Covid-19 is upon us. As ERA we are helping to give you information about how you can find out more about the virus, how you can help those in need, which shops are open and which closed, see if Government’s schemes can help you or your workers and security hot spots. See these posts below to find out more.
ERA Covid-19 newsletter –
No 9, 28 July 2020
Covid-19 in our own homes
Gauteng now has the unenviable position of being the epicentre of Covid-19. The number of new infections each day has climbed to new highs. We all now know someone close who has it or who has succumbed to it. There are also stories of private hospitals being stretched to capacity and of some being full.
* How do you know you have coronavirus?
1. Itching in the throat
2. Dry throat
3. Dry cough
4. High temperature
5. Shortness of breath
6. Loss of sense of taste & smell
7. Covid toes – toes turning blue/black
If you’ve tested positive – don’t panic. Many people who test positive will experience “no symptoms whatsoever”, says Gauteng GP Sheri Fanaroff. “85% of symptomatic people will experience a flu-like illness which will be manageable at home. 10 to 15% of symptomatic people will require hospitalisation and 5% may need ICU,” she says.
If you live on your own and contract it, make sure that you keep in contact with a family member or friend so that they can check on you every day to see if you are doing okay and organise shopping for you. And keep your phone close to you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your neighbours or e-mail info@era.org.za We’re here for you.
And make sure you contact all those that you were in close contact with so that they can self-isolate in case they have caught the virus from you.
These are the signals that tell you when you need more help:
Temperature staying above 39 degrees Celsius
Heart rate staying above 125 beats per minute
Respiratory rate staying above 25 breaths per minute
Oxygen saturation staying below 92 % OR a drop in oxygen saturation levels (you can buy Oximeters that test your oxygen levels relatively cheaply or contact your GP – some are lending them out when patients contract Covid)
An inability to speak full sentences
An inability to get out of bed and walk to the bathroom
Chest pain or pressure
Difficulty breathing
Development of confusion or decreased level of consciousness
Inability to stay hydrated
Diabetics: sugar levels out of control (too high or too low).
We’re fortunate to have doctors in Greenside who have clubbed together to buy equipment so that they can provide oxygen therapy and care to patients at home instead of going to hospital. Contact them for help on 082 332 2100; 083 454 1316; 083 390 1786. If you’d like to donate to them to boost their ability to help patients, e-mail imasa@gmail.com
Schoolkids back home again
Some of you will agree with the president’s decision to send children back home and others will not. Whatever your views, schoolkids at public schools will stay at home again until 24 August. The exceptions are Grade 12 learners who must return to school on 3 August and Grade 7s on 10 August.
ERA donates R1000 to Parkview CPF
As SAPS Parkview closed again after more staff contracted Covid-19, ERA donated R1000 so that the CPF can buy them Perspex shields for the staff. Our condolences to Parkview SAPS on the loss of some of their own.
Freezing cold and in the dark
Over the last month we have experienced freezing weather. One day was the coldest in four years. But what made it worse was many of us were also in the dark. Eskom had to bring back load-shedding and we all know what happens then… our old cables just blow up when the load-shedding ends and the suburb is reconnected. Coupled with many bouts of cable theft, June/July have not been happy months for residents.
To try and minimise cable theft and damage to mini-subs, the Let’s Work team and residents around Umgwezi Road have secured the fencing with chains and padlocks on Gleneagles and around a number of other mini-subs in the suburb.
During a particularly bad patch where the same residents around Niger Road experienced repeated cable theft and days without power, a number of residents offered to join ERA to help come up with a better plan to not only secure the mini-subs but also try and ensure that the thieves are caught. A plan is currently being hatched. More next time.
Mandela Day at Emmarentia Eventide Home
Eventide old age home in Emmarentia celebrated Christmas in July on July 17 2020. Our community did their 67 minutes a day early by organising them a lunch.
The event was a great success and the residents really enjoyed themselves. “Could we please do Christmas in July every month?,” was the plea from the residents at the end of the meal!
It was a wonderful collaboration between the Emmarentia Residents Association and Kindness Like Confetti (KLC).
Special thanks go to:
Jinty Segal
Kim Frost
Shaaziyaa Mayet Local Choice Pharmacy Ormonde
A.K. Greenhill Grocer
Somaya from La Breakfast Bean Bakery
Brian and Anne Askew and Claire Hoffmann from ERA
Residents of Caledon Road
Cash donations from Emmarentia Residents
Residents enjoy the feast
Let’s Work and Ward 88 residents fill more bellies on Mandela Day
On Mandela Day, Felicity and her Let’s Work Team coordinated the making and delivery of 2 955 meals, 54 litres of soup and bread, 500 boerewors rolls, 260 hot dogs and then she stopped counting because she was so exhausted. “I have never seen so much cooked food in my life (and I’ve seen some pretty huge buffets in the USA)”, said Felicity.
Special thanks go to Mochachos, Eastern Temptations and Fresh Earth for continued support in feeding communities.
And this was just a month after Let’s Work coordinated the distribution of 2446 litres of soup on Father’s Day.
One of the many tasty meals produced for Mandela Day
Meanwhile her team are continuing to clean up the streets of Ward 88 and do patrols along the Spruit to ensure that people do not erect structures.
Don’t forget, Let’s Work always needs donations – in cash or kind, preferably cash so the team can be paid for their hard work whether it’s helping sort and distribute food or cleaning the streets and green spaces. EFT to Let’s Work; NPO#201-696 FNB A/C – 62801299472; Reference: Emmarentia
More green spaces to explore
In line with the president’s easing of restrictions on exercising in green spaces:
* Jhb Botanical Gardens re-opens from 1 August
Because of limited staff and to ensure that all safety measures are followed, only two entrances will be open: the main entrance on Olifants Road and the other entrance opposite Roosevelt Park High School in Thomas Bowler Avenue.
Visitors to the park must comply with these regulations:
Wear a mask in public spaces at all times.
Practice social distancing of a minimum of 3 metres apart.
Picnics, events or gatherings are strictly prohibited.
Ensure that hands are washed and sanitized prior to entering a city parks facility.
Exercise only with persons within your household which is limited to a maximum of 5 people in a group.
Refrain from using the ablution facilities and the playgrounds.
Remind children that the use of the gym and play equipment is prohibited.
Take all disposables home, including empty bottles and paper cups.
Leave all valuables at home to avoid opportunistic crime.
Abide by the public open spaces by-laws in place.
Dogs must be on a lead, only two dogs per person and dog walkers must pick up after their dogs.
Time to enjoy the park again
Melville Koppies Central to open on Sunday mornings from 9 August
Melville Koppies Central (entrance opposite Marks Park entrance; park at Marks Park) on August 9, 16, 23 and 30 will be open between 8am and 11.30am. Because of Covid-19 there will be no guided tours or hikes. Instead you will be given a map and you can then self-guide yourselves in your family group through the very special nature reserve and heritage site that also has geological, botanical and animal treasures. Guides and security will be on duty. (No dogs allowed.)
Self-guide yourselves along one of the many paths that criss-cross the koppies
To limit numbers and keep social distancing, booking with pre-payment essential – R80 for adults, R40 per child. Masks must be worn at all times. Book with wendavid@mweb.co.za or phone +27 11 482 4797
Note: Melville Koppies is in dire need of financial help. It relies on guided tours and hikes to raise the R22 000 a month to pay its five conservation workers. Since lockdown, there have been no guided tours or hikes but the committee has continued to pay its conservation workers who keep the Koppies clean and clear of weeds and invasive alien plants ensuring that the adjacent properties on the Emmarentia Ridge retain their value. There are three ways you can help:
Go and explore the koppies on Sunday mornings (details above)
Donate any old clothes, books, etc to Junkie in Melville and say you want Melville Koppies to benefit. A percentage of the sales will go to Melville Koppies
Donate direct to Melville Koppies – Nedbank, A/c1581017421, Branch code – 15810500
Add Melville Koppies to your beneficiaries on your My School card.
Road hump on Olifants Road angers residents
ERA has received many complaints from residents about the new road hump on Olifants Road adjacent to the entrance to the Botanic Gardens that residents say “endangers the lives of cyclists on the road and motorists”.
ERA then approached Councillor Hensman to pressurise JRA to do another inspection on the grounds that he was never asked to approve the installation of a new roadhump as per the regulations and because of numerous residents’ complaints. As we sent out this newsletter, Hensman was awaiting a response from JRA.
If JRA says that the hump is all in order then ERA will open a petition and allow residents to have their say and then follow the process to submit the petition to JRA. We’ll keep you posted.
Licence expiry date extended again
Because of the heavy initial lockdown restrictions and the subsequent frequent closures of licensing offices as and when staff have contracted the virus, there is now a huge backlog of licence renewals. To address this:
all motor vehicle licence discs, temporary permits, roadworthy certificates that expired between March 26 and May 31, will now expire on November 30 2020; and
all learner’s licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional and driving permits that expire between March 26 and August 30, will now expire on 31 January 2021.
Insurers have confirmed that if you are in a car accident or your car is stolen and one of your licences has expired, you will still be covered.
Telkom mast update
In the last newsletter we reported on some residents bid to halt the construction of a Telkom mast in Marico Road. Since then Telkom has agreed to hold on any more construction until the case goes to court, probably sometime in August. More in the next newsletter.
If you’d like to support the initiative to fight Telkom, especially helping to pay her vast legal bills, e-mail Sarah Barret on sarahbarret2@outlook.com to find out how.
COJ News
These are the final new tariffs adopted. You should all have received your latest accounts from COJ.
Property rates: Proposed – 4.9% Final – 4%
City Power: Proposed – 8.1% Final – 6.23% (proposal for pre-paid customers to pay an extra R200 per month was scrapped)
Water: Proposed – 8.6% Final – 6.6%
Refuse: Final 5.2% (proposal was accepted)
CoJDevPlanning has established a law enforcement unit. Residents can report the following contraventions to complaintsple@joburg.org.za:
Zoning
Illegal land use
Additions
Alterations
Building developments
Building signage
Outdoor advertising
Request a building inspector
Please copy ERA in on the complaint so that we can keep track of progress.
Normally some of us, especially those that live close to Marks Park and the entrances to Botanic Gardens, dread this time of year. It means Saturday or Sunday mornings are disturbed by the many walkers and runners that come to our suburb to take part in Walk the Talk, the Spar Women’s Race, the Avon Walk and many, many more. Just a year ago did you ever think that it would take a pandemic to bring you peaceful weekend mornings in June/July/August? Many of us are missing the normality of the noisy!
If you are not yet a member of ERA, just a reminder to join. Subscriptions for 2020/2021 are: R350 per annum per household (R200 for over 65s); R950 for businesses. Pay to: Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank; A/c: 1975051173; Branch Code: 198765; e-mail POP to: treasurer@era.org.za with your surname and telephone number as your reference together with your completed membership form. Download a membership form below – https://era.org.za/join-era/
As we enter the 12th week of lockdown, and the 18th day under Level 3, by now you’re all experts on what you can do under Level 3 and what you shouldn’t do. But really Level 3 is all about self-regulating. Do your bit to control the spread and take care of yourselves.
Daily numbers of Covid-19 patients are increasing at a more rapid rate in part because of more tests being done, but mostly because that is the expected trajectory of the illness. It means that when you leave your house you are more likely to catch Covid-19 than before. It also means that some of you may have it or you may have friends/family that have it. Our deepest condolences to those that have lost loved ones.
I have diarrhoea/ a cold/ a headache / a sore throat – can I go to work/ school?
My child/ spouse has a fever/ cough – they will obviously stay home, but can I go to work/ school?
My work colleague/ my child’s school friend/ someone who I chatted to at the shops has just called me to say they have COVID, what must I do?
What does self-quarantine entail?
I was in Close Contact with somebody who tested positive at work. I have no symptoms and my boss says I should have a test and come back to work if I’m negative – is this ok?
click here to find out the answers that Dr Sheri Fanaroff, a past pupil of Emmarentia Primary School (1981-1985) who is now a practising GP in Johannesburg, shared recently.
Schools resume
By now some grades have gone back to school and more will resume over the next while. We know the huge debates that have been going on about whether it’s safe to send your children back to school. We’re sure that the decisions that you’ve made suit your individual circumstances.
New school terms for 2020
Term 2: 8 June – 7 August (holidays 10-11 August) (staggered return of grades to school)
Term 3: 12 August – 23 September (holidays from 24 September – 2 October)
In March 2020 residents in Marico Road were alarmed to find out that the pegged out markings in someone’s garden and then the excavation and the laying of a concrete foundation were the beginnings of the installation of a 20m Telkom cellphone mast.
A number of residents took legal advice and contracted lawyers at a substantial cost to interdict Telkom. The interdict was granted and all construction was halted. The case was set down to be heard in April. Initially there were hopes that the matter could be settled out of court but in June, Telkom changed its mind in May and said it would meet those opposing the construction in court on 9 June. On that date, the matter was not heard and the case has again been postponed until 23 June.
Meanwhile ERA has leant its support to the residents’ court challenge by sending a letter to the Telkom CEO and appealing to him to do what he can to halt the construction of the mast and to construct it in a more suitable location. In the letter, ERA chairperson, Ayanda Mjekula, points out that Telkom proposes to build the mast “inside a residential site, disfiguring the neighbourhood, is unsightly, objectionable and will derogate from the value of the adjoining and neighbouring properties”.
If you would like to support this initiative to fight Telkom, e-mail Sarah Barret on sarahbarret2@outlook.com to find out how.
Appeal to residents to support Xmas in July at the Eventide Home
Over the past while, ERA, with residents’ generous support, has sponsored Xmas in July for Emmarentia Eventide residents. Last year with your generous donations we were able to give them a delicious feast in July and with the remaining money, buy them an Open View decoder with remote at Christmas time.
With Covid-19 casting a cloud over all our lives we were concerned that it could prevent this year’s plans. However, after discussions with the Home and with local charity, Kindness Like Confetti, ERA will help coordinate a Mandela Day event with KLC which will take place at the Emmarentia Eventide Home. “To minimise contact with residents, food and goodie bags will be dropped off at the Home and the staff will dish up and distribute,” says Claire Hoffmann, ERA’s communications person.
Sadly, ERA chair, Ayanda Mjekula will not be able to don his red Father Christmas outfit and hand out the gifts! If you can assist in any way – with food for the meal or items to go in the goodie bags for the residents, please contact info@era.org.za or claire@kindness.org.za. For monetary donations you can EFT directly to Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank; A/c: 1975051173; Branch Code: 198765; Reference: Xmas in July. E-mail POP to treasurer@era.org.za.
Parkview CPF appeals to mayor to intervene in problem of homeless people in the precinct
On June 8, Parkview CPF sent a hard-hitting 4-page letter to the Mayor, Geoff Makhubo, and the City Manager, Ndivho Lukhwareni, requesting a meeting to “agree on a plan for dealing with the homeless people for whom it is easier to live on the streets and in open spaces than to be accommodated in shelters”.
The letter describes the failed attempts the CPF had made over the past year with SAPS, JMPD and the Department of Social Development (DSD) to try and move the homeless into shelters. Even though some moved during Level 1 lockdown, since Level 3 opened up, many have moved back to the open spaces.
The letter concludes by saying that “it would seem to us that the organs of state are failing its citizens. There simply must be a better way to deal with this growing problem, which we submit is the City’s to deal with. This has been further highlighted by the COVID-19 lockdown measures. Something needs to be done about this situation urgently. The threats to safety need to be removed, by-laws must be enforced and the indigent people need to be dealt with in a compassionate and decisive manner.”
As this newsletter was being sent out, no response had been received from the Mayor.
The CPF has still not received approval to set up a soup kitchen.
Emmarentia shops news
Greenhill Grocer would like to thank its community of shoppers for their fantastic support. With your generous donations they were able to collect 300 food hampers for the needy. 150 were given to Gift of the Givers and 150 to Let’s Work.
Fresh Earth is offering a 15% discount on any restaurant purchase/take away if you show this newsletter on your phone. The voucher code is #ERAnewsletter and can be redeemed until 18 July 2020.
Let’s Work appeals for money donations
While Let’s Work continues to do its tireless work of feeding and clothing those in need (aided by the generous support of residents – thank you) Lockdown level 3 has brought new challenges.
The shelter in Windsor that had to accommodate 100 people overnight at the beginning of lockdown now only has 28 elderly people left. Many of those that have left are now begging on our streets and moving into green spaces and there are more structures now than there were before lockdown. With this have come increased reports of muggings and attacks in these green spaces.
To respond to this Let’s Work wants to fund two teams so that one continues processing the soup/food demands and the other resumes work in the green spaces. Despite the huge help Let’s Work has received with food, clothing, and soup for the needy, their financial donations are at about 15% of normal donations. And to resume the green spaces team, they need financial resources.
The green spaces team has started cutting back the reeds along the spruit so that the trees don’t get burnt again by the arsonist that strikes annually. Cutting the reeds back also helps to keep out the vagrants who find good shelter in the long reeds.
If you can help with food, soup-making, closed containers to put the soup in, contact Felicity Gratz-Lawlor – 082 568 1783, felicity@letswork.org.za or drop off at 107 Preller Road, Roosevelt Park.
Father’s Day appeal: Please make a note in your diaries for 23 June – Father’s Day. Let’s Work is planning a major campaign to provide soup for that day. If you can help in any way, contact Felicity. (Remember – kids get community service letters)
And if you’re concerned about safety in the green spaces, donate to:
[Note: In response to reports of attacks, Jhb City Parks has informed residents that all green spaces covered by JCP are out of bounds, even if they are unlocked/unfenced.]
COJ NEWS:
Covid-19 batters COJ’s revenue
According to Mayor Makhubo, in April and May, 97 000 residential and business accounts that normally paid their COJ accounts did not pay. This resulted in a loss of R1.3 billion to the City. However, this is expected to improve in June as many have resumed work under Level 3.
Meanwhile, the City seems to have rectified its mistake of double-billing customers for water in the month of May by passing credit to its customers in the June invoices. If yours is still not rectified, contact 011 375 1111
Have your say on the COJ draft budget/IDP
The City has released draft documents for 2020/21 – Proposed Budget and Tariffs, IDP, Rates policy and By-laws. Its inviting comments from any interested party. You have until 23 June to comment.
Rates Policy and By-laws inputs: ratescomments@joburg.org.za
Or WhatsApp: 083 632 1077
Key aspects of the proposed budget are:
Property rates: Up by 4.9%
Pensioner rebates:
The qualifying valuation threshold of R2.5 million and the over-70 rebate remain the same.
60-69 year-olds rebates – if your property is valued at less than R2.5m and your gross monthly household income is:
less than R10 230 you will get a 100% rebate on rates
more than R10 230 but less than R17 585 you will get a 50% rebate.
City Power:
overall increase of 8.1%.
prepaid customers will pay an extra R200 per month for electricity infrastructure (businesses an extra R400 per month)
Refuse: up by 5.2%.
Water and Sanitation: up by 8.6%.
The new ANC-led City is proposing to reinstate the free 6kl a month to all households. Those households using more than 10kl will therefore see a reduction in their water bills; those using more than 10kl will see big increases.
The budget proposes increasing remuneration of councillors by 6.4% while employees employed by COJ will have their salaries capped at 5.4%. Proposed increased spending on maintenance is low at just more than 3%.
If you are not yet a member of ERA, just a reminder to join. Subscriptions for 2020/2021 are: R350 per annum per household (R200 for over 65s); R950 for businesses. Pay to: Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank; A/c: 1975051173; Branch Code: 198765; e-mail POP to: treasurer@era.org.za with your surname and telephone number as your reference together with your completed membership form. Download a membership form below – https://era.org.za/join-era/
Closer to home, Debbi Burman from Parkview Victim Support Unit (VSU) acknowledges the enormous strain that families are going through. Although it is normal to suffer from some of the following symptoms during stressful times, they can feel overwhelming during these unusual circumstances.
Symptoms of stress can include insomnia, or excessive tiredness she says. Also beware of an increasing dependence on alcohol and other substances for relaxation or to help with sleep problems. Panic attacks and breathlessness are also common.
She also warns parents to be on the lookout for signs of stress in children who are missing their school friends and the daily routine. ‘They may become more needy, need to share your bed again, revert to thumb-sucking, bed-wetting or unusual crying and temper tantrums’.
Normal issues with teenagers may become intensified and need to be handled calmly. Their peers are very important to them and social media is a good way for them to keep in contact. Parents need to acknowledge their frustrations and conversations amongst the family members should be encouraged.
The VSU with its team of counsellors are trained in debriefing. They can talk to you and give further advice. Should you need more than they can offer, they are able to provide referrals to the relevant professionals. She encourages residents to phone the unit on 073 280 4453 should you wish to speak to one of their counsellors. (this is a free service)
Let’s Work always at work
Someone else who’s not sure what day of the week it is, is Let’s Work’s Felicity Gratz-Lawlor. Drive past her house every day and you’ll see her team of seven at it, receiving food and other donations, packaging food parcels and always disinfecting everything that’s received. I ask her what she does every day. There’s a moment’s silence, and then ‘well we had to find a home for 350 loaves of bread this week. I used to have to plan the menu for the shelter every day; now I only do that once a week.’
Just before Mother’s Day she sent out an appeal for 1000 cup cakes – she received 3850 – wow, thank you to all that made mothers feel valued.
What Felicity does know is that every day there are pots bubbling on her stove making soup. ‘It’s cold now, people are so grateful when they receive soup. And we love receiving ready-made soup – stew up some veg, add bits of meat or a chicken stock cube, put it in a ziploc bag, freeze it and drop it off. Every little bit counts. And containers to put the soup into – yoghurt tubs, ice cream tubs, anything like that.’ And if you can encourage your kids to make it, she will give them a community hours’ certificate.
Currently her team services two shelters – one in Windsor (90 people) and one in Northcliff (20 people) as well those in need in neighbouring areas like Westbury, Albertville, Greymont, Newlands, Claremont, Sophiatown, Brixton (soup kitchen for the homeless), Kathrada Park, Old Age Homes in Westbury and Westdene. They also make up food parcels for Ward 87.
She is so grateful for food donations, but ‘please no more mealie meal’, she has loads of it. Instead instant porridge would be good. Better to Whatsapp her or look on Whatsapp groups for what’s on her list for that day.
What she really needs now is warm blankets, old shoes, socks. Drop it off or Whatsapp her and she may be able to collect from you. Money donations are always needed so they can get bulk prices on things like sardines.
ERA donates infrared thermometer to Emmarentia Eventide
ERA has followed up its donation of 100 masks to Emmarentia Eventide with the donation of an infrared thermometer. ‘We are so relieved to have this,’ says the Major of the home, ‘the Department is checking on Old Age Homes for compliance.’
Appeal from Randburg SPCA
The need to support animals hasn’t stopped over lockdown. ERA has received an appeal for funds from the SPCA. They have asked us to pass on their appeal to residents. They are appealing for funds to support their 5 Freedoms campaign:
* Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
* Freedom to express normal behaviour
* Freedom from discomfort
* Freedom from fear and distress
* Freedom from pain, injury and disease
These freedoms encompass four areas of work – Rescue; Sterilise; Welfare; Care
Donate to: RANDBURG SPCA; FNB A/c 62702475717; Branch Code 256755. Specify which area of work you would like to donate to: Ref: *RESCUE or *STERILISE or *WELFARE or *CARE
Parkview CPF news
Permission is still being sought to set up a soup kitchen in the SAPS Parkview precinct. We will keep you updated.
The Parkview Community Police Forum (CPF) has developed a community safety plan and needs your help. In order to understand how people perceive crime in our precinct, the CPF needs to ask for your experience. The CPF believes that it can improve the safety of the precinct if you tell it how you think the organs of state can improve their services. To this end the CPF has prepared a survey, which will take you no longer than 10 minutes to complete. If you live or work in any of the suburbs policed by Parkview SAPS, you are invited to complete the survey at https://forms.gle/pGusznxtsm9csco2A
The survey will be open for responses until 15 June 2020. Please don’t hesitate to contact Geraldine Connell at chair@parkviewcpf.co.za if you have any questions or comments.
WOZA to fold end of May
Despite a last minute rally to get another 100 subscribers to subscribe to WOZA, we failed to reach the target. Thank you to those that made new commitments and a special thank you to Paul Nogueira for developing the app and running it so successfully for the benefit of residents.
* Beware—the bin thieves are back
Residents are reporting bins being stolen again. Apparently reclaimers use the wheels for their trolleys and use the lidless frames to separate the different types of recycling.
* Be careful when exercising with electronic equipment in the mornings
There have been reports of mobile phones/watches/jewellery being stolen off joggers, walkers early in the morning. Rather leave it all at home. And if it is stolen please report all details to CAP/SAPS.
Restaurant news
Delivery etiquette
Restaurants are struggling to stay afloat – some have had to employ drivers or contract Uber Eats or another delivery service, all of which increases their costs. But not all residents are cooperating. These are just some of the problems they are facing: ‘Customers place orders and then are not at home when the delivery arrives. Intercoms don’t work, customers don’t answer their phones. All of this delays our drivers.’
So please do your bit to ensure that our restaurants can endure these difficult times and support and cooperate with them.
If you don’t want to visit Eastern Temptations but would rather get stuff delivered, order through Personal Shopper – call or whatsapp order to 072 572 5635
Greenhill Grocer appeal
Thanks to your generosity Greenhill Grocer has been able to make up 250 hampers for the needy. They have extended the campaign by another week to 24 May and are hoping to get to 500 hampers at R50 per hamper. Pay to:
Greenhill Grocer, Nedbank current account, A/c 1049668170, branch code 1958105. SMS POP to 082 444 1168 or e-mail info@greenhillgrocer.co.za; Ref: name+number of hampers
Unruly ‘carguards’
Please be careful on Greenhill Road with the self-appointed carguards. Fresh Earth has its own carguards who wear pink vests – be sure to tip them but please refrain from tipping the others and if you have a problem please phone JMPD on 011 758 9620 or SAPS on 071 675 6060/1/2/3.
Easing of lockdown?
Pinging card transactions on people’s mobiles must have soared since government relaxed restrictions on what can be bought online. There’s hope that at the end of May, or before, we might see us dropping down to Level 3 although with Region B in Johannesburg still being one of the hotspots, don’t count those chickens….. Check out this useful tool to see what’s allowed at which level and in which area. www.lockdownbozza.co.za Still no hairdressers/barbers for a while… You need to implement Plan B!
Wildlife has its day
While we’ve been locked down the wildlife has been active. In the last newsletter we reported that a rinkhals had bitten a cat in a garden in Emmarentia. (NB: cat is recovering, but very slowly)
This week residents have been sharing photos and videos of a spotted genet in their gardens. If you spot its face you may think it’s just a cat but when you see its thick striped tail you’ll know it’s not. Keep your eyes peeled and be welcoming – they eat rats and mice.
Since lockdown began, Wendy Carstens who manages Melville Koppies nature reserve and some volunteers have been writing short pieces about the birds, the bees and the people linked to the koppies that is right on our doorstep.
Planning and heritage approval
While lots of things may still be locked down, ERA’s Gemey Abrahams who approves Emmarentia homeowners’ building plans and heritage requests is not. If you or your architect has been busy during Level 5 and 4 designing renovations or additions to your property, you can contact Gemey to get all these signed off. E-mail info@era.org.za or whatsapp her on 082 459 5266.
(Remember title deeds of Emmarentia properties state that any renovations or new build must be signed off by ERA who act on behalf of the Louw Geldenhuys family who originally developed the suburb. Moreover, almost all Emmarentia houses are older than 60 years which means that any alteration/addition must follow heritage requirements. See here for more details and the costs involved: https://era.org.za/building-and-renovations/
COJ apologises for overbilling water
COJ has billed most people for 60 days instead of 30 days. It also didn’t bill as per actual readings that residents sent in. CoJ is busy correcting this. In the meantime, please pay your average bill and also send through your actual readings again around the 25th of the month.
Wear a mask
The trickiest thing about Covid-19 is that you may have it even though you have no symptoms. And if you have it you can pass it on to someone else that is older, sicker and more vulnerable than you. So when you go out your gate, put your mask on. When I walk out of my gate currently I don’t have enough hands and feet to count how many people are ignoring the regulation. The mask is not to protect you – it’s to protect others from you. So please, if you’re on your bicycle, on the pavement or jogging on the street, and in the car – put that mask on! (And wear it correctly – we’ve all guffawed with laughter at the meme of how not to wear it…)
Stay safe.
ERA
ERA Covid-19 newsletter – No 6, 7 May 2020 Dear Emmarentia residents
ERA to sponsor 500 masks
Now that it has become mandatory for everyone to wear a mask when they go outside, ERA has decided to go ahead and buy 500 masks for the less fortunate. Some will be given to residents at Emmarentia Eventide Home and the rest will go to Let’s Work for them to allocate to the shelters and other needy people in the area. The three-layered masks are being made by an Emmarentia resident.
WOZA needs your support
Almost two years ago, when crime incidents had spiked yet again, ERA worked with local resident Paul Nogueira to develop a security app called WOZA. At the shake of a subscriber’s cellphone, a security company could be summoned to assist someone in need whether it was a security situation or a medical emergency. What made the app more special was that, as long as you had your cellphone with you, it could be activated almost anywhere across the country. In addition, Paul agreed to donate a certain percentage of income received each month and pay it across to Let’s Work, the NPO run by Felicity Gratz-Lawlor. To date more than R3000 has been transferred to the NPO while shopkeepers on Greenhill Road who have subscribed to WOZA have used it to summon security help when needed.
However, Covid-19 is impacting our lives in ways we did not anticipate. Paul has just received notification that there will be a four-fold increase in the costs that the security services will charge and this poses a real threat to the continued offering of the service. As he explains, ‘this has always been a low-key ‘community’ project, as opposed to a profit-driven project for me, but there is a limit beyond which I am unable to continue to support it – that limit will be breached by this proposed increase.’
As ERA we believe that this is an initiative worth supporting. Moreover, we believe that once lockdown is over there is a very real chance that security will need to be increased as the devastating results of Covid-19 start to take effect. Subscribing to WOZA is one way in which we believe we can all be proactive and prepare for what is to come.
To this end ERA and Paul are requesting all residents who are currently not subscribed to the service, to consider registering their commitment to subscribe. If he can double his current 90-odd subscribers, it would enable him to go to the suppliers of the national armed response service and attempt to negotiate a lesser cost increase with them.
If he fails, Woza will be shut down at the end of May (or when the last subscriber has enjoyed a full month since their last payment; annual subscribers will receive pro rata refunds). Such a situation would be extremely sad considering the effort put into developing an app for the suburb and the useful service it is currently able to provide. For more details and to show your commitment click here: https://tinyurl.com/yxftdgog
Concern over domestic workers and gardeners returning to work
ERA has been approached by a number of residents who are concerned that some domestic workers and gardeners who commute on a daily basis seem to be back at work despite regulations that clearly state that this is only allowed at Level 2.
The regulations state that*: a)ALL live-in domestic workers may return (but once they return, they may not commute home until the alert level is lowered) b)Any domestic worker who is responsible for the care of children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, physical or mental illness may return to work. c)No ‘live-out’ domestic worker whose duties do not include caregiving as stated above may return to work. Not even for L4 permitted workers. This was part of the provisional regulations but was removed on publication of the government gazette. (Cleaning services are allowed under Level 4 so you could consider getting in a cleaning service) d)No ‘live-out’ gardeners may return to work under Level 4.
If your domestic worker falls under b) above she will need to carry her ID and wear a face mask, especially while travelling with public transport and practice social distancing. She will also need:
-you to complete a ‘permit to perform an essential or permitted service’. Find it here (https://1drv.ms/w/s!AmkYi-wWUkfyhzyyqKx3Ukc-3U_P?e=llje8y), fill it in and print it out for them (or get it printed at a print shop – some are now open); -copies of both you and your partner’s ‘essential workers’ permits’; -proof of where they live; -proof of residence of you the employer; -a cover letter from you the employer stating that they are your ‘childminder’.
Remember they have to be home by 8pm and cannot leave before 5am so their working hours will have to be adjusted to accommodate them (8am – 3pm seems to be the norm).
We urge you not to allow domestic workers and gardeners falling under c) and d) above to return to work. By allowing them back to work and to commute daily you are opening up their family and your family to the threat of contracting Covid-19. Their families may be much less able to bear the disease especially if your employee is the one and only bread-winner and contracts the virus. Likewise if a member of your household is elderly or immune compromised you are also making them more vulnerable.
If your domestic worker or gardener is not able to start work yet, we encourage you to try and continue supporting them. If you’re unable to do this, apply for the special UIF grant that is available. https://uifecc.labour.gov.za/covid19/ or phone UIF on 0800 030 007 for details.
*Note: Thanks to SweepSouth and to Councillor Hensman for much of this information
Some other useful tidbits
The informal reclaimers are back at work
Please try and do these things to help keep everyone safe:
Where possible keep recyclables for a few days before putting out to be collected. This will help reduce the possibility that they are contaminated
Please put used tissues in a separate clear packet in your rubbish so that reclaimers don’t touch it when they are going through your rubbish
If you can, please put out buckets of water with soap that reclaimers can access.
Snake bites cat in Emmarentia garden
Please be aware… An Emmarentia resident’s cat was bitten by a rinkhals in their garden in Shengani Road. The cat is recovering but residents are warned to be on the lookout for the snake which is still at large. If it comes into your garden, if possible, please call a snake catcher to come and catch it and release it somewhere where it won’t bite pets and people. We know of these two snake catchers in the area – Dion – 082 997 2726; Greg – 082 926 5684. Download the African Snakebite Institute app (free on Google Play and App Store). It gives very useful information with photos of the snakes, their characteristics, first aid and medical info as well as names of snake catchers nearby.
Testing for Covid-19
On 5 May, the Gauteng health department announced that it was increasing its testing of those most at risk of contracting Covid-19 i.e. older people, people with other medical conditions eg. diabetes, asthma and heart disease even if people don’t have symptoms. It hopes to ramp up testing to 3000 per day. The closest government testing station is Parkhurst Clinic which is free; the private sector has many testing stations that have been advertised extensively in the media.
CAP nails cellphone mugger
Thanks to prompt reporting by a Greenside resident of a cellphone theft, CAP were able to use their licence plate recognition masts to follow the getaway car to Savoy where it was apprehended and the perpetrators arrested. Well done CAP! Please make sure you report any criminal incident immediately to one of the security companies and open up a case at SAPS.
CPF to start Soup Kitchen
Parkview CPF has put forward a proposal for a soup kitchen to service the Parkview Precinct, it has been accepted and will be rolling out soon. We will keep you posted on this project and how to asssist.
If you want to receive this newsletter direct to your e-mail – click here: https://era.org.za/subscribe/ If you are not yet a member of ERA, just a reminder to join. Subscriptions for 2020/2021 are: R350 per annum per household (R200 for over 65s); R950 for businesses. Pay to: Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank; A/c: 1975051173; Branch Code: 198765; e-mail POP to: treasurer@era.org.za with your surname and telephone number as your reference together with your completed membership form. Download a membership form below – https://era.org.za/join-era/
Covid-19 – How you can help– 14 April 2020
Dear Emmarentia residents
What we suspected would happen, has happened and on Thursday night 9 April, the President took the difficult but correct decision to extend the lockdown until the end of April. We were heartened by his statement that both he and the cabinet would be donating a third of their salaries to the Solidarity Fund for the next three months. In this spirit of giving we have drawn up a list of organisations that are doing special Covid-19 work (some of whose names were supplied by our own residents) that are in need of your support. You will find the list here: https://era.org.za/covid-19-how-you-can-help-11-april-2020/
We know you’re generous, we’ve seen your huge response to the request for food, bedding etc. for the new shelter in Windsor.
The list of organisations we’ve drawn up is diverse. It ranges from the official Solidarity Fund and large NGOs with national reach like Gift of the Givers to other much smaller and localised ones. Some need cash donations, others need expertise, there’s also a site that caters specifically for children and has projects where children can volunteer.
We are sure that we have left some organisations out and if we have, we do apologise and urge you to send us details so that we can add them to the list.
Children’s activities during lockdown
We know that almost three more weeks without school is going to be a challenge for parents and children. Some of you have older children and have access to computers and data and school lessons should start soon online and this should relieve the pressure a little. It’s the young ones with boundless energy that are missing their school friends that will be the real challenge. And many of you will be trying to juggle work from home while trying to entertain little ones. Please share with us how you are keeping your children entertained/busy. Share your tips and tricks, perhaps it’s a special website, a game, or anything that’s created excitement in your home. E-mail us on info@era.org.za or on our Facebook page – Emmarentia Residents Association. We’d also like to know any websites that don’t require data and that children can access for free. The next newsletter will put all this info together, hopefully in the next week. Please send to us by Thursday 16 April. And if you have extra toys, books, puzzles that you have to donate, please let us know. Or if you know of any young children in the suburb who are not able to go to school because of lockdown and who don’t have many toys and play things but who would benefit from them, please let us know and we will see how we can connect the two.
And remember, wear masks when you go out.
Note: Thanks to Parkview Residents Association for some of the information included in the list of organisations.
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Last Updated: 21st September 2020 by Jenny Grice
Covid-19 – ERA’s response
Covid-19 is upon us. As ERA we are helping to give you information about how you can find out more about the virus, how you can help those in need, which shops are open and which closed, see if Government’s schemes can help you or your workers and security hot spots. See these posts below to find out more.
ERA Covid-19 newsletter –
No 9, 28 July 2020
Covid-19 in our own homes
Gauteng now has the unenviable position of being the epicentre of Covid-19. The number of new infections each day has climbed to new highs. We all now know someone close who has it or who has succumbed to it. There are also stories of private hospitals being stretched to capacity and of some being full.
* How do you know you have coronavirus?
If you’ve tested positive – don’t panic. Many people who test positive will experience “no symptoms whatsoever”, says Gauteng GP Sheri Fanaroff. “85% of symptomatic people will experience a flu-like illness which will be manageable at home. 10 to 15% of symptomatic people will require hospitalisation and 5% may need ICU,” she says.
See here https://www.biznews.com/inside-covid-19/2020/07/15/covid-19-3 for more of her advice on:
And click here https://era.org.za/how-to-manage-covid-19-at-home/ for very useful advice from Drs Kola and Jassat that covers important details around how to manage Covid-19 at home.
If you live on your own and contract it, make sure that you keep in contact with a family member or friend so that they can check on you every day to see if you are doing okay and organise shopping for you. And keep your phone close to you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your neighbours or e-mail info@era.org.za We’re here for you.
And make sure you contact all those that you were in close contact with so that they can self-isolate in case they have caught the virus from you.
These are the signals that tell you when you need more help:
We’re fortunate to have doctors in Greenside who have clubbed together to buy equipment so that they can provide oxygen therapy and care to patients at home instead of going to hospital. Contact them for help on 082 332 2100; 083 454 1316; 083 390 1786. If you’d like to donate to them to boost their ability to help patients, e-mail imasa@gmail.com
Schoolkids back home again
Some of you will agree with the president’s decision to send children back home and others will not. Whatever your views, schoolkids at public schools will stay at home again until 24 August. The exceptions are Grade 12 learners who must return to school on 3 August and Grade 7s on 10 August.
ERA donates R1000 to Parkview CPF
As SAPS Parkview closed again after more staff contracted Covid-19, ERA donated R1000 so that the CPF can buy them Perspex shields for the staff. Our condolences to Parkview SAPS on the loss of some of their own.
Freezing cold and in the dark
Over the last month we have experienced freezing weather. One day was the coldest in four years. But what made it worse was many of us were also in the dark. Eskom had to bring back load-shedding and we all know what happens then… our old cables just blow up when the load-shedding ends and the suburb is reconnected. Coupled with many bouts of cable theft, June/July have not been happy months for residents.
To try and minimise cable theft and damage to mini-subs, the Let’s Work team and residents around Umgwezi Road have secured the fencing with chains and padlocks on Gleneagles and around a number of other mini-subs in the suburb.
During a particularly bad patch where the same residents around Niger Road experienced repeated cable theft and days without power, a number of residents offered to join ERA to help come up with a better plan to not only secure the mini-subs but also try and ensure that the thieves are caught. A plan is currently being hatched. More next time.
Mandela Day at Emmarentia Eventide Home
Eventide old age home in Emmarentia celebrated Christmas in July on July 17 2020. Our community did their 67 minutes a day early by organising them a lunch.
The event was a great success and the residents really enjoyed themselves. “Could we please do Christmas in July every month?,” was the plea from the residents at the end of the meal!
It was a wonderful collaboration between the Emmarentia Residents Association and Kindness Like Confetti (KLC).
Special thanks go to:
Residents enjoy the feast
Let’s Work and Ward 88 residents fill more bellies on Mandela Day
On Mandela Day, Felicity and her Let’s Work Team coordinated the making and delivery of 2 955 meals, 54 litres of soup and bread, 500 boerewors rolls, 260 hot dogs and then she stopped counting because she was so exhausted. “I have never seen so much cooked food in my life (and I’ve seen some pretty huge buffets in the USA)”, said Felicity.
Special thanks go to Mochachos, Eastern Temptations and Fresh Earth for continued support in feeding communities.
And this was just a month after Let’s Work coordinated the distribution of 2446 litres of soup on Father’s Day.
Meanwhile her team are continuing to clean up the streets of Ward 88 and do patrols along the Spruit to ensure that people do not erect structures.
Don’t forget, Let’s Work always needs donations – in cash or kind, preferably cash so the team can be paid for their hard work whether it’s helping sort and distribute food or cleaning the streets and green spaces. EFT to Let’s Work; NPO#201-696 FNB A/C – 62801299472; Reference: Emmarentia
More green spaces to explore
In line with the president’s easing of restrictions on exercising in green spaces:
* Jhb Botanical Gardens re-opens from 1 August
Because of limited staff and to ensure that all safety measures are followed, only two entrances will be open: the main entrance on Olifants Road and the other entrance opposite Roosevelt Park High School in Thomas Bowler Avenue.
Visitors to the park must comply with these regulations:
Melville Koppies Central (entrance opposite Marks Park entrance; park at Marks Park) on August 9, 16, 23 and 30 will be open between 8am and 11.30am. Because of Covid-19 there will be no guided tours or hikes. Instead you will be given a map and you can then self-guide yourselves in your family group through the very special nature reserve and heritage site that also has geological, botanical and animal treasures. Guides and security will be on duty. (No dogs allowed.)
To limit numbers and keep social distancing, booking with pre-payment essential – R80 for adults, R40 per child. Masks must be worn at all times. Book with wendavid@mweb.co.za or phone +27 11 482 4797
Note: Melville Koppies is in dire need of financial help. It relies on guided tours and hikes to raise the R22 000 a month to pay its five conservation workers. Since lockdown, there have been no guided tours or hikes but the committee has continued to pay its conservation workers who keep the Koppies clean and clear of weeds and invasive alien plants ensuring that the adjacent properties on the Emmarentia Ridge retain their value. There are three ways you can help:
Road hump on Olifants Road angers residents
ERA has received many complaints from residents about the new road hump on Olifants Road adjacent to the entrance to the Botanic Gardens that residents say “endangers the lives of cyclists on the road and motorists”.
ERA then approached Councillor Hensman to pressurise JRA to do another inspection on the grounds that he was never asked to approve the installation of a new roadhump as per the regulations and because of numerous residents’ complaints. As we sent out this newsletter, Hensman was awaiting a response from JRA.
If JRA says that the hump is all in order then ERA will open a petition and allow residents to have their say and then follow the process to submit the petition to JRA. We’ll keep you posted.
Licence expiry date extended again
Because of the heavy initial lockdown restrictions and the subsequent frequent closures of licensing offices as and when staff have contracted the virus, there is now a huge backlog of licence renewals. To address this:
Insurers have confirmed that if you are in a car accident or your car is stolen and one of your licences has expired, you will still be covered.
Telkom mast update
In the last newsletter we reported on some residents bid to halt the construction of a Telkom mast in Marico Road. Since then Telkom has agreed to hold on any more construction until the case goes to court, probably sometime in August. More in the next newsletter.
If you’d like to support the initiative to fight Telkom, especially helping to pay her vast legal bills, e-mail Sarah Barret on sarahbarret2@outlook.com to find out how.
COJ News
These are the final new tariffs adopted. You should all have received your latest accounts from COJ.
Property rates: Proposed – 4.9% Final – 4%
City Power: Proposed – 8.1% Final – 6.23% (proposal for pre-paid customers to pay an extra R200 per month was scrapped)
Water: Proposed – 8.6% Final – 6.6%
Refuse: Final 5.2% (proposal was accepted)
CoJDevPlanning has established a law enforcement unit. Residents can report the following contraventions to complaintsple@joburg.org.za:
Please copy ERA in on the complaint so that we can keep track of progress.
COJ Development Planning Department goes electronic
You can now deal with this Department via e-mail instead of going into the office. Call the respective office for more details.
Just a thought!
Normally some of us, especially those that live close to Marks Park and the entrances to Botanic Gardens, dread this time of year. It means Saturday or Sunday mornings are disturbed by the many walkers and runners that come to our suburb to take part in Walk the Talk, the Spar Women’s Race, the Avon Walk and many, many more. Just a year ago did you ever think that it would take a pandemic to bring you peaceful weekend mornings in June/July/August? Many of us are missing the normality of the noisy!
If you want to receive this newsletter direct to your e-mail – click here: https://era.org.za/subscribe/
If you are not yet a member of ERA, just a reminder to join. Subscriptions for 2020/2021 are: R350 per annum per household (R200 for over 65s); R950 for businesses. Pay to: Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank; A/c: 1975051173; Branch Code: 198765; e-mail POP to: treasurer@era.org.za with your surname and telephone number as your reference together with your completed membership form. Download a membership form below – https://era.org.za/join-era/
______________________________________________________________________________
ERA Covid-19 newsletter – No 8, 18 June 2020
As we enter the 12th week of lockdown, and the 18th day under Level 3, by now you’re all experts on what you can do under Level 3 and what you shouldn’t do. But really Level 3 is all about self-regulating. Do your bit to control the spread and take care of yourselves.
Daily numbers of Covid-19 patients are increasing at a more rapid rate in part because of more tests being done, but mostly because that is the expected trajectory of the illness. It means that when you leave your house you are more likely to catch Covid-19 than before. It also means that some of you may have it or you may have friends/family that have it. Our deepest condolences to those that have lost loved ones.
In the coming weeks/months, you may find yourself faced with questions like the following:
click here to find out the answers that Dr Sheri Fanaroff, a past pupil of Emmarentia Primary School (1981-1985) who is now a practising GP in Johannesburg, shared recently.
Schools resume
By now some grades have gone back to school and more will resume over the next while. We know the huge debates that have been going on about whether it’s safe to send your children back to school. We’re sure that the decisions that you’ve made suit your individual circumstances.
New school terms for 2020
Term 2: 8 June – 7 August (holidays 10-11 August) (staggered return of grades to school)
Term 3: 12 August – 23 September (holidays from 24 September – 2 October)
Term 4: 5 October – 15 December
ERA supports residents’ bid to halt Telkom mast
In March 2020 residents in Marico Road were alarmed to find out that the pegged out markings in someone’s garden and then the excavation and the laying of a concrete foundation were the beginnings of the installation of a 20m Telkom cellphone mast.
A number of residents took legal advice and contracted lawyers at a substantial cost to interdict Telkom. The interdict was granted and all construction was halted. The case was set down to be heard in April. Initially there were hopes that the matter could be settled out of court but in June, Telkom changed its mind in May and said it would meet those opposing the construction in court on 9 June. On that date, the matter was not heard and the case has again been postponed until 23 June.
Meanwhile ERA has leant its support to the residents’ court challenge by sending a letter to the Telkom CEO and appealing to him to do what he can to halt the construction of the mast and to construct it in a more suitable location. In the letter, ERA chairperson, Ayanda Mjekula, points out that Telkom proposes to build the mast “inside a residential site, disfiguring the neighbourhood, is unsightly, objectionable and will derogate from the value of the adjoining and neighbouring properties”.
If you would like to support this initiative to fight Telkom, e-mail Sarah Barret on sarahbarret2@outlook.com to find out how.
Appeal to residents to support Xmas in July at the Eventide Home
Over the past while, ERA, with residents’ generous support, has sponsored Xmas in July for Emmarentia Eventide residents. Last year with your generous donations we were able to give them a delicious feast in July and with the remaining money, buy them an Open View decoder with remote at Christmas time.
With Covid-19 casting a cloud over all our lives we were concerned that it could prevent this year’s plans. However, after discussions with the Home and with local charity, Kindness Like Confetti, ERA will help coordinate a Mandela Day event with KLC which will take place at the Emmarentia Eventide Home. “To minimise contact with residents, food and goodie bags will be dropped off at the Home and the staff will dish up and distribute,” says Claire Hoffmann, ERA’s communications person.
Sadly, ERA chair, Ayanda Mjekula will not be able to don his red Father Christmas outfit and hand out the gifts! If you can assist in any way – with food for the meal or items to go in the goodie bags for the residents, please contact info@era.org.za or claire@kindness.org.za. For monetary donations you can EFT directly to Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank; A/c: 1975051173; Branch Code: 198765; Reference: Xmas in July. E-mail POP to treasurer@era.org.za.
Parkview CPF appeals to mayor to intervene in problem of homeless people in the precinct
On June 8, Parkview CPF sent a hard-hitting 4-page letter to the Mayor, Geoff Makhubo, and the City Manager, Ndivho Lukhwareni, requesting a meeting to “agree on a plan for dealing with the homeless people for whom it is easier to live on the streets and in open spaces than to be accommodated in shelters”.
The letter describes the failed attempts the CPF had made over the past year with SAPS, JMPD and the Department of Social Development (DSD) to try and move the homeless into shelters. Even though some moved during Level 1 lockdown, since Level 3 opened up, many have moved back to the open spaces.
The letter also details the Catch-22 process that must be followed to remove those that are breaking the by-laws by living in open spaces (Read the full letter to appreciate the flawed process: https://era.org.za/parkview-cpf-appeals-to-mayor-for-help-with-homeless/
The letter concludes by saying that “it would seem to us that the organs of state are failing its citizens. There simply must be a better way to deal with this growing problem, which we submit is the City’s to deal with. This has been further highlighted by the COVID-19 lockdown measures. Something needs to be done about this situation urgently. The threats to safety need to be removed, by-laws must be enforced and the indigent people need to be dealt with in a compassionate and decisive manner.”
As this newsletter was being sent out, no response had been received from the Mayor.
The CPF has still not received approval to set up a soup kitchen.
Emmarentia shops news
Let’s Work appeals for money donations
While Let’s Work continues to do its tireless work of feeding and clothing those in need (aided by the generous support of residents – thank you) Lockdown level 3 has brought new challenges.
The shelter in Windsor that had to accommodate 100 people overnight at the beginning of lockdown now only has 28 elderly people left. Many of those that have left are now begging on our streets and moving into green spaces and there are more structures now than there were before lockdown. With this have come increased reports of muggings and attacks in these green spaces.
To respond to this Let’s Work wants to fund two teams so that one continues processing the soup/food demands and the other resumes work in the green spaces. Despite the huge help Let’s Work has received with food, clothing, and soup for the needy, their financial donations are at about 15% of normal donations. And to resume the green spaces team, they need financial resources.
The green spaces team has started cutting back the reeds along the spruit so that the trees don’t get burnt again by the arsonist that strikes annually. Cutting the reeds back also helps to keep out the vagrants who find good shelter in the long reeds.
If you can help with food, soup-making, closed containers to put the soup in, contact Felicity Gratz-Lawlor – 082 568 1783, felicity@letswork.org.za or drop off at 107 Preller Road, Roosevelt Park.
Father’s Day appeal: Please make a note in your diaries for 23 June – Father’s Day. Let’s Work is planning a major campaign to provide soup for that day. If you can help in any way, contact Felicity. (Remember – kids get community service letters)
And if you’re concerned about safety in the green spaces, donate to:
Let’s Work; NPO#201-696 FNB A/C – Let’s Work A/c 62801299472; Reference: Emmarentia
[Note: In response to reports of attacks, Jhb City Parks has informed residents that all green spaces covered by JCP are out of bounds, even if they are unlocked/unfenced.]
COJ NEWS:
According to Mayor Makhubo, in April and May, 97 000 residential and business accounts that normally paid their COJ accounts did not pay. This resulted in a loss of R1.3 billion to the City. However, this is expected to improve in June as many have resumed work under Level 3.
Meanwhile, the City seems to have rectified its mistake of double-billing customers for water in the month of May by passing credit to its customers in the June invoices. If yours is still not rectified, contact 011 375 1111
The City has released draft documents for 2020/21 – Proposed Budget and Tariffs, IDP, Rates policy and By-laws. Its inviting comments from any interested party. You have until 23 June to comment.
Find the documents here:
https://www.joburg.org.za/documents_/Pages/Key%20Documents/SDBIP%20IDP%20and%20Budget/links/Budget.aspx
Fill in your comments on all documents on this web form by opening this link: https://share.hsforms.com/1puiRfx1FSO606r27262qHA469tl
Or if you have more detailed comments email the following. For:
Or WhatsApp: 083 632 1077
Key aspects of the proposed budget are:
Property rates: Up by 4.9%
The budget proposes increasing remuneration of councillors by 6.4% while employees employed by COJ will have their salaries capped at 5.4%. Proposed increased spending on maintenance is low at just more than 3%.
If you want to receive this newsletter direct to your e-mail – click here: https://era.org.za/subscribe/
If you are not yet a member of ERA, just a reminder to join. Subscriptions for 2020/2021 are: R350 per annum per household (R200 for over 65s); R950 for businesses. Pay to: Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank; A/c: 1975051173; Branch Code: 198765; e-mail POP to: treasurer@era.org.za with your surname and telephone number as your reference together with your completed membership form. Download a membership form below – https://era.org.za/join-era/
ERA Covid-19 newsletter – No 7, 19 May 2020
It’s hard to believe that we’ve passed the 50th day of lockdown. And if it’s all feeling like a blur with one day merging into another and you’re uneasy because you’re not sure what’s going to happen to your business, to your kids, to your older members of the family, today, tomorrow or next week, you’re not alone. In fact there’s even a term for it. It’s called ‘temporal disintegration’, and it’s a direct result of trauma, according to E. Alison Holman, Ph.D., a psychologist and an associate professor with the UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing. (for more see here https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/how-and-why-coronavirus-changing-our-sense-time?fbclid=IwAR0ol0NJHEGQ-KMp19vHzkHG7Wub5ZCjRmKAdL66S60qTqlmnT4y4vz3h6I)
Closer to home, Debbi Burman from Parkview Victim Support Unit (VSU) acknowledges the enormous strain that families are going through. Although it is normal to suffer from some of the following symptoms during stressful times, they can feel overwhelming during these unusual circumstances.
Symptoms of stress can include insomnia, or excessive tiredness she says. Also beware of an increasing dependence on alcohol and other substances for relaxation or to help with sleep problems. Panic attacks and breathlessness are also common.
She also warns parents to be on the lookout for signs of stress in children who are missing their school friends and the daily routine. ‘They may become more needy, need to share your bed again, revert to thumb-sucking, bed-wetting or unusual crying and temper tantrums’.
Normal issues with teenagers may become intensified and need to be handled calmly. Their peers are very important to them and social media is a good way for them to keep in contact. Parents need to acknowledge their frustrations and conversations amongst the family members should be encouraged.
The VSU with its team of counsellors are trained in debriefing. They can talk to you and give further advice. Should you need more than they can offer, they are able to provide referrals to the relevant professionals. She encourages residents to phone the unit on 073 280 4453 should you wish to speak to one of their counsellors. (this is a free service)
Let’s Work always at work
Someone else who’s not sure what day of the week it is, is Let’s Work’s Felicity Gratz-Lawlor. Drive past her house every day and you’ll see her team of seven at it, receiving food and other donations, packaging food parcels and always disinfecting everything that’s received. I ask her what she does every day. There’s a moment’s silence, and then ‘well we had to find a home for 350 loaves of bread this week. I used to have to plan the menu for the shelter every day; now I only do that once a week.’
Just before Mother’s Day she sent out an appeal for 1000 cup cakes – she received 3850 – wow, thank you to all that made mothers feel valued.
What Felicity does know is that every day there are pots bubbling on her stove making soup. ‘It’s cold now, people are so grateful when they receive soup. And we love receiving ready-made soup – stew up some veg, add bits of meat or a chicken stock cube, put it in a ziploc bag, freeze it and drop it off. Every little bit counts. And containers to put the soup into – yoghurt tubs, ice cream tubs, anything like that.’ And if you can encourage your kids to make it, she will give them a community hours’ certificate.
Currently her team services two shelters – one in Windsor (90 people) and one in Northcliff (20 people) as well those in need in neighbouring areas like Westbury, Albertville, Greymont, Newlands, Claremont, Sophiatown, Brixton (soup kitchen for the homeless), Kathrada Park, Old Age Homes in Westbury and Westdene. They also make up food parcels for Ward 87.
She is so grateful for food donations, but ‘please no more mealie meal’, she has loads of it. Instead instant porridge would be good. Better to Whatsapp her or look on Whatsapp groups for what’s on her list for that day.
What she really needs now is warm blankets, old shoes, socks. Drop it off or Whatsapp her and she may be able to collect from you. Money donations are always needed so they can get bulk prices on things like sardines.
Felicity Gratz-Lawlor – 082 568 1783; 107 Preller Road, Roosevelt Park
Banking details:
Let’s Work; NPO#201-696 FNB A/C – Let’s Work A/c 62801299472; Reference: shelter
ERA donates infrared thermometer to Emmarentia Eventide
ERA has followed up its donation of 100 masks to Emmarentia Eventide with the donation of an infrared thermometer. ‘We are so relieved to have this,’ says the Major of the home, ‘the Department is checking on Old Age Homes for compliance.’
Appeal from Randburg SPCA
The need to support animals hasn’t stopped over lockdown. ERA has received an appeal for funds from the SPCA. They have asked us to pass on their appeal to residents. They are appealing for funds to support their 5 Freedoms campaign:
* Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
* Freedom to express normal behaviour
* Freedom from discomfort
* Freedom from fear and distress
* Freedom from pain, injury and disease
These freedoms encompass four areas of work – Rescue; Sterilise; Welfare; Care
Donate to: RANDBURG SPCA; FNB A/c 62702475717; Branch Code 256755. Specify which area of work you would like to donate to: Ref: *RESCUE or *STERILISE or *WELFARE or *CARE
Parkview CPF news
The survey will be open for responses until 15 June 2020. Please don’t hesitate to contact Geraldine Connell at chair@parkviewcpf.co.za if you have any questions or comments.
WOZA to fold end of May
Despite a last minute rally to get another 100 subscribers to subscribe to WOZA, we failed to reach the target. Thank you to those that made new commitments and a special thank you to Paul Nogueira for developing the app and running it so successfully for the benefit of residents.
* Beware—the bin thieves are back
Residents are reporting bins being stolen again. Apparently reclaimers use the wheels for their trolleys and use the lidless frames to separate the different types of recycling.
* Be careful when exercising with electronic equipment in the mornings
There have been reports of mobile phones/watches/jewellery being stolen off joggers, walkers early in the morning. Rather leave it all at home. And if it is stolen please report all details to CAP/SAPS.
Restaurant news
Restaurants are struggling to stay afloat – some have had to employ drivers or contract Uber Eats or another delivery service, all of which increases their costs. But not all residents are cooperating. These are just some of the problems they are facing: ‘Customers place orders and then are not at home when the delivery arrives. Intercoms don’t work, customers don’t answer their phones. All of this delays our drivers.’
So please do your bit to ensure that our restaurants can endure these difficult times and support and cooperate with them.
* Ophelias, 5th Avenue – 8h00 -12h00; Uber Eats from 9h00 -12h00; Phone 068 516 3919
* Pizza Hut, Greenhill Road, Uber Eats from 11h00 – 18h15; Phone 010 109 7715
* Sweet Tea Chickadee, 3 Levubu Road – Uber Eats 8h00 – 17h00; Wed-Sunday; Phone 083 712 4805
If you don’t want to visit Eastern Temptations but would rather get stuff delivered, order through Personal Shopper – call or whatsapp order to 072 572 5635
Thanks to your generosity Greenhill Grocer has been able to make up 250 hampers for the needy. They have extended the campaign by another week to 24 May and are hoping to get to 500 hampers at R50 per hamper. Pay to:
Greenhill Grocer, Nedbank current account, A/c 1049668170, branch code 1958105. SMS POP to 082 444 1168 or e-mail info@greenhillgrocer.co.za; Ref: name+number of hampers
Please be careful on Greenhill Road with the self-appointed carguards. Fresh Earth has its own carguards who wear pink vests – be sure to tip them but please refrain from tipping the others and if you have a problem please phone JMPD on 011 758 9620 or SAPS on 071 675 6060/1/2/3.
Easing of lockdown?
Pinging card transactions on people’s mobiles must have soared since government relaxed restrictions on what can be bought online. There’s hope that at the end of May, or before, we might see us dropping down to Level 3 although with Region B in Johannesburg still being one of the hotspots, don’t count those chickens….. Check out this useful tool to see what’s allowed at which level and in which area. www.lockdownbozza.co.za Still no hairdressers/barbers for a while… You need to implement Plan B!
Wildlife has its day
While we’ve been locked down the wildlife has been active. In the last newsletter we reported that a rinkhals had bitten a cat in a garden in Emmarentia. (NB: cat is recovering, but very slowly)
This week residents have been sharing photos and videos of a spotted genet in their gardens. If you spot its face you may think it’s just a cat but when you see its thick striped tail you’ll know it’s not. Keep your eyes peeled and be welcoming – they eat rats and mice.
And while on wildlife and nature, check out https://www.facebook.com/search/posts/?q=melville%20koppies&epa=SERP_TAB
Since lockdown began, Wendy Carstens who manages Melville Koppies nature reserve and some volunteers have been writing short pieces about the birds, the bees and the people linked to the koppies that is right on our doorstep.
Planning and heritage approval
While lots of things may still be locked down, ERA’s Gemey Abrahams who approves Emmarentia homeowners’ building plans and heritage requests is not. If you or your architect has been busy during Level 5 and 4 designing renovations or additions to your property, you can contact Gemey to get all these signed off. E-mail info@era.org.za or whatsapp her on 082 459 5266.
(Remember title deeds of Emmarentia properties state that any renovations or new build must be signed off by ERA who act on behalf of the Louw Geldenhuys family who originally developed the suburb. Moreover, almost all Emmarentia houses are older than 60 years which means that any alteration/addition must follow heritage requirements. See here for more details and the costs involved: https://era.org.za/building-and-renovations/
COJ apologises for overbilling water
COJ has billed most people for 60 days instead of 30 days. It also didn’t bill as per actual readings that residents sent in. CoJ is busy correcting this. In the meantime, please pay your average bill and also send through your actual readings again around the 25th of the month.
Wear a mask
The trickiest thing about Covid-19 is that you may have it even though you have no symptoms. And if you have it you can pass it on to someone else that is older, sicker and more vulnerable than you. So when you go out your gate, put your mask on. When I walk out of my gate currently I don’t have enough hands and feet to count how many people are ignoring the regulation. The mask is not to protect you – it’s to protect others from you. So please, if you’re on your bicycle, on the pavement or jogging on the street, and in the car – put that mask on! (And wear it correctly – we’ve all guffawed with laughter at the meme of how not to wear it…)
Stay safe.
ERA
ERA Covid-19 newsletter – No 6, 7 May 2020
Dear Emmarentia residents
ERA to sponsor 500 masks
Now that it has become mandatory for everyone to wear a mask when they go outside, ERA has decided to go ahead and buy 500 masks for the less fortunate. Some will be given to residents at Emmarentia Eventide Home and the rest will go to Let’s Work for them to allocate to the shelters and other needy people in the area. The three-layered masks are being made by an Emmarentia resident.
WOZA needs your support
Almost two years ago, when crime incidents had spiked yet again, ERA worked with local resident Paul Nogueira to develop a security app called WOZA. At the shake of a subscriber’s cellphone, a security company could be summoned to assist someone in need whether it was a security situation or a medical emergency. What made the app more special was that, as long as you had your cellphone with you, it could be activated almost anywhere across the country. In addition, Paul agreed to donate a certain percentage of income received each month and pay it across to Let’s Work, the NPO run by Felicity Gratz-Lawlor. To date more than R3000 has been transferred to the NPO while shopkeepers on Greenhill Road who have subscribed to WOZA have used it to summon security help when needed.
However, Covid-19 is impacting our lives in ways we did not anticipate. Paul has just received notification that there will be a four-fold increase in the costs that the security services will charge and this poses a real threat to the continued offering of the service. As he explains, ‘this has always been a low-key ‘community’ project, as opposed to a profit-driven project for me, but there is a limit beyond which I am unable to continue to support it – that limit will be breached by this proposed increase.’
As ERA we believe that this is an initiative worth supporting. Moreover, we believe that once lockdown is over there is a very real chance that security will need to be increased as the devastating results of Covid-19 start to take effect. Subscribing to WOZA is one way in which we believe we can all be proactive and prepare for what is to come.
To this end ERA and Paul are requesting all residents who are currently not subscribed to the service, to consider registering their commitment to subscribe. If he can double his current 90-odd subscribers, it would enable him to go to the suppliers of the national armed response service and attempt to negotiate a lesser cost increase with them.
If he fails, Woza will be shut down at the end of May (or when the last subscriber has enjoyed a full month since their last payment; annual subscribers will receive pro rata refunds). Such a situation would be extremely sad considering the effort put into developing an app for the suburb and the useful service it is currently able to provide. For more details and to show your commitment click here: https://tinyurl.com/yxftdgog
Concern over domestic workers and gardeners returning to work
ERA has been approached by a number of residents who are concerned that some domestic workers and gardeners who commute on a daily basis seem to be back at work despite regulations that clearly state that this is only allowed at Level 2.
The regulations state that*:
a)ALL live-in domestic workers may return (but once they return, they may not commute home until the alert level is lowered)
b)Any domestic worker who is responsible for the care of children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, physical or mental illness may return to work.
c)No ‘live-out’ domestic worker whose duties do not include caregiving as stated above may return to work. Not even for L4 permitted workers. This was part of the provisional regulations but was removed on publication of the government gazette. (Cleaning services are allowed under Level 4 so you could consider getting in a cleaning service)
d)No ‘live-out’ gardeners may return to work under Level 4.
If your domestic worker falls under b) above she will need to carry her ID and wear a face mask, especially while travelling with public transport and practice social distancing. She will also need:
-you to complete a ‘permit to perform an essential or permitted service’. Find it here (https://1drv.ms/w/s!AmkYi-wWUkfyhzyyqKx3Ukc-3U_P?e=llje8y), fill it in and print it out for them (or get it printed at a print shop – some are now open);
-copies of both you and your partner’s ‘essential workers’ permits’;
-proof of where they live;
-proof of residence of you the employer;
-a cover letter from you the employer stating that they are your ‘childminder’.
Remember they have to be home by 8pm and cannot leave before 5am so their working hours will have to be adjusted to accommodate them (8am – 3pm seems to be the norm).
We urge you not to allow domestic workers and gardeners falling under c) and d) above to return to work. By allowing them back to work and to commute daily you are opening up their family and your family to the threat of contracting Covid-19. Their families may be much less able to bear the disease especially if your employee is the one and only bread-winner and contracts the virus. Likewise if a member of your household is elderly or immune compromised you are also making them more vulnerable.
If your domestic worker or gardener is not able to start work yet, we encourage you to try and continue supporting them. If you’re unable to do this, apply for the special UIF grant that is available. https://uifecc.labour.gov.za/covid19/ or phone UIF on 0800 030 007 for details.
*Note: Thanks to SweepSouth and to Councillor Hensman for much of this information
Some other useful tidbits
Please try and do these things to help keep everyone safe:
Please be aware… An Emmarentia resident’s cat was bitten by a rinkhals in their garden in Shengani Road. The cat is recovering but residents are warned to be on the lookout for the snake which is still at large. If it comes into your garden, if possible, please call a snake catcher to come and catch it and release it somewhere where it won’t bite pets and people. We know of these two snake catchers in the area – Dion – 082 997 2726; Greg – 082 926 5684.
Download the African Snakebite Institute app (free on Google Play and App Store). It gives very useful information with photos of the snakes, their characteristics, first aid and medical info as well as names of snake catchers nearby.
On 5 May, the Gauteng health department announced that it was increasing its testing of those most at risk of contracting Covid-19 i.e. older people, people with other medical conditions eg. diabetes, asthma and heart disease even if people don’t have symptoms. It hopes to ramp up testing to 3000 per day. The closest government testing station is Parkhurst Clinic which is free; the private sector has many testing stations that have been advertised extensively in the media.
Thanks to prompt reporting by a Greenside resident of a cellphone theft, CAP were able to use their licence plate recognition masts to follow the getaway car to Savoy where it was apprehended and the perpetrators arrested. Well done CAP! Please make sure you report any criminal incident immediately to one of the security companies and open up a case at SAPS.
Parkview CPF has put forward a proposal for a soup kitchen to service the Parkview Precinct, it has been accepted and will be rolling out soon. We will keep you posted on this project and how to asssist.
If you want to receive this newsletter direct to your e-mail – click here: https://era.org.za/subscribe/
If you are not yet a member of ERA, just a reminder to join. Subscriptions for 2020/2021 are: R350 per annum per household (R200 for over 65s); R950 for businesses. Pay to: Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank; A/c: 1975051173; Branch Code: 198765; e-mail POP to: treasurer@era.org.za with your surname and telephone number as your reference together with your completed membership form. Download a membership form below – https://era.org.za/join-era/
Covid-19 – How you can help – 14 April 2020
Dear Emmarentia residents
What we suspected would happen, has happened and on Thursday night 9 April, the President took the difficult but correct decision to extend the lockdown until the end of April. We were heartened by his statement that both he and the cabinet would be donating a third of their salaries to the Solidarity Fund for the next three months.
In this spirit of giving we have drawn up a list of organisations that are doing special Covid-19 work (some of whose names were supplied by our own residents) that are in need of your support. You will find the list here: https://era.org.za/covid-19-how-you-can-help-11-april-2020/
We know you’re generous, we’ve seen your huge response to the request for food, bedding etc. for the new shelter in Windsor.
The list of organisations we’ve drawn up is diverse. It ranges from the official Solidarity Fund and large NGOs with national reach like Gift of the Givers to other much smaller and localised ones. Some need cash donations, others need expertise, there’s also a site that caters specifically for children and has projects where children can volunteer.
We are sure that we have left some organisations out and if we have, we do apologise and urge you to send us details so that we can add them to the list.
Children’s activities during lockdown
We know that almost three more weeks without school is going to be a challenge for parents and children. Some of you have older children and have access to computers and data and school lessons should start soon online and this should relieve the pressure a little.
Donation-Projects.14-4It’s the young ones with boundless energy that are missing their school friends that will be the real challenge. And many of you will be trying to juggle work from home while trying to entertain little ones.
Please share with us how you are keeping your children entertained/busy. Share your tips and tricks, perhaps it’s a special website, a game, or anything that’s created excitement in your home. E-mail us on info@era.org.za or on our Facebook page – Emmarentia Residents Association. We’d also like to know any websites that don’t require data and that children can access for free. The next newsletter will put all this info together, hopefully in the next week. Please send to us by Thursday 16 April.
And if you have extra toys, books, puzzles that you have to donate, please let us know. Or if you know of any young children in the suburb who are not able to go to school because of lockdown and who don’t have many toys and play things but who would benefit from them, please let us know and we will see how we can connect the two.
And remember, wear masks when you go out.
Note: Thanks to Parkview Residents Association for some of the information included in the list of organisations.
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