news & updates ANNOUNCEMENT NOTICE OF IMPROVEMENT OF RIVER FRONTAGE PUBLIC MEETING 20 December 2011, 3pm, Stanford Municipal Boardroom. Please attend this important meeting. This is a community proposal and we need your input.
WATER TESTING
The river water and the reticulated drinking water results for October, supplied by the Municipality, will be in the January issue.
CRIME FIGURES
The crime stats for November will also be recorded in the January 2012 issue.
Accused held As has been reported in many of our national and weekly newspapers, Zolani Victor Menziwa (36) has been remanded in custody for the murder of Juliet Haw. According to the police, Menziwa was tracked down and caught in Hillbrow, Johannesburg on 12 November almost three weeks after Juliet’s murder. On his arrest he gave a full confession. The following Monday, he appeared in court in Pretoria. Menziwa was then brought back to Hermanus where he appeared in court on 21 November. Police have confirmed that Menziwa stole Juliet’s cell phone, her laptop and R315 in cash and he then left the province by bus from Bellville. Menziwa has a criminal record and has been classified as a serial rapist. At the time of the murder, he was out on parole as the Department of Correctional Services thought
WARD COMMITTEE UPDATE RIVER FRONTAGE IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL The draft proposal for the improvement of the river frontage and other areas adjacent to watercourses (mainly following the wandelpad) was favourably received by the ward committee. A public meeting to explain the suggestions thus far, as well as to obtain more suggestions and feedback, will be held in the municipal boardroom on Tuesday 20 December at 3pm. Please spread the word so that as much input as possible can be obtained. A copy of the existing proposal is available in the Stanford library, or can be obtained from Bea Whittaker at milkwood@maxitec. co.za. STANFORD SEWERAGE WORKS FAILS GREEN DROP TEST Although the Overstrand Municipality obtained 9th place in the Department of Water Affairs’ 2011 national green drop assessment (assessment of the quality of the water discharged by wastewater treatment
Mourning Juliet: friends leave bunches of flowers pinned to her gate.
he was rehabilitated. Menziwa has handed over the murder weapon and the clothes he was wearing. They have been lodged with the forensic department in Pretoria. A police psychologist who reevaluated Menziwa said he would potentially murder again. The case has been postponed to 30 January 2012. Menziwa remains in custody.
Meeting held 16 November 2011
works), there is concern about the efficacy of the Stanford wastewater treatment works (WWTW). It achieved a score of only 48% for wastewater quality compliance, and it was noted that the operational capacity has reached its design capacity. According to our assistant area manager, Petronella Ferreira, one of the reasons for the works reaching its design capacity is the fact that farms are no longer allowed to build soak-aways and that all effluent now also has to be disposed of via the Stanford WWTW. One of the solutions could be to use the effluent for the irrigation of sport fields and parks, as is done in Hermanus. According to Sue Matthews, manager of the Overstrand estuaries, the poor quality of effluent from the WWTW could be one of the contributors to the eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) problems experienced in the Klein River estuary for the past two years. The Department of Water Affairs monitors water quality in the river, 10 kilometres
upstream of Stanford, which shows nitrate levels to average approximately 0.7 mg/l over the past decade. However, the average nitrate concentration of the final effluent from the Stanford WWTW discharged into the estuary from 2008 - 2010 was 17 mg/l, slightly over the legal limit of 15 mg/l. It is recognised, however, that even small additions of nitrate into a closed system (the estuary only opens for a few months after good rainfall) will cause eutrophication. The Klein River estuary is ranked as the 5th most important estuary in South Africa in the 2010 National Biodiversity Assessment. Together with the Bot estuary, it makes up 25-30% of the estuarine fish nursery area from Cape Point to Port Alfred, and is also an important recreational resource, used for boating, kitesurfing and fishing. PAVEMENT IN QUEEN VICTORIA STREET A tender for the resurfacing of pavements in the Overstrand is being advertised
at the moment. Included in the tender is the much-needed resurfacing of the pavements in our main road. YOUTH CENTRE OR FIRE BRIGADE? Social Services in Stanford are desperately looking for neutral space (i.e. not connected to any specific organisation or church) to provide activities that will keep the youth off the streets. Although the community centre is ideal for day-to-day activities, there is a need for a secure place where equipment such as computers can be safely used and stored. The ex-storage area of the municipality (abutting the community centre) is the ideal place, but the municipality needs this area temporarily for fire protection services. As drug and alcohol abuse and anti-social behaviour is increasing day by day, anyone who may be able to help or come up with ideas for a centrally situated youth centre, are requested to contact Maryanne Ward on 028 3410 401. Bea Whittaker
Cosy cattery and kennel in lovely country atmosphere. Qualified dog trainer. Well balanced diets, love and care.
028 - 3410 961 STANFORD RIVER TALK 5