Barrydale Online

Barrydale Ratepayers Association: Press Release

Open Letter sent to Swellendam Councillors who have consistently failed to attend Council Meetings.

They have been challenged to do their work or resign.

Barrydale Ratepayers expressed their frustration at the non-functioning of their Swellendam Municipal Council by sending open letters to their councillors who have failed to attend meetings of the council, thus denying council meetings a quorum, and bringing service delivery in the municipality to a standstill.

The Open Letter addressed to Councillors Amanda Swart and John Nortje had invited them to explain to Barrydale Ratepayers the reasons for their non-attendance of council meetings that they had been elected– and paid - to attend.  This they declined to do.

So far this year Cllr Amanda Swart (ANC Ward 4) has been absent without leave from four meetings and walked out of five meetings before the business could be completed.  Cllr John Nortje (ANC proportional representative) has been absent without leave five times and also walked out five times before the completion of  business.

The Barrydale Ratepayers Association have therefore challenged the two councillors “TO DO THE WORK YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO, OR RESIGN AND MAKE WAY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DO THE WORK YOU HAVE NEGLECTED TO DO.”

Further background information attached.

Contact Mrs Emma Schoeman, 028 572 1122 Chair of the Barrydale Ratepayers Association.

Issued by the Barrydale Ratepayers Association

A new Craft Market is starting in Swellendam. The first market day on will be on 26th May and stalls are free.
After that be market will be held on the first Saturday each month starting in July.
Contact Vicky 076 764 0221

As part of Library Week 21 members of club Ebenhaezer (Seniors) visited the Barrydale Public Library.  Mrs Rina de Villiers, the librarian, gave a presentation on what the library had to offer and all present were assured of the library staff’s total commitment to their particular needs. Everybody was given a sticker, a peak cap, a bookmark and a colourful plastic bag for books with the words:  
Stay Connected @ your Libray.

Mrs De Villiers invited them to the hall, where she read the Bible story of the death of Jesus on the cross to them from a beautifully illustrated library book.  Also a music CD was played with the same theme, Christ’s atoning death on the cross and what it means to us all.  

Tea,  coffee and cake were served.  Everyone was presented with an easter egg.  The meaning of various symbols of Easter were discussed.

Biblioteekweek 2012 by Barrydale Openbare Biblioteek
Tema:  Bly in kontak @ jou Biblioteek
Stay connected @ your Library

Barrydale Openbare Biblioteek het behoorlik uit sy nate gebars met die afgelope Biblioteekweek.  Oud en jonk was behoorlik geesdriftig in die pret wat aangebied is, want ons lesers glo beslis aan kontak @ jou Biblioteek.  ‘n Kompetisie rondom die aktiwiteitsboekie “wees ‘n ster” het baie pret verskaf.  ‘n Storie-uur met ons pragtige nuwe kinderboeke het net weer ons kinders lus gemaak vir lees. 

Swellendam TV invited Moji Kitsi to spend a few days in the Swellendam area
on his way back from managing an anti- Rhino poaching stand at the KKNK in
Oudtshoorn.  We have filmed an interview with him which will be uploaded
onto You tube and facebook soon.

Moji comes from a small town in Brits, he has always loved the bush and the
wild animals.  After reading about the plight of the Rhino about 18 months
ago he decided to give up his job working in a factory and to become a full
time Rhino activist.  He is busy writing a book called "The diary of the
Village Rhino Whisperer"  He writes beautiful poetry and passionate
articles.  These are already shared by his many followers here in S.A. and
internationally.

He has made contacts all over South Africa and is invited to many big Rhino
awareness events,  Moji has such a magnetic personality and wherever he goes
people are immediately attracted to him and listen with interest to what he has to say.  This makes him such a good activist and in his own passionate way he is making such a difference.

We popped in to see the children at the Net vir Pret project in Barrydale
and within minutes he was giving an impromptu talk to the kids. A little
girl Nicolette showed him a poster that she had done of a Rhino that had

been poached and called it 'Boelie' as she said that this to her personified
the act of bullying!!   They showed him how to do the 'Reeldans'.  I am sure
that he touched each and every one of them in a way that they will never
forget. One of the little boys said that from now on his favorite animal
will be the Rhino and not the sheep anymore!  Saturday he spent walking
around in Railton handing out anti-poaching leaflets and talking to the
people.  

Moji is an example to us all - follow your dream - be passionate  about what
you do and success will find you. Good luck Moji and we hope to see you again soon!

The Barrydale Dutch Reformed Churh Fete will be on Saturday, 05 May 2012, from 09:00 in the church grounds.
You are invited to come and enjoy a delicious breakfast.
There will be plenty of fresh produce; baked goods and other goodies to buy.
For more information contact: Carien Smit 084-5808202
Anneritha Potgieter  072-7634894

If you are anywhere within striking distance of Barrydale (near Swellendam, Montagu, Ashton, Robertson, Heidelberg, Slangrivier, etc. etc. and even a bit further afield), do not miss this flute and piano recital which was extremely well received in Swellendam last month.

ARTISTS: Christopher Nicholls, Flautist    Sylvia Schulman, Pianist
VENUE: 41 Tennant Street, Barrydale
DATE: Sunday 29th April 2012
TIME:  3:45 p.m. for 4:00 p.m.
ENTRANCE:  R130 per person – includes refreshments

Phone 028 514 2904 or 082 855 0534 to book.

BARRYDALE BELASTINGBETALERS VERENIGING
BARRYDALE RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION

E M Schoeman (Voorsitter / Chairperson)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 028 572 1122
40 Tennant Street
Barrydale 6750

2 April 2012

TO: Mr N Myburgh; Mayor,

Mr M Koch ;  Speaker

Mrs A Swart; Councillor ward 2

Mr J Nortje; Councillor ward 2

Dear Sirs and Madam,

Xhosa proverb: The one hand washes the other

The electorate in the last municipal elections decided in its infinite wisdom not to give power to either of the main powers contesting the Swellendam Municipal election. Instead it was saying that it wanted both parties to work together for the benefit of the entire community.

Instead of working to improve the lives of all its inhabitants no work appears to have been done, to the detriment of everybody.

In the Barrydale area alone we have had no recourse to the Ward Committee ten months since the new Council was elected, simply because it has never been convened.

Council situation in Swellendam as on 11 April 2012

The facts  (Written by Itha Taljaard and supplied to Barrydale-Online by Anton van Vliet)

The situation with regard to the non-functioning of the council is continuing, with the resulting strain on management activities. The situation that the employment contract of the head of engineering (E.J Wentzel) is terminating within the next weeks, is certainly not contributing to organizational stability, and is unfortunately starting to affect service delivery and specifically project management.

Unfortunately some of the elected councilors are once again (as in previous years) making a deliberate effort to ensure we have a non-functioning council.  This of course is directly in contrast to the pre-election promises as was made at our open meeting last year (all of which was recorded on video and we would gladly take it out to remind you of what you said).

Please note that the fire emergency telephone number is now 028 4251690

Emma Schoeman, Chairperson

Emma founded the Barrydale Ratepayers Association, was the Chairperson except for a brief period in 2011/12 and has now returned as Chairperson. Emma worked for 15 years as a social worker at various non profit welfare organisations and was the SADF Human Resources Planning Manager for Natal Command Area as well as Director for the Association for the Disabled in Natal. In addition Emma held the post of Public Relations/Income Development Manager for Durban Child Welfare.

Tim Teale, Vice Chairperson

Tim served in the SA Navy Reserve 1969 – 1977 (including serving briefly in the Royal Navy in HMS Leopard). For 10 years he worked in banking, investments and finance and then changed direction and became Office Manager for Handspring Puppet Company 1982.

In 1983 he started Designage (Pty) Ltd with Clive Strawbridge. They specialised in retail design undertaking extensive work for hotel chains, restaurants, office design, shopping mall design and domestic residential design. In 2001 Tim and Clive formed Designage cc T/A Two’s Company and moved to Barrydale. They are presently working in Touwsberg Private Game Reserve and in Barrydale and districts.

Martina and Klaus are changing the profile of M's on Route 62. Instead of their restaurant in the Mud building they will now be offering a "meals on wheels" and catering service in Barrydale. Martina says "We say, rather spend your valuable time with your family and friends and receive the meal you deserve from M's Food Solutions. We will provide you with a well balanced home cooked meal. Our meals are prepared daily from Monday to Sunday and delivered to your home with no delivery charge". Klaus adds "Fancy a home cooked meal without the hard work? We will provide exactly that!"

The service also includes party platters, food in large containers and frozen meals.

Contact Martina on 028 5721124 or 0826948820 to find out more about the menu and preferences.

Emma Schoeman has been re-elected chairman of the Barrydale Ratepayers Association (BRA). With Emma at the helm once again we are hopeful that her determination will ensure the urgent needs of our village will not be pushed aside and ignored. We thank the outgoing Chairman Helena Joubert for her contribution to the community.

Below is a report from the Chairman on top priority needs for 2012 - 2017.

BARRYDALE RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION

BARRYDALE BELASTINGBETALERS VERENIGING

E. Schoeman (Voorsitter / Chairperson)

Tel: 028 572 1122, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , P O Box 114, Barrydale, 6750

NEEDS 2012 - 2017

Our top priority needs in Barrydale have not been resolved during the last 5 years.

1. Water Management

a. Barrydale   has grown considerably since 1998 with many city people retiring in the town and nothing has been done to improve the storage capacity of the 150 year old dams.

The weir at Donkergat needs to be heightened in order to capture more floodwater and to prevent severe flood damage in the Huis River. The raw water channel needs to be heightened to capture overflow water during floods. This extra water will make a significant difference to the amount of water available for the community. The capacity of the dams needs to be addressed. An adequate purpose- designed storage dam should be an aim for the medium to long term.

b. The old concrete reservoir needs upgrading.

c. The maintenance and replacement of old infrastructure has not been addressed and needs very serious attention. All  the  homes and businesses in Tennant St  upwards towards the R62 and above have very serious water pressure problems .The school in Tennant St has the same  problems and the lack of water constitutes a serious health hazard . All these ratepayers cannot operate their appliances, water their gardens, flush toilets and some days there are no water available in the taps with the resultant threat to hygiene and health.

Net vir Pret's Holiday School starts on 26 March 2012 and runs till 29 March 2012. The Theme will be bullying, an important topic.

Times are from 08:00 till 14:30 at B.F.Oosthuizen Primary School.  Program Activities are drama, games, art and interactive activities. Net vir Pret relies on donations in order to continue with their valuable work so if you are able to donate old magazines or newspapers or if you would interested in sponsoring a child a day please contact us:

8a Renonkol Street, Smitsville, Barrydale
Tel: + 27 (028) 572 1131
Fax: + 27 086 580 1578
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it