Ellen Fedele, Plumstead
There is a small patch of land at the end of Francis Road in Steurhof that was deemed too small to be safely allocated as a possible turning space for the buses of the high school in Azalea Street.
Could this ground not be turned into a small cricket pitch (with high fences to prevent errant balls flying into passing cars) so that the youngsters of Steurhof have a safe space in which to play the game instead of having to use the roads surrounding that patch which is dangerous for both the children and the passing cars?
Not much needs to be done to make this a reality so I hope the council will take the idea into consideration.
Councillor Carol Bew responds: I have investigated the piece of land which is road reserve.
There are plans afoot to develop the park at Viooltjie Road just 150m away; this will be costing the City over R50 000.
It is therefore not viable to consider further budget when there are adequate facilities being made available just a short distance way.
C. Franklin, Kirstenhof
Kirstenhof Crime Watch is one of the 11 neighbourhood watches that operate under the umbrella body of the Constantia Valley Watch Association (CVWA ).
Fully accredited with SAPS and the Department of Community Safety, we are a prime example of how teamwork and mutually respectful relationships pay dividends.
Run by volunteers from the community and completely funded by donations from residents, we are passionate about acting as the eyes and ears in supporting our local Kirstenhof police station members.
Our volunteer patrollers are committed to high visibility patrols – day and night – and play a significant role in keeping crime at bay.
Every minute of patrolling is important – vehicular, running, dog walking and playing with family in our well-maintained parks – all count towards kicking crime to the kerb.
We also keep our larger community updated with regards to crime stats, and share information about tips for combating crime and promoting safety.
We have members who take part in numerous community initiatives such as the community police forum, the Kirstenhof and Environs Ratepayers’ Association, the Ward 71 Sub-Council Committee, Aid4Animals in Distress and Barefoot Rescue, to name a few.
This synergy helps us to remain current and focused.
Working closely with the security service providers that are prominent in our area, and the ability to act as support for them when required, also enables quick and immediate communications and responses across our trained patroller groups.
We are proud of our active and robust social media platforms that inform our residents of any issues that may affect our community, ranging from traffic updates, crime trends and hot spots, missing pets, missing people and so forth.
There are several ways to play a part in this well-run neighbourhood watch, so join up now (www.kirstenhof.org.za) and make a difference.
