STCA NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2019

Dear Residents,

Valentine’s Day might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but actually – if you strip away the commercialization associated with modern-day Valentine’s Day – its 3rd-century origins are rather lovely – and worth remembering.

One possible version is that 14 February pays homage to Saint Valentine, who secretly married young lovers when matrimony was outlawed in Rome in 200AD. Another portrays young Valentine sending a message, from prison; to a damsel he fell in love with, and signing it “from your Valentine”. Enough to entice even the most jaded sceptics, right?

So, whether you’re celebrated a new romance or time-tested love, or simply enjoying the divine weather IN The Greater Simon’s Town with friends and cherished ones, we hope you had a wonderful February.

My Green Card

It’s never too late to purchase your My Green Card which is a clip card exclusively available for purchase to residents with a South African Identity document and grants you discounted access to the National Parks.

This is an opportunity not to be missed. With an affordable once-off rate of R135, 00 which is the equivalent of one adult entry into provides the registered card holder with 12 free entries into any of the Table Mountain National Parks Pay Points. That’s just R11,25 per entry.

How does the card work?

The My Green Card is valid for one year from the date of purchase and gives the owner of the card 12 free entries into the Table Mountain National Parks and every entry used will be clipped off your card. Of the 12 entries only 6 entries can be used per visit, per day and all entry users must be South African citizens with a valid South African identity document. Your friends and family members can join you and you are allowed to bring 3 adults and two children. This is including yourself and counts as six entries.

Upon entry into any of The Table Mountain National Park pay points the card holder and every adult entering with you will be required to present a South African ID book or South African drivers license. The documents must be the original and cannot be a duplication of any kind and it cannot be a copy that is on your smart phone.

How can I get one?

When purchasing your My Green Card at your nearest distributor (see ‘Where can you purchase the card’ below) you need to take along your proof of residence that is not older than 3 months; your South African ID; and 2 colour ID photographs.

The purchaser of the card is only allowed to purchase one card every 12 months (1 year) and when the owner of the card has used all their entries, may reapply after the relapse of the 12 months period.

Alternatively you may purchase a SanParks Wild Card, if you are still within the 12 months relapse period.

Water levels in the Cape Town dams

Water levels in the Cape Town dams have dropped by 1.51% in the last week, following a wave of brutally warm weather conditions in the region..

Cape Town and surrounds have been left sweltering under the fierce summer sun. Cape Town dams have been hard hit, once again – with water levels in the greater region failing to fare better. This is the latest word from Anton Bredell, the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.

Water levels continue to dip as sporadic showers, rare and slight at this time of year, fail to quench Cape Town’s thirst. Last week saw temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius in Cape Town, with the heat ratcheting up even higher in the Western Cape’s catchment regions. This coupled with gale force winds which aid water evaporation, has taken water levels down another notch.

In the middle of February, dam levels had already dropped by 1.5% – this week more water loss puts the Cape Town dams at 54% full. Dams feeding the greater Western Cape are currently at 41.94% – recording a drop of 1.59%. The Karoo region is still the hardest hit by the localised drought. Luckily, Cape Town – and the Western Cape – are in a much better position than last year this time.

Western Cape and Cape Town dams: Water levels for Monday 25 February

Cape Town dams and Western Cape water levels for 25 / 02 / 2019 (Western Cape Government)  Theewaterskloof Dam – 42.3% (11% full in February 2018).  Voëlvlei Dam – 68% (16.6% full in February 2018).  Berg River Dam – 75.7% (52.2% full in February 2018).  Clanwilliam Dam – 37.4%% (11.4% full in February 2018). Bredell has urged locals to continue their water-saving efforts – which are currently on target, slightly below the danger zone of 650 million litres per day.

February in Cape Town is notoriously dry and hot, with the area receiving just 15mm of rain on average. This means that Capetonians will have to keep their water consumption steady until the good rains begin to arrive in May, with June being the wettest – and, in this case, most welcomed – time of year.

A Visit from ‘Buffel’

We went for a stroll on beach and discovered an unexpected visitor: a huge southern elephant seal called ‘Buffel’ has taken up temporary residence.

‘Buffel’ was seen for the first time in on 23 November 2014, at Buffels Bay in the Reserve, hence his name. The DEA marked him with a flipper tag, (number 16577), on 26 November, 2014 in order to help with future identification. Buffel is male and the DEA team estimated his age at the time of tagging to be two years. Since then he has visited our shores annually and landed at Hermanus, Betty’s Bay, Cape of Good Hope, Olifantsbos, Scarborough, , Llundudno, Duikerklip Island and Paternoster.

Southern elephant seals like Buffel appear to be tame, but this is not the case so don’t be fooled. It is merely that they don’t know humans, therefore they are not scared of us; we look like oversized penguins to them. In late January 2019, Buffel started his annual moult. During this period he will remain on land as he loses all his old hair. He does not need to feed during this time as he relies on his fat reserves, and he will seldom go for a swim as he does not need to be wet, so there no need to pour water over him. This ‘catastrophic’ moult can take up to a month, so Buffel might stay on Fish Hoek until the end of February.

Upcoming Events

 The Rotary Youth Camp and the Fish Hoek Fibre Art Group are exhibiting their Labyrinth Quilt over the weekend of  2nd March [NOT SUNDAY] 4TH & 5TH MARCH 2019 from 11h00 to 17h00 -  Entrance through the 3rd Gate.  Entrance Fee R10 - tea and coffee provided  Phone Annett Edwards 072 5144429

And

 The Fish Hoek High School Grade 10s will be paying their annual visit to the Glencairn Valley for their Life Sciences Outing, working in the Wetland, Gordons and Rotary from 8am to 2pm on Tuesday 5th March. If anyone is free on this day to help guide the students, their time would be much appreciated.

Phone Cilla Bromley on 071 133 4056 or 021 782 6400 and she will tell you what’s involved. The Grade 10s will be led by Liesbet Joubert with Arlene Wiley and Colleen Denne. It is quite amazing what they are expected to do, what tests are carried out, etc.

Cape Town Cycle Tour

10 March 2019. The 41st edition of the biggest timed bicycle race in the world.

See https://www.capetowncycletour.com for road closures

Just Nuisance Birthday 30TH OF March 2019 (Images courtesy of Simons Town Museum)

Simons Town Library Charity Bookstore

Please support Friends of the library and visit the bookshop every Saturday from 9am till 12:30

Property

The Property Valuation Roll (GV2018) is now available. It is important that people check the valuations of their homes - effective 02 July 2018, and object to valuations that are too high as this will affect their Rates for the next 3 years.

Simon’s Town Civic Association (STCA)

The Simon’s Civic Association (STCA) extends you a warm welcome to the greater Simon’s Town area. As a prospective or new ratepayer we would like to introduce our Association to you. We are pressure group representing ratepayers in the greater Simon’s Town area providing specific focus on local issues.

Additional information is also available on our Website (simonstowncivicassociation.wordpress.com), Facebook (SimonstownCivicAssociation) and Twitter (@SimonstownCivic). Our core function is to represent ratepayers in the greater Simon’s Town area including the following suburbs: -

Smitswinkel Bay Millers Point Murdoch Valley Froggy Farm Boulders Seaforth Simon’s Town Simon’s Kloof Admirals Kloof Dido Valley Glen Marine Glencairn Da Gama Park Redhill

We are extremely fortunate to reside in one of the world’s most beautiful areas, our goal is to improve and maintain its visual beauty and ensure all infrastructure and facilities are in good order. We also have ongoing communications with the various stakeholders in our area including the Cape Town City Council, the South African Navy, the South African Parks Board, the Public Rail Agency of South Africa and local businesses.

As a ratepayer and resident we would like to encourage you to become a member of our Association or become part of our Committee. The Executive Committee consists only of volunteers however we do require some income to run the Association and encourage you to become a member. The cost is minimal, only R100.00 per annum and can be paid directly into our bank account or in cash at the STADCO office in Jubilee Square, Simon’s Town.

Our banking details for EFT payment are:- Simon’s Town Civic Association Standard Bank – Fishhoek (036009) Account No. 073815209 Please use fees”your name” as reference.

Warm Regards

Steph Mellor

STCA COMMUNICATIONS