February minutes

Minutes of a meeting of the executive committee of BRRAG held on 11 February 2022 via zoom.

1. Welcome

Lӧtter Wepener welcomed those present.

2. Attendance register and apologies

In attendance: Lӧtter Wepener, Jacques de Wit, Sarel Marais, Dalien Pachonick, Gibbon Schickerling, Willie Enright, Ferenc Toth and Robbie Schroeder.
Apologies: Wanda Nezar.

Sue Muirhead and Alvira joined the meeting. Both members have experience in municipal matters and offered to assist the committee, in particular with the IDP and Ward matters.

3. Confirmation of previous minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 14 January 2022 were approved, and the chairman authorized to sign them.

4. Correspondence

Jacques has taken up the refuse issue in Salie Street and received an undertaking that the collection point will be moved. Matter to be followed up.

A follow up letter regarding the illegal structure at the entrance to RB, the washing machines in Scheepers Street and the illegal signs was to be sent.

A letter requesting a storage area was to be sent to Ndlambe. Jacques and Robert had a positive meeting with Director Maluleke, and we received confirmation that the matter will be on a next council meeting agenda.

A letter requesting Ndlambe to consider BRRAG as service delivery provider for the maintenance of Bushman’s was sent.

A letter requesting Ndlambe to improve the parking area at the River parking was sent.

5. Legal matters

The tennis court lease renewal is being awaited. Rent has been paid until June 2022.

Robert dealt with the trailer licence and Jacques will attend to the new proxy and the duplicate registration certificate.

6. Finance

The Financials as at the end of January were noted and approved.
Veronique Jones (Park St) has been active with the recruiting of members, and all is going well with many renewals during January.

7. Village Maintenance

Robbie reported that all is going well, and the staff members are attending the usual matters. They also assisted with tasks in RB. Assistance by residents was also forthcoming.

8. Riversbend matters

Dalien is attempting to have the street signs painted by Ndlambe as the paint used previously was of such an inferior quality that repainting is required. As BRRAG has road paint in storage it was suggested that Dalien first use some of it before acquiring additional paint.

Robert will speak to by Pete Andrew about the cleaning of the tennis court.

9. Village Infrastructure

Water Management: Jacques reported on the complicated water management issues which are being dealt with by the SDSG Water (service Deliver Support Group), which include the bad water quality, and a multitude of breakages. There are many problems, the most serious being the ineffectiveness of Amatola Water. Jacques is updated the SER (Social Environmental Report) regarding the impact of Amatola, and other issues on the estuary and our environment.

The sewer system is dysfunctional, and Estuary Care has requested a quote for a report from an expert.

The covering of the River parking area was discussed, and a cement slab or appropriate cover is being promoted.

The sign boards are being finalized but errors are being rectified.

Jacques reported thar they Sarah Baartman District Municipality has offered and amount to erect signage at the Boesmans entrance. Dalien requested that attempts be made to obtain a grant for RB as well.

Director Maluleke undertook to do an audit on potholes. He undertook to deal with it only bit by bit.

It was noted that we should report all non-functioning streetlights to the correct person. This person is to be identified. Pole numbers are required. All committee members may forward dysfunctional streetlight locations with reference to pole number to the chair.

All committee members were requested to update the telephone list and forward it to the chair for collation.

Water Management
Jacques reported on the continued water management issues, which are being dealt with by the Service Delivery Support Group (SDSG) as participant on the Water Management Committee and Technical Task Team. Challenges includes; inadequate water supply, inferior water quality, breakdowns, lack of long-term water provision strategy, Social and Environmental impact and the ineffectiveness of Amatola Water.

Sanitation of Ward 3&4
Refer to point under Estuary care

River parking area
Was discussed, and a cement slab or appropriate cover was formally requested from Ndlambe.

Signage at river beach and SANPark areas
In process of finalization, design and spelling mistakes. Once completed will be installed in the desired position in conjunction with BRRAG by Ndlambe.
Signage at entrance to Boesmansriviermond.

Jacques reported that Sarah Baartman District Municipality has offered and amount to erect signage at the entrance. Dalien requested that attempts be made to obtain a grant for RB as well.
Road infrastructure.

Road maintenance and improvement was discussed with Deputy Director Maluleke BRRAG will provide a list of most urgent to him. He undertook to deal with it on a case by case basis and stated that it cannot be budgeted for a specific road to be fixed, since all road repairs come from the same budget.

Drainage
Drainage problem areas in Boesmansriviermond and Rivers bend was pointed out to Ndlambe Deputy Director (Thulkani Maluleke).
A list of priority areas will be provided to Ndlambe for consideration in the next financial year.

Road signs
Ndlambe (Director Booysen) was requested to do an audit on road signs in the Village with the objective to replace and repair where required. Ndlambe was requested to involve BRRAG during the audit.

Streetlights
Non-functioning streetlights must be reported to the correct person. This person is to be identified. Pole numbers are required. Committee members may forward dysfunctional streetlight locations with reference to pole number to the chair.

10. Security

Ferenc gave an overview of the latest December security incidents. Crime is Bushman’s is much lower than elsewhere.
It was noted that KOSRA is now contributing R 2 500 per month towards Night Watch. The Chamber advised that they are not able to make contributions. This issue must be raised again in the future.

An SDSG Safety and Security was officially established. It is supported by BRRAG, KOSRA and the Chamber. Ferenc serves on this Group.

Ferenc was asked to raise the picnic areas as security hotspots at the CPF and the SDSG.

11. Firefighting

Jacques is waiting for a galvanised fire tender. There are now fire tenders at Natures’ landing, our own, Kariega Heights and one acquired by the Chamber, housed at HiTec.

12. Website

Gibbon reported that the Facebook page is doing well and has had over 160 visitors.

13. Newsletter

A newsletter must go out and committee members requested to send articles to the chair.

14. Estuary Care

EC is dealing with the question of the dune removal at the Kenton side of the mouth by the KDA (Kenton Dune Association) and Jacques is preparing a presentation in this regard. The chair will forward correspondence between him and an engineer living in Kenton to Jacques.

Social and Environmental Report – Amatola water
An updated Social & Environmental Report (SER) regarding the impact of Amatola operations (Water service provider) on Social and Environmental factors were provided to Ndlambe as Water Provider Authority to address.

Sanitation ward 3&4
The sewerage system for Ward 3&4 is dysfunctional. Estuary Care has requested a quote for a high-level audit report from an expert who also have experience in reed bed systems. Ndlambe (Deputy Director Maluleke) was informed of the intended audit and quotation invited and will participate.

Dune removal
EC is dealing with the matter of the dune removal at the Kenton side of the mouth by the KSDNA (Kenton Sand Dune Association).
There is a standoff between Estuary Care and KSDNA with two opposing solutions.

It is important for BRARAG to support the option, which considers the estuary as a whole. Jacques is preparing a summary and presentation in this regard for BRRAG to make an informed decision.
The chair will forward correspondence between him and an engineer living in Kenton relating to the matter to Jacques.

Buoys in the river
The proliferation of buoys in the River is of concern and we must ask Willem Nel to deal with this problem urgently. EC. also addressed the matter with Ndlambe.

15. Ndlambe Ratepayers’ Forum

The NRF is working on the high rates paid to Ndlambe while everything else such as roads, water and sewer infrastructure are deteriorating.

16. Ward Committee

A letter was written to the municipal manager regarding the dysfunctional ward committee. We should also contact the ward councilor and promote the holding of ward meetings. Sue offered to attend the ward meeting.

17. Chamber

nothing to report

18. IDP

We must establish the dates for submissions as well as dates for meetings for the current IDP so that our input can be given in time. Jacques will ask Fanie.

19. General