CRAIGAVON COMMUNITY NEWS   23/2010

CSI MEETING

Thank you to all the wonderful residents who attended the CSI (Craigavon Security Initiative) meeting on Saturday morning.

Once the minutes of the meeting are available they will be emailed out, posted to the Craigavon website and then the willing volunteers to sit on the Committee can all meet to steer this idea forward to make our suburb safer and more agreeable to live in.

TRAGIC FIRE in Jacaranda Road, Craigavon

Our sincere condolences to the family who lost their home in a tragic fire last weekend in Craigavon.

TOLL ROADS SYSTEM PLANS

Sanral spells out details of open-road tolling system

When Gautengers are tolled for using the provinces busiest freeways in early 2011, the system will work somewhat like a prepaid cell phone contract, says South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) senior project manager Alex van Niekerk.
Car owners will be asked to set up accounts, either by phoning in or going to a website, and to then load money into these accounts before entering the tolling system, or to link payment to their credit cards. Once this is done, commuters will need to go to an outlet to get an electronic tag or transponder, to be displayed on their front windscreens. Commuters will not be charged for this tag, says Van Niekerk.
“There will be a one-tag standard,” he adds. “You will be able to go through any toll gate in South Africa – not only in Gauteng – with this tag.”
The tag means the toll transaction is a quick, electronic one, with no physical toll gates where money is collected.
Motorists simply pass underneath a gantry housing the equipment, which reads the tag while also taking a photo of the licence plates as soon as their vehicles break a laser beam.
This so-called open-road tolling system also classifies the vehicle in terms of size, charging the appropriate amount.
Gantries are placed along and at entry points on the freeways, such as on- and off-ramps.
The entire phase one of the Gauteng freeway system under toll – 185 km of road – will be looked after by ten satellite centres, which will act as the first line of incident management, dispatching medical assistance if needed.
The roads will be monitored by closed-circuit television cameras.
“Sanral already has tow trucks on standby in case of vehicle breakdowns,” said Van Niekerk.
“Methods have been devised to track down commuters who attempt to avoid paying toll fees,” he added.
Should a vehicle not have a tag, system operators will type in the licence plate number from the photo which has been taken, thereby tracking down the owner.
Van Niekerk says violations will include not carrying a tag, driving a vehicle that cannot be identified, and having insufficient funds.
When this happens, a motorist will receive an invoice, and then an infringement notice (which is equivalent to a fine), followed by a courtesy letter, an enforcement order and, finally, the issue of a warrant.
Should a visitor outside Gauteng enter the system, signage will warn the motorist to go to the nearest satellite centre to register, or to phone a toll-free number.
It may also be possible to buy a day pass at a retail outlet before entering the system.
Van Niekerk says the proposed toll fee is currently set at 50c/km, but notes that inflation has probably impacted on this already.
He says a discount will be offered to regular users, using a sliding scale.
Van Niekerk explains that this means a commuter will pay the full fee for the first ten trips, for example, with costs then reducing in a step-by-step fashion the further the commuter travels.
Public transport vehicles, such as minibus taxis, will have the benefit of driving in the lanes reserved for vehicles with three or more occupants, as well as receiving a discount on toll fees.
Tolling will be the method used to fund the Gauteng Free Improvement Project, which is a multiphase project currently under way to expand and widen the province’s freeway network, currently choking under increased congestion.
Phase one carries an estimated R15.1-billion price tag, excluding VAT.
Van Niekerk says implementing the toll scheme comes after extensive market research – 27 000 interviews – in aspects of commuter behaviour.
He adds that some other city freeways in the country are currently under investigation to become toll roads, such as the N1/N2 approach to Cape Town, and the R300 Cape Town ring road. Also included are the roads around the new Dube Trade Port, in Durban.

MORE CRAIGAVON INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON ...............

www.MyNeighbourhood.co.za/craigavon

www.bushbabysos.org.za

CSI MEETING

Paula opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and thanking them for

attending. She then handed over to Rasmus as he is the Craigavon

representative on the Community Policing Forum (CSF) looking after all the

security aspects of the neighbourhood and a member of WCCA.

Over the past few months the WCCA has been looking at ways to make the

community safer. The initiative has been named CSI, Craigavon Security

Initiative.

It is believed that a lot of the issues in Craigavon viz. illegal spaza

shops, littering, maintenance of the verges and insecurity are due to the

large volumes of foot traffic through the suburb.

This traffic is from three townships just across the river one of which is

predominantly Zimbabwean and has grown exponentially over the last few

years. The police are very focused on this township and raid often as they

believe that a lot of criminal activity stems from this area.

Residents of the townships use Craigavon as a thoroughfare to Fourways and

cross the river even in the rainy season.

The perceived insecurity limits Craigavon residents from enjoying their

suburb and being able to take walks or run freely. It has also had a

negative impact on property values which are lower in Craigavon than the

rest of the Fourways suburbs like Douglasdale, Pineslopes and Lonehill.

To our disadvantage is that we have both opportunistic and planned crime,

some serious, which is not always reported to WCCA or CSF.

To our advantage is that there are only two roads in and out of Craigavon

and neither is a through road.

CSI is going to be a phased approach to resolving Craigavon's security

issues.

Phase 1 is aimed at preventing or at least substantially reducing the amount

of foot traffic through the suburb. (by at least 80%)

Future phases will look at other solutions including models similar to that

employed in Lonehill. Lonehill residents spend 1.5 million rand per month

for their security solution. It would be too ambitious for Craigavon to look

at this type of solution as a first step.

Excavation of the river is another option that could be considered.

Suggestions were made to consider collecting a percentage of levies to fund

security.

Even though we are empathetic with the plight of the township residents, we

have to protect our own interests and put our safety first. There is only

one entry point for people from the townships which is on private land and

the proposed solution is to fence across this area so preventing access.

The fence will be erected with a 3m motor gate and intercom for access by

the landowner, her tenants and visitors.

Bavi Naidoo, a Craigavon resident, has assisted with the research as to

which type of fencing would be most appropriate and the final proposal is

for a 2.1m "Clearvu" fence. It is extremely strong and impenetrable and

can't be cut or climbed. The quote for 100m of this fencing, installed with

concrete bases for the posts is R54000.00. Part of the solution would

include infrared sensors, linked to a control room

Question: What are the legal implications of fence and does pedestrian

access have to be allowed?

Answer: The fence will be erected on private land with the permission of the

landowner. Right of through way is only applicable if there is a recognized

through way which doesn't apply in this instance.

Question: Will anything be done to remove the squatters on the private

land?

Answer: This is not within the mandate of CSI but all support will be given.

Question: What can we do to get rid of the spaza shops?

Answer: It is hoped that if there is no foot traffic to support these shops

that they will close.

Question: What alternatives are available for the people to use?

Answer: There are alternative routes onto Witkoppen Road or through

Chartwell which would be easier for them to use than trying to enter

Craigavon lower down.

Question: Concern that these lower points would be attempted and that all

complexes would be exposed as river frontage is difficult to protect.

Answer: The fence is meant to discourage the foot traffic as the easy access

will be blocked but realistically other entry points might be attempted. We

have to start somewhere and understand that it will be an ongoing process to

plug all the holes.

Question: How would the monthly costs and maintenance of the fence be

covered?

Answer: We would rely on the goodwill of the Craigavon security companies as

we do not want to ask for monthly contributions at this point.

Question: Where to from here?

Answer: Volunteers are required to form a committee to run the initiative.

An appeal is made to all complexes and individuals for donations to fund the

installation of the fence.

Question: A request was made to break down the costs to family units/

complexes to obtain an idea of what amount everyone would be required to

donate.

Answer: Rough estimate of R1000.00 per complex and personal amount of R50 to

R100 but team does not want to prescribe.

Question: What happened to the fence that was there.

Answer: It was taken down during pipe installation

Ras asked for a show of hands of those in favour of this proposal. Majority

of people were in agreement. Ras closed meeting by asking those who still

had questions as well as those willing to serve on the committee to remain

behind to continue the discussion.

Last comment was that minutes and further details would be distributed and

the website is a further source of information.

14 August ~ 09h00 - security meeting for the future of Craigavon suburb

Dynamic Gym in Willow Ave

BE THERE IF YOU CARE !

WESSA (WILDLIFE & ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA) RHINO INITIATIVE

BACKGROUND TO CURRENT ILLEGAL RHINO HUNTING IN SOUTH AFRICA

R

The recent illegal removal of a rhino’s horn using a chainsaw after it was chemically immobilized in KZN.

A CALL TO ACTION

WESSA proposes to raise funds and awareness to help curb the current illegal rhino hunting. We intend to raise funds by encouraging people to make a donation through our SMS line by SMSing “Rhino” to 40706 or by going onto our website (www.wessa.org.za) and making a donation to WESSA with the reference “Rhino”. WESSA’s mission is to have public participate in caring for the Earth. It is in line with this that WESSA believes that civil society is very concerned by the seriousness of the situation and thus would like to create the space for their involvement and a chance to make a difference.

Funds raised from the Rhino Initiative will be used in the following ways:

• Enabling conservation areas (including private reserves) to increase their overall security by :

1. Building and increasing capacity of existing anti-poaching staff

2. Employing additional trained personnel

3. Provision of anti-poaching resources and technologies

• Seeking alternative and innovative ways to prevent rhinos from being killed illegally

• Supporting investigative efforts that will lead to the apprehending and prosecution of illegal rhino hunters

• Support all other partners fighting for the same cause

• Support any other initiative that WESSA believes will lead to the decrease and/or prevention of illegal rhino killings

WESSA would facilitate the process of involving and supporting all custodians of rhinos, whilst acknowledging the work already being done by the conservation authorities.

ABOUT WESSA

WESSA (the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) is a national, environmental, membership-based, Non-government Organisation (NGO) that works to ensure environmental sustainability for current and future South African generations. We focus on the sustainable and equitable management of our natural resource base by building society’s environmental sensitivity and competence by calling to, and working with, communities and individuals to move from current to more sustainable action.

More specifically WESSA’s mission is to promote public participation in caring for the Earth. This is expressed in the diverse and dynamic collaborative partnerships that WESSA creates to enable its work. Working within the vital sectors of water, biodiversity, energy and waste, WESSA is a preferred project implementer nationally, regionally and internationally. In particular, WESSA proactively strives to shape policy, ensure compliance and affect social change. It does this through responsive conservation action, innovative educational intervention and human capacity development that empowers people to make sustainable lifestyle and environmental management choices.

With a track record of over 80 years WESSA is recognised for its strong membership base, professional staff, effective project management and high standards of corporate governance. WESSA has received both international and national recognition for its contributions to conservation and education as well as recognition for the quality of its management.

WESSA / PRESS / RADIO / TV PROPOSAL

On Friday night (23 July 2010), yet another rhino was poached; this time right on our doorstep. An eight year old white rhino bull was shot dead with an AK47 rifle at Karkloof Spa at Otto’s Bluff near Pietermaritzburg.

The situation is getting out of hand. Although we trust that authorities are doing what they can, we feel that it is time for civil society to also step in to help take determined action. It is for this reason that we appeal to all press, journalists and media for help. We believe that this is an ideal platform to raise public awareness and mobilize action for this important cause. We ask that national press / radio and TV stations partner with WESSA in this initiative, and “put the word out there” so that the South African community can help to make a difference to this escalating problem.