avoid the resultant smoke. Notices indicating the proposed burn dates will be distributed to residents neighbouring the reserve by way of post-box drops.

Rondevlei Nature Reserve is one of over 30 nature reserves and natural areas managed by the City and it supports two threatened vegetation types, namely Strandveld and Cape Flats Sand Fynbos. Cape Flats Sand Fynbos is found nowhere else in the world, with only 1% of the isolated remnants on the Cape Flats remaining under conservation.

Fire is vital to the healthy functioning of all fynbos eco-systems. It is necessary for the ongoing survival of fynbos plant species as it assists with the removal of senescent vegetation in order to stimulate new plant growth, promote the germination of seedlings and the emergence of geophytes, and in turn enhance plant diversity by opening up space for the establishment of a variety of different species.

Rondevlei Nature Reserve is surrounded by urban development. As a result, naturally occurring fires no longer spread through the area and uncontrolled, man-made fires entering from the reserve boundaries pose a threat to surrounding developments and the rest of the reserve. Controlled ecological burns on small sections of the reserve are therefore necessary once the vegetation reaches suitable maturity. It is an important conservation management tool and reduces the available fuel load of old vegetation, thus decreasing the risk of uncontrolled wild fires developing.

Suitable fire-breaks are being prepared on the proposed burn site to ensure that the controlled burn is conducted safely, within its designated boundaries.

For any queries or comments please contact Air Pollution Control at 021 590 1419 or the reserve manager at 021 706 2404.

END

ISSUED BY:
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT
CITY OF CAPE TOWN

MEDIA QUERIES:
TAMARYN ALLAN
RESERVE MANAGER: RONDEVLEI NATURE RESERVE, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
TEL: 021 706 2404

This year it will be on Monday 21th December at 7.30pm, that’s 19h30.

This is a community event that works best with lots of varied community input. If you have something to contribute – musically or creatively or you have a child who would like to take part – please contact Emma on 021 7055502 or 073 605 4070 as soon as possible.

We will be putting it all together on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th December.

Children enjoying the Christmas spirit

Phillip is currently running a scout troop in Retreat, which in the 2.5 years since its inception, has grown to seven patrols, three girl patrols and four boy patrols, averaging between six and seven scouts each.

Both boys and girls between 10.5 and 17.5 years old are encouraged to join the 1st Zeekoevlei Sea Scout Troop.

Parents, please check Phillip’s references at the South African Scout Western Cape Association, Tel: 021 591 6842.

Date: Friday 8 May
Time: 19h00 to 21h00
Venue: 28 Pelican Way, Zeekoevlei
Contact: Phillip Shaw
Tel: 083 973 9052
E-mail: Phillip.Shaw@capetown.gov.za

Team has got new members

Team Shosholoza, who won a pre-match start after beating America’s Cup defenders Alinghi for the second time on Tuesday, returns to the water today in Auckland, New Zealand.

Speaking to Sowetan from New Zealand, team spokesman Di Meek said they were sure to continue doing well in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.

Meek also explained that there had been several changes to the team that was first introduced in 2007 when Shosholoza set sail for the first time in these prestigious events.

“The Shosholoza crew contracts ended in May 2007 so we had to call on guys to join the team for the particular periods when we competed, twice in Italy last year and again now for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.

“In this case it was difficult to get the crew as many of them have had to go back to regular jobs and for this regatta they needed to take almost six weeks’ leave – for 10 days training in Valencia on yacht Shosholoza RSA 83 and then coming straight down to Auckland until 14 Feb,” she explained.

“So Team Shosholoza has Italy’s Paolo Cian and Tomasso Chieffi as skipper and tactician respectively.

“They brought international professional expertise to our fledgeling team in Valencia since 2006 and are on board again in Auckland .

“Shosholoza’s make-up in New Zealand is hence more international with South African and Italian sailors making up the rest of the team.”

Meek said they had eight South African crew on board Shosholoza for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.

The South Africans are survivors from the 2007 America’s Cup.

Charles Nankin, the mast man, is from Zeekoevlei in the Cape but now lives in Lisbon, Portugal; David Rae, the main trimmer, is from Cape Town; pitman Solomon Dipeere grew up in KwaThema, Springs and is now working as a mechanical engineering draughtsman at a diamond mine in Mussina.

The grinders are Reinhardt Rauscher of Boksburg, who works on charter yachts in Mexico; Camron Wills of Durban, who has just done three legs of the Volvo Ocean Race with Team Russia; and Moctar Fall, who grew up in Senegal and Cape Town and now lives in Valencia.

“Jo Lees of Durban will manage logistics and shore activities,” Meek said.

“New to the team is Zimbabwean-born Vernon Neville, a top athlete who grew up in South Africa, coached rugby in Italy and later became a professional sailor.

“Neville was a grinder with Italian Louis Vuitton Cup finalists Luna Rossa in the 2007 America’s Cup and previously with the America’s Cup challenger, Team Prada.”

Meek added: “The team is led by Durban-based founding managing director Captain Salvatore Sarno and is sponsored by MSC Crociere and Breil Milano.” – Team Shosholoza and Sowetan