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Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/capeinfo/public_html/news/riebeekvalley/jan07.php on line 33 Warning: include(http://capeinfo.com/nav/FrameLeft.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/capeinfo/public_html/news/riebeekvalley/jan07.php on line 33 Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://capeinfo.com/nav/FrameLeft.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/capeinfo/public_html/news/riebeekvalley/jan07.php on line 33		Number 14 – December 2006 email: wright@wcaccess.co.za Tel & fax: 022 448 1081  This issue > capeinfo.com/rv Events Steel band Rainfall Snippets Media Watch Cricket Trauma Room Municipality PPC Poisoned? Jean's poetry Letters Contributors' views are not necessarily those of the Riebeek Valley Reporter.  Click here for previous newsletters Welcome... to issue number 14.  We want this newsletter to reach as many people as possible who either live in, or have an interest in, the Riebeek Valley.  So just send us your email address and your friends' email addresses and they will be added to our list. If you own a guest house or hotel you might like to run off a few copies for your guests. And please don't forget - when something happens or is going to happen - tell us! capeinfo.com/rv Things are still progressing.  The home page has been revised and it is now possible to subscribe to the Reporter online, as well as change your details or subscribe to other newsletters.  (See at the bottom of this newsletter.)  If you have any events you wish to promote, click here to add them to the events calendar. Events Every Sunday Boules at Shades of Provence from 11am February 3rd Morning market, Kasteelberg Trading Centre, Riebeek West February 6th Quiz night at l'atitude May 5th & 6th Olive Festival Steel Band Dave Wickham writes that the Riebeek Steel Band has performed at a number of high profile events recently including the Laser Group Golf Day, Sunday Lunch at Moyo (Spier Estate) and the Proudly Manenberg launch at the Cape Town Civic Centre.  They are already booked for a couple of weddings in 2007.  The Steel Band Project has started doing Corporate Team Building Workshops to groups of up 25 from various companies in Cape Town.  Plans are well advanced to start a second steel band for beginners.  Places are open to ALL children from Grade 2 upwards.  Auditions will be held at the end of January.  People in the Valley can hire the band for community events and fund raisers.  Rates are very reasonable.  Call David Wickham on 082 898 9663 to discuss bookings and auditions. Rainfall Chris Haugh phoned to say that the rainfall in December in Riebeek Kasteel was 22mm against an average of 18mm for the month over the last five years or so. This average is a bit misleading since rainfall in December can vary considerably. It has ranged between nothing and 63mm during the last six years. Total rainfall for the 12 months ending December for the last five years has been: 2002 – 668 mm 2003 – 393 mm 2004 – 496 mm 2005 – 678 mm 2006 – 625 mm Handbook Updates & Snippets There's a self catering cottage available at 18 Blom Street.  Sleeps 4.  Also double bed room in main house. Rates from R80 pp.  Contact Derek on 082 078 5950. On December 16th, Barloworld, the listed diversified industrial group, shook the market by announcing plans to unbundle cement and lime producer Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) from the group in 2007 and dispose of further underperforming assets to unlock shareholder value. We are pleased to see that a very smart footpath is nearing completion in Station Road, Riebeek Kasteel.  It contrasts starkly with the road which is full of bumps, patches and, frequently, large pot holes.  We can only hope that it will be used and that folk do not continue the practice of walking up to four abreast down the middle of the road (forcing cars to use the footpath?). We read that tourism to South Africa increased by 11% during the last year.  We wonder if the Riebeek Valley is getting its share of increasing numbers of visitors. Michael Meredith called us the other day and remarked that his best trading week of the year is usually the one immediately following Christmas Day.  This year was no exception.  It made us wonder if local outlets that are closed for all or part of this week are doing the right thing. The following was spotted on an iternet wine blog by an American reader of the Reporter: "Zakkie Bester is winemaker at Riebeek Cellars, a co-operative that has the good luck to be situated in the Swartland -- an area proving to be one of the best for full flavoured red wines.  I've met Zakkie several times over the years and he is always keen to show me his Pinotage – and I'm always glad to taste it.  The 2005 Reserve is the current release and it is really very, very nice.  It is a rich ruby red colour, with upfront berry and plum fruits and some vanilla in the mid-palate.  It's soft and mouth filling and there's enough acidity on the finish to match well with food.  Zakkie tells me that half the wine was fermented in 2nd fill 300 litre French oak barrels, in which they also went malolactic fermentation and then aged for 6 months, then blended back with the half that was made in stainless steel in order to produce a subtly oaked wine.  Riebeek are a winery that hasn't (yet) been claimed by fickle fashion and so their wines continue to be reasonably priced and are well worth a try when you see them.  Riebeek Cellar Reserve Pinotage 2005 14.5% abv, retail price £8/$16, my score 89+" It seems that the Riebeek Valley will, at last, be provided with an ASDL service by Telkom towards the end of February 2007.  If you are interested contact Nella at Telkom Malmesbury on 0224873111.  Why no email address you may ask? We enquired to be told that their email is not too reliable so please use the fax... Media Watch Eight Feet is a wine produced at Kloovenburg.  Pieter and Annalene du Toit named it after their four boys – Daniel, Anton, Johan and Steph.  The family and the production of this wine are featured in an article by Greg Landman in the January edition of Country Life.  Greg writes: "Eight Feet 2002 is a superb blend of cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Merlot (40%).  It is a marvellous deep ruby colour, slightly spicy, full bodied and extremely smooth on the mouth.  The nose reveals some wood and plenty of fruit." Prominent Riebeek West resident – Michael Solomon – was featured in a large photograph on the front page of Business Report on December 20th in his capacity as CEO of Wesizwe Platignum.  The picture was accompanied by an article in which he said that a lack of skills and capacity in the department of minerals and energy to manage new laws was impeding the development of the mining industry. There is a four page article on Riebeek Kasteel in the January 2007 of Rooi Rose.  This includes two photo montages which feature a number of local residents. Cricket Although the Reporter is of course strictly neutral, it is with great sadness that we have to report that Riebeek West won a hard fought contest in this years challenge cricket match.  The match was played in front of a festive Boxing Day crowd, the venue having been moved from the PPC ground opposite Ongegund Village to the playing fields of Riebeek Kasteel Laerskool.  This enabled many to shelter from the scorching sun in the shade of the large pavilion.  Bev Gower and his team kept up a lively commentary and even became mildly excited when a streaker sped across the field and disappeared into bushes on the far side of the pitch (we hope that they were not thorny).  The captains were Dave Wickham (Riebeek Kasteel) and Kris Karpinski (Riebeek West).  It was he who was presented with the trophy of a disintegrating cricket bat with a hole in it.  (The hole for those who do not know is designed to take a bottle of wine – but this year there was no wine. It seems that it may have been consumed by spectators carried away by the excitement of the occasion).  The final score was Riebeek West 116 and Riebeek Kasteel 84.  Thanks to all who were involved in organising this popular annual event. New Trauma Room Jennifer Kamerman reports: A new trauma room was opened on October 30th 2006.  Situated behind Riebeek West Police Station by a garden sponsored by Jackie Solomon, the room is being equipped and staffed to help traumatised victims from throughout the Valley. The trauma unit is the responsibility of the Victims' Empowerment Project (VEP).  This operates under the auspices of the Police Forum.  Beneficiaries of the trauma service are mainly women and children from poorer parts of the community who are normally unable to access other support structures.  Regional community services are insufficiently resourced to address the spiralling rate of crime.  This new service helps to fill the gap and is often the first and only point of contact for the victim with someone who cares. The Project needs to raise funds to finish equipping the new trauma room and also to pay for training volunteer victim support assistants.  A big thanks to Valley businesses and residents who have already donated paint, labour and other bits and pieces.  In particular filing cabinets, duvet covers, blankets, office partitions or screens, computer hardware, TV, music system, soft toys, notice board, flip chart, projector screen, waste paper baskets, kettle, cups, storage jars, teaspoons, air-conditioning units, towels and face cloths, fire extinguisher, cell phones, lockable container are now needed. An art auction is planned for March 2007.  Some of the other fund raising activities being considered are: A pantomime using the talents of the Riebeek Valley Community Theatre. An anything that floats day on the Berg River Music in the park evenings A farmers food festival Contact Jennifer Kamerman on 022 461 2797 or 083 308 6336, email: catalyst@itravelto.co.za for further details.  You can also talk to Inspector Johanna van Schalkwyk on 022 461 2234 or 072 782 4831, email: boerkie@lantic.net. Swartland Municipality Imbizo On December 11th Swartland Municipality held an Imbizo in Riebeek West Town Hall.  The meeting was almost entirely conducted in Afrikaans, which is, perhaps, not surprising, since one of the slides shown indicated that 88% of the population speak Afrikaans while only 2.5% speak English.  A translation of the proceedings was promised but at time of writing this had not come to hand.  The presentation, which was followed by a lively question and answer session, was a mixture of some interesting facts and figures and a fair dose of the meaningless language at which government departments everywhere seem to be so expert.  For example: "Local economic development can be described as a process by which public, private and community role players within a specific area manage their shared resources in a manner that is sustainable and equitable through an inclusive and participative process.  This process should ideally be based on partnership arrangements."  A further slide ensured us that a better service could be provided if rates were paid timourously (sic). 78% of the population of the Riebeek Valley is coloured,  18% white and 4% black.  Another chart showed that property in Riebeek Kasteel was the most expensive in the district.  But the year over year increase was only 4% while cheaper areas were catching up fast (Malmesbury 11%, Darling 47%, Porterville 37% increases).  The upgrading of the square in Riebeek Kasteel was mentioned. Meetings of this type should certainly be encouraged but language does remain a problem – at least for those who speak English. Houses for PPC workers We have heard that PPC are having discussions with the Municipality regarding PPC the contribution of significant funds towards a major new housing development in Riebeek West. We assume that this would be carried out if their plans for a new factory are approved which would result in a requirement for housing for the considerable number of workers needed to build the new facility (see last Reporter). We are a little surprised that this plan was not mentioned as part of the discussions held recently in connection with the environmental impact assessment. It occurs to us that such a development could cause problems. The buildings might be ceded to the Municipality when no longer required by PPC (an additional asset). But what would happen to the inhabitants? Would they be forced to move on once the PPC project ends or would Riebeek West have a large additional population with nothing to do? By building houses for workers on land that does not belong to PPC, the company would ensure that something that could be a major problem for them, is handed over to the community and the Municipality. Are we being poisoned? Chris Wright reports: Many Valley residents were woken on the morning of December 28th by the sound of a very low flying aircraft which criss crossed the Valley several times.  It turned out that the aircraft was spraying a substance to kill fruit fly in fields adjacent to Riebeek Kasteel.  Several residents complained that not only had the aircraft been flying unacceptably low over a built up area but also that the spraying seemed to have been none too accurate and that their properties had been hit.  As a result of this a meeting was called by Lisa Krumbolt which was attended by representatives of government departments regulating such activities as well as a number of residents.  It was agreed that a special government task force would be established to investigate this and other incidents.  This task force has met and second meeting is planned when they will meet with local farmers. More or less simultaneously the first meeting of the group proposed by Eric Venter of Eric Chem got together (see earlier Reporters).  It was a very high powered meeting which was attended by internationally recognised experts on the use of pesticides and community health, representatives from the chemical manufacturers, the municipality, Capespan, farmers and residents.  During a lengthy, constructive and good humoured open debate (which I chaired) the following points were made: Sprays should not be used if there is another option available. It is unlawful to allow agricultural chemicals and sprays to enter residential premises. There are many regulations governing the spraying of crops. There is heavy infestation of fruit fly in the residential areas of the Riebeek Valley. This affects the surrounding farming areas. Very little information has been given to residents regarding the importance of eliminating fruit fly from their premises. Very little information has been given to residents as to how they should eliminate fruit fly from their premises It was resolved that a smaller group should be formed to carry matters surrounding the spraying of pesticides forward and to try and resolve areas of conflict between farmers and residents.  This smaller group will meet before the end of January once again under my chairmanship.  Discussion will centre round three main issues: The fruit fly problem and how the infestation in the residential areas can be reduced as much as possible. How the drift of sprays across residential areas can be avoided both from aerial and terrestrial spraying. Spraying of verges in town by municipality If you have any points that you wish to raise on the above topic we would be pleased to hear from you.  Please email me on wright@wcaccess.co.za but please note (see below) that I shall be away most of February and the first week of March. Jean's Poetry Piece CREATIVE PAINTING Long ago when the world was young And time was not invented The Lord's paint box of celestial hues - Primary colours red, yellow, blue, Together with a brush or two He presented to all creatures new. "IT'S MY INTENT" the Lord announced As round and round about he bounced, "TO INTRODUCE SOME PIGMENTATION IT'S MY LATEST GREAT CREATION SO HURRY UP AND FORM A QUEUE I'LL BRIGHTEN UP THE LOT OF YOU!" First came the A's and then the Bees And so on down the line, Till there at last the Zebra stood With hopes he'd get a colour good. But the Lord (who'd worked all week) Threw down the box as he did speak "I MUST CREATE SOME TIME TO THINK IT'S HALF PAST SIX - I'M OFF FOR A DRINK." The zebra was most disappointed, As with paint he was un - anointed. He thought he looked most awful shaggy Like something pulled out of a quaggy. He quite liked his crew-cut mane, But thought he looked most awful plain . Sadly, he cried beneath a tree, Till sleep o'er came his misery. As he slept the sun burnt down, Scorching all it touched dark brown, So when he woke with joy he saw That a stripy coat he wore! Letters PPC The report in the December Riebeek Valley reporter about 1000 worker's being brought in from outside is of huge concern for the following reasons: Local people from our two townships must insist on getting this work as there are more than a 1000 young unemployed people who would get employment and the housing they rightly deserve with no disruption to their community lifestyle. If there is no alternative but to import these workers from outside the valley then PPC must take full responsibility, build pre-fabricated housing on their work site and house them for the duration of this project then see to the remove of said workers and dismantle these homes once the project is completed to deter further burdens to an already struggling unemployed township population. Outside worker's will bring disruption to our two villages, unfortunately I saw what happened to Hout Bay, having a security company there for a decade was a shocking eye opener, land was subdivided and made available for township to accommodate 3000 people in 1994 and now this area has a population of 50,000. The crime is unbelievable and at present there are 500 houses on the market with no buyers in sight. If they insist on alien labour rather go the Chinese route at least get people from an ancient civilisation, they work hard, are self sustaining, who knows we may land up with our very own novelty China Town; only a benefit for tourism, property prices would go up not down and businesses flourish. Natalie Becker, Riebeek Kasteel Boules I was very keen to get involved with playing boules on the village square. I have contacted Peter Hall and he told me that he is not going to organize it this year. But boules lovers need not fret! We have have two boules courts where the surface is exactly right and there is lots of shade. People can bring their own drinks and eats and braai there. I will supply the wood and I have got quite a big braai. There will be cool drinks on sale and picnic lunches can be ordered for those people who would not like to bring their own eats and drinks. I have also got lots of seating place (10 tables and 60 chairs). I have also got a boules set per court that people can use and have three extra sets for sale (R150). Our place is also child friendly - with a carrousel horse and small boats on a "watervoor" and table tennis. We are going to play every Sunday from about 11am. Marieta Nel, Shades of Provence, Fontein Street, Riebeek Kasteel Christmas Box Project On Sunday 24 December 2006, a special service was conducted by Dominee Keyser at the church in Esterhof. It was truly a magical experience with children from Riebeek Kasteel and Hermon being in attendance, singing Christmas carols and hymns plus acting out a nativity play for us! The church looked wonderfully decorative with a Christmas tree and decorations and as you can well imagine, the atmosphere was one of much anticipation, appreciation and festive jubilation! We all felt so blessed by our warm greeting and especially by your generosity as we were able to hand out a whopping 365 gifts! Oom Will arranged a Father Christmas suit which Donovan wore whilst handing out gifts together with Nicki, Yvette and Daniel (aged 6). We were thanked on behalf of the Hermon and Riebeek Kasteel community and one of the highlights was the kids waiting outside to give us hugs and say thanks! Thanks to all of you for allowing this Christmas Box Project to touch so many children's lives. Thank you a million times over for your generosity and care! Having only started this project a month in advance, we were so impressed with what we had to offer these children. Next year this project will be started earlier and we will be calling on local and Cape Town businesses to support this initiative. We are hoping that next year we can double the amount of gifts to give out, which will allow the children in Riebeek Kasteel, Hermon and Riebeek West to each receive something special from Father Christmas. Thank you once again and best wishes for a truly spectacular 2007. Nicki & Donovan Wray, Peter & Karen Hall, Riebeek Kasteel NEXT REPORTER THERE WILL NO REPORTER IN FEBRUARY SINCE THE ENTIRE STAFF IS GOING TO ENGLAND. KEEP THE EMAILS ROLLING IN HOWEVER, AND YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A BUMPER EDITION IN MARCH. Chris Wright © 1997-2007 CapeInfo  All rights reserved. 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