Constantiaberg Bulletin takes a look back at the news that made headlines in 2022, reflecting on the moments worth remembering.
In January, residents living above Westlake Golf Course threatened legal action unless the course stopped using effluent from a sewage-treatment plant to irrigate the greens. (“Residents raise stink over golf-course effluent,” Bulletin, January 27).
In February, activists from Plumstead and Heathfield picketed to oppose the closure of Plumstead library after mayoral committee member for community services and health Patricia van der Ross proposed ending the leases of a number of City libraries, including the Plumstead library (“Pickets planned over library closure,” Bulletin, February 17).
In March, Bergvliet Lions Club broke a Guinness World Record for the longest line of socks (“A sock-sessful project,” Bulletin, March 24).
Timour Hall Villa, once the home of Sir James Percy FitzPatrick, author of Jock of the Bushveld, was rescued from abandonment and opened to the public in April (“Timour Hall opens to the public,” Bulletin, April).
In May, the Constantia Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association struggled to get members to pay their annual fees of R650. The group’s manager, John Hesom said that apathy and a lack of awareness were more likely to blame for this than affordability (“Constantia civic group under pressure,” Bulletin, May 26).
In June, Westlake gardeners, who sell their vegetables to the community, said they now had to fetch water from their homes to irrigate their veggies after a fire damaged the garden’s water tank (“Westlake gardeners need water and electricity,” Bulletin, June 2).
The safety of seniors in Steurhof and surrounds came under the spotlight at a public meeting in July. The meeting at South Peninsula High School was organised by community activist Alexis Serra in response to seniors’ concerns (“Steurhof seniors’ safety concerns under spotlight,” Bulletin, July 7).
City blueprints for greater densification in parts of the southern suburbs drew a bitter response from residents who viewed them at a public meeting in Constantia. More than 100 residents attended the meeting at the Alphen Centre on Wednesday August 2 (“Densification plans draw fire from public,” Bulletin, August 11).
In September, the Liveable Urban Waterways co-design workshop brought residents, engineers and landscaping architects together to discuss a new future for the Spaanschemat, Prinskasteel and Grootboschkloof rivers (“In search of better urban waterways,” Bulletin, September 15).
In October, the City unveiled a concept plan for the major refurbishment of the Wynberg taxi rank (“Major revamp for Wynberg’s taxi rank and surrounds on the cards,” Bulletin, October 26).
A task team responsible for drafting a new plan to manage the Cape Peninsula’s baboons announced that it was running behind schedule. The City’s current baboon programme, managed by NCC Environmental Services, comes to an end in June next year (“New baboon plan behind schedule,” Bulletin, November 17).
In December, Diep River’s Community Police Forum held a candlelight vigil in solidarity with victims of abuse. It marked the start of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign, a UN campaign that takes place annually from November 25 to December 10. (“Showing solidarity with victims of abuse,” Bulletin, December 1).
