ZBRRA

Bird course for beginners - Part 1

Admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:31:18 +0000

On Saturday, 7th August 2010 a small group of enthusiastic birders met at Lagoon Lodge to begin the long journey to become ‘a birder’.

Klaus Achtzehn, owner of Lagoon Lodge and one of the most accomplished birders on the North Coast, addressed our group. He introduced Dumisane Mbonambi, our local trained guide and stressed the need to group birds into their respective families for quick identification. ie raptors such as eagles and hawks being grouped apart from the swallows ! We were amazed to learn that the swallows and swifts were not closely related and that one can tell them apart since the swift cannot walk, only flies and hangs while swallows are able to ’sit’ on the telephone line. Martins who are also grouped with swallows are brown in colour and found in Europe.

Notes from the course follow.

Wendy Balcomb

HOW TO IDENTIFY ZINKWAZI BIRDS

Introduction

Defining birwatching as active enjoyment of birds’, fascination with birds, fast growing hobby, many diverse reasons to watch birds (from bird feeders to twitchers, the challengte of the little 5, outdoor nature activity), SA biodiversity and endemism.

Basic ID

developing basic observation skills through elimination, key features to look for (comparative size, colours & patterns, bill and legs) bird description terminology, adaptations and general grouping (waders, raptors, seed-eaters etc ) distribution maps, listing.

Bird Families

common features (dove family) niche evolution, convergent evolution (swifts & swallows) the taxonomic ‘tree’ and dinosaurs, species concept, naming standards

Field Guides

definition, drawing vs photographs, how to use, choose from Newman’s, Sasol, Robert’s Field Guide, Oberprieler, Sinclair & Ryan

Binoculars Techniques

discover the secret world of birds, personal di-opter adjustment, peripheral vision, how to focus oon the bird quickly, panning, sun warning

Gardening for Birds

gardens as habitat for birds, food and water, shelter & breeding, the differing needs of birds & the significance of the resident robin, common garden birds in Zinkwazi

Lets find them

Next Session

Topics: bird behaviour. understanding bird habitats, advanced id and tricks, birding activities and tools, how to choose binoculars, ethics, field practice, bring a list of local birds you have identified

Date to be arranged, Raffie Restaurant, Zinkwazi Lagoon Lodge, R40/perons (kids R30)

Discovering Zinkwazi

presented by the Zinkwazi Blythedale Conservancy, Dumisane Mbonambi and Klaus Achtzehn

Snake talk and Demonstration - July 2010

Admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:16:48 +0000

Barn Swallow picnic - March 2010

Admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:55:54 +0000

Hi all,

This is the first of the events planned for the year and hopefully it will start drawing attention to the activities of the Conservancy. We also see it as a means of bringing family together and invoking a spirit of community. Being the first event it is hugely important to make it a success and so encourage everyone to keep attending further planned events. Apart from being there yourselves, please make every effort to invite others and encourage the whole picnic/sundowner experience. This event is in a sense reliant on the Barn swallows playing their part and as we all know this might not materialise and so when advertising this our emphasis should be on the family sharing time and the beauty of the surrounds.

Notices have been placed at the Cafe, the ZBRRA notice board and the Ski-boat Club plus 360 notices will be handed to pupils at the Darnall Primary plus Sunshine Pre-primary a week before the event. I will also request Wendy and Engela Wium to send to their resident lists. If there are visitors in Zinkwazi at the time [the Wed before the Easter weekend] then hopefully they will also participate.

Regarding forthcoming events, I have sent 2 e-mails to the Natal Sharks Board [after being advised by the responsible person to do so] without the courtesy of a reply yet but will continue to follow this up. I have also been struggling to obtain the number of a professional [Jasper Pons is certainly a candidate] who can give us a talk on local snakes. Should you have any suggested contacts please let me know and I will follow it up.

I will be away from tomorrow arriving back in Zinkwazi the day before the event and I will be placing direction signage on the Nkwazi Rd on the day. The whole event is taking place on the Clewlow estate and we thank them for their hospitality and willingness to accommodate us. Ryan will kindly prepare the ‘picnic area and decks and I see no reason why it should not be a special experience for many. Klaus will give a short introduction to the evening and the background to the Barn Swallow experience. It will also be an opportunity to highlight some of the forthcoming events.

I have attached the ad. Please repond should you have any thoughts or suggestions although certain arrangements can’t be changed.

Regards

Cliff Hatt

Cliff has earned quite a name for himself since ……….no swallows pitched, one of the revellers fell off a rotting deck which collapsed into the water and serveral fell into holes on the dark walk home………..but WE ALL WANT A REPEAT !!

Several braziers and braai drums have been collected - thanks to Howard Balcomb - and when the weather warms up, we plan to have an evening of ‘Fireside Tales’ in the same magnificent venue on the banks of the Zinkwazi river.

Sincere thanks to Ryan and the Clewlow family for letting Zinkwazi enjoy their bush

Wendy Balcomb

–

Discovering Zinkwazi - July 2010 Holiday programme

Admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:37:18 +0000

SHARK dissection

by the KZN SHARKS BOARD

Come and hear the KZN Sharks Board deliver an educational talk on sharks& watch them dissect a sharkas part of the demonstration.

Where: Zinkwazi Ski-boat Club – in marquee

When: School holiday Friday 11 June 2010

Time: 10.30am for 11.00am

Hotdogs and refreshments will be on sale.

A Zinkwazi Blythedale Conservancy event

This is the second of theZinkwazi Blythedale Conservancy events themed - ‘discovering Zinkwazi and surrounds’ . The events are specifically aimed at interesting and educating both young and not-so-young on the rich and almost unique bio-diversity we have here in our precious corner of South Africa. All are welcome.

Further events amongst others:

· Zinkwazi snakes – the good, the bad and the not so pretty

· Life in the rock pools

· Beach and DuneForest walk

The Conservancy also offers:

· a beginners Birding ID course for all ages

· a guided canoe trail on the Zinkwazi Lagoon

All Zinkwazi Blythedale Conservancy projects are sponsored by ZBRRA and all ZBRRA members are automatically

members of the Conservancy.

For more info please phone Cliff - 083 454 3596

Conservancy meeting - 10th August 2010

Admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:43:51 +0000

ZINKWAZI CONSERVANCY

MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE MEETING

held at Zinkwazi Lagoon Lodge at 11H30 on Tuesday 10^th August, 2010.

Present: Klaus Achtzehn (Chair), Neil Wallace, Cliff Hatt, Peter Saville , Bing Comrie, Peter Coulon, Fokko Fokkens, Wendy Balcomb

Apologies: Richard Penn-Sawers

Peter Coulon – Land and Conservation Manager of the Elan Group, stated that there were two issues to be addressed.

1 Stewardship – the road forward

Neil Wallace said that there was a need to ensure that landowners in the Conservancy area ie Tongaat Huletts, Elan , Prince’s Grant and the DFA (Darnall Farmers Assoc.) were fully aware of the Stewardship program and how it could benefit their businesses while enhancing Biodiversity Conservation.

Derrek Ruiters of KZN Wildlife has been appointed as the coordinating officer for EKZN Stewardship in this area and was on call to attend meetings to discuss the programme in detail with landowners. It was decided that where possible we would also involve Wildlands in these meetings to enable them to add value by informing about the conservation developments and potential in the area and to enhance credibility. They have an excellent reputation for the management of projects and their funding.

Peter Coulon to set up a meeting at Riverside Hotel at 10 to about 10.45am with the Elan group Environment Committee on Friday, 27^th August as the first of these meetings.

Peter Saville to invite local interested and affected parties from the DFA to meet at the Darnall Club at 2pm the same afternoon for the second meeting. Klaus and Neil to communicate with Derrek Ruiters to ensure he was available and to get either Dr Roellie Kloppers or Andrew Whiteley to attend from Wildlands Conservation Trust.

A meeting has been initiated with the board of T.D.H. We are awaiting finalisation of date and time, this is in Neil’s court.

2 Game Counts – there is a need to know what game is in the Blythedale/Elan area

Fokko to trace past records and to involve those who in the past carried out the count.

3-4 hours of darkness required to complete game count in areas to be allocated. Suggested that two vehicles from Blythedale and 2 from Zinkwazi to take part. Each to have two spotlights. Sightings and time of sighting to be recorded. Game count to take place after 17^th September when Fokko is available.

Zimbali have camera footage to prove that their interrupted fencing to the beach facilitates the movement of game to the beach at night. This is recommended for estates.

3 General

Peter identified the need to remove AIP on the Blythedale entrance and replant with indigenous plants.

It was agreed Peter and Bing would work on this and identify plans and budget. Wendy to assist, where she can, on getting KDM and provincial authorities on sides with this.

4 Trust needed for future funding

It was decided that to facilitate the acquisition of further funding we needed to ensure a valid independent trust was available The Business for Conservation Trust, which was dormant, already existed with a balance of R84,000.00. This was created by local farmers headed by a committee including – Basil Haggeman, Fokko, Jasper Pons, Peter Ardington, Johnnie Kleusner, Dymock Brett, Peter Saville, Mark Clewlow to fund diesel for KZN staff. Permission was granted from the dept of revenue to preclude the trust from the need to spend 75% of its funds annually.

It was agreed that the trust deeds and constitution would be forwarded to Neil, who would consult with Wildlands Conservation Trust experts to see that it was up to date and suitable to use for potential New funding from C.I. on the Maputoland, Pondoland, Albany Hotspot development as well as future Lottery funding.

5 It was agreed that it would be a good communication and awareness program to obtain Indigenous tree identification tags from WESSA , to label good looking specimen trees in Zinkwazi. Wendy to action with support on tree identification from Bing and others.

Along the same line it was agreed that Wendy would utilise the Mtunzini conservancy AIP awareness program and use their display system to show specimens of AIP at the ZBRRA notice board at the Junction.

6 Closure

The meeting ended at 13H00

Signed ……………………………………Date: ………………………………………

Klaus Achtzehn………..Chairman Zinkwazi Conservancy

ZINKWAZI CONSERVANCY

REPORT ON MEETING AT NURSERY

held at the Nursery at 10H00 on Tuesday 10^th August, 2010.

Present: Klaus Achtzehn (Chair), Neil Wallace, Cliff Hatt, Peter Saville , Bing Comrie, Fokko Fokkens, Wendy Balcomb

Apologies: Richard Penn-Sawers

1 Management of nursery

Neil outlined the need to have a defined management plan so that Wendy’s work for Zbrra was not dominated by the Nursery, which was increasing in size and would demand more time and effort.

After discussion it was resolved that the primary function of the nursery was to serve as a resource centre for the rehabilitation and planting of local gardens and the Conservancy area with appropriate, local indigenous plants. It should not be promoted as a commercial source for individual plants. It should thus serve as a resource for the following:

The rehabilitation of property in the future after AIP clearing would include re-planting. This would be charged for as part of a package. In the past this was a part of the service but was found to be expensive and time consuming.

A basic planting & landscaping package for the differing eco-zones in the Conservancy area will be developed. Bing Comrie to help Wendy to compile lists of appropriate local indigenous plants for different requirements. This package will be marketed to landowners and garden services as a free service, but the appropriate plants (with or without Labour) would be sold.

It should also serve an educational purpose regarding both indigenous as well as invasive plants.

Dymock Brett to be approached to join the Conservancy Committee and take on the Nursery and AIP portfolio in the same way Cliff had taken responsibility for events. Neil to approach Dymock

It was resolved that Wiseman was to spend his time managing the nursery under WB supervision. Bing stressed the need for good nursery practices – plants to be weed free and in a good condition. W B to engage extra labour for set up if necessary ie the erection of the fence. The making of compost was purely for nursery use.

2 The Hangar

It will be used as a centre for educational functions.

To optimise on the floor space, Wendy to submit a plan and cost for the interior layout of the hangar with divisions for office, meeting area, storage of tools and fertilizer and crates for vermiculture.

The toilet is to be completed by Klaus and functional before the next conservancy meeting.

Signage has already been made and will be erected on the new fence. Cliff to assist with marketing

4 General

Dumisane would continue to run the AIP work. Existing properties in the programme had been notified that any further work to remove aliens would be charged for.

The meeting ended at 11H15 and we proceeded to Lagoon Lodge for a Conservancy meeting

Signed ……………………………………Date: ………………………………………

Klaus Achtzehn………..Chairman Zinkwazi Conservancy

ZINKWAZI CONSERVANCY

REPORT ON MEETING AT NURSERY

held at the Nursery at 10H00 on Tuesday 10^th August, 2010.

Present: Klaus Achtzehn (Chair), Neil Wallace, Cliff Hatt, Peter Saville , Bing Comrie, Fokko Fokkens, Wendy Balcomb

Apologies: Richard Penn-Sawers

1 Management of nursery

Neil outlined the need to have a defined management plan so that Wendy’s work for Zbrra was not dominated by the Nursery, which was increasing in size and would demand more time and effort.

It should also serve an educational purpose regarding both indigenous as well as invasive plants.

Dymock Brett to be approached to join the Conservancy Committee and take on the Nursery and AIP portfolio in the same way Cliff had taken responsibility for events. Neil to approach Dymock

2 The Hangar

It will be used as a centre for educational functions.

The toilet is to be completed by Klaus and functional before the next conservancy meeting.

Signage has already been made and will be erected on the new fence. Cliff to assist with marketing

4 General

Dumisane would continue to run the AIP work. Existing properties in the programme had been notified that any further work to remove aliens would be charged for.

The meeting ended at 11H15 and we proceeded to Lagoon Lodge for a Conservancy meeting

Signed ……………………………………Date: ………………………………………

Klaus Achtzehn………..Chairman Zinkwazi Conservancy

Forum minutes - 10th August 2010

Admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:39:37 +0000

ZINKWAZIBEACH FORUM MEETING

Date & Time: Tuesday 10^th August, 2010 at 16H00

Venue: The Junction – E Wium’s office

Present :

Present: Klaus Achtzehn – Chairman Zinkwazi Conservancy, Engela Wium – Chairlady Ward 2, Nigel Simmonds – Chairman Zinkwazi Ski Boat Club, Richard Armstrong – Neighbourhood Watch, N Wallace & W Balcomb - ZBRRA

1. Reports from those present:

Ski Boat Club: Nigel reported that the Ski Boat club had agreed to refurbish the beach toilets in conjunction with the KDM. Work could not commence until the proposed major changes had been completed ie the pipeline had been installed to remove sewage from the toilets to the conservancy tank in the car park. WB to ask Carlos Mendes and the Civils dept when this is to take place and to stress the need for completion before the Christmas holiday season.

Water: Engela iLembe and Umgeni are to reschedule their planned testing of water from the village boreholes after a disastrous week in July when some residents were without water for 4 days due to poor planning of the shut down by iLembe while tests were in progress. We have been assured that in future the community would be advised well in advance. Mike Newton reacted well to the criticism from residents and communication has improved.

Nigel assured the meeting that Umgeni and iLembe were most concerned about the supply and quality of the Zinkwazi boreholes and there was a proposal to pipe purified water from Darnall Mill to Zinkwazi as an interim measure to top up the borehole supply until the Tugela pipeline reaches our area. The funds for the Tugela project have already been approved and he understood that this supply could be available as soon as 2014. Leaks in Zinkwazi’s reticulation line, in the Glen and Nkwazi drive, are the cause of major loss of water. Tongaat Huletts would not supply water until this is resolved.

Crime – Richard Armstrong. Richard said that due to the economic climate it was difficult to retain members and to enroll new members. Engela suggested that she could circulate a short concise daily crime report to residents. This may make them feel more involved and it could encourage them to support the Neighbourhood Watch.

She stated that there is a need to treat information sensitively should staff be under suspicion. Garden and Household Cleaning services could be disadvantaged by random remarks that a staff member is suspected of being involved in crime.

Richard to discuss suggestion of report with Chairman James Gilleran. It was suggested that garden/cleaning services assist by submitting details to ZNW of staff details. Engela to motivate this.

Richard said that a Satellite Police station in the village was still under review and Herman Lindveldt was trying to get this approved.

ZNW were once more commended on their good management of New Year and asked to manage the next Festive period

KDM – WB stated that KDM were still not responding to the needs of Zinkawzi. It was decided that WB should submit a list to each dept of KDM listing issues still unresolved and to copy this to the MM with advice that due to non-performance of KDM ZBRRA would seek legal action with a view to declaring a dispute.

Conservancy

Klaus reported that the Nursery is to be the centre of the conservancy. Functions organized by Cliff Hatt had been most successful. There had been a well supported holiday programme for young people which included lectures and demonstrations on sharks, snakes, life in rock pools and on Saturday 7^th August - the first of a two-part beginners bird course took place at Lagoon Lodge. Future events were planned of which the community would be notified. Cliff was commended for his excellent organization of the events. Some revenue was made to cover costs

The nursery was up and running and several plant sales have been made.

General

Engela was thanked for her willingness to circulate information to her vast data base.

Stewardship in the Zinkwazi area was explained :The Conservancy is embarking on a program to ensure the willing participation of landowners in the preservation of ecologically sensitive areas.

Closure. The meeting ended at 17H30

Signed ……………………………Chairman N. Wallace - ZBRRA

Signed……………………………Admin manager. W Balcomb – ZBRRA

One day after this meeting, it was noted that three teams from KDM Civils dept are busy dealing with unresolved. Thiss as a result of a tour of inspection with WB by Matthew and Mdletche a week before and a promise of an invitation to a braai at the nursery, should the list of needs be met.

Mandela Day - 18th July 2010

Admin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:30:17 +0000

Dear Zinkwazi residents,

Nelson Mandela Day

Many of you might have read the pullout in the Sunday Times – in between all the wonderful soccer hype – drawing attention to Nelson Mandela Day and providing some inspiring thoughts on how to honour this great man and in so doing also continue the wondeful spirit of ‘ubuntu’ which has been so obvious in these past 5 weeks.

1. Providing food for the 28 orphans being cared for by surrogate mothers and gogos in Zamani village.

The children have been identified by Pastor Nelson Mkhize and All Saints Anglican Church in Darnall and are provided monthly with family food packs.

Last week, as a result of a plea to Pep Stores for assistance, the school-going kids amongst the orphans were taken to Stanger to buy new school clothes [the first ‘new’ clothes some of them had ever been given] and as can be seen in the pic the excitement was palpable! Thanks to the generosity of Pep Stores.

In the same manner as last year, we will place a trailer at the Junction parking area onFriday 16 July and Saturday 17 July [ that’s this week!] to receive your food donations. The true spirit of Nelson Mandela Day is to be actively involved and so we don’t wish to ask for money but should you be out of town or not be in a position to participate and a cash donation is your only way of showing your desire to be a part of the day then please contact me on the email and/or cell provided below.

Suggested foods: Maize, sugar, cooking oil, soaps, powdered juices, samp, sugar beans, salt, toothbrushes, tinned foods etc.[ please no perishable foods].

2. Providing stationery for the Bongimfundo Primary School [ a farm school situated 1km behind the chicken farm ]

Stationery requirements:

Supplies of pens, pencils, rulers, erasers and ribbon [to tie pens around necks!]

Should you wish to, in a spirit of community involvement, we will be paying the school a visit on Tuesday morning 20 July to hand over the collected stationery and interact with the kids. Meet at the carpark at 09.30.

With thanks,

Zinkwazi resident

083 454 3596

chatt@mtnloaded.co.za

What a cell phone can do ….

Admin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:49:50 +0000

4 THINGS YOU PROBABLY NEVER KNEW YOUR MOBILE PHONE COULD DO

There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it:

One: Emergency

The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile; network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked.

Try it out.

Two: Have you locked your keys in the car?

Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their mobile phone from your cell phone.

Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone

on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object.

You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other ‘remote’ for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

Editor’s Note: It works fine! We tried it out and I unlocked our car over a mobile phone!’

Three: Hidden Battery Power

Imagine your mobile battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370# Your mobile will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will

get charged when you charge your mobile next time.

Four: How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?

To check your mobile phone’s serial number, key in the following digits on your phone!: * # 0 6 #, a 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down

and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.

You probably won’t get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can’t use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile

phones.

They can only arrest you if …..

Admin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:47:20 +0000

THEY CAN ONLY ARREST YOU IF:

1 They have the original warrant for your arrest there with them. A copy isn’t good enough, saying it’s at the station isn’t good enough either. They have to show it to you there and then (if they have it, check plan “b”)

2 They have to prove that you received the summons in person. It either had to be delivered to you in person or you had to collect a registered letter from the post office (if they cannot prove you personally received the relevant summons, the warrant of arrest is not legal either)

3 If you do get stopped and they want to arrest you, demand to see the warrant and proof you received the summons (i.e. your own signature on the document when delivered to you).

4 If they don’t have it, the arrest is illegal. Refuse to go. If they still arrest you inform them there and then you will press charges against them for illegal arrest (record everything that is said to you, as well as the chronological procedure of events in detail). These details may well stand you in good stead for a strong case.

5 Technically, if your arrest is illegal, the taking possession of your car by the police and its driving thereof while you are in custody may also constitute theft.

6. When you are released, go to the SAPS immediately and lay a charge against the arresting law body and relevant officials.

MAKE SURE YOU CARRY YOUR DRIVER’S LICENCE WITH YOU

Report on water - 30th July 2010

Admin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:44:33 +0000

30^th July 2010

Water problems

Answers ‘From the horse’s mouth’

Dear Zinkawzi residents

We are very aware that our silence over the past week on the unacceptable water situation was ‘deafening’.

We have had a week of frustration trying to field a barrage of questions from residents. Explanations from staff at iLembe were conflicting and confusing -

each reporting what they understood the position to be. As a result both Engela and I were unable to circulate information which we could
not verify. Engela, who has a good understanding of the water issues in Zinkwazi, went to an enormous amount of trouble over the past week to effect
some resolution to the problem. Our sincere thanks to her for her efforts.

It appears that the lack of water was as a result of a series of unfortunate co-incidents over a period when iLembe were doing their best to carry out
investigative tests of our 5 boreholes in a bid to improve our water problems.

I received the letter below from Mike Newton, the Municipal Manager of iLembe yesterday.
I consider this a concise outline of the unfortunate events of the past week.
We will meet with Mr. Newton shortly to hear the results of tests and to establish a feasible way forward
Thank you for you understanding over the most trying week !

Regards
Wendy

Wendy, your call this morning has reference

In short, Umgeni Water have been trying to determine how much yield the boreholes are giving, so that we may determine what the future delivery
capacity for Zinkwazi through boreholes will be. There is a problem in that lack of rainfall is also creating a groundwater starvation regime, which
means the quality of water is also compromised, hence the need for the study. The contractor has been appointed and is on site, and has started the
draw down tests which then determines borehole recharge rates/ water quality etc. Unfortunately, this means that the borehole does not contribute to the
system whilst it is being tested. This has created the lack of water to Zinkwazi. The second problem is that one of the borehole pumps has burned
out due to overusage, which has exacerbated the problem. Umgeni are replacing this pump at the moment. We have asked the contractor to cease
with the drawdown testing so that we can stabilise the Zinkwazi system again, which we are presently trying to do.
After the long weekend, we will re-look at the situation and allow the contractor to continue once demand rates drop off.

Notha is on his way out to you now, and will give you a verbal run down and site tour if you so desire.

If there is a rainfall event in the near future, the boreholes will recharge and be adequate for the shorter/medium term. I understand that rain is on
the way, so keep fingers crossed. we are looking for a longer term solution for Zinkwazi, as the rate of growth is starting to outstrip the ability of
the boreholes to supply the town. we will let you know once we have come to a firm conclusion on which way to go. we engaged with Dept of Water Affairs
yesterday on the matter, so the ball is in play.

Thank You,
Mike Newton

———————————————–

Security Lights at entrance

The long awaited security lights at the entrance are working. We trust that the quality of picture the camera is now able to take, as a result of slower moving vehicles in bright light will result in improved footage and lead to the identification of vehicles which may be involved in crime.

I would like to thank the Zinkwazi Ski Boat club who have supported the Zinkwazi Residents Assoc and have contributed to the cost of the installation of the lights. ZBRRA will pay the electricity bills.

…………………………………………….

Speed humps

Those who oppose speed humps in the village continue to whine about them. They drive on the pavement to avoid them, thereby wrecking our efforts to have attractive pavements. If you are one, please bear in mind the humps were installed at the request of you, the resident, for your safety. Zinkwazi is widely recognized as an eco-friendly village which attracts those who love peace and quiet and who enjoy outdoor activities.

It’s great to see how many people walk and ride on our roads early in the morning and in the late afternoon. Ideally this should be on the pavement, but since we live on sloping sand dunes, few of these are negotiable.

To maintain and improve our pretty village -

I would like to appeal to every resident to take ownership of the village – to clean up your own pavement: level and grass it, water and care for the indigenous trees planted on your verge, and to put your refuse out …… only on the morning of collection

Number your property

For your safety and protection in a time of need

PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE NUMBER OF YOUR HOUSE IS CLEARLY VISIBLE FROM THE ROAD.

Wendy Balcomb

083-2659631