Peoples Post False Bay 16-04-13.pdf

TUESDAY 16 April 2013 | 0021 910 6500 | Fax: 021 910 6501/06 | Email: [email protected] | Website: www.peoplespost.co.za | Mobisite: ppost.mobiTELLING IT AS IT IS

FALSE BAY AUTHENTIC ITALIAN

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NOORDHOEK: APPLICATION DENIED

Scrutiny forall leasesTERESA FISCHER

ANoordhoek resident has blamed hislease application being turned downon “prejudicial behaviour”.

Sven Huinink has accused subcouncilchairperson and ward councillor FelicityPurchase of “prejudicial behaviour”.

Huinink says he and Purchase have notseen eye to eye on various matters. Theseinclude a question about a road servitude,planning approvals and a dispute over alease.

He says Purchase has “never contacted”him about these issues.

He says for eight years he has been tryingto lease a tract of land owned by the City ofCape Town – which is part of the river re-serve running through his property, and towhich there is no public access.

In a letter to Purchase, Huinink writes:“All departments are in favour of my appli-cation, except you, Miss Purchase.”

He says he is “being held to ransom” andthe City is losing out on funds from a lease,which he has been refused.

Purchase responds: “I represent all theresidents of Noordhoek and the residentshave over the years started a process to takeback their open spaces and beautify the openspaces and verges.”

She adds the Noordhoek Conservancy ini-tiated a project of clearing and developingwalking trails throughout Noordhoek, an in-itiative she has supported.

She says Huinink had “included the river-ine area for personal private use withoutpermission, and it had become degraded”.

Purchase says she cannot refuse applica-tions, as they need to be presented to fullCouncil. But, she says, she did not supportHuinink’s application and others of a simi-lar nature in Noordhoek.

Huinink says he is aware of at least threepublic spaces in Noordhoek which, heclaims, have been expropriated by neigh-bours who live next to them.

“Of these three examples, no applicationfor leases have ever beenmade (to theCity),”

he says. He says these three examples wouldhave public access from both sides.

Purchase says: “The Council is in a proc-ess of going through all existing leases andnew applications and each one is dealt withon merit. Some are historic and legal,(while) some might not be and we will dealwith these at the appropriate time.”

She adds some of the river area is private-ly owned.

A separate dispute over a temporary roadservitude, shared by Huinink and a neigh-bour, is still in court (“Servitude has equalrights”, People’s Post, 4 October 2011).

He says he has won twice in court, withcosts. Another neighbour is now appealingthe court’s latest decision in the SupremeCourt of Appeal.

Purchase notes: “This was a completelydifferent issue to the application to leaseCity land and was considered on its merits.”

Meanwhile, Huinink says a surveyor,hired by another resident, has discoveredthe temporary servitude is 80cm too narrowand that his (Huinink’s) property encroach-es on the road. But he says since he has livedthere, no fence was ever moved.

He is currently in discussion with theRoads Department, but feels he will be stone-walled by Purchase.

Purchase says: “I am not prepared to an-swer his other allegations, as they are notbased on fact and (are) of a personal nature.It would not be appropriate.”

She alleges Huinink and another residentwere abusive to her, council officials andresidents and “tried to bully others to gettheir own way”.

Huinink denies this, saying he has neverhad any communication with Purchase.

Purchase says: “This is not the type of en-vironment or behaviour the Noordhoek peo-ple are used to and certainly I have neverexperienced such behaviour from adults be-fore.” Huinink says to Purchase: “This allcouldhavebeenprevented if youwouldhaveacted as a mediator.”V Starting with the word “Post”, SMS your opinionsto 32516. SMSes are charged at R1 each.

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PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAYTuesday, 16 April 20132 GENERAL

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Teachers inTeachers inwork-to-rulework-to-rule

actionaction

Teachers affiliated to the South AfricanDemocratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) areon a work-to-rule as they call for the res-

ignation of basic education minister AngieMotshegwa and director-general Bobby Soo-brayan.

Last week Sadtu called for Motshekga toresign, claiming she had failed to implementa collective agreement for an increase in theremuneration of markers of national exami-nations. People’s Post polled readers fortheir views on the trade union’s request andwhether they felt teachers should have aright to strike.V Readers can state their opinions. Starting with theword “Post”, SMS your views to 32516. SMSes arecharged at R1 each.

PETER FORD: As a business owner he isagainst trade unions as they “destroy jobs”.He gets angry when people strike and saysthey should stop demanding and startrequesting. “Americans have two words whichkeep their economy strong. These are ‘you’refired’. If you’re unhappy with something, thenleave.” PHOTOS: TARREN­LEE HABELGAARN

SOMILA MAGWACA says it is unnecessary forSadtu to expect the minister to step down.She adds it is selfish for teachers to strikeover an increase for marking. “When I was atschool the teachers were striking and we wereunable to write our June exams. I couldn’tapply to high schools for the following year.”

ROSE VAN SCHALKWYK feels teachers do agood job, but adds: “What is the use if theyaren’t paid enough?” She says she would notwant her children in the current educationsystem. “Education is important and if theminister can’t provide (it), she must walk.”

JASON ISAACS agrees with the trade unionasking the minister to step down. He adds hedoesn’t think it is selfish of teachers to strike.“There is a shortage of text books, a lack ofteachers and not enough interaction betweenthe minister and the schools. So I think anew minister wouldn’t be such a bad idea.”

MERCIA DEWING thinks children need to beeducated and teachers work hard enough todemand an increase in payment. She pointsout they work long hours and in overcrowdedclassrooms for too little money. “Governmentis only worried about themselves and notabout the quality of the children’s education.”

TEKWE HERITIER says it is wrong whenteachers strike. He adds that when teachersstrike they only think about themselves anddon’t have their priorities straight. “When youchoose to become a teacher you don’t chooseit for yourself but for the pupils.”

VINCENT KAYSTER feels teachers have theright to strike for more money, but at thesame time he doesn’t think they should wantmore money for marking. “They are buildingthe future leaders and are not paid enough.However, I don’t think they should strike if itinterferes with the child’s education.”

Union threatens more actionTASMIN CUPIDO

TEACHERS belonging to the South AfricanDemocratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) arecalling for the national minister to resign.

Since the start of the second school term,Sadtu teachers have been on a “work-to-rule”.

And they are threatening more intensestrike action should minister for basic edu-cation Angie Motshekga and the depart-ment’s director-general, Bobby Soobrayan,not step down.

Teachers of the union in the Western Capehave adhered to Sadtu’s national call for a“work-to-rule” pending action from Mot-shekga.

According to Sadtu the minister has beendelaying a a collective agreement to increasethe remuneration of markers in national ex-

aminations. Earlier this year she also cameunder fire when government suggested thatteaching be declared an essential service,which would bar teachers from undertakingstrike action. This suggestion was subse-quently retracted.

The “work-to-rule” sees teachers onlyspending the required contact time atschools teaching; extra-mural activities andstaff or departmental meetings are not at-tended. Departmental officials are not wel-comed on school premises during this time.

Sadtu provincial secretary Jonavon Rust-in says teachers are only working sevenhours a day, adding members were instruct-ed to call site meetings, held on the first day

the new term, to explain and enforce the“work-to-rule” action.

“In line with the Sadtu national executivecommittee call to defend the collective bar-gaining, we are having a march to parlia-ment on Wednesday 24 April,” Rustin says.

“We call on members, parents and commu-nities to mobilise. Our demands will includesafer schools, smaller classes, improved in-frastructure, the minister and director-gen-eral to do the honourable thing and muchmore.”

A departmental press release states thatMotshekga is “disappointed” at the Sadtucall for her resignation.

“The minister finds the stance taken by

Sadtu unfortunate, (and) the posture andtone regrettable,” the press release states.

“The union’s position on the matter hasleft the department with no option but towithdraw from the dispute it had lodgedwith the Education Labour Relations Coun-cil to clarify the validity of the agreement.”

It further states that tariffs of the Agree-ment were in conflict with the published fig-ures.

“The error was picked up and communi-cated to the unions. The financial implica-tion of the error was that the provinceswould have had to pay an additional R700m,which was not in their budgets,” says thepress statement.

“It is unfortunate for the unions to contin-ue to make demands that we pay based onthe figures that they have agreed with uswere incorrect.”

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAYTuesday, 16 April 2013 NEWS 3

Lights out alertA PLANNED electricity outage this weekendis part of a R21m infrastructure upgrade.This planned interruption will affect elec-

tricity supply to Ocean View, Kommetjie,Misty Cliffs, Scarborough and Soetwater.The City says the interruptionwill allow for

the upgrading of a substation to cater for thegrowing demand in the area.The planned interruption is from 22:00 on

Saturday 20 April until 08:00 on Sunday 21April. It will affect the area extending fromsouth of Compass Bakery onKommetjie Road,which includes Ocean View, Kommetjie,Misty Cliffs, Scarborough and Soetwater.The City of Cape Town’s electricity service

says thiswill cater for the growing demand forelectricity in Sun Valley and Ocean View.It says the significant load growth in the

Masiphumelele area, a new housing develop-ment in Ocean View, a retirement village anda future housing development have placed ex-tra pressure on the present system and neces-sitated the upgrade.The distribution board at the Sun Valley

main substation needs to be extended.For safety reasons all electricity users are

advised to treat electricity installations as livefor the full duration of the interruption, as theelectricity supply may be restored at any timewithout warning.The City apologises for any inconvenience

caused.

FALSE BAY HOSPITAL: ‘SQUATTER-LIKE’ CONDITION

Hospital groundsraise temperaturesTERESA FISCHER

DESCRIBING part of the grounds ofFalse Bay Hospital, a resident says heis “disgusted” by the “squatter-like”

conditions.He calls them “skandelik”.CaptainMatt Heyns took a photograph of

the view from his neighbour’s stoep. Over-grown grass, a container and what he sayslooks like a hut create an eyesore near thehospital’s front entrance on Paris Road.He says: “I’m a sea captain; if I was in con-

trol, I would create hell here. I wouldn’thave that in my ship’s yard.”Heyns says he has previously alerted the

mayor’s office. “Theyhavedone some clear-ing, but thewhole set-up shouldn’t be here.”According to Heyns it should not be nec-

essary for citizens to have to report suchmatters. “Management should see it.”Provincial health department spokesper-

son Siyabonga Mahomba says the picturesent by Heyns is of a Community GardenProject which was started on the hospital’sgrounds with assistance from the Depart-ment of Agriculture.Mahomba says: “The people responsible

for the project have been asked to neatenup the grounds and to cut the grass, whichthey duly did on Monday 15 April.”Mahomba says the health department

“would further like to express a sincereapology to all clients for the dissatisfactioncaused by this matter”.She says the correct complaints proce-

dure is to lodge these at the facility wherethe problemwas experienced and should be

addressed to the facility manager.Mahomba says, where possible, the facili-

ty manager will attempt to resolve the mat-ter immediately.Complaint and compliment forms are

available at all facilities and should be de-posited in suggestion boxes available at thefacility.Where immediate resolution is not possi-

ble, the complaint is acknowledged withinfiveworking days and the client is providedwith a response within 30 working days.More serious complaints may exceed the30-day period. An interim response outlin-ing the progress and when a detailed re-sponse could be expectedwill then be given.V Have you seen the hospital grounds? What are yourviews? Starting with the word “Post”, SMS your viewsto 32516. SMSes are charged at R1 each.

NOT SHIPSHAPE: A Fish Hoekresident the state of the FalseBay Hospital’s grounds isunacceptable. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Clear out your clutterBAY Primary in Fish Hoek and Kalk Bayis turning junk into treasure to raise fundsfor the school.They will happily take your unwanted

furniture, crockery, household goods, toys,garden tools, plants and books. Actually,

they’ll take absolutely anything you nolonger need. Clear out your clutter and helpthe little school with the big heart. Eitherdrop off goods at the school on 10thAvenue,Fish Hoek or contact Bee Wright-Avis [email protected] or 082 879 8934.

NIGHT BLAZE:Justin Pienaartook this photoof a boat alighton the beach atKalk BayHarbour onFriday 12 Aprilat 23:00.According toPienaar theabandoned boatwas towed ontothe beach aboutsix months ago,and was lateroccupied byvagrants. Hesays nobodywas hurt. Seewww.peoples­post.co.za formore photos.

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAYTuesday, 16 April 20134 LEADER

WRITE TO US |email | fax | post

ONE can only hope future generations of this country havebroad shoulders.

But at leastArchbishopEmeritusDesmondTutuhas faithin the youth.

The cleric has spoken out about the prevailing violenceof the current South African society.

In a comparison to apartheid, he said post-democracy SAhas become one of the “most violent societies”.

Calling the inequality in the country unsustainable, Tutupointed to media reports of murder, rape and the high deathtoll on our roads as being a reflection of society.

Meanwhile, the expectation that the new SA would blos-som into an example of “eendrag maak mag” on an interna-tional stage, seems to have failed to take root.

And the issuing of crime statistics only once a year dolittle to stem the suspicions of a crime-weary nation and en-gender faith in the police’s competence.Word-of-mouth can-not, and will not, be muzzled. People talk.

Crime and violence have sealed the door on the honey-moon that was a democratic SA.

Tutu’s words have been countered by Cabinet spokesper-son Phumla Williams, who said “research has confirmed”South Africans are “feeling safer now” than in apartheid.

She said implementation of policies andprocedures bypo-lice, including “high police visibility and swift responsesto criminal activities”, are contributing factors to a saferSA.

Yet media reports continue quoting police spokespersonsas requesting community tip-offs in the war on crime.

And now the City of Cape Town says it will pay for tip-offsleading to arrests in gang violence and drug running on theCape Flats.

One can only wonder how deep the City’s coffers are.All is up to this and future generations, it seems.The cleric does not come empty-handed. Tutu says the

younger generation will need to arm themselves with the“spirit of ubuntu”.

And, perhaps, the wisdom to know when to fight or flee.

Viva tepees, barns and structuresI PARTICULARLY enjoyed the article re-garding the Noordhoek woman, AntheaTorr,whowas arrested for erecting anunau-thorised structure on her property (“Actionover ‘illegal’ barn, People’s Post, 2 April).

Though I love the fact she feels not “get-ting the necessary rubber stamp of approv-al” was a harmless misdemeanour anddoesn’t warrant the action – or the triplicatepaperwork it was written on, or the stampink that was used to bring this case to court– there are certain positive attributes to hercase.

Firstly, her “barn” or “temple”, in myopinion, is solely hers and has nothing to dowith the stifling and restrictive laws thatgoverns building. She owns the land andshould be allowed to build on it as she seesfit.

I am all for her telling the government“they do not exist”, as I, too, see little valuein the stuffy business of politics and thehopelessly inadequate manner in whichthey run their government departments.

If there were more people like Anthea inthis world, it would be a place filled withtemples and barns that are open to all for thebetterment of their life’s journey, and lesswould be spent on reams of obsolete govern-ment documents, court actions, state-fundedshopping trips to Liberia and the abuse of

expensive bullet-proof vehicles that snarl upthe morning traffic to get fat cat politiciansto their massage appointments.

Her suggestion that the “courts have beenforeclosed upon and no longer exist” againstrikes a perfectly melodic chord, as theseare my exact sentiments. I also enjoyed thefact that when law enforcement arrived tolockher up, several people claimed to beher.

Though I look quite different to Anthea,I have decided to go by her birth name everytime I come in contact with an officer of thelaw. “Good evening, sir. That’s a lovelybeard you’re growing, Anthea, but can youtell me about the unauthorised tepee on theback of your bakkie?”

At this stage of the unplanned roadside pitstop I would just speed off, leaving the offi-cial in my dust, while he tries to flag downanother resident of Noordhoek, aptly namedAnthea Torr, to ask him or her to jumpstarthis officious vehicle.

As about 90% of government and officialvehicles don’t run, my chances of making aclean getaway have dramatically improved.Might I suggest we get the rusting scrapy-ard, that pretends to be the government ve-hicle fleet, running before we tear downstructures that serve a real purpose.

Viva tepees, barns and temples! Viva!Beyond the muesli curtain, Noordhoek

Thanks to top medical teamTHIS is a public letter to express our sincerethanks to all the management and staff ofCape Medical Response (CMR).

Over the past two weeks we have neededto make use of their services for various rea-sons, for various patients. Their service hasbeen efficient, friendly and completely pro-fessional – no matter what the circumstanc-es and no matter how serious or otherwisethe situation has been.

To the CMR manager and your team, weare truly privileged to have you all as partof the medical community of Fish Hoek.

Thank you for the spirit in which youserve us. God bless you in the work that youdo.

Bless your families, as they sacrifice timewith you (so) that you may be available tohelp others.Sandy Lovick, Living Care

Debt is keepinghumans ‘enslaved’I TOTALLY agree with Anthea Torr’s deci-sion to not bowdown to the corrupt and darklaw system keeping the human race in slav-ery (“We’re just assets of the state”, People’sPost, Tuesday 9 April).There is much that can be researched andlearnt about the money and the law systemthat is enslaving humankind, if one wantsto find out the truth about what we havebeen lead to believe to be “just”, “fair” and“democratic”.This letter is to bring awareness to the factthat, as Anthea Torr mentioned, we – as stat-ed in theBible,Quran,Vedic Scriptures, andall mystical and religious writings – havebeen given free will by God.That means whoever takes that away fromus is against God, is against the will of Godand is, therefore, evil.If you believe in the devil then one can cor-rectly say this system we have in place onearth takes away free will, keeps the poorpoor and the rich super rich.It destroys our planet and uses all the won-ders of the earth and all its minerals for theprofit of a handful of individuals, whilekeeping the majority enslaved throughloans, taxes, bonds, fines and imprisonment.All this, through the use of the law systemthat was put there by someone else and isupheld through society as “just, fair anddemocratic”.The law system is not serving the people, butkeeping the corrupt corporations and cor-rupt politicians in power, while the world israped for money, the women are raped bypower hungry men; and fathers, brothers,sisters and sons are enslaved in poverty.All so that some may have more than others.Let us end this madness by not standing forit any longer, but seeing it for what it is –evil.I do, for the sake of my child, so that theremay be a world worth living in.Martyn Taylor, Glencairn

Taxis, please stop for Masi commutersI JUST want express my frustration at theway Ocean View taxi drivers treat most peo-ple from Masiphumelele. They don’t want tostop at the Masi bus stop going towards

Ocean View in the morning. All I ask is thatthey take us (into consideration) so we (can)get to work on time.Wizzy, Masiphumelele

EDITORIAL COMMENT

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[email protected] | fax: 021 910 6501/06Third Floor, Bloemhof Building, 112 Edward Street,Tyger Valley, BellvillePreference will be given to letters of fewer than 350words. The deadline is Thursday at 13:00. Please give yourfull name, address and phone number (for our records, notfor publishing).

People’s Post is published by WP Newspapers,a subsidiary of Media24.

FALSE BAY30 972 copies distributed Tuesdays to the followingareas: Marina da Gama, Lakeside, Muizenberg, StJames, Kalk Bay, Welcome Glen, Da Gama Park, OceanView, Masiphumelele, Glencairn, Glencairn Heights, GlenMarine, Glen Ridge, Fish Hoek, Clovelly, Sun Valley,Sunnydale, Faerie Knowe, Imhoff’ Gift, Capri Village,Kommetjie, Simon’s Town and Noordhoek.

OTHER EDITIONSPeople’s Post also has the following nine stand-alone editions:Woodstock / Maitland (16 391)Mitchell’s Plain (83 340)Retreat (23 423)Grassy Park (21 838)Lansdowne (21 130)Athlone (30 252)Constantia / Wynberg (30 069)Claremont / Rondebosch (30 843)Atlantic Seaboard / City (29 246)Total print order: 318 495

WHOM TO CONTACTDEPUTY EDITOR: Mandy KingEmail: [email protected]: Liam MosesEmail: [email protected] MANAGER: Garth HewittEmail: [email protected] BODY ADVERTISING: Theresa LawrenceTel: 021 910 6500Classified Advertising: 0860 117 520

PRESS CODE, CORRECTIONSPeople’s Post subscribes to the South African PressCode and we are committed to journalism that ishonest, accurate, fair and balanced. Under our editorialpolicy, we invite readers to comment on thenewspaper’s content and we correct significant errorsas soon as possible. Please send information to thedeputy editor at [email protected] orphone 021 910 6500. Alternately, please contact theOmbudsman of Media24’s Community Press, GeorgeClaassen at [email protected] or083 543 2471. Complaints can also be sent to the SAPress Ombudsman on telephone 021 851 3232 orvia email khanyim@ombuds­man.org.zaor [email protected]

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAYTuesday, 16 April 2013 NEWS 5

FISH HOEK COMMUNITYAgainst the Cell Tower In Our Neighbourhood!

PUBLIC MEETING FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITYWednesday 17 April 2013, 7.30pm, Fish Hoek Civic Hall

The owners of Valyland Shopping Centre have allowed Vodacom tobuild a 20m cell phone tower near our homes, schools and old-agehomes without public no ce or . Despite being warned ofthe ty of such a project, their approach has been to avoidconsulta on because the law does not force them to.

We believe that the community has the right to be involved beforeany decisions which affect us are made – par cularlywhen vulnerable groups like children and the elderly are concerned.

We believe that individuals in the community are e ed to raisetheir concerns and it is unacceptable for there to be no opportunityfor dialogue about important m ers.

We believe that it is socially irresponsible and sets a bad precedentgoing forward for any one party to be allowed to impose their willon the community at large.

We believe that it is unacceptable for any org that claims tobe part of our community to hide behind discredited laws in order toavoid accountability for their ac

WHETHER THE TOWER IS LEGAL OR NOT, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TOTAKE CIVIC ACTION AGAINST THOSE WHO IGNORE OUR VOICES.

1. We call upon the Residents’ and Ratepayers’ to pass athat calls on the management of Valyland to engage in

dialogue with the community as a ma of ethics and principle.

2. We ask individuals to consider whether to stop shopping at Valylandthey willingly engage with the community about the tower.

ACTION!

SUPPORTED BY:

FISH HOEK COMMUNITYAgainst the Cell Tower InOur Neighbourhood!

SUPPORTED BY:

PUBLIC MEETING FOR ALL MEMBERS OFTHE COMMUNITY

Wednesday 17 April 2013, 7.30pm,Fish Hoek Civic Hall

The owners of Valyland Shopping Centre haveallowed Vodacom to build a 20m cell phonetower near our homes, schools and old-agehomes without public notice or consultation.Despite being warned of the sensitivity ofsuch a project, their approach has been toavoid consultation because the law does notforce them to.

We believe that the community has theright to be involved before any decisionswhich affect us collectively are made –particularly when vulnerable groups likechildren and the elderly are concerned.

We believe that individuals in the commu-nity are entitled to raise their concerns andit is unacceptable for there to be noopportunity for dialogue about importantmatters.

We believe that it is socially irresponsibleand sets a bad precedent going forward forany one party to be allowed to impose theirwill on the community at large.

We believe that it is unacceptable for anyorganisation that claims to be part of ourcommunity to hide behind discredited lawsin order to avoid accountability for theiractions.

1. We call upon the Residents’ and Ratepayers’Association to pass a motion that calls on themanagement of Valyland to engage in dialogue withthe community as a matter of ethics and principle.

2. We ask individuals to consider whether to stopshopping at Valyland until they willingly engage withthe community about the tower.

WHETHER THE TOWER IS LEGAL OR NOT, WEHAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE CIVIC ACTIONAGAINST THOSE WHO IGNORE OUR VOICES.

CEASE WORKS ORDER: DEVIATIONS FROM PLAN

Mast stopped - for nowTERESA FISCHER

A CEASE works order was handed tothe Valyland Centre by a building in-spector on Thursday, stopping build-

ing on a 20m cellphone mast.However, it is understood this is a tempo-

rary halt.The order was issued because of devia-

tions from the building plan.Fish Hoek resident Pierre Joubert, who

is spearheading an action group against themast be erected, says he saw the notice.

Ward councillor Simon Liell-Cock says hehappened to be at the site, when the inspec-tor arrived.

No public participation about the mastwas conducted by the directors of the Valy-land Centre as it was approved by the Pro-vincial Department of Environmental Af-fairs and Development Planning (“Cell tow-er gets go-ahead”, People’s Post, 9 April).

Residents are opposed to the mast, to besituated a stone’s throw from Nerina Gar-dens, an old-age home. There are also fourschools nearby.

But Chris Hyland, director of Proud Her-itage Properties 76, the owners of the Valy-land Centre, says a cease works order wasnot issued. He says they had merely beenasked to verify the mast was in the correctposition.

Last week the director of the City’s Plan-ning and Building Development Manage-ment Department, Cheryl Walters saidthere was “no evidence to date” that con-struction was not taking place in accord-ance with the approved plan.

This week, Walters says a cease workswas issued because construction deviatedfrom the approved plan.

She adds: “The cease works order was is-sued because construction had deviatedfrom the approved plan, and not due to anyother external pressure.”

Walters says the base for the cell mast waslocated closer to the street than was shownon the approved plan. Only the plinth forthe mast has been constructed.

Asked if it would require handing in a re-vised plan, Walters explains assessmentwill first be done in terms of the zoningscheme, which now requires a consent use.

“Alternatively the irregularities of con-struction can be rectified and rebuilt interms of the approved plan,” she says.

Walters adds the new zoning scheme isapplicable for all new applications. Rooftopbase stations are permitted as of right inmany use zones (including the Valyland

site), and free standing masts are permittedas consent uses in many use zones (includ-ing the Valyland site).

Fish Hoek Valley Ratepayers’ and Resi-dents’ Association invites residents to apublic meeting on Wednesday 17 April at19:30 in the main hall of the Civic Centre.Ward councillors and City of Cape Town of-ficials have been invited.

Phone Janet Holwill on (021) 785 1328 orAllen Rose-Innes on (021) 782 4279.V Residents have voiced their concerns regarding theerection of the cellphone mast. What are your views?Starting with the word “Post”, SMS your views to32516. SMSes are charged at R1 each.

HALTED: Work on a cellphone mast at Valyland Centre has been stopped temporarily.PHOTO: TERESA FISCHER

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAYTuesday, 16 April 20136 NEWS

The City of Cape Town is reviewing certain aspects of the Liquor Trading Days and HoursBy-law, relating specifically to the implementation of trading hours as well as a Sundayprohibition for the sale of liquor from licensed premises for consumption off-site (e.g. shopsand bottle stores) in respect of location categories 3 to 7 only.

All interested stakeholders who would like to make submissions in this regard areencouraged to please do so. It is important to note that there is NO intention to considerrevising or extending trading hours and trading days for consumption off-site in respect oflocation categories 1 and 2.

The public comment period comprises two rounds. The first round commences on19 April 2013 and all comments must be submitted by 16:00 on 20 May 2013.

From 19 April 2013, the Liquor Trading Days and Hours By-law, 2010 (as amended in 2012)will be available for viewing at all City libraries and Subcouncil offices. Alternatively, it isavailable online at www.capetown.gov.za/draftbylaws.

Interested parties are requested to use the template provided at the libraries and Subcounciloffices and then submit their comments in writing via one of the following channels:

• Via e-mail to [email protected]• By fax to 021 400 4483• By post to City of Cape Town, P.O. Box 298, Cape Town 8000• Hand delivery to the Manager: Support and Services Coordination (attention:

Gavin van Schalkwyk), 13th Floor, Strategic Support, Tower Block, Civic Centre,Hertzog Boulevard, Cape Town

• Electronically to www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay/inputs

The comments from the first round of public participation will inform a draft amendmentwhich will be subjected to a second comment period to allow for input.

Once the second round of public participation has concluded, the City’s Economic,Environmental and Spatial Planning Portfolio Committee will consider the input received andmake recommendations to Council regarding amendments to the relevant sections of theby-law.

Any queries may be directed to Councillor Gareth Bloor021 400 1375 or Gavin van Schalkwyk on 021 400 1993.

ACHMAT EBRAHIMCITY MANAGER67/2013

HAVE YOUR SAY!AMENDMENT TO THE LIQUORTRADING DAYS AND HOURS

BY-LAW, 2010

DATABASE OF UNEMPLOYED SOCIAL STREAMGRADUATES FOR EPWP PROJECTSThe City of Cape Town’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development Directorateinvites unemployed graduates within the social stream to forward their curriculum vitae,copy of ID and driver’s licence (optional) for possible employment in the Expanded PublicWorks Programme by 17 May 2013 to:

E-mail: [email protected]: 086 576 0170Or hand-delivered: Social Development and Early Childhood Development Directorate,

7th Floor Telkom Towers, Standard Bank Building,Hertzog Boulevard, Cape Town

For more information please contact Fatima Davids on021 417 4086 or Jeremy Lewis on 021 444 0706.

ACHMAT EBRAHIMCITY MANAGER66/2013

BRUSH STROKES: RAISE AWARENESS

Artist commits to rhinosTHANDI WILTSHIRE ANDTERESA FISCHER

The plight of the rhino has galvanisedartist Deziree Smith into action. Shewill be donating the centrepiece of her

upcoming debut exhibition to the RhinoFund of the African Conservation Trust(ACT).

She invites the community to the openingnight of her exhibition, titledFrom the Ash-es, on Thursday 18 April.

The guest speaker is Steve Newman.Newman is known for having completed

several naked stunts, including skydiving,to raise awareness for rhinos.

Perched on a bar stool and dressed inclothes fit for painting, an unadornedSmith pours coffee and chats about thepangs she feels when a finished painting“leaves home”.

Her brood of dogs stares in through thepatio window.

She paints from home, sharing the spacewith the four dogs and four cats, and a toler-ant husband, who allows her to hang herpaintings throughout the house “whetherhe likes them or not”.

She wanted to be in a class with her bestfriend and, at the spur of the moment,signed up for an art class in high school.But, Smith says, she will never forget themoment she “got” painting.

“Shadow and light is everything,” she ex-plains, adding she believes anyone can bean artist.

She describes her work as “a collectioninspired by humanity’s influence on ournatural world”.

Asked to define her style, she says evenan experienced art critic was stumpedabout what to call it.

“It is definitely surreal,” she says, “butthere are aspects of semi-realism.”

She adds: “I am proud to exhibit my mostpersonal work to date. In this series Iwalked away from the commercial stand-ards. I portrayed every personal thoughtand feeling with colour and line.”

Smith says she was awakened to theplight of the rhino after going to the KrugerNational Park on honeymoon.

The centrepiece painting, called DocileDreamer, depicts a white rhino face-to-facewith a man seated on a chair.

The artwork has a retail value of R16 000.The starting bid is R8 000 and the biddingincrements are R500, R1 000 and R2 000.

Readers who wish to place a bid may sendtheir name, contact number and bid to [email protected].

Alternatively, bids can also be placed onthe opening night.

Her exhibition will be at The Studio inthe Main Road, Kalk Bay from 18:30.

It is on from Thursday 18 April untilWednesday 1 May.V Smith wrote a blog (http://blog.projectnoah.org/post/32047894336/species-spotlight-rhino) to helpraise awareness globally for National Geographic’sProject Noah that was published on World Rhino Dayon Saturday 22 September last year.

FACE TO FACE: Deziree Smith and Thandi Wiltshire with the painting Smith will auction atthe opening of her exhibition in Kalk Bay. The full proceeds of the sale will be donated tothe African Conservation Trust. PHOTO: TERESA FISCHER

Room for growth at churchTERESA FISCHER

THERE is space in the pasture for morelambs.

The Valley Christian Church, whichwas forced to relocate from the buildingthey were renting in Fish Hoek, can nowbe found at the Fish Hoek High School.

Pastor Mark Harris explains they hadto move from the top floor of OK Buildingseveral months ago, as there was notenough exits to satisfy fire safety require-ments.

They want to remind people they arestill in Fish Hoek and involved in the com-munity.

Harris, father of ex-Springbok cricketerPaul Harris, says they can now also usethe sports hall and fields at the school –perfect for their children’s church, whichhe says “is cooking”.

He started the church 25 years ago fromhis home and the congregation has grownto about 300 people, but he says there isnow room for more expansion.

Young families are particularly wel-come, as in addition to the children’schurch, which also accommodates babies,they also have a youth group for teens anda young adults group.

Each year the church puts on a musicconcert to raise funds for the SunflowerFund, the “claim to fame” of the churchband.

Harris says the church is very involvedin the community, particularly in OceanView. Their theme for the year isAwaken-ing, and this he says, includes awakeningto the community and nation.

Services are held at 09:00 on Sundays.V Contact (021) 785 7114 or Jono Holgate on083 399 9443.

SYMBOLICSERVICE: TheValley ChristianChurch took partin an eventcalled ‘Samari­tan’s Feet’ inOcean Viewearlier this year,during whichthey washedpeople’s feet andalso donatedshoes to thechildren.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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Tuesday 16 April

V Diep River: The Prostate Cancer SupportAction Group will meet at the MediClinicConstantiaberg auditorium at 17:45 for 18:00.Dr Raoul Goldberg will speak on an integratedapproach to cancer therapy. Call or SMS thegroup on 073 560 3067.

V Kalk Bay: Kalk Bay Books, in partnershipwith Jacana Media, will host the launch of Ridethe Tortoise, a short story book by Liesl Jobson,at 18:30 for 19:00. RSVP for catering purposeson (021) 788 2266.

Wednesday 17 April

V Fish Hoek: The Fish Hoek Garden Club willmeet at the Fish Hoek Civic Centre minor hallat 19:00. The guest speaker will be YvonneViljoen of the Friends of Silvermine. Allwelcome. Phone (021) 785 2386.

V Fish Hoek: The False Bay University of theThird Age will host a talk, titled False Bay: OldTowns and Villages, by Dr Hans Fransen at theFish Hoek Civic Centre minor hall at 09:30 for10:00. Admission is free; everyone is welcome.Refreshments will be on sale. Direct enquiriesto Peter Rickards on (021) 788 9469.

Thursday 18 April

V Kalk Bay: A solo exhibition, From the Ashes,by Deziree Smith will be opened and exhibited

at The Studio. The exhibition, which runs untilWednesday 1 May, will feature oil paintingsexploring the balance between civilisation andthe natural world. Opening night starts at18:30.

V Fish Hoek: The Diabetes Support Group willmeet at the Fish Hoek Civic Centre at 14:15.Guest speaker Lauren Kay will speak on Dietcontrol, advice and food labelling. There will bea question and answer session at the end.Phone Gerald Jeftha on (021) 786 4540.

V Simon’s Town: Live music by local duo Alanand Shelley at the Country Club. No covercharge. All welcome. Restaurant and cash bar.Call (021) 786 1233 for more details.

Friday 19 April

V Fish Hoek: A trivia quiz will be held at theCatholic Church hall in 6th Avenue at 19:00 for19:30. Admission is R35; all proceeds will gotowards Jen’s recovery. Enquiries to Judy on(021) 785 2125.

V Fish Hoek: The Green Guerrillas – whoadvocate urban agriculture, sustainable livingand being accountable to the environment –will lead a group of Green Guerrilla YouthLeague members from the Green Cube, locatedon the Fish Hoek Primary School campus. Theywill begin an ongoing campaign of guerrillagardening. Unkempt vacant verges, barrenservitudes, unused space and open land will be

the target; the “cadets” have propagated 100Spekboom trees and 200 tomato plants forplanting. Volunteers are welcome, but mustcontact the Guerillas before Wednesday forbriefing. Email [email protected].

Saturday 20 April

V Fish Hoek: In The Mood Dance Club will holdits monthly dance at the Fish Hoek Civic Centrehall at 20:00. The dress is smart/casual.Admission is R20 for members and R25 fornon­members. Take your own refreshments.Booking is essential on (021) 782 4991.

V Fish Hoek: The Seventh Day AdventistChurch will hold a dedication ceremony for itschurch building at 09:30. A special programmeis planned for the day, including musicalguests, informational stalls and a specialchildren’s programme. Everyone is welcome.

V Fish Hoek: Educational Whale Spotterworkshops from 07:45 until 09:00. The indoorssession is designed for children ages seven to12 who would like to explore the world ofwhales and dolphins. A breakfast snack isincluded. Participants must be accompanied bya parent or guardian with a cellphone. The FishHoek venues for both workshops, which arefree, will be given on registration. To registeremail [email protected] or call079 391 2105.

Sunday 21 April

V Cape Point: The Friends of Cape Point willhost a strenuous hike from the Smitswinkelviewpoint to the Visitors’ Centre, with thegroup meeting behind the pay gate at 09:00.Take your usual hiking gear, water and a snack.Use your Wild Card, otherwise the entry is R90.For further details phone (021) 712 7004.

Monday 22 April

V Muizenberg: Radio CCFM will hold its annualmeeting at the CCFM hall at 19:00. For furtherinformation phone (021) 788 9492.

Wednesday 24 April

V Simon’s Town: An illustrated presentation onthe restoration of The Martello Tower by WMBisset will be held at the Simon’s TownMuseum in Court Road, Simon’s Town, at 18:00.The presentation will be followed by theannual meeting of the Simon’s Town HistoricalSociety. Call Yvonne Mawhinney on(021) 786–4404.

Thursday 25 April

V Seawinds: A talk on domestic violence willbe held from 11:00 to 13:00 at the Multipur­pose Centre in Military Road. Muizenberg Policehave embarked on a campaign to educate andinform the community about domestic violenceand the rights of victims. For more information

Captain Knapp on (021) 787 9000 or071 604 8348.

TUESDAY 16 April 2013 | People's Post | Page 8 | 0021 910 6500 | ppost.mobi

SPORTTHE BEST THINGS IN LIFE

HAPPEN ON BAYSIDE!

on Fish Hoek Beach

Today and everyday

GREAT VENUEGREAT MENUGREAT VALUE

EXTREME SWIMMERS : CONCUR THE ARCTIC

Icy feat for local extremistsLIAM MOSES

THREE Cape Town swimmers havepushed themselves to the edge, riskedinjury, flirted with death and survived

to tell the tale.Ram Barkai, Kieron Palframan and Ryan

Stramrood swam amile in the Arctic Circle,of the coldest water on earth, wearing onlyswimming briefs, swimming caps and gog-gles.The swimmers, from Camps Bay, New-

lands and Constantia respectively, complet-ed the feat on Saturday 23 March. Theyswam 60 laps in a 25m long “pool” that wascut out a frozen lake in Murmansk, Russia.Palframan (39) says he started to feel the

debilitating effects of the freezing, 0° wateralmost as soon as he immersed himself.“When you dive in it doesn’t take (your

body) long to become numb. The most diffi-cult thing is getting your breathing right.The first couple of lengthsare just to get yourbreathing right, so that you don’t hyperven-tilate,” he says.“Then your body goes numb in sections.

Then your hands and feet feel very swollen;you go through a stage when you can’t actu-ally feel anything. Just after that you get anache, a deep pain in your bones. Right at theend you are (just) hanging on; you just wantto finish and your mind drags your bodythrough it. You don’t actually feel anything.You are just so numb. You’re almost gone.”Stramrood (39) says the trio were in the

most danger when they exited the pool be-cause of the “after drop”, a period where thebody rapidly cools after moving to a slightlywarmer temperature.“When you do a mile in those tempera-

tures in those conditions, you are complete-ly helpless when you finish,” he says.“In most cases you can’t even walk and

you need to be supported. You lose yoursense of balance, your ability to think is verylimited and you have tunnel vision.”The group first started competing in ex-

treme, open water swimming events in 2010

when they completed the Pennock IslandChallenge in Alaska. They have since goneon to break records and win worldwide ac-claim.In March 2011 the trio, together with two

other South Africans, Andrew Chin andToks Viviers, completed three epic swims inthe icy waters of Patagonia in only 10 days.The first swim saw the group traverse

3.5kmofwater on theStraits ofMagellan, thesecondwas a 3kmdouble crossing of theBea-gle Channel between Chile and Argentina,

and the third was a 3km swim around CapeHorn, the southernmost tip of South Ameri-ca, where they swambetween the two south-ern most lighthouses in the world.In 2012, theyalso swamakilometre inTyu-

men, Siberia in 0°water andanambient tem-perature of -33°.Barkai (55) says the group have become fa-

mous in the ice swimming community be-cause theymanage to keep their sense of hu-mour, despite the danger involved.“Wherever we go, the South African team

is thehighlight becauseweare always chirp-ing and joking,” he says.“It’s one of the ways we deal with it; we

laugh a lot. Every time we do these thingsthere is a possibility, hopefully not high,that something goes wrong and we won’tcome back, so we try to enjoy it.”The group recently founded the Interna-

tional Ice Swimming Association to helpgrow and improve the sport.V For more information visit www.international-iceswimming.com or the Association’s Facebook page.

TEAM WORK: Kieron Palframan and Ryan Stramrood watch teammate Ram Barkai complete his mile swim in the 0° waters of Murmansk,Russia. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Van As back on the extreme racing sceneLIAM MOSES

“SERIOUSLY extreme” is how Mike van Ashas described his sport of choice, extremeoff-road driving.Van As, a Sun Valley resident, has been

competing in the sport since 2000 and is re-garded as a legend by fans and fellow com-petitors.The sport sees competitors drive over

cliffs, up steep angles and over boulders in4x4swhichare eithermodified to various de-grees or completely standard.The mechanic, who owns his own work-

shop, says he developed a love for the sportbecause anyone can participate.“(The sport relaxes) me and (also acts as)

advertising for the business. Your expensesare so low that it is affordable,” he says.“I can do my own maintenance. There is

no financial incentive at all – you only gettrophies. I just (do it) for the love of thesport.”The extreme off-road season features six

events per year, with drivers having to con-quer 12 obstacles at each event to claim thepoints they need to win the their class, theoverall event and the championship.VanAs races in themodified standard cat-

egory, in a Land Rover, named Green Mam-ba,whichhebuilt fromscratchwith thehelpof his daughter. The pair did this in only amonth,working at night andoverweekends.The car is the second he built after the

“first one bent in half because of the all hardwork”.“The chassis bent and it started ‘kinking’

in themiddle due to the terrain at the races,”he says.He recently returned to the sport after tak-

ing a break in 2011 and 2012 to focus on “oth-er commitments”. The travelling costs toand from races also added to his decision totake a break, but his love for the sport andskill did not diminish in that time.“My first event (was) in March and I (end-

ed in) second (place),” Van As says.“I hold a (national) motorsport record as

well. After 13 years of racing, I finished eve-

ry race which I started. I still have the sameco-driver. Together we have thousands ofhours of experience.”Hehasbeen involved inmotorsport, previ-

ously also working on rally cars and stock

cars.Van As will compete in his second event

since his return to the sport at the ApolloBrickfields in Durbanville on Saturday 20April.

READY TO RIDE: Mike van As revs up GreenMamba, the modified 4x4 he uses to competein extreme off­road driving. PHOTO: LIAM MOSES