By Trevor Watkins, Chairman Jeffreys Bay Residents Association

Thursday, 11 August 2011

Friday, 5 August 2011

Sunday, 17 July 2011

Wednesday, 6 July 2011

Sunday, 19 June 2011

Tuesday, 5 April 2011

Nuusbrief 2 van 2011 / Newsletter 2 of 2011

Crimespotter facility

Christian Civic Responsibility

Ja, Well, No, Fine the authorities

JBRA General Meeting Progress Report - 15th June 2011

Comments on Kouga 2011/12 Draft Budget

Comments on Kouga 2011/12 Draft Budget

Showing posts with label JBRA. Show all posts

Crimespotter is a facility within the www.Mobilitate.co.za website for monitoring and managing incidents of crime within a specified area. A Crimespotter CPF has been setup for the J Bay area, and a few recent crimes have been posted.

Crimespotter is basically a replacement for the Gotcha crime reporting website that Trevor Watkins has maintained for the last 6 months. Residents can register on Mobilitate and report any crimes or suspicious activity in our area.

The article below is from the Crimespotter development team.

Once again I would like to welcome you to the CrimeSpotter community, and take this opportunity to give you an update as to how things are progressing. Over the past few months our development team has been working hard to further tailor our system to better fit your specific needs. This has proved successful and we are growing on a daily basis. Before reading any further please keep in mind that CrimeSpotter is a Social Community Initiative birthed in the spirit of the ‘Lead SA Campaign’, and thus, all services and functionalities offered by us are 100% free of charge and always will be.

A few of our popular functionalities that you may already know about are as follows:

· Free SMS crime alerts can be sent across all members that are registered with your CPF/Network on our system. (This can only be done by the CPF/Network creator and those approved as managers)

· Suspicious vehicle registry which is cross searchable across all CPFs/Networks that have been created on our system. (Suspicious vehicles can only be logged by CPF creators and approved managers – for security and info verification reasons)

· Map based crime reporting accurate to specific streets and crossings, to easily identify hot spots in your area. (Using a map system similar to that of Google Maps)

· The events calendar functionality which automatically sends a notification to all your registered members via email. (Great for notifications of CPF meetings, fund raisers and general reminders)

· A customizable patrol schedule which will automatically send a reminder to your patrollers regarding their shift, 24 hours before hand via email, and 20 minutes before the start of their shift via SMS. (Patrol schedules can only be viewed by approved managers and patrollers)

To further assist you in communicating with your members you can now:

· Send a bulk email across all members registered with your CPF/Network

· Message any person who has requested to join your CPF/Network on CrimeSpotter. (This will enable you to further verify and validate the person’s credentials)

Struggling to get your members on board? We can now offer you the option to bulk register your existing members, helping you to streamline your operation. Use us as a platform to structure your CPF/Network or as an effective supplement. I would also like to encourage you to log any suspicious vehicles in your area, and use the discussion forum on the CrimeSpotter home page to report any criminal activity or patterns you have identified. Knowledge is power and this information needs to be shared across all CPF’s/Networks. Crime has seized our communities, and communication is the key to us reclaiming our safety and security.

If I could be of any assistance to you, or if you have other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Together we can forge a better South Africa

This is the text of a sermon given by Dave Webster at the Jeffreys Bay Bible Church on Sunday 10th July 2011.

Text: 1 Peter 2: 11-17

Intro: In the last two weeks of June I was involved in 4 meetings, meetings which have left me challenged and determined to do something.

The first meeting, on the 15^th June was the J/Bay Residents/Ratepayers Assoc. meeting – Trevor Watkins (the chairman) and others informed us (approx 80 people) of the sad condition of our town and Municipality and they then went on to ask us “what are we doing about it, besides complaining?”

The next day I phoned Trevor and thanked him for his informative and challenging address. We arranged to get together and have coffee, which we did on the 20^th June and I learned more about our Municipality – and again left challenged to the core.

The third meeting, 22^nd June in Humansdorp, was as a result of a public invite to listen to and interact with the Mayor and the ANC councilors, who make up the Mayoral Committee – these are the seven people who run the Kouga district – this invite to the public was made 24 hours before the meeting – and there were no more than 30 of us from the entire Kouga area. After the late arrival of the Mayor, on the day, and the “ear tickling”, promise politicking of some of the Councilors, and taking the opportunity of saying something myself, I/we all left disillusioned.

The fourth meeting on the 30^th June, an invite from the Chairman of the JBay Res Assoc, a meeting at which 6 of us were asked to be part of a new group called “The JBay Res/Rate Payers Legal Watchdog.” The function of this “Watchdog” group is to fact find (which means reading the 5 Municipal Acts some 336 pages) and then see where the law is being broken; address one on one with the Mayor and or Councilor; then use public media; and finally take legal action, if necessary.

Now beloved, I was/am left in limbo – this is not my thing, my calling, my passion, not even my real interest. What do I do? What would you do or more correctly ‘What should we all be doing?”

Topic: The Christian and Civic Duty/Responsibility

Let me start with sharing a few Random thoughts/questions: (Think and respond with a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ or ‘I don’t Know’)

· Since, as Christians, we’re “in the world but not of the world” are we therefore to be pacifists, to sit back and do nothing (involving "the world") until the Lord Jesus returns? After all, mankind messes it up and Jesus returns to fix it up.

· Are we to be “so heavenly minded that we’re of no earthly good?”

· Are we to allow and say and do nothing about injustice, crime, the murder of unborn babies, unbiblical sexual/marital unions, corruption etc etc? If you say “No, we must do something” then let me ask “What/How?”

· What about paying rates and taxes, from our hard earned God-enabled money, money we know is being mismanaged, used for personal gain by corrupt means, etc. Where does responsible and good stewardship come into the equation? Or are we to knowingly dish it out and say, “They’ll give account, not me”

· What about taking/holding office in public/political parties? What about Kenneth Meshoe and the ACDP? What do say about Joseph in the OT, he ran the economy of Egypt for Pharaoh. What about Daniel who was made ruler and chief administrator over all of Babylon, second only to Nebuchadnezzar. What about you/anyone of us?

· Does the view of separation between State and the Church mean that neither one, in any way, is to get involved with the other? Therefore:

· Was the RCC and to a degree the Protestant Church biblically correct in not getting politically involved, or even speaking out, against anti-Semitism, Hitler murdering 6 million Jews?

· Just how far are we to get involved? Is voting for political parties every few years and individuals OK, but no further?

· Where do we draw the line/lines with community/party politics/social, civic responsibility?

NB. I think we’re beginning to pick up how either naive or deceived, or possibly even brainwashed, many of us really were and/or still are. No offence!

A few profound quotes from the Enlightened:

· "Evangelicals will inevitably disagree about policy, but we realize that we have many callings and commitments in common: commitments to the protection and well-being of families and children, of the poor, the sick, the disabled, and the unborn, of the persecuted and oppressed, and of the rest of the created order." (If you want a few Scripts that teach the truth of this quote, then start at Gen 1:26 which declares man's God-given dominion over all creation; go through to the Lord's prayer “Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven”, and through the rest of the Bible!)

· "As Christian citizens, we believe it is our calling to help government live up to its divine mandate to render justice." As we consider this profound quote, let's look at the last question of the many referred to earlier (“Where do we draw the line/lines with community/party politics/social, civic responsibility?”).

The answer? Understand we live in a Democracy, which basically means “the rule of/by/for the people” – that’s every one us who make up the RSA. We have the second best form of rule in the world, the best being a Theocracy “the rule of God” that’s when the Lord Jesus returns. We’re not under Communism or a Dictatorship, but a Democratically governed country. Therefore the people appoint national and local authorities and ensure that they “live up to the divine mandate” – and if they don’t then using our “Constitutional democratic right” we respectfully counsel them, then if needs be admonish them, and then if necessary legally remove them. And it’s with this understanding we apply (Rom 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2: 11-17).

SPEECH BY F W DE KLERK TO A LADIES CLUB: MOUNT NELSON HOTEL, CAPE TOWN, 1 JUNE 2011

"The fulcrum on which South Africa’s future will pivot is our Constitution. It is a carefully balanced document that represents an historic compromise between all the significant sectors of our society. It makes provision for a fully democratic society; it is based on the rule of law; it protects the fundamental rights of all our citizens; it entrenches our language and cultural rights; it envisages a society based on equality and human dignity. It is a transformative document that rightly rejects the status quo. If we can maintain this excellent Constitution I am confident that our future will be secure."

The final profound quote, in the light of all that’s been said so far, is this:

· “Beloved if we don’t who will? And if not now, then when?” And the passage that immediately comes to mind is the one our pastor preached from a couple of weeks ago Mtt 5: 13-16 (read). We are "the salt and the light ... the world needs to see our good works and come and glorify our Father in heaven!"

In our remaining minutes please turn with me to 1 Peter 2:11-17 (read again).

The last verse (v17) lays out four commands for Christians who daily face the tension of living in this world whilst citizens of another, it says we're "pilgrims" (v11).

As “bond servants of God” v16, here are the Apostle's commands:

1 ) "Honor all men." Treat all men alike, for all have been made in the image of God. Let’s stop stereo-typing those different from us- be it colour/language/political persuasion! (Testimony: Pam & I - SASSA South African Social Security Agency). In the words of C. S. Lewis. "We are all kings and queens under wraps." Our language/colour/where we live, doesn't show who God sees us to be. All equally in need physically, emotionally, and most important spiritually!

2) "Love the brotherhood." Love each other, all of God's people (the redeemed), with "agape" love (a sacrificial love!), and keep on doing that to all, not just people who are like us and in agreement with us, but all! – the good, the bad, and the ugly.

3) "Fear God." Which means being filled with awe, in light of the fact that all authority is from God, given to--kings and Presidents, and Mayoral committees, etc.--therefore as His "bond servants" we will/we must be busy fulfilling our resposibilities doing good works, “Faith without works is a dead faith” (James 2: 14-26); and “whatever you do do it all to the glory of God.” Why? Because we know He is in Sovereign control!

4) "Honour the king." Know that all of our leaders have been placed in leadership by God – understand God’s perfect will, which is a Theocracy and understand His permissive will, in which/through which He is ultimately fulfilling His sovereign plan, even using dictatorships or corrupt democracies. Although voting and involvement may seem like a waste of time, it's our privilege and right and responsibility to partake in a Democratic society, knowing that ultimately God is going to set up His Theocracy.

Although the king may be a tyrant or the democracy be corrupt, God has appointed them as His servant for a reason/season. We must rest in that. Right through the OT God raises Nations and Kings to deal with His people Israel. For us, the redeemed, the best is yet to come!

Close with a Challenge:

We, as enlightened “born again” Christians, "servants of God" are surrounded by opportunities for "good works" to fulfill our civic responsibilities – the Ratepayers/Residents Association; Neighborhood Watches; the Community/Police Forum; the Joshua Project; the Business Training ministry headed by Willie and Leon; the Kouga Business Forum, and many other opportunities, whatever they may be. Let us pray that we will have eyes to see them, hands that will want to participate in them, and feet that will be willing to walk in them.

In this way, Christians can reflect the life of Christ to a fallen world until He comes again! "Even so Lord, come quickly!"

Now if you're here this morning and not yet a "born again" Bible believing person, having acknowledged your sinfulness and need of forgiveness, then I must lovingly warn you that no matter how much good you do/how involved you are with whatever social good it is, without Christ as your Saviour and Lord -- all the good you do will not gain you entrance into Heaven. Today is the day of salvation, acknowledge you're a sinner, having broken the Law/s of God, ask forgiveness and by faith receive Christ into your live. Amen.

When the authorities wish to discipline their citizens for some action or omission, they usually start by issuing a fine. This is meant to remind you that you have done wrong, that you are being punished, and that if you do wrong again, you will be punished again. Given the enthusiasm with which the authorities fine their citizens for every imaginable type of transgression, this system works well for them.

If you forget to brake going down the hill into Humansdorp you might get a R500 fine. If you forget your ID book and drivers license when you pop out for a loaf of bread, that could cost you R200. If your dog makes a tiny little mess on the beach, that could cost you R300. As I am sure we have all heard the official smugly informing us, “I’m just doing my job. I don’t care what your excuses are. Sign here to acknowledge your guilt please.”

If your brake light on your car has burnt out and you get stopped, then you will get a big fine. If you go out in the same car tomorrow and get stopped again, you will get another big fine. Every citizen is subject to a possible fine every day. The authorities make an absolute fortune out of our inability to keep up with every little rule and regulation that we are supposed to know. It is just another tax upon the already over-taxed citizens.

So, why can’t we, as residents, fine the authorities when they mess up? When their incompetence turns our roads into deathtraps, when they fail to produce the correct documentation at the correct time, when they allow tons of sewage to spill onto our beaches, why can we not just “Do our jobs” and fine them for every transgression? If I see a large pothole on a municipal road, why don’t I issue a fine against the municipality for every day that the pothole remains unfixed? If I see raw sewage in a pool on the beach because the municipality did not maintain its pumps adequately, why do I not issue the municipality with a huge fine for every day that the sewage remains? And since this problem affects every citizen who wanders down to the beach, why not let every citizen issue a fine to the municipality? After all, they have no problem issuing a fine to every citizen whose dog wanders onto the beach.

Of course, if we held the authorities to the same standards as they hold us, they would quickly go bankrupt due to their incompetence. Its okay for them to hold a business to a high standard of hygiene, for example, but don’t expect themselves to be held to the same standard. It would be a bureaucratic nightmare, they say. It could never work. Actually, its really quite simple. The municipality does not need to pay out any cash to its citizens, and it does not even need to keep a record of fines issued against it. We will keep a public record of fines against the municipality, and the amount of the fines will be deducted from any fines owed TO the municipality by citizens and residents. In other words, any traffic fine or municipal fine against you can be set off against any fine you have levied against the municipality. Good plan? Sure. Would the authorities agree to it? Never – its not in their interests. We are the sheep to be shaved, not them.

At least we can do one side of this arrangement. The Jeffreys Bay Residents Association has setup a page on their website at https://sites.google.com/a/jbayra.com/jbayra/opinions-menings/municipal-fines

Where anyone can add an incident to the database and assess a fine against the municipality. You can also view all the fines assessed by other residents so far.

Make your anger and indignation at the shabby way you are treated by the authorities heard. Fine them, again and again, for every act and omission they are responsible for.

When I became chairman of JBRA in February 2011, I set 3 major objectives. These were

To improve the membership of the residents association
To increase our interaction with and impact on the Kouga Municipality
If time permits, to improve our relationship with other residents associations and FEKRRA

Residents Association

We now have 940 names in our database, close to our target of 1000 by July. Of this 940, 270 have signed up as non-voting members for free, and 120 as voting members for R40 each, a total of just on 400 registered members. We have sent out 3 membership emails, run 2 recruitment mornings at Equinox Mall and Spar, and signed up numerous friends and relatives. Nevertheless, fewer than one in 20 J Bay residents has joined the association, even though they can do so for free. There is simply no point in having a residents association if the residents don’t join it or support it.

Membership forms can be obtained from the BP garage, and the J Bay library, or the website. You can apply for membership online, or completed forms can be handed in at the library, posted, emailed or faxed.

Since February we have setup a big website at www.jbayra.com. Amongst many other things, you can view the latest association news, see a list of all the issues under discussion with the council, get the contact details of every newly elected councillor in Kouga, and use an interactive map of J Bay to find any street address. So far we have had about 330 unique visitors to the website.

Activity on our blog has been quiet, with about 760 pageviews since February. Only 11 people have subscribed to receive updates, and almost no one has added an article or a comment. Please, please – talk to us, even if just to complain. Otherwise it feels as though we are shouting down an empty hole.

We have had many articles and references published in the local press, almost every week. Our secretary maintains a very impressive cuttings file, which you are welcome to inspect.

Committee membership has been quite dynamic, with a number of members finding the workload too challenging. In some cases, the committee members could not find the workload at all. We have now stabilised at 5 hardworking members, to whom my most grateful thanks. If you are interested in joining the committee, if you are connected to the internet, and if you have the time and energy to spare, please contact us soon.

Kouga Municipality

A recent Business Day article by Rene Voolgraff rated KM as the second worst municipality in the country. This is shocking but not surprising. Our local municipality is plagued with financial irregularities, excessive salary bills, severe cash flow problems, and a failing infrastructure. In the recent past we have had the damning Auditor General report, the suspension of the CFO, major cash flow problems with Eskom payments, and the closure of Dolphin Beach for a week. Our local economy is collapsing, shops are closing, unemployment is growing. We already have an unofficial rates boycott, with only 46% or rates and services being paid. These are serious times, requiring serious solutions.

The JBRA has had 3 meetings with the KM staff. These meetings are taken seriously by the MM, heads of departments have attended regularly, strict minutes are kept. Nevertheless, many commitments to provide information and reports, to attend meetings, to respond to complaints are just simply not honoured. Just this week 2 meetings with senior council staff, Eksteen de Lange and Elvis Olivier, were simply ignored – no apology, no warning, no show. The MM refused to attend this meeting or send representatives. No meeting of the crucial Finance Oversight Committee has been held since March. We have received no response to our enquiries concerning membership of the Audit Committee. Unless the KM response improves soon, the relationship between the residents association and the council will be in danger of failing.

There have been some small successes. The problems at the J Bay caravan park are receiving attention. The Newton Hall has been approved for use by sports codes. Construction of a new sewerage plant has been approved. Overall, if this were a school exam, I would give the KM a mark of 39 out of a 100 – failing but trying, can definitely do better. The biggest problems remain financial which my colleague Dr Gustav Barnard will address shortly.

Some problems which have a big impact on the appearance of our town are actually quite simple to solve. The appearance of our beaches, the cleanliness of our streets, the state of street names, these don’t take rocket science to get right. Any motivated supervisor with a few workers would have these problems licked in a week. The fact that the council can’t get something this simple sorted out is simply tragic.

How do we address these issues? One idea is to get residents more involved in some municipal activities which directly affect them, through what we are calling Resident Projects. A group of residents get together to accomplish one specific task. It may be keeping the local beach tidy. It may be refurbishing the street signs in Central J Bay. Like a blockwatch, the tasks are divided up amongst the group, workers and funds are allocated, and the job is done. With luck the council will support this idea, allocate some funds, and not put meaningless obstacles in the way. But even if we have to do do it alone, as concerned and active residents, it is better than just watching our town fade away for lack of a little attention. If you approve of this idea, if you are willing to get involved in even a small way, please write your name and contact number on one of the Resident Project posters around the hall.

Gustav will talk about the particularly important Legal Watchdog Resident Project we hope to start as soon as possible.

FEKRRA and other residents associations

The Federation of Kouga Residents and Ratepayers Associations has been very quiet this year due to the ill health of its chairman and driving force, Joe Oosthuizen. We have representatives of both the St Francis Ratepayers association and the Paradise Beach Ratepayers Association with us here today. Hopefully we can get together after this meeting and plot a way forward for FEKRRA.

That is an overview of the past 3 months or so of the JBRA. Dr Gustav Barnard will now talk on some of the financial aspects of the KM, and our ideas for a legal watchdog group.

After Gustav, Dries Du Preez of Fountains Estate will bring us up to date on circumstances surrounding the new low cost housing development planned for Ocean View.

The following comments on the Kouga Municipality draft budget refer to the page numbers in the draft budget, and should be read together with that document.

PO Box 1101 Jeffreys Bay
6330 South Africa

Posbus 1101 Jeffreysbaai
6330 Suid Afrika

(:      042 293 1405
Ê:    0866 532 363
È:      083 44 11 721

š: info@jbayra.com
ü: www.jbayra.com
Bank: ABSA 1940 420 527

Jeffreys Bay Residents Association / Jeffreysbaai Inwonersvereniging

Newsletter 2 of 2011
6 August 2011

This newsletter provides an update to members on the activities of their residents association since our last newsletter in May.

The membership of the organisation continues to show healthy growth.  We now have:

152 voting members

315 non-voting members

6 business members, and

532 prospects (details in database, but no membership form signed)

This is a total of 1,005 individuals known to the JBRA, approximately one tenth of the total population of our area.
Two very successful recruitment mornings were held in local shopping centres in May. The committee is about to launch a post office box recruitment campaign. If you are already a member, please pass the membership form in your postbox to a friend or neighbour.
We are negotiating with several closed residential estates in J Bay to do a bulk registration of all their members. This saves individual estate residents the hassle of completing and delivering registration forms, and will also allow the residents of the estate to speak with one voice at JBRA meetings. Please contact the JBRA if you would like to do the same for your estate.

Membership of the committee has fluctuated, with several members leaving and being replaced by new members. Details of the current committee members are on the website.

Our 2nd quarter General Meeting was held on 15th June at the Newton Hall. Approximately 70 people attended this lively meeting. The address by Dries du Preez of Fountains Estate on the new low cost housing developments near Aston Bay resulted in considerable discussion. This project has been put on hold while a new Record of Decision is agreed upon by the various parties.

Numerous articles by the JBRA committee have appeared in the Our Times, generally once every 2 weeks. These articles are also posted on our blog, where members are welcome to add their own comments.
The website at www.jbayra.com remains our primary means of communication with residents. News items are regularly posted on the  News page. Residents are strongly urged to inspect these items from time to time, as they refer to documents or events with a direct impact on Jeffreys Bay, such as new Windfarm developments. Contact numbers under the Info tab contains the latest contact details for all the new councillors, as well as key municipal officials. The Calendar gets updated each month with upcoming municipal events and meetings. The interactive Jeffreys Bay map can be searched by street name, making it easy to find any address in J Bay (or the world, for that matter). An updated contact list for all the civic groups, churches and charities in J Bay appears under the JAG tab.

The JBRA committee has met with the senior officials of the Kouga Municipality (KM) on 4 occasions. Detailed minutes of these meetings are kept and can be viewed on the website. Many issues are raised with the KM officials, but the responses can only be described as poor. Committments are seldom kept, meetings are missed without apology, and some issues are simply ducked. While we have had some successes, much remains to be done.
A useful meeting with the new mayor, councillor Booi Koerat was held in late July. The mayor appears determined to root out incompetence and corruption within the council, and to bring good governance to our district. We will support him wholeheartedly in this endeavour, but we will also demand results in a reasonable timeframe.

Following a meeting with 2 concerned JBRA members, the committee facilitated the first meeting of the "Legal Watchdog Project". The aim of this project is to ensure that the actions taken by the KM comply with the legal requirements of the various municipal acts. For example, certain committees such as the Financial Oversight Committee are obliged to meet at least once per month, and to issue written reports. If these legal requirements are not met, the Legal Watchdog Project will raise this with the KM, the JBRA, the council, and the Province. Anyone interested in assisting with this project can contact Dr Gustav Barnard at 042 293 4224.

The infrastructure in Jeffreys Bay is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Following the recent heavy rains, potholes are everywhere, sewerage overflows are common, bridges are collapsing. The cash-strapped KM is not coping well with these problems, as we are all aware. However, to address these many problems, we must first identify and list them, then allocate responsibility for them, then record when they are actually fixed. This could be a huge task. Past committees have felt this was  beyond the scope of a voluntary residents association.
Fortunately some very kind people in Gauteng have developed a remarkable website called www.Mobilitate.co.za, which addresses just these problems, and have made it freely available to all South African towns and districts. The JBRA is using this website to log all the small and large infrastructure issues around our town. Any JBRA member is welcome to register on the website, view existing issues logged on the interactive map, and log their own new issues (including photos).
Each time an issue is logged it is automatically referred to the appropriate councillor by email. The councillor is then expected to follow up on these issues until they are resolved, then mark them as fixed on the website. The councillors performance can be monitored, issues can be escalated, outstanding issue lists can be printed, emails can be sent, all from the Mobilitate website.

The JBRA committee has been trying to arrange a meeting with the Jeffreys Bay Councillors to discuss this and other issues since the election, so far without success. As we all have the welfare of Jeffreys Bay at heart, we expect to have these necessary discussions soon.

Crimespotter is another brilliant feature on the Mobilitate website. Like the www.Gotcha.org.za site (which will be phased out in favour of Crimespotter), you can log crime incidents in J Bay as they occur on an interactive map, allowing crime patterns and realistic crime stats to be extracted.
You can also log crime Alerts for crimes or incidents in progress. Mobilitate will then send an SMS to everyone registered for alerts, for free. This is ideal for alerting Blockwatch members and interested residents to any developing situation very rapidly. It could also be a key component of an effective disaster mangement system. Crimespotter also includes a blockwatch management and scheduling system, amongst other facilities.
The system has been demonstrated to the head of the J Bay Blockwatch, who is very enthusiastic about using it.

Anyone can register on Crimespotter at http://gotcha.crimespotter.co.za/, log issues, log crimes and receive alerts. To control rogue registrations by email spam sources, new registrations must enter a "Captcha" code (random characters readable by a human but not by a computer), and your email address must be confirmed, by replying to a confirmation email. If you have any difficulty with the registration process, call Mobilitate direct at 012 809 3231 or Trevor Watkins on 042 293 1405 for assistance.

One of the biggest challenges the JBRA faces is effective communication with the residents of J Bay. Residents seem to be extraordinarily reluctant to make their voices heard, on our blog, on our website, on Mobilitate, in emails, even in letters to the JBRA. It may be fear of publicity, or fear of technology, or fear of the authorities, or simply fear of the effort involved. The JBRA does not wish to be a one way megaphone, shouting information at the residents but rarely hearing anything in reply.
To make it really easy for a 2 way conversation to occur, we have setup an email Googlegroup for the residents association. Once registered on the Googlegroup you can communicate with everyone else in the group simply by sending one email to one address(jag1@googlegroups.com). You will also receive an email every time anyone else communicates with the group. You can leave the group anytime you want, by selecting an option included in every email received, or you can change how often emails from the group are received (1 summary per day, 1 summary per week).
Googlegroups is an ideal way to conduct an email dialogue between people sharing a common interest. Everyone can have their say, issues can be debated, past discussions can be reviewed, consensus can be developed. The JBRA will also use the googlegroup to post any important information received, such as Council notices, meetings, etc.
To join our JBRA Googlegroup, visit http://groups.google.com/group/jag1 or send an email to info@jbayra.com.

Every municipal ward is required by law to appoint a ward committee of 10 residents, reporting to the ward councillor. This ward committee is required to meet regularly (at least once per month), to discover issues and problems within the ward, to report these to the ward committee, and to follow up on their resolution. The ward councillor must then raise the issues identified by the ward committee at the council meetings. A small stipend may be paid to ward committee members to cover any expenses.
Ward committees are generally elected at a public meeting in the ward, shortly after the municipal elections. Kouga ward committees will be selected in the very near future (dates are not yet available). Please consider whether you would like to stand for a ward committee, and who you would like to elect as members of your local committee. You can communicate with your local councillor, with the KM, or you can send an email to info@jbayra.com.

The JBRA is a completely independent organisation, responsible only to the residents of Jeffreys Bay. Our boundaries extend from Woltemade Street in the south to Kabeljous in the north and the R102 in the east. Other areas in Kouga have their own ratepayers and residents associations, such as Paradise Beach and St Francis. All these residents associations share many common problems, such as dealing with the KM, rates assessments, crime, and so on. To avoid constantly re-inventing the wheel and to make best use of scarce manpower and resources, an umbrella body for residents associations in Kouga was formed, known as FEKRRA (FEderation of Kouga Ratepayers and Residents Associations). FEKRRA has been very active in tackling issues of mismanagement and corruption in the past, under the chairmanship of the late Joe Oosthuizen. Following Joe's untimely death, a new FEKRRA committee has recently been elected, with Louis Geldenhuys of Oyster Bay as chairman and Trevor watkins of JBRA as vicechairman. You can find out more at www.fekrra.org.

Jeffreys Bay is a unique, beautiful town. It is our town. It can become a thriving tourist attraction, or it can become yet another failed South African municipality. The future depends on us, the residents of J Bay. What are you doing to secure the future of your town?

Nuusbrief 2 van 2011
6 Augustus 2011

Hierdie nuusbrief dek die aktiwiteite van u Inwonersvereniging sedert die vorige brief van Mei.

Ons ledetal styg steeds teen 'n gesonde tempo, soos hieronder getoon. Ons het:
152 stemgeregtigde lede
315 lede sonder stemreg
6 besigheidslede, en
532 potensiële lede indat hulle op ons databasis is maar nie 'n lidmaatskaps-vorm voltooi het nie.
Die groottotaal is 1,005 persone wat op een of ander wyse met ons geassosieer is, dus een tiende van die totale inwonerstal in ons area.
Twee baie suksesvolle werwingsaksies is in plaaslike winkelsenta gehou in Mei.
Die komitee gaan 'n posbus werwingsaksie loots. Indien u alreeds 'n lid is, gee dan u eie posbus vorm aan 'n vriend of buurman.
Ons onderhandel ook met verskeie geslote gemeenskappe in Jeffreysbaai met die doel om met 'n massa registrasie al hul lede by ons te betrek. Dit sal al die rompslomp van voltooiing en terugbesorging van vorms uitsluit. Die inwoners van die gemeenskappe kan dan met een stem praat by JBIV vergaderings. Indien u in so 'n gemeenskap bly, kontak ons asb. sodat ons u ook kan betrek.

Lidmaatskap van u komitee het geskommel, met verskeie lede wat bedank het en met ander vervang is. Die details van die lede van die huidige komitee is op ons webwerf.

Ons tweede kwartaalikse Algemene Vergadering is op 15 Junie in die Newton Saal gehou. Daar was ongeveer 70 mense teenwoordig by hierdie vergadering. Dries du Preez van Fountains Estate het die vergadering toegespreek oor die nuwe lae-koste behuisingsontwikkelings naby Astonbaai. 'n Lewendige reaksie was die gevolg. Die projek is tydelik opgeskort hangende 'n nuwe ooreenkoms wat bereik moet word deur die verskeie partye.

'n Groot verskeidenheid artikels deur die JBIV se komitee het in die Our Times verskyn, normaalweg een elke twee weke. Die artikels is oop nou op ons blog, en lede is welkom om hul eie kommentaar daaroor op die blog te plaas.
Die webwerf, www.jbayra.com is steeds ons primêre vorm van kommunikasie met inwoners. Nuusartikels word gereeld geplaas op die Nuus gedeelte. Inwoners word aangeraai om gereeld hierdie nuus te lees en sodoende op hoogte te bly aangesien dit verwys na dokumente of gebeurtenisse wat direk vir Jeffreysbaai raak. Dit sluit projekte soos die voorgestelde Windplaas in. Kontaknommers onder die Inligtingsknoppie bevat die nuutste kontakdetails van al die nuwe raadslede, sowel as sleutel beamptes in die Munisipaliteit. Die Kalender word elke maand opgedateer met gebeure en vergaderings in die Munispaliteit. Die interaktiewe Jeffreysbaai kaart sal u details gee van straatadresse hier te lande sowel as in die res van die land en die wêreld. Onder JAG verskyn kontakdetails van al die plaaslike groepe, kerke en liefdadigheidsverenigings.

Die JBIV komitee het op vier geleenthede met senior beamptes van die Kouga Munisipaliteit vergader. Notules van die vergaderings word gehou en is ter insae op die webwerf. Vele knelpunte word op die vergaderings oorgedra aan die beamptes, met weinige reaksie. Afsprake wat gemaak word word slegs by wyse van uitsondering nagekom, met die ander wat sonder kennisgewing of verskoning vermy word. Dit behels normaalweg vergaderings wat netelige, en dus belangrike, onderwerpe moet hanteer. Ten spyte van enkele positiewe resultate, is daar nog veel te vermag. 'n Goeie vergadering wat gehou is met die nuwe burgemeester, raadslid Booi Koerat, het plaasgevind teen die einde van Julie. Die burgemeester skyn erns te hê met die uitroei van onbeholpendheid en korrupsie in die raad, en wil blykbaar goeie bestuur in ons buurt vestig. Hiermee wil ons hom heelhartig ondersteun. Ons eis egter ook dat dit moet plaasvind binne 'n redelike tyd.

Na aanleiding van 'n vergadering met 2 lede van die betrokke JBRA, het die komitee die eerste vergadering van die "Legal Watchdog Project" gefasiliteer. Die doel van hierdie projek is om te verseker dat die stappe wat geneem word deur die KM in ooreenstemming is met die wetlike vereistes van die verskillende munisipale wette. As voorbeeld kan genoem word dat sekere komitees soos die Finansiële Oorsigkomitee verplig is om ten minste een keer per maand te ontmoet, en skriftelike verslae uit te reik. As hierdie wetlike vereistes nie nagekom word nie, sal die Legal Watchdog Project hierdie inligting saamvat en voorlê aan die KM, die JBRA, die raad van die muninsipaliteit, en die provinsie. Enigeen wat belangstel om te help met hierdie projek kan dr Gustav Barnard by 042 293 4224 kontak.

Die infrastruktuur in Jeffreysbaai verswak teen 'n onrusbarende tempo. As gevolg van die onlangse swaar reën, het slaggate oral ontstaan, riool oorstromings is algemeen, en brûe stort in duie.Die bankrot KM is nie in staat om die mas op te kom nie, soos ons almal weet. Om hierdie vele probleme aan te spreek, moet ons hulle eers identifiseer en op 'n lys plaas. Die verantwoordelikheid daarvoor moet toegedeel word en dan moet vasgestel word of en wanneer hulle werklik reggestel is. Dit kan 'n reuse taak wees. In die verlede het komitees soos ons gevoel dit buite die bestek was van 'n vrywillige inwoners-vereniging.
Gelukkig het 'n paar besondere mense in Gauteng 'n merkwaardige webwerf ontwerp wat hierdie taak verrig. Die webwerf se naam is www.Mobilitate.co.za, wat net vir hierdie tipe probleme ontwikkel is. Die program is vrylik beskikbaar is vir alle Suid-Afrikaanse dorpe en distrikte. Die JBRA gebruik hierdie webwerf om al die klein en groot infrastruktuur kwessies rondom ons dorp aan te meld. Enige JBRA lid is welkom om te registreer op die webwerf, om bestaande probleme wat aangemeld is op te soek op die aanlyn kaart, en om hul eie probleme aan te meld, wat fotos kan insluit.
Elke keer as 'n saak is aangemeld is word dit outomaties verwys per e-pos na die betrokke raadslid. Van die raadslid word dan verwag om oor hierdie sake op te volg totdat hulle opgelos word, en dit dan af te merk op die webwerf as synde afgehandel. Die raadslede se optredes kan dan gemeet word, uitstaande probleme kan gelys word, en e-posse vanaf die Mobilitate webwerf webwerf gestuur word.
Die JBIV komitee het by verskeie geleenthede gepoog om 'n vergadering te reel met die Jeffreysbaai raadslede, sonder enige sukses. Ons verwag van hulle om, siende ons hopelik beide die welsyn van Jeffreysbaai op die hart dra, om wel die nodige besprekings en samewerking te vermag.

Crimespotter is nog 'n briljante funksie op die Mobilitate webwerf. Ons www.Gotcha.org.za word uitgefaseer ten gunste van Crimespotter. Hier kan jy misdaadvoorvalle in Jeffreysbaai op 'n interaktiewe kaart aanmeld sodat die misdaad tendense en geloofwaardige misdaad statistieke beskikbaar raak.
Jy kan ook op Alerts misdaad of pogings daartoe aanmeld. Mobilitate sal dan gratis waarskuwings SMS aan almal wat geregistreer is daarvoor. Dit is ideaal vir die vinnige inlig van Blockwatch lede en belangstellende inwoners. Dit kan ook 'n belangrike komponent vorm van 'n effektiewe rampbestuur stelsel. Die Crimespotter program behels ook 'n blockwatch bestuur en skedulering stelsel. geriewe.
Die stelsel is gedemonstreer aan die hoof van die J-Bay Blockwatch, wat is baie entoesiasties oor die gebruik daarvan.

Enigeen kan op Crimespotter registreer by
http://gotcha.crimespotter.co.za/, probleme en misdaad aanmeld, en kennisgewings ontvang. Om vals of spam registrasies per e-pos te voorkom, moet nuwe registrasies 'n "Captcha" kode (lukraak karakters wat 'n mens maar nie 'n rekenaar kan lees) gebruik, en jou e-pos adres moet bevestig word. Besonderhede op die webwerf. As jy enige probleme het met die registrasie proses, skakel Mobilitate direk by 012 809 3231 of Trevor Watkins by 042 293 1405 om hulp.

Effektiewe kommunikasie met die inwoners van Jeffreysbaai is een van die grootste uitdagings wat die JBIV in die gesig staar. Inwoners skyn uiters traag te wees om te hul stemme te laat hoor op ons blog, webwerf, op Mobilitate, in e-posse, en selfs in briewe aan die JBIV. Dit kan wees vrees van publisiteit, die tegnologie, die owerhede, of eenvoudig net die vrees van die poging om betrokke te wees. Die JBIV wil in tweegesprekke tree met sy lede.
Daarom het ons 'n groep op Googlegroup vir die inwoners vereniging geregistreer. Sodra jy geregistreer is op die Googlegroup kan jy met almal in die groep kommunikeer deur bloot 'n e-pos aan jag1@googlegroups.com te stuur. Jy sal ook 'n e-pos ontvang elke keer as iemand anders kommunikeer met die groep. Daar is verdere moontlikhede, inligting op die webwerf.
Googlegroups is 'n ideale manier om 'n e-pos dialoog tussen mense met 'n gemeenskaplike belang te voer. Enigeen kan hulle sê sê, dinge bespreek, vroeëre besprekings hersien en konsensus bereik. JBRA sal ook googlegroup gebruik om enige belangrike inligting soos Raadskennisgewings, vergaderings ens te plaas. Om aan te sluit by ons JBRA Googlegroup stuur 'n e-pos aan info@jbayra.com of, besoek http://groups.google.com/group/jag1.

Die wet vereis dat elke munisipale wyk 'n wykskomitee van 10 inwoners moet aanstel. Hierdie komitee doen verslag aan die wyksraadslid. Hierdie wykskomitee moet gereeld bymekaarkom (ten minste een keer per maand), om kwessies en probleme in die wyk te vind, om dit te rapporteer aan die wykskomitee, en om op te volg dat die problem opgelos word. Die wyksraadslid moet dan hierdie probleme by die raadsvergaderings opper. 'n Klein toelae mag betaal word om komiteelede se uitgawes te dek. Wykskomitees is oor die algemeen kort ná die munisipale verkiesings.verkies op 'n openbare vergadering in die wyk. Kouga wykskomitees sal in die baie nabye toekoms gekies word (datums is nog nie beskikbaar nie). Oorweeg dit asseblief om te staan vir 'n wykskomitee, asook wie jy verkies as lede van jou plaaslike komitee. Jy kan kommunikeer met jou plaaslike raadslid, met die KM, of jy kan 'n e-pos te info@jbayra.com stuur.

Die JBRA is 'n onafhanklike organisasie, wat verantwoordelik is vir die inwoners van Jeffreysbaai. Ons grense strek van Woltemade straat in die suide tot Kabeljous in die noorde en die R102 in die ooste. Ander gebiede in die Kouga het hul eie belastingbetalers en inwoners verenigings, soos Paradise Beach en St Francis. Al hierdie inwoners verenigings deel baie algemene probleme, soos die hantering van die KM, munisipale fooie, misdaad, ens. Om voortdurend die wiel wee riot te vind is swak gebruik van skaars mannekrag en hulpbronne. Daar is dus 'n oorkoepelende liggaam vir die inwoners verenigings in Kouga gevorm, bekend as FEKRRA (Federasie van die Kouga-belastingbetalers en inwoners Verenigings). FEKRRA was in die verlede baie aktief in die aanspreek van probleme van wanbestuur en korrupsie, terwyl dit onder die voorsitterskap van wyle Joe Oosthuizen was. As gevolg van Joe se ontydige dood, is daar onlangs 'n nuwe FEKRRA komitee verkies met Louis Geldenhuys van Oesterbaai as voorsitter en Trevor Watkins van JBRA as vise-voorsitter. Jy kan meer oor Fekra leer by www.fekrra.org.

Jeffreysbaai is 'n unieke, pragtige dorp. Dit is ons dorp. Dit kan weer 'n florerende toeriste-aantreklikheid word, of dit kan verval in nog 'n mislukte Suid-Afrikaanse munisipaliteit. Die toekoms hang af van ons, die inwoners van Jeffreysbaai, af. Wat doen jy om vir die toekoms van jou dorp te verseker? Kom ons staan saam vir die beter opsie.

Compiled by Trevor Watkins – Chairman – Jeffreys Bay Residents association.

Note: All figures in R,000.

Budget summary (Table A1 p7)

1) Finance charges increase from 10,444 in 2010 to 26,628 in 2011 (255% increase). Does this represent a 255% increase in borrowing? What plans to repay this increased debt?

2) Employee costs of 168,513 constitute 35.7% of total budget of 471,191, and a 17% increase on 2010 employee costs. When and how will this trend be brought under control, if not reversed?

3) Why are Total Current liabilities only 23,852, but finance charges 26,628. What are finance charges paying for, if not debt servicing?

4) Please explain shortfall of 47,704 against cash backing?

5) Revenue cost of free services provided of 393,441 is 14 738 greater than income from rates and services of 378,703. In other words, more than half of Kouga’s potential income is not charged for (provided free). Is Kouga compensated for this major poverty relief from central government? How much? How long is this relief expected to continue?

Table A2 p10

6) Police expenditure tripled from 3,308 in 2010 to 14,182 in 2011. What changed?

7) Sewerage expenditure 26,734. Rumours that 40,000 needed. Why not budgeted?

Table A4 p 16

8) Interest earned external investments in 2009/10 was 5,602, and only 555 in 2011/12. Are KM assets being sold to finance current expenditure?

9) Interest earned – outstanding debtors in 2010 was 3,105 and more than doubled in 2011 to 7,689. What is expectation that this amount will actually be recovered?

10) Income from fines (2,305) and licences (13,211) more than doubled since 2010. What is the cost to local tourism of these measures?

11) What part of budget supplied by transfer from provincial and central government (transfers recognised 46,304?)

12) Confirm that Remuneration of Councillors of 4,818 divided by 30 councillors gives annual payment of R160,600 per councillor, or R13,383 per month?

13) Debt impairment of 18,690 and finance charges of 26,628 in 2011 versus 10,444 in 2010. Is current expenditure being financed by borrowing in 2011?

Table A5 p17

14) Capital expenditure of 500 on sport and recreation, on what? Centreton sports field?

15) Capital expenditure - Waste water management 23,852. Is this sufficient to resolve sewage problems in J Bay – MM said 40,000 was needed.

16) Is 14,000 surplus to be used on sewage system?

Table A7 p19

17) Proceeds on disposal of PPE 26,000. What Plant, property or Equipment was this? Why? To who?

Table A10 p22

18) Total cost of Free Basic Services 393,441. Do J Bay ratepayers bear this cost?

Inflation (p28)

19) 2011/12 inflation forecast 4.08%. Wage increase agreed for 2011/12 is 6.08%. Actual KM staff costs increase is 17%. Why?

20) Eskom bulk tariff to increase by 26.71% on 1/7/2011.

4.2 Renewal and repairs of existing assets P32

Municipal councils are urged to ensure that allocations to repairs and maintenance and renewal of existing infrastructure is prioritised. Where municipality allocates less than 40% of its 2011/12 capital budget to renewal of existing assets it must provide a detailed explanation.

21) IS KM within limits suggested in point 4.2?

Detailed budgets

22) P52 Community Services – Vehicle rental - 0 in 2010, 813,731 in 2011?

23) P53 Disaster management – only 100,000?

24) P55 Finance: budget & Treasury – bank charges 1,100,582 – doubled since 2010?

25) P55 Finance: budget & Treasury – phone rental 160,000 – 0 in 2010?

26) P55 Finance: Revenue – R18,000,000 provision for bad debt – 0 in 2010?

27) P56 Finance: IT – Network connection – 1,208,741 – 200,000 in 2010?

28) P56 Finance IT – printing & stationery – 500,000 – 30,847 in 2010?

29) P57 Library – books & publications – 5,809 – 250,000 in 2010 – outrageous!

30) P57 Library budget reduced by one third from 935,157 to 693,035 - !!

31) P57 Mayors budget reduced from R4,244,765 to R206,884 – is he not expecting to be re-elected?

32) P58 Municipal manager – audit fees – 5,000,000 – 2,150,000 in 2010???

33) P59 – planning & development – printing & Stationery – 309,307 – 60,420 in 2010 – 5 fold increase.

34) P59 – Refuse - external interest – 2,943,000 – 220,935 in 2010 – 10 fold increase?

35) P60 – environmental management – equitable share allocation – 1,846,392 – 0 in 2010?

36) P67 – Salaries 37% of ops budget – target 29%. Repairs & maintenance 5% of ops budget, target 9%.