Please note that the views expressed by the contributors
are not necessarily those of the Riebeek Valley Reporter

This issue of the Reporter will remain on this web site (www.riebeek.co.za) until the next issue
appears in a month’s time. So you can refer back at your leisure. Click on links on the left to contact us, subscribe/unsubscribe and for further information on issues affecting the Riebeek Valley. Contributions and news of forthcoming events are welcome. The deadline is the 25th of the month for the following month’s issue. Names will be withheld if requested but we will not consider items which are sent to us anonymously.

Don’t forget that you can advertise in the Reporter. Ordinary line ads up to about 5
lines of copy R30 per issue or R300 for twelve issues. Payable in advance.

NUMBER 72 January 2012

Property Valuations

The time period for objecting to local government property valuations (on which your rates will be based) has been extended from December 17^th 2011 to January 27^th 2012.

“This notice has been published due to incorrect time period allocated in the previous notice

for lodging of objections for the general valuation.” Mr J J Scholtz, the Municipal Manager said.

This further erodes our confidence in the Municipality. If the Municipality cannot even get the period for objections right (a simple process we would have thought), what chance is there that any of their property valuations are right either?

Daniel Christen in his property article this month says about the property market:

“Still very quiet; lots of stock and ever reducing prices. For cash buyers the time is now and for most others, this is a time to tread cautiously. If you have a job, look after it and try to save on the side. The reality is that those who have crystal balls, are conspicuous in their absence, they are very quiet and not committing or making projections due to the number of influencing factors and some agents are trying to pretend  all is fine, when in all honesty, it is not.” (to read his full article click here)

This situation should be reflected in the municipality’s latest property valuations – not the grossly inflated figure that some have received-  in some cases up by 75% or more since the last valuation.

Speeding fines

The following notice has been issued by Swartland Municipality:

IMPORTANT NOTICE – REDUCTION OF SPEED FINES

The Swartland Municipality Traffic Division hereby gives notice, after consultation with the related courts and as part of its campaign to promote road safety in the region during the December 2011 festive season, that offenders may redeem all their traffic speed fines (excluding warrants of arrest) accrued in the Swartland Municipal area of jurisdiction against a 50% reduction in the fines values until and on 31 January 2012. This is a once-off concession in conjunction with the Department of Justice.

Are we missing something? We suppose it is jolly decent, in the spirit of good will and all that, for the Municipality to halve speeding fines in December. But how on earth does this promote road safety?

Weather

The rainfall in December was 17mm in Riebeek Kasteel.  This is about average. Once again thanks to Chris Haugh for providing the figures.  Don’t forget – you can check out the local weather at :

http://www.yr.no/place/South_Africa/Western_Cape/Riebeek-Kasteel/ (or Riebeek West or Hermon)

The chart below shows moving annual totals in mm of rainfall in Riebeek Kasteel.

Property News

This month Daniel Christen writes:

“So as we enter into 2012 the finances may not look so rosy but what a place we live in! A great selection of table grapes on our doorstep (and wine) and our stunning Kasteelberg mountain calls continually. Much that the Valley offers does not cost a lot and can be enjoyed by every member of the family.”

 To read the rest of the article click here. 

Wonderbags

For some time Goedgedacht has been promoting the use of Wonderbbags - an eco friendly cooking technique which also saves money. Now we read in an article by Jolyon Connell , editorial director of the prestigious British news magazine The Week, that Unilever is planning to distribute five million Wonderbags in South Africa.

“ It's a reminder that visionary entrepreneurs may do more to counter climate change than all the world's bureaucrats put together” he says.  Call Goedgedacht (jeannegoedgedacht@telkomsa.net) for further information on Wonderbags.

Snippets

This minstrel band marched round Riebeek Kasteeltelkomsa.net) on January 2^nd . Here they are seen playing in Booysen Street.

Theo Simons tells us that the conversion of the Friendly to the OK franchise has been delayed since 23 shops are changing over on the same day. Some are further advanced in their preparations than others! It is now expected that the Friendly will vanish at the end of January to be replaced by OK Value.

 Potjiekos  competition

Frikkie Theart of TDK Engineering and  Derek Verster are taking steps to organize a Potjiekos Competition to be  held at an appropriate local venue on 31 March 2012, at the time of the Medfest.

The objective is for the event to be a bonding exercise for the local community, to publicize the quality of our  local produce and the esprit of our community and to raise money for charity. The target is R50,000

The event is intended to be a prestigious and high profile one with prize money of at least  R10,000, which has already been guaranteed.  There will be a variety of prizes (i.e. best potjie, best use of local ingredients, best dressed cook, best demonstration of team spirit, best designed stall etc.) and the winning team will be designated as the Swartland Potjiekos Champions.  The event will be widely publicized  in order to attract participants and visitors from all over the Western Cape and further afield.

It is intended to provide entertainment during the competition by local talent as well as well-known personalities.

Participation fees will be reasonable and it is intended to obtain sponsorship for underprivileged persons to enable them to participate and to ensure that this is truly a community event.

The key to the success of the venture will be corporate sponsorship.  The organizers believe that they will be able to arrange this provided they are able to convince the sponsors of the success of the venture. Success will be measured by the enthusiasm and support of the community for the project.

For this reason, before proceeding further with the organization of the event, the organizers would like to be convinced that it will enjoy the active support of the community and that they can rely on the participation of at least 50 teams. If this is so the organizers will ensure that  it attracts even greater  support from further afield and that it is a resounding success.

If you keen to participate actively in the event please notify the organizers of this by email  - versterd@telkomsa.net -  by 20 January 2012.   If you have any suggestions about the charities who should benefit, the event itself or even the composition of the committee that will control the event please include these in your response.