NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2020

We are pleased to be back in action after an enforced hiatus Exco’s Note during lockdown.

We have been working behind the scenes and hope you find the following informative and encouraging.

Richard Kenny, longstanding Chairman of the STCA, has resigned his chair- manship while remaining an active Exco member. We are deeply grateful to Richard for his inputs and commitment over the years – thank you Richard, we hope you enjoy your ‘retirement’!

We are delighted to introduce Simon Metcalfe as our new Chairman. Simon has been an Exco member since 2018 and was unanimously voted into the role at our most recent Exco meeting. Simon’s special areas of interest are environmental matters and community safety.

MEMBERSHIP

We encourage all ratepayers and residents to play their part in maintaining the beautiful area in which we live. By joining the STCA, and taking an interest in the issues that affect us all, we can collectively make a difference when it comes to … • Rights, interests and welfare of all ratepayers and residents in our precinct • Policing and safety • Municipal efficiency and expenditure • Environmental and ecological matters • Development • General infrastructure

You CAN have your say.

We do all of this for you at the STCA for only R120.00 per family per year. Ratepayers and residents’ associations are essential bodies who must engage with the city and various other stakeholders on behalf of their members. We need to keep our eyes open and ears to the ground so that we can report any issues to the City of that could escalate if not handled timeously, and for that, we need active citizens. The more members we have the greater our voice.

Quote by a South African investigative journalist who handles criminal issues … ”If it were not for the various Ratepayers Associations reporting to their Municipalities the things pertaining to their areas, this would be a very different . They are vital in the communication process keeping this Country safe and a better place”

Subscriptions are R120.00 per annum. Banking Details: Standard Bank (Brand Code 036009) Account number 073815209 Ref: Initials/Surname/Cell no

SUB-COUNCIL,

The Sub-Council 19 area consists of 3 wards (61, 64 & 69), and stretches from to , Ocean View, Masiphumulele, , Fish Hoek and Simon’s Town along the coastline and ends at .

Meetings are open to the public and the STCA and other civic associations can witness the Council (political and executive) in action, but not participate directly. The STCA can pass over written submissions and also lobby outside of formal sessions. Sub-Council is chaired by Cllr. Patricia Francke and administered by Desiree Mentor at the Fish Hoek Civic Centre. The political leadership includes 3 ward councillors and 3 PR councillors.

At the recent August meeting topics included:

• Presentations by Disaster Relief on fires and Humanitarian Food Relief Services. • City Biodiversity Branch on the increased use of snares in our nature areas which are being set by local communities. (Please report illegal activity to the public emergency call centre on 107 or 021 480 7700) • Projects and events – blanket drive; Women2women support; painting of rental stock homes in Ocean View. • Kommetjie Rd opening; local dams 90% full; increased number of liquor licence applications but Council notes the negative impact on health, accidents, and gender abuse. • Summary report made on coastal water quality ratings (CWQR) and the new national guidelines. Gregg Oelofse, who oversees coastal management for the City of Cape Town, had the following points of note for the Simon’s Town area: 1. Frank’s Bay – CWQR was good. Trend – no change. Potential faecal matter sources (PFMS) – storm water runoff checked. 2. Seaforth Beach – CWQR (Fair); trend (regressed); storm water runoff checked; pump station checked. 3. – CQWR (Fair) – no change. 4. Simon’s Town Long Beach – CQWR (Poor) - no change. Storm water and pump station checked. Intervention to be made on pump station. 5. Glencairn Beach – CQWR (excellent). Trend variable.

FAR SOUTH PENINSULA COMMUNITY FORUM (FSPCF)

The STCA participates in the FSPCF, the joint voice of civics and communities, including consultants and specialists, in the Far South which exists to provide a platform for all the ratepayers associations in the Far South. City of Cape Town uses this forum to consult ratepayers on planning issues related to roads, development, coastline management and the like. The STCA participates in the FSPCF to ensure its ratepayer’s voice is heard. The FSPCF also runs a Facebook page where local issues and activities can be shared.

COMMUNITY SAFETY

The STCA gives a big shout out to the Simon’s Town (ST) Community Police Forum (CPF) who played a vital role in enabling our local lockdown to work well, and who also monitored and supported its impact on our community, especially food security. The CPF is a statutory agency that aims at ensuring police accountability, transparency, and local effectiveness by bridging the gap between the police and the community. Community Safety is coordinated through the CPF.

Residents are represented through their Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) Clusters coordinated Sector 1 (Glencairn) - chaired by Lindy Rich, and Sector 2 (Simon’s Town) by Joe Kramer. The CPF is chaired by Eileen Heywood, a resident of Glencairn. Our communities are also represented on the CPF by the STCA (Simon Metcalfe), and the Simon’ Town Business Association (STBA) (Trish Inggs).

The CPF brings resident based NHWs together with: police representatives (SAPS, Law Enforcement, and Traffic); City of Cape Town (COCT) represented by Cllr. Simon Liell-Cock and occasionally by Social Development on homeless persons issues; The SA Navy and the Military Police also participate. The responsibilities of the CPF and the NHWs ramped up a lot after lockdown. Crime went down with lockdown and the curfew and apart from a few edgy issues over compliance regarding exercise, dog walking and wearing masks it was a quiet time.

However, food security became a crisis rapidly for informal settlements, street people, and for residents whose income stream evaporated overnight. The City couldn’t cope with all the need and many residents rallied support for feeding schemes. The CPF helped by monitoring the situation, highlighting the need and supporting frontline services providers. The CPF ‘drafted’ Gary Carlton to facilitate the complexity of groups and food deliveries. Lindy Rich helped organise a meal delivery service to assist local residents.

The empty streets meant the collapse of the meagre income stream of the ‘Pink Vests’ and the ‘street people’ generally depended on food kitchens set up by residents. The street people were eventually rounded up and sent into quarantine camps like Strandfontein. On their return we now have some 45 hungry homeless people, half of whom are new faces. The dilemma with feeding the homeless is that it is a self-sustaining dependency. As long as there is feeding Simon’s Town is an attractive ‘home’. Not to feed them is inhumane but ongoing feeding without any social work intervention to facilitate a rehabilitation process is unsustainable.

The COCT resources are stressed by the metropolitan scale of need so the immediate hope of support from Social Development and Law Enforcement (LE) looks bleak. Simon’s Town is a key tourist resource on the peninsula and its streets need visible street patrols to enforce by-laws related to vagrancy (eating, sleeping, toilet, mental health, alcohol and drugs). Equally, we need social work inputs to know who the street people are and what risks and opportunities exist, for them and for us.

Finally, we cannot talk about helping the hungry without recognising the hugely valuable work feeding Redhill settlement, the street people, and local residents undertaken by pastor Shaddie. Equally important has been the generosity and effort given by Simon’s Town and Glencairn residents. A big ‘High Five’ to you all.

The STCA encourages residents to keep up the effort. Pastor Shaddie’s work can be supported by making a donation to My Father’s House (NPO), Nedbank, Account No. 120 429 0628; Branch 198 765. If you reference meal donation the proceeds go to feed local residents and the street people.

The Community Kitchen is situated at 12A Squires Building, Station Rd., Simon’s Town - opposite Admiralty House. Contact: 082 381 0384; [email protected].

Anyone may purchase a very good meal from the kitchen, on a Saturday, for R60,00, the proceeds of which go towards feeding the children at Redhill.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Kudos are due to Cilla Bromley (GEESE) who has worked tirelessly and selflessly over many years to promote the health and cleanliness of the Glencairn Wetland. We are sure that the report of excellent water quality at is in no small way an outcome of all this effort. Please take the time to read AN APPEAL from Cilla at the end of the newsletter. INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEAN UP DAY - SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2020

False Bay is an internationally recognised Global Marine ‘Hope Spot’, which supports a unique and diverse marine environment and encourages adventure tourism. Simon’s Town is the gateway to this natural wonder.

The CLEAN SIMON’S TOWN initiative led by Alison Bannister and Glencairn GEESE run by Cilla Bromley are once again encouraging local residents, environmental organisations, educational institutions, local businesses, PRASA and the SA Navy to support the coastal clean-up of the beaches and sea frontages from Glencairn to Millers Point.

The proposed Clean Up is part of The International Coastal Clean Up ICCU when thousands of people across the world flock to their local beaches to remove debris and litter. Introduced into SA by John Kieser (Sustainability Manager of PlasticsSA), it is the industry’s yearly outreach programme to bring awareness to the problem of plastics in the ocean and to encourage responsible disposal of litter

The Clean Up will take place between 8h30 and 10h30 on Saturday 19 September 2020.

Because of Covid19 restrictions there will not, as in the past, be central registration points for the Clean Up. This time refuse bags will be available from co-ordinators at ALL beaches from Glencairn to Millers Point.

The City of Cape Town will collect filled bags from designated points along the route.

Please watch the local press, Neighbourhood Watch groups and usual social media channels including Facebook and Simonstown.com for more information.

CLEAN SIMON’S TOWN

Alison Bannister - [email protected] Cilla Bromley - [email protected]

BABOONS & WASTE MANAGEMENT - An article by our new Chairman, Simon Metcalfe …

LIVING ON THE URBAN EDGE WITH BABOONS

I have the dubious honour of being Simon’s Town’s Councillor Appointed Representative of Baboon Suburbs (CARBS). Dubious because I am appointed, not elected, and certainly not acclaimed. Being appointed by the City means that I am expected to be a ‘safe’ pair of hands and generally support the City’s baboon management policy as implemented by its management agency, presently Human Wildlife Solutions (HWS). The overall programme is run by the Baboon Technical Team (BTT) which includes the City (political and technical), UCT’s Baboon Research Unit, SAN Parks, Cape Nature, and the SPCA. The BTT meets with the CARB reps twice a year. This is the formal avenue for public participation, and it doesn’t satisfy everyone, least of all those who don’t like the assumptions behind the policy, and the methods it uses.

In this article I set the scene so the reader can work out where they sit on the policy continuum. The ‘urban edge’ ripples out from where the troops roost and where they forage. I will focus on Simonstown’s Waterfall Troop. Following, there are two presentations from two parties based in Mount Pleasant/Admiral’s Kloof who are very involved in managing human-wildlife conflict in the urban edge. They may have different assumptions and approaches, but both agree that improved waste management is essential.

Background The Baboon troop numbers in the are growing and are isolated from other troops in the hinterland. The urban population has grown and spread hugely like a sea around an island. The troops are also fragmented from each other making the natural dispersing of males challenging and hazardous. Moving between troops often means strong, intrepid, young males may encounter households on the way and pick up some survival raiding habits. The concept of natural carrying capacity, from a troop perspective is problematic, given the realistic probability of endless access to feeding from the ‘urban plate’. Without impeccable waste management and bylaws to enforce them there will always be conflict between baboon and humans living on the urban edge near troops. In fact, even with perfect waste management, baboons will still visit the urban edge to check out the opportunities for sustenance.

Baboon in High St. (with food parcel) and suburb vista

For as long as urban food attractants exist there will be continuing management challenges, and conflict between humans and baboons. If we want the best of all possible worlds – for us and them – then we need to do the right things and have the right attitude.

The Simon’s Town area shares an urban edge with three baboon troops – Smitswinkel, Waterfall, and Welcome Glen. In May the Waterfall Troop made some 85 raids on Naval properties, caused by abysmal waste management which appears in every HWS monthly report and 64 in the urban area which also indicates a lack of baboon awareness. The Da Gama troop raids in the Navy’s and in the civic area of Welcome Glen. As the troop often roosts near the Da Gama Park flats, they now have a good caged bin system which works well.

The management issues are clear. To maximise the benefits and minimise the hassles of living on the urban edge near a primate species that has existed for some two million years we, personally and communally, must take the necessary precautions in and around our properties. At a minimum: • Even if you don’t have a COCT baboon proof bin you can always ‘make a plan’ and do it yourself (see photo to the left); • Enforceable waste policy and garden fruit and vegetable bylaws are indicated; • Navy waste management must be fixed up. The City has no authority on this matter. • Drill hole through top and another through side. • Tie a loop in strong plastic string at one end. • Feed string through side and then through top hole • Tie simple knot (round turn & 2 half hitches). Whatever knots used tie it loosely. Enough to fox baboon but easy enough to save hassles for the bin collectors. They have been willing to work this system for many bins in Mt. Pleasant.

THE SIMON’S TOWN GREEN GROUP

The Simonstown Green Group run on WhatsApp and the Simonstown Community Facebook page are both administered and passionately driven by Luana Pasanisi, an environmentalist who promotes improving the eco profile of Simon’s Town.

If you want to learn about and support living with, appreciating, our natural world, wildlife, and especially the Waterfall Troop, from a tolerant understanding perspective, this is the group for you. You will find a lot of educational postings on Facebook page. Luana promotes a critical eye on the City and the baboon management policy to ensure that fear and force on behaviour is kept to an absolute minimum e.g. the use by HWS of bangers, paint ball guns, and ultimately managed euthanasia.

The Green Group advocates and activates improved waste management in the Mount Pleasant/ Simonskloof/Runciman area, the High Street, navy Barracks, and Happy Valley Shelter. They organise regular clean ups around the barracks and Happy Valley entrance and at Miller’s Point in collaboration with Baboons of the South, an agency run by Lorraine Holloway. These groups link with and often advocate their interests along with Baboon Matters forming a network of interest in baboons and nature.

The Green Group promotes and runs awareness events like eco-evenings, eco-walks, community activities, and clean ups and through social media. The group wants to elevate Simon’s Town Eco image by raising awareness of baboon behaviour, waste, pollution and other ecological issues that residents “living in a biodiversity Hope station should be made aware of”. The Green Group collaborated with the SAN (acting Flag Officer Commanding) on an organized clean-up by naval personnel. A follow-up effort has been thwarted by COVID 19 regulations and access protocols. The Green Group notes that although the galley (kitchen) uses a cage for bins with the wet waste off fall, there is a dire need to baboon proof bins placed at the entrance to each block of sleeping quarters. These are a focus for baboon raids. The group is doing its best lacking formal access to clean up around the fringes of the Navy barracks and has put forward a proposal for the creation of biodiversity station to further reduce waste on Navy land that will cater for navy, business sector, Happy Valley, and residents.

The Green Group has organised for a caged trailer placed on lower Cardiff Road on Tuesday mornings for recycled waste. Although recycled waste is not as attractive to baboons as ‘messy’ black bag waste; unless it is washed it can still harbour foody smells and end up ripped and strewn. You can drop your recycled waste clear bags off at Cardiff Road around Recycling waste cage Green Group mascot 0900 on Tuesdays. provided by Simonstown (Ruen Menaar) Green Group

URBAN EDGE GROUP

Another group from the Mount Pleasant/Admiral’s Kloof area is the Urban Edge Association (UEA) - a registered NPO, chaired by Bronwyn Bagley ([email protected])

The UAE’s mission is to ensure and maintain a safe environment for humans, their pets and infrastructure and to ensure the epidemiological sustainability of the Cape baboons. The UEA seeks to reduce the harm caused to baboons by human-derived foods (e.g., diabetes, rotten teeth) by limiting their exposure to household waste and other attractants and encourage baboons to remain in their natural environment. This approach is in keeping with relevant National and Provincial laws promulgated to ensure a safe environment for humans and to maintain the ecological balance of the baboons.

UEA seeks co-operation to work with residents and various groupings within the Mount Pleasant area, including the Waterfall Barracks and Happy Valley Shelter to ensure the sustainable ecological, social and commercial development in the area.

UAE is interested in the possibilities of deterring raids by management interventions like electric fencing. Encouraging results have been achieved by several members who have erected electric fences around their properties. They have reported a significant drop in baboons entering their properties and evidence indicates that the baboon raiding is localising on those properties that do not have electric fences, and the commercial centre.

UAE has recently built a cage for the waste at Happy Valley Home Shelter, a long time baboon raiding target that is reducing the frequency of raids on the shelter.

Waste cage provided by Urban Edge at Happy Valley Shelter (Navy Barracks in background)

CONCLUSION Take your pick from these active initiatives. They manifest the ways of the wider conservation world on a continuum from hands on game management to hands off wildernesses. Both groups see waste management as a key issue, so we can all support both of them on that aspect to the benefit of our neighbourhood.

Human Wildlife Solutions manages and monitors the Peninsula Troops living on the Urban Edge on behalf of the City of Cape Town with the aim to minimise raiding. The link to the HWS May 2020 report is https://hwsolutions.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/HWS-Monthly-Report-May-2020-for- distribution.pdf

PROPERTY

The Property Portfolio oversees all issues relating to property in the greater Simon’s Town area. Key responsibilities include:-

1. ASSESSMENT OF BUILDING DEPARTURE APPLICATIONS All building plans are assessed by City of Cape Town Transport and Urban Development Authority (TDA) for compliance with building regulations. Non-complying plans require acceptance by affected parties, typically the Ward Councillor, the STCA and affected neighbours. In such cases the STCA represents the community in either accepting or rejecting these applications. It also highlights non-complying building works sighted or objected to by ratepayers with the TDA.

2. PARTICIPATION IN THE ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AAC) The AAC is a commenting body for all land use applications within the Simon’s Town Heritage Protection Zone (HPOZ) and is chaired by the Councillor for Ward 61. The STCA is represented at these meetings and is able to influence decisions for these land use applications It also monitors and comments to the City regarding compliance with heritage laws and the guidelines for the conservation and development of the Simon’s Town conservation area.

3. PARTICIPATION IN THE DIDO VALLEY STEERING COMMITTEE The STCA is also represented on the Dido Valley Housing Committee chaired by the Projects Manager from the Human Settlements Department and is consequently able to raise issues of concern and influence decisions made in the planning of the development. SA NAVY - (PLEASE NOTE THE DATE – 31 AUGUST 2020)

IMM and the SA Navy are offering Covid training for free to local Simon’s Town businesses. This is a great opportunity to ensure you and your staff are up to date with correct procedures. This is also a good opportunity to show the world that Simon’s Town is responsible and a safe destination to visit. DATE: Monday, 31 Aug 2020 TIME: 8:30 - 13:00 VENUE: Simon’s Town Hall RSVP: 021 787 3911 (ext 4541) / 082 853 0990 OR e-mail: [email protected]

A WORD FROM OUR WARD COUNCILLOR, - SIMON LIELL-COCK

“Comment opposing the extended trading hours for off consumption liquor licences (as opposed to on site consumption licences for restaurants and pubs).

Since the by-law was implemented all the applications the sub-council turned down were merely approved on appeal. The issue fell under the economic development portfolio the applications were all seen as a sign of encouraging economic development. Across the City the applicants have become accustomed to approval as a matter of course and have consistently neglected to provide any information on the possible undesirable consequences, indeed their attorneys state that there are no undesirable consequences and therefore no mitigation is necessary.

However, the issue now falls under the Health portfolio where there is a better insight into the consequences. In addition, the lockdown has raised the level of awareness regarding the negative consequences of alcohol on the trauma units at the hospital. Road deaths and accidents are down across the City by a significant margin. Locally, since the bottle stores have been limited to Mon to Thurs trading, the experience over weekends in Simon’s Town has been noticeably improved due to the lack of inebriated street people.

It is my position that the refusal of liquor off-sales between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning is in the public interest for Simon’s Town, Ward 61, sub-council 19 and indeed the entire City.

I hope that I have your support.” COMMUNITY EVENTS,

The Simon’s Town Business Association (STBA) hosted a virtual event “Christmas in July”. Businesses in and around the village entered into the spirit of the occasion and the Just Nuisance Community Market was able to set up physically due to a timely relaxation in the Covid-19 regulations.

The market continues at weekends which creates a positive atmosphere, and Simon’s Town has been busy with local tourists enjoying being out and about. http://simons-town.com/

My Father’s House, Simon’s Town Scooter Adventures, the Simon’s Town Business Association (STBA) and Simonstown.com hosted a Scooter Rally on 08 August. With Women’s Day on the 9th of August, the rally aimed at raising awareness of the plight of vulnerable women and children. My Father’s House was the recipient of some of the proceeds of the event. http://simons-town.com/scooter-rally/ The STBA is presently working on a mini Spring Festival, as well as a virtual Wedding Expo which is scheduled for November.

Please contact [email protected] or event@ simonstown.com if you’d like to participate. All service providers to the wider area most welcome.

AN APPEAL …

GEESE was formed under the umbrella of the STCA in 2002 and as a subsidiary, has a permanent seat on the STCA

GEESE (Glencairn Education & Environment Support Enthusiasts) NEED YOUR HELP!

A brief outline of who and what GEESE is - we look after the Glencairn Wetland, trying to keep it free from litter and squatters; ensuring that the paths remain open and not overgrown; and managing the three storm water drains from Glencairn Heights that empty into the Wetland. Sounds simple! But it is very time and energy consuming and I need your help, please. It is City land but, beyond having the paths mown twice a year, we have to do it ourselves if we want it to look good! My gardener, Mattheus is my stalwart helper! Just as the virus hit us, he was due to return home to Malawi on much deserved leave which he has not taken for four years as the bus fare is very expensive (R2,000 single). So he was house bound for three months before returning to work a couple of days for us, before the borders opened up and he was off for three to four months at home!

So we are now entering our sixth month of caring for the wetland ourselves…..and it shows! Our standards have dropped and I just can’t keep it up! I try to remind myself that I can’t do as much as I used to as I’ve now joined the Octogenarian League!

I would love some people to come and help with: 1. When walking in the wetland to automatically be armed with a bag & pick up litter you find; 2. To carry a pair of secateurs so you can trim back what’s overgrowing the paths; 3. Join the Storm Water Maintenance Team - every time we have rain, the storm water brings down litter, sediment and leaves. They clog up the mesh which, if it isn’t removed, acts as a dam and everything pours out over the top into the wetland and the battle is lost! 4. Remove the Wild Mustard plants that will be seeding soon. 5. Watch out for the vicious Camel Thorn plants and remove them so they don’t get into our dogs’ paws. 6. We have raised seven goslings who are nearly ready to fly off but Spring is in the air and there will be more any minute! Be alert to any irresponsible dog walkers who don’t control their dogs and allow them to chase the babies. The reply, “my dog never hurts them” doesn’t hold water - the goslings and their parents don’t know this - nor do I! And we all have frightful hysterics as the ‘innocent’ dog chases the goslings!

I am always available to answer questions, receive suggestions or to help so please contact me if you have any ideas or want to join one of the Work Parties

Cilla, Lady Bromley, secretary for GEESE, The Old Manse, 71 Glen Road, Glencairn 7975 , South Africa Land ++ 27 (0)21 782 6400 or Mobile ++ 27 (0) 71133 4056

IN CLOSING …

These are just a few of the matters the STCA manages on your behalf. If you would like to get more involved, please don’t hesitate to make contact – we’d love you to join us. Volunteers are always welcome!

Visit https://stca.wildapricot.org/, and https://www.facebook.com/SimonstownCivicAssociation Email [email protected]