M i d v a a l T h e P l a c e t o L i v e

WARD 5 NEWSARD 5 NEWSARD 5 NEWSARD 5 NEWS

Who are the Community

Police.

Our communities in Walkers

Fruit Farms, Walkerville, De

Deur and Apple Orchards

have joined forces with each

other, Police Reservists and

the De Deur SAPS in order to

eradicate crime in our areas.

This joint effort, supported by

our Station Commissioner is

already showing success in our

mission to stop criminals in

their tracks..

We have had various success-

ful joint operations with Com-

munity Police Units, Police

Reservists and the Crime Pre-

vention Unit of De Deur

SAPS , with numerous arrests,

convictions and successes.

Purpose of the Community

Police

Our purpose is to get the com-

munity involved and to assist

the SAPS to eradicate crime in

our areas.

Our aim:

To assist our local police with

intelligence gathering relating to

crime information in our area.

To patrol our area and report any

suspicious activities.

To assist Police Reservists and

the SAPS Crime Prevention Unit

in various planned special duties

including Road Blocks and “Stop

and Search”operations in our

area.

To bridge the gap between the

community and the SAPS and

improve communication and

public relations.

To monitor crime statistics,

crime “Hot Spots” and follow

up Crime Activity and Crime

Information in our areas.

To raise funds in order to

equip the Community Police

Patrollers with essential equip-

ment such as bul-

let proof jackets,

radios, torches

etc.

To have regular

formal Commu-

nity Police Man-

agement Commit-

tee meetings,

documenting all

matters relating to

Community Po-

lice activities, crime informa-

tion, statistics etc.

www.communitypolice.co.za

(For De Deur, click on the De

Deur Tab)

Phakamile Hlubi

The sunny weather allowed the

waters levels to subside in the

Vaal Dam on Monday.

Around 85 families from

Henley-on-Klip were forced to

evacuate their homes last week

after heavy rains caused the

dam to flood.

The Midvaal Local Municipality’s Dot

Corrigan said residents were worried

about more flooding.

“Emergency services are on 24 hour

standby and we’re sand banking the

river as much as we possibly can,” she

said. “The neighbourhood watch…[is]

on standby all the time monitoring

Kidson Weir Henley on Klip

Sunny weather helps Vaal water levels subside

De Deur Walkerville Community Police.

Special points of interest:

• During the Anglo-Boer War the first

blockhouses were built on the orders of

the British Commander-in-Chief, Field

Marshal Lord Roberts in 1900. The main

aim of the blockhouses was to protect

the railway lines, which were the main

supply route for the British army. These

blockhouses were two-storey stone

buildings.

Inside this issue:

Election Registration Date 2

Farm Attacks 3

Crime Watch 3

Japie Greyling Team Building 4

We are Proud of our Midvaal 4

Farm Attacks (con) 5

NEWS LETTER ISSUE 1 OF

2011

JANURARY 2011

Page 2 News Letter Issue 1 of 2011

REGISTER TO VOTE & KEEP MIDVAAL DA

REGISTREER VIR DIE 2011

MUNISIPALE VERKIESING

U PLAASLIKE KIESSTASIE SAL OP 5 & 6 FEBRUARIE OOP WEES SO-

DAT

U AS ‘N KIESER KAN REGISTREER. U SAL NIE IN DIE MUNISIPALE

VERKIESING KAN STEM AS U NIE GEREGISTREER IS NIE. ELKE

STEM TEL EN STAAN SODOENDE SAAM MET DIE DA OM DIE ANC

UIT MIDVAAL TE HOU!

REGISTER TO VOTE FOR THE

2011 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

ON 5 & 6 FEBRUARY YOUR LOCAL VOTING STATION WILL BE

OPEN FOR YOU TO REGISTER AS A VOTER. IF YOU ARE NOT REGIS-

TERED THEN YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE IN THE MUNICI-

PAL

ELECTIONS. EVERY VOTE COUNTS SO UNITE BEHIND THE DA AND

Page 3 WARD 5 NEWS

The debate on motives for farm attacks has been one of the most newsworthy subjects of the past year. A lot of energy has been con-sumed by this debate.

The time has come to work together towards a solution. The Security Forces have a plan in a place called the Rural Protection Plan (RPP). Although not yet perfect, it is proving to be effective in certain areas.

It is a fact that in areas where the farming commu-

nity support the Plan and is actively involved in it and is working with the Security Forces, farm attacks are very low. This has to indi-cate that the Plan does pre-vent perpetrators from at-tacking, and that’s what South Africa needs!

The object of the RPP is to protect the farming commu-nities including those living on smallholdings. The RPP is based on the involvement of all possible role-players concerned with rural safety and is structured to coordi-nate all these role-players in terms of joint planning, operational activities, pre-ventative measures, moni-toring and training.

It should also be borne in mind that the decision to integrate the RPP with Op-eration Akantus II, did not bring about the end of the

plan. To the contrary, not only does the Plan continue to exist as part of the Op-eration, but its inclusion into the Operation enables more effective control of the Plan.

The RPP comprises of two main legs, Home and Hearth Protection and Area Bound Reaction Forces.

Lets face it – whatever the motives – these attacks must STOP! The only way in which to stop them is to prevent them. We need to

be more pro-active in our way of thinking and in our daily actions.

Here are a few tips on Home and Hearth protection which can also be applicable in urban areas.

Written by : Supt. C E Mul-ler

Physical Protection Measures A fence around the

house with lock-able gates is better than a high wall due to the advan-tage of visibility. Razor wire, barbed wire, empty tins or

bells can be at-tached to the fence to increase the early-warning ca-pability. Remember that gates must be kept locked.

Security gates with sturdy locks in front of each outer door as well as burglar-proofing covering each win-dow. Keep security gates locked at all times.

A security gate inside the house dividing the sleeping quar-ters from the rest of the house could prove vital in the event of physical penetration of the house. The emer-gency communica-tion system should preferably be in-stalled in this area.

Firearms must at all times be readily accessible and where possible be carried on the per-son. Ensure that weapons are al-ways serviceable and that the han-dler is qualified to use the weapon.

A siren/alarm on the roof with a few switches in the house can be heard over a long distance if other communication methods fail. It is important to test

Con on pg 6

Farm Attacks - Time to Act

Walkerville. The supermarket

chain who buys the dairy-

products from 26-year-old dairy

foreman Eon Viljoen has much

to answer for. Their failure to

pay the farm for its products has

caused a chain of horrific events

in which two former farm work-

ers – angered because they did

not get their Christmas bonuses

in time – beat farm-owner

Marie Weilbach, 79 into a

brine dead-coma with a steel-

pipe. The two workers then

were killed in turn when they waited for

her grandson Villjoen in ambush and

tried to kill him with a shotgun and a

steel pipe. Two dairy-farm workers –

Mkhlushwa Khoza and Mbongiseni

Hornsby – beat 79-year-old farm-owner

Mrs Marie Weilbach into a brain-dead

coma while the retired Boer dairy-farmer

was watching a religious TV-programme.

Both her hands were crushed from

trying to ward off the blows. She passed

away as a result of her injuries.

Local Farmer Attacked and

beating dies as a result of

her wounds.

Psa 104:13-14

(13) He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

(14) He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

Crime Watch by Rob Jones

P.O.Box 1354

Meyerton 1960

M IDVAAL THE PLACE

TO L IVE

We are Proud of our Midvaal.

Drumblade Conservancy.

Phone: 011 695 8136

Fax: 0866555049

E-mail: midvaal5@absamail.co.za

Keeping Midvaal clean

www.midvaal.gov.za

Ward 5 Midvaal

The Laerskool Japie Greyling primary school will be hosting a team building potjie-kos competition on

March 12 at the school in Daleside. The purpose of the

competition is to raise funds to improve the schools facilities

and the security in terms of the schools fencing. The en-

trance fee for teams are R1000. All contenders will be pro-

vided with wood and a cooking area. All instruments for

cooking and meat veggies and so on will be the responsibil-

ity of the contender. This year will be the first potjie-

kompetition to hopefully become an annual event in March

each year. The winning team will be crowned the potjiekos-champions of 2011 and will be awarded a

floating trophy. The winning team will be given the opportunity to defend their title the following year and

with a little luck and lots of effort, the trophy will change hands every year. Contact Steve Gouws on

082 576 4852.

Team Building Potjie Competition.

The Vision of the Drumblade Conservancy is to

represent residents who appreciate the natural

habitat of the region and would like to preserve

and conserve a relatively rural way of life in an

area which sus-

tains several en-

dangered species,

wetlands and

ridges in order to

ensure no further

general degrada-

tion of the envi-

ronment. We

aim to create

awareness of the

uniqueness of the

Drumblade area, our indigenous flora and fauna,

and ensure its re-establishment and protection for

future generations of Drumbladers.

w w w . d r u m b l a d e . c o . z a

N a t u r e ' s L i t t l e P i e c e o f

H e a v e n !

these devices regularly and to ensure that they can be heard over long distances. Guard dogs and geese are a good warning system. Keep them locked in close to the house so that strangers cannot get to them easily.

Early Warning Signs Strangers present in, or strolling about the area without any apparent reason.

Strange vehicles making use of farm roads or even camping in the area. Look out for foreign tracks.

Deviations from the norm in employees’ behaviour. Abnormally high consumption or purchase of foodstuffs by employees. Change in the behaviour of current employees soon after the hiring of a new employee.

The unexplainable death of a watchdog.

Be on the lookout for evidence of the presence of intruders, e.g. empty bottles or tins, cartridge cases, paper remnants, torn off buttons, torn off material, foot or shoe prints, burnt out fires at apparent camp sites, waterholes and river beds, rem-nants of meals, cigarette butts, empty boxes, excrement, string etc.

The theft of food, fuel, livestock and game.

Strangers visiting your premises for apparently good reasons and then trying to make unobtrusive observations.

Some Good Security Habits Stand by your rights as owner of your farm. Strangers entering the farm or visiting labourers should first obtain your permis-

sion. Liaise with your local SAPS or Agricultural Union station on what the Law allows you to do and how you must apply this on your farm.

Farm Labourers

Do not allow anybody on your farmyard or in your house without having properly identified them, especially at night.

All implements which could be used as weapons should be kept locked away when not in use.

Remove keys from all vehicles when not in use.

When you leave the house, make it a habit to inform your family of your intended destination, the route and when you intend returning.

Test your telephone regularly to ensure that it is in working condition. Have the telephone installed in a place that is easily accessible from anywhere in the house, and that is not vulnerable to gunfire directed at or through windows. Make certain that alternative communication is always available.

Keep tight control over your keys to prevent duplication.

Always keep a torch at hand during the night and when using a torch make sure that it does not disclose your position.

Take precautions against theft of fuel and supplies.

Vary your daily routine.

Make a habit not to go to sleep immediately after switching off the lights at night. Remain awake for a while. Don’t sleep in a place where you are visible from the outside.

Don’t stand in front of windows when opening and closing curtains. Move with the curtain so as not to present yourself as a target.

Take photographs and fingerprints of all employees. Even if these are not used, they are a good deterrent.

Regular target practice on the farm (within the safety measures naturally) is also a good deterrent to any would-be criminal.

Inform your children of the correct procedure when answering the telephone as well as avoiding conversation with strangers or accepting presents from strangers.

Think – do not panic. Control is your first line of defence.

Assess the situation – is there someone close-by? Make as much noise as possible.

It is not recommended that you resist an attacker unless it will enable you to escape AT THAT MOMENT.

Should you instinctively resist, do not hold back. You must injure your attacker. Immobilise your attacker by means of self-defence techniques until help arrives or you are able to escape.

If it is not possible to resist, concentrate on identification marks. Take note of the attacker’s age, height, hair colour, eyes, scars, other obvious physical features, clothing, speech and patterns of behaviour.

Try to leave as much proof as possible around the scene of the attack such as fingerprints, handkerchiefs, jewellery or any other form of identification.

Potential victims have escaped attack by engaging in effective communication with their attackers (talking your way out).

2.1 Establish good relationships with workers.

2.2 Keep copies of all ID documents of labourers.

2.3 Encourage all workers to be alert on security matters and to report all crime.

2.4 Remunerate your workers for useful hints and information.

2.5 Consider the organising of workers in a type of farm watch system and, with the co-operation of the Security Forces, provide thewith relevant training.