Rooiels Newsletter 4th August 2023

(Please note that the version sent to members has photos - see the Full message and past Newsletters on the Link

Welcome to the 4th Rooiels Newsletter of 2023. This issue includes Ward 10 feedback, news from RERA, the Rooiels Sustainable Energy Project (RESEP), and the Rooiels Conservancy. All community organisations are invited to contribute, but not all saw their way open, or were able to, this time.

Bries/Breeze 2023 coincides with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Rooiels Conservancy. Willie du Plooy, the editor, requests contributions that cover REC’s lifetime and initiatives, the personalities, etc. Other contributions would include items about new owners/residents, and those who have passed on or left the village and have left their mark. Please let us have your thoughts, feedback, or questions at breeze@rooiels.org.za.

We would like to offer the newsletter in both Afrikaans and English, but time and capacity are limited! Instead, for now we offer the option to translate this newsletter into the language of your choice. With the help of Google Translate, you are able to obtain a reasonably accurate translation of the content. To use it, select the option at the top of this newsletter (above the picture banner) to view it in your browser. Then, above the newsletter, you will find links to subscribe, view past issues, translate, etc. Select the translate option to activate Google Translate, and then choose the language of your choice. You may have to select the language option more than once. Of course, you can do it with the previous newsletters as well.


You may also want update your subscription choices in the “update your preferences” link at the end of this email.
Contents

• RERA’s RESEP engages with Pringle Bay & OM
• Are you noticing the difference? Update on community work to maintain Rooiels
• Feedback from Ward 10
• News from the Rooiels Conservancy
• News from RERA
• How to give …

Committee contacts

• RERA: rera@rooiels.org.za
• REC: rec@rooiels.org.za
• RESA: resa@rooiels.org.za

RERA’s Rooiels Sustainable Energy Project (RESEP) engages with Pringle Bay and Overstrand Municipality

Following the Rooiels survey of electricity consumption and renewable electricity generation (download survey analysis), the RESEP team, in collaboration with the PBRA, arranged a meeting with OM’s Stephen Müller (Director: Infrastructure and Planning) and Cllr Clinton Lerm (Chairperson: Infrastructure & Investment) on 19 July 2023 at the OM Offices, Hermanus. The purpose was to understand OM’s plans for sustainable electricity and obtain information on these plans and electricity distribution to the Hangklip villages in general.


The report of the meeting can be downloaded here, but in short the meeting was very informative. It revealed that some of OM’s sustainable energy initiatives, as announced earlier in the year, have stalled, although subsequently RESEP is following up on news that some initiatives may be progressing. The team enquired whether OM would want to take over the villages’ electricity distribution (in theory, yes) and whether OM would be opposed to a 3-village-mini-grid (no). Valuable information about the electricity distribution network that feeds the villages, including Rooiels, was gleaned. The report makes interesting reading, and as an aside, confirms that solar PV systems in the villages do not have to be registered with OM.

A recent report by Eskom confirmed that rooftop “residential and C&I [commercial & industrial] installations have reached 4,411.5 MW of cumulative capacity by the end of June, with around 1.82 GW deployed in the January-June period alone”.

RENR walkway trimming

Ruben & Thomas in Anemone

New curbside road names
Are you noticing the difference? Update on community work to maintain RooielsFor the past months, a small team of dedicated Rooielsers and local gardeners has been working quietly and diligently in helping to maintain Rooiels’ walkways, gardens and road reserves. Many thanks to Ruben, Thomas, Moses, Tania and Kay for supporting this important work “on the ground”. Priority action included: clearing Rooiels street signs, manicuring road reserves (e.g  in Anemone  Rd.), de-weeding the community gardens, trimming vegetation on the wooden walkways in the Rooiels Nature Reserve, and clearing vegetation on walkways, including to the Rooiels Beach/Lagoon to the Point and the walkway from the Village centre to Porter drive along the R44..


Priorities for the period until December include cutting the deadwood from the road reserves; fixing broken boards of walkways (an inventory has  been completed by Ralph and Ivan); clearing vegetation on the path between Porter and CBD; clearing deadwood in the main Rooiels entrance on the north side; and ensuring continuous de-weeding of the Rooiels gardens. Other priorities are being identified and we encourage all Rooielsers to engage in this process (see below).


The community maintenance work is done through volunteer work, and with generous contributions by several Rooielsers. Special thanks to Yoram and Lauretta, Rix and Holger and another couple for their support, including making available local gardeners. All work is guided by a Terms of Reference prepared and announced in April by RERA and the Rooiels Conservancy. Several valuable comments have been received and addressed in the final version, which can be downloaded here.


All Rooielsers are encouraged to engage in this important work. Please share with us any priority work you think is needed, by writing to Achim Halpaap (achim.halpaap@gmail.com) and/or Ralph Pina (rec.chair@rooiels.org.za) who are coordinating the initiative at RERA and the Rooiels Conservancy. Also, if you are able to donate some days of your gardener, or are available to do some hands-on work, please get in touch with us. More support and hands are needed and very much welcome.

Feedback from the Ward 10 meeting, 18 July 2023Some confusion about meeting times resulted in the Ward 10 Committee meeting on 18 July having to be shortened, in the absence of Cllr Els who was on leave. Consequently, there was only time for OM to give brief feedback on the new baboon management programme plan (OM's statement can be downloaded here). In short, OM Eco-Rangers will be implementing a soft approach, featuring an "early warning system" in Kleinmond, Betty's Bay, Pringle Bay and Hangklip, but not Rooiels where its coexistence model is recognised.



News from the Rooiels Conservancy


The Rooiels Conservancy is on Facebook!The Rooiels Conservancy is delighted to announce the launch of its own Facebook group page. Group membership has grown quickly. Visit and join it to celebrate Rooiels’ nature and biological diversity in a safe social media space, follow local conservation news and keep an eye out for events.

Capturing the wonders of Rooiels’ night skyLocal astrophotographer and resident, Steven Mullins, hosted a successful Astrophotography Workshop attended by 17 enthusiasts, with the Drummond Arms kindly providing the venue. He shared techniques for capturing the wonders of Rooiels’ night sky, which is thankfully unpolluted by light. The subsequent practical outdoor session has had to be postponed multiple times because of the inclement weather. But Steven will announce a date and time in due course. The video of the first session can be viewed here, and the slideshow is here.

Hacking team keeps the momentum Our hacking volunteers turn out every first Saturday of the month. One singular achievement was the clearing of large Rooikrans trees that were infesting the estuary, east of the bridge. The Conservancy also joined forces with the Mountain Club of SA, Stellenbosch section, to tackle the growing Hakea Sericea (Silky hakea) threat on the mountain smallholdings, with the owners’ permission, obtained through the good offices of OM’s Environmental Services department. On Sunday, 30 July a combined team took out 500+ trees and 43 kg’s of seed pods in threatening weather. A follow-up was arranged with the Kogelberg villages’ Wednesday Hacking Group, and 27 of them, including a handful of Rooielsers, cleaned the lower slopes in no time on Wednesday 9 August. Thanks to Chris Geldenhuys and his highly organised team of volunteers!


Rooiela enjoying her last day in Rooiels. Photo: Lesley Lundie
Update on the Rooiels baboon troop The Conservancy, with funding assistance from RERA, deployed Baboon Information Officers (BIOs) in the CBD over long weekends and holidays, to inform and educate customers and visitors. Tragedy struck once more when Rooiela, a 6.5 year-old female baboon, was apparently struck by a vehicle on the R44, had her right leg broken, and had to be put down. The Rooiels Conservancy located the injured baboon and then called in the excellent assistance of OM’s Jill Hendrikse and Liezl de Villiers and their approved veterinary surgeon, to handle the sad situation as humanely as possible. Baboons are protected by law, hence the calling in of the authorities. Once more, the urgency for speed calming on Clarence Drive has been highlighted.


As if to confirm the cycle of life and the resilience of baboons, a new baby male was added to the troop last week. Valtteri was born to Vanellipe on or about the 3rd of August. Valtteri means “leader of the army” in Finnish. As Gavin Lundie has observed, the troop always moves to the Kogel Bay area for births, and this was the case here as well.


The Rooiels baboon troop is still being observed, and statistics are collected for science. We currently have 27 members in the troop. A new alpha male took over our troop last July, with very little conflict. He came from the Oudebosch troop near the Palmiet River area. Joey, one of the Rooiels troop’s young adult males, dispersed and joined the Pringle Bay troop at about the same time, and has subsequently become the alpha male in Pringle Bay. Dispersing male baboons ensure genetic diversity in the various troops.






New addition, Valtteri, at left. Photo by Eric Miller.



The Rooiels Conservancy (REC) has become a member of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve CompanyThe Rooiels Conservancy has become an affiliate member of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve Company, and can thus nominate directors and vote at its AGM. REC joined the Stony Point Nature Reserve and Betty’s Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA) Protected Area Advisory Committee (PAAC). And the REC chairperson has been asked by the Helderberg hiking/mountaineering community to attend the Steenbras Nature Reserve PAAC. Conservation agencies are required by law to establish PAACs for their nature reserves to promote community and public participation in their management. The Conservancy is also establishing collaborative partnerships with neighbouring conservancies, such as the Betty’s Bay Conservancy, which has responded very positively.

Leopard returns Our leopard, Diego, has proven to be elusive, last visiting the river cave in March. But at the end of June he made an appearance again, if only fleetingly, and only triggering one of the three cameras. We had become a bit worried that something had happened to him.


The cave sees plenty of action from the Rooiels baboon troop, and the odd appearances by porcupines, mongooses and spotted genets - not to mention people.


The Rooiels Conservancy has an account on the Cape Leopard Trust’s data portal and uploads leopard observations directly.

News from Rooiels Ratepayers Association (RERA)
As the elected body that represents Rooiels at the Overstrand Municipality (OM) the RERA (Rooiels Ratepayers Association) Executive Committee is working alongside the other voluntary bodies serving our community, including the Rooiels Conservancy (REC),  the Rooiels Security Association (RESA), the Rooiels Boat Club (REBC) and Outreach. All are run by unpaid committed volunteers trying to improve life for all Rooielsers.


Throughout its 2023 term, the RERA Exco team continues to be committed to an open dialogue with all members of our small community,  and with previous RERA committee members and Chairs. Our aim is to facilitate an exchange and better understanding of different perspectives. The Open RERA meeting on 1 April (see minutes here) was well attended and covered many aspects of our work. A second Open Meeting is scheduled to take place in early November (please see below).

RERA remains vigilant about property developments One area we remain vigilant about are property developments which may breach planning restrictions and policies. One challenge we are facing is what we consider an inconsistent implementation of OM town planning procedures and regulations. We engage routinely with the Overstrand Municipality on these matters,  through the Ward 10 Committee and directly with officials, leading at times to some friction. We are working with OM to remedy these discrepancies and are making positive progress.


Concerning the Distillery development, RERA Exco decided not to join a legal case against the OM concerning access to information, due to sensitivities in the village and requests not to do so at the last RERA Open meeting. The status of RERA action/non-action related to various Overstrand Municipality policy matters will be shared shortly. Another planning consent issue (Erf 311) is presented below. In this context, we wish to confirm that there is no membership in common between the private group called Friends of Rooiels and the elected RERA 2023 Exco.


Erf 311 on the  mountain slope continues to cause concern As reported in the RERA email to the village sent on 28 June 2023, RERA Exco had engaged with both the OM officials and the Mayor by lodging an appeal against the consent use permission on erf 311, and by raising concerns about the risks of landslides associated with the excavations on the property. Given lack of positive feedback and results, RERA subsequently engaged with the Western Cape’s Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning to investigate the appeal and the OM decision. OM responded via the Minister’s office that RERA would have to take the matters to the High Court. RERA consulted with lawyers, and it became apparent that an amount of R200 000 would be needed to start such an case, with possible further costs involved. Exco thus deemed it impractical to further consider this option. In the meantime, OM responded to RERA’s letter by sending a consulting engineer to the site who assured us that the site is safe.

Second Open RERA Meeting scheduled for 4 November 2023The first Open 2023 RERA meeting took place on 1 April 2023. More than 60 participants engaged in open  face-to-face and online discussions. Given many important topics of interest and time constraints, RERA announced that a second Open Meeting will take place later in 2023 to discuss a select number of topics in more depth, such as the possible revision of the constitution. We have the pleasure to announce that the Second Open RERA Meeting will take place on Saturday, 4 November 2023. Please mark your calendar! Details on the timing, modalities and a draft agenda will follow.  For all those interested, the final summary report of the first Open RERA meeting can be accessed here.


Changes in RERA Exco and the Rooiels Conservancy Exco: Thank you Eldie! We are sorry that RERA’s Secretary and planning expert, Eldie Brink, decided to resign from both the RERA Exco and the Rooiels Conservancy Exco during July. We would like to thank Eldie for his fine service over decades to the invaluable benefit of Rooiels’ natural environment and people. Decisions to fill the vacant RERA Secretary position will be taken at the next RERA Exco meeting on 2 September.


Emergency numbers

All emergencies: 10177
- from cellphone: 112


Kleinmond Police
021 271 8200
082 443 6069
(when landline unavailable)


DFFE Anti-poaching
(Johan Fouché)
084 408 6158


Snare Free Hotline
076 127 8485


Overstrand Fire & Rescue
028 312 2400


NSRI Kleinmond
063 699 2765



HOW TO GIVE


Don’t forget to pay your membership fees for 2023! Thank you to those who have already paid and a huge thank you to those who have so generously donated additional funds.


RERA and Rooiels Conservancy membership fees remain unchanged:

• RERA: R250 per member
• Rooiels Conservancy: R250 per member

Rooiels Ratepayer’s AssociationNedbank Savings Account
Account name: RERA
Account number: 9 0 1 9 4 6 4 9 2 0
Reference: ERF NUMBER, NAME AND SURNAME
Send proof of payment to rera@rooiels.org.za
Rooiels ConservancyNedbank Savings Account
Account name: REC
Account number: 9 0 1 9 6 4 7 5 1 0
Reference: ERF NUMBER, NAME AND SURNAME
Send proof of payment to rec@rooiels.org.za

Rooiels Security Association - MembershipNedbank Savings Account
Account name: RESA
Account number: 9 0 1 8 3 8 2 1 0 9
Reference: ERF NUMBER, NAME AND SURNAME
Send proof of payment to resa@rooiels.org.za
Rooiels Outreach - DonationsNedbank Current Account
Account name: Community Projects and Outreach
Account number: 9 0 1 9 9 9 6 8 0 8
Reference: NAME AND SURNAME
Send proof of payment to Ivan Becker 083 289 9385

Hack day (just another way to give)

First Saturday of each month, except if
specifically postponed or cancelled due to
weather or conflicting calendar events.


Rooiels Security Association - DonationsNedbank Savings Account
Account name: RESA
Account number: 9 0 1 9 7 7 7 8 2 0
Reference: ERF NUMBER, NAME AND SURNAME
Send proof of payment to resa@rooiels.org.za