Meeting on 2016/06/03 between Cllr Millar, Hilton SAPS Station Commander, Capt Mabaso, and the CPF

• Capt Mabaso – indicated SAPS has limited resources – not enough to fight crime alone.
• Doing all they can but need help from the community.
• Whether it is neighbourhood watch / Streethawks, the community must be involved, or the issue will remain.
• The threat is not new, residents have not been involved enough

 

Proposed two pronged-approach:

1. Formation of neighbourhood watch – please participate in patrols on (observe and report philosophy) - and if you can’t patrol contribute in other way.
2. Resuscitate existing structures – Hilton Community Security Initiative – subscriptions are low – this affects costs, erodes resources and reduces the efficacy of the Hilton Hawks, which have been proven successful in the past.

• Overall: resourcing is the issue – resources can mean paying others to help, or doing it yourself, or both.
• WE SUGGEST BOTH
o Set up citizen patrols
o Get more patrolmen on the streets in the form of the Hawks
• Minutes of the meeting will be disseminated through Hilton Chat FB group

 

Attendee input
• Winterskloof TSU is working, could provide an option to the rest of Hilton if required.

 

• Whatsapp groups:
o Need to look after one another in local street environments.
o Need guidelines on how to react – whatsapp groups, comms, etc.
o Whatsapp groups are effective – need policing, ensure that info is strictly security related.
o Station commander has identified shift commanders.
o Info from Whatsapp groups should go to shift commanders.
o Whatsapp – each area should have two groups – one for security/emergencies ONLY, the other for general issues

 

• Patrols
o SAPS must know who is out – names, vehicle details etc.
o Vehicles must be identifiable – decals
o Vehicles must be in communication with one another and police/security companies - radios, mobile apps
o Fear of leaving families at home (the more people involved the less of an issue, and also, members would patrol own area)
o People want specifics about what the commitment would involve.
o Kerry Reid – description of patrol (two hours at a time, 1-4 patrols per month per person, 1-2 cars per area, Hilton divided into several areas, social aspect and community cohesion is an added benefit).
o Patrols – at least one male in each patrol
o We need commitment from residents!
o Many residents – women alone at home, husbands away at work during the week
o Craig Millar will get hold of security companies – need to move around – park and patrol...not all parked together.
o SAPS will also do blue light patrols.

 

• Security companies
o We need more involvement from them,
o They need to share resources and communicate between companies

 

• SA CAN
o Have many security companies on board.
o Brian Jones (founder) suggests focus only on a few companies – but this remains prerogative of private citizens, who should be encouraged to select the primary companies in an area so that they are able to commit more vehicles to Hilton
o Suggest all Hiltonians get SA CAN app on their phones available on http://www.sacan.org/ (as far as we know service is free if you already pay for service of one of SA CAN’s affiliates – to be confirmed)

 

• Hilton Hawks
o They do work! – Winterskloof example, worked in Central Hilton in the past
o Berg Security is supplier
o 24x7 foot patrols in the village
o Supported by dedicated vehicle
o NEED MORE CONTRIBUTORS: only 26% of Hiton contributing
o 10 years ago - 14 patrolmen, now only 6 (2 daytime, 4 night-time) difficult to cover the village with so few feet on the ground
o R200-R250, very low cost.

 

• Communication
o Hilton Chat FB group please join - Almost all have access to FB
o Whatsap groups
o Whatsapp group directory will be created and shared on Hilton Chat

 

• Other suggestions to consider
o Boomgates
o Security cameras

 

• Course of action in an emergency
o Press panic button (security company/SA CAN mobile app)
o Simultaneously call SAPS (10111 / 033-845-6520 / 033-845-6521 / 033-845-6500)
o 033 845 6500 is the Radio control switchboard number
o Mixed reaction from meeting to efficacy of these numbers – operator training is required

 

• Personal involvement is key
o This is OUR community
o The question is not: what are other people going to do for me – but what am I going to do for myself?
o Am I contributing? If not why not?
o Speak to your neighbours
o Be smart – make sure potential weapons and tools in your garden are put away.

Way forward

 

• Overall – Hilton Neighbourhood Watch (HNW) is not meant to replace SAPS, Private Security or Hawks - it is meant to be complementary

 

• Need a suite of solutions – no single effort is likely to succeed on its own.

 

• Practical next steps:
o Divide Hilton into zones – correspond with Hawks zones for consistency and ease of co-operation.
o Identify co-ordinator, admin support, WhatsApp co-ordinator for each zone. These may be the same people as Hawks co-ordinator in some cases – as appropriate
o Create and publish maps with names and contact numbers for co-ordinators
o Supply co-ordinators with database of volunteers, and talk to Hawks/HRA to obtain access to existing databases to mine for additional volunteers
o Communicate guidelines and procedures to co-ordinators
o Convenors of this meeting to source decals, decide on communication channels etc
o Area co-ordinators and admins should start working to communicate rules and operational procedures and regulations of HNW to residents
o Co-ordinators and admins should then start working to:
   - Recruit members for HNW
   - Recruit contributors to Hilton Hawks
   - Assign patrollers to shifts

 

Call to Action
1. Inbox your name, surname, cellphone number, car make, model, colour and reg number, and what you’re able to contribute to Karen Chapman Zunckel (Contributions can take the form of admin, patrols, financial contributions to security efforts in Hilton, and in-kind donations)
2. Contact the Hilton Hawks asap to sign up as a member: 076 790 6311/This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

News supplied. 

 

 

 

You can now find the practice at Suite F5, 1st Floor, Hilton Health, Monzali Drive, Hilton.

 

From the main entrance of the new Hilton Health Building, proceed up to the first floor, exit lifts or stairs and turn left. Take another left and then right and you will see the rooms at the end of the corridor.

 

Contact details remain the same.

 

News supplied by Dr Ralph Gilbert Medical Practice. 

These boilers are ideal for heating large quantities of water by burning wood pellet, an economical, guaranteed and environmentally friendly fuel source.

 

The hot water that is produced can be used for a huge range of applications such as geysers, radiators, underfloor heating, hotels, root-zones in nurseries, poultry houses, farrowing houses, hot water for cleaning dairies and more.

 

ULMA boilers can be linked to an app on a smart phone or tablet so you can monitor and remotely adjust the temperature of your home, business, hot water or ambient (air) temperatures.

 

Renen are able to offer five boilers at a super low introductory price. If your business relies on or could benefit from the use of a regular, trusted and affordable hot water source then you should contact us to find out more. We can offer a lease, buy or energy purchase option on our boilers to commercial, industrial and agricultural operations.

 

News supplied by Renen Energy Solutions. 

 

Pictured on a raft with their guide are: Milan Comley, Candace Swart and Rachel Newlands

 

News supplied by Grace College. 

 

News supplied by Hilton College.

PRUNING FUCHSIAS

Seasoned gardeners will tell you that the time to prune your fuchsias (and your roses) are the months with a “J” in them, i.e. January, June and July. Those old gardeners are quite correct, but to me this is a flexible guide and should be adapted to the area you live in and also the seasonal changes, taking into account global warming effects on the temperatures.

 

So what happens in January? Your fuchsias, if you’ve cared for them properly, should have flowered from the end of September to December. By January they may be getting a bit leggy with a few flowers at the ends. It is time for a HALF prune to promote a second flush of flowers. How much to cut back? The plant will tell you where to cut back to. Prune back the branches by about 30% to a new shoot. These shoots are just waiting to grow and flower. As soon as you remove the ends of the branches, the energy will be redirected to these young shoots. With a boost of feeding these young shoots will provide you with a second flush of flowers until at least Autumn. It is always good to remind ourselves that fuchsias flower on new growth. So promoting new, healthy growth on your plants is the aim.

 

Lets now get to the main prune (June and July). Why do fuchsias (like many other plants) need a winter pruning? There are a number of reasons, viz :

 

1. to remove dead and diseased growth,
2. to remove weak branches,
3. to shape the plant,
4. to promote strong growth,
5. to promote flowering, and
6. to re-direct the plant’s “energy” to the most beneficial areas.

 

Your winter pruning could start as early as May or as late as the end of July to August, depending on how cold the Winter is in your area. Pruning in May will give you a chance of earlier flowering, but also the possibility of Uncle Jack Frost damaging those young shoots! Hopefully this Winter won’t be a cold one!

 

So how to prune? I like to take a good look at a plant and see which branches are the strong ones and those that are weak or dead. Using sharpened and disinfected pruning shears, remove all the dead and weak branches. The next step is to cut back the sturdy, last season’s branches by ½ to ⅔’s. Cut just above a node, about 10mm, with a clean right angled cut. It is best to prune to about 2 nodes above the old growth. Pruning into the old wood may cause that particular branch to die back. Remove any remaining leaves that may be harbouring any bugs or diseases.

 

Garden plants should now be well watered. Next add a 25cm layer of compost around the base, two handfuls of mature chicken manure and then cover with a layer of mulch, eg coarse pine bark, hay etc. Then give a good watering again. This gives the roots constant, slow-release nutrition, keeps them warm in Winter and cool in Summer. It is not necessary to loosen the soil around the plants as the worms will do this for you as they feed off the organic material. In addition, the mulch will give a good control over weed growth. With this mulching system, you shouldn’t need to water again until Spring. During last season’s dry Spring, we did not have any spare water for the garden. Despite this lack of water, the fuchsias and roses that were well mulched faired very well with plenty of blooms. In fact, the roses were the best in many years! They were disease free with loads of flowers!

 

For those plants in pots or hanging baskets, hold the container on its side and scrape off some of the top of the potting mix. Take care not to damage those fragile surface feeder roots. Now top-dress with a mixture of potting mix, compost and chicken manure (proportion 4:4:2). Water, but take care not to over-water at this stage.

 

If your plant is still in its first season, and there has not been much growth, then pruning back 2/3 of the growth may be a bit drastic. In such a case, do a light pruning.

 

If nature works with you, the new growth will start to show in about 2 – 3 weeks time.

 

Root pruning

It is good practice to check the root health of potted plants at pruning time. Place your hand on top of the pot and turn it upside down. Firmly tap the pot on the edge of a table and it should pop off. You can now examine the root system.

 

If all looks in good shape and some healthy white roots are visible, replace into the same pot.

 

If there are a great number of matted roots, and particularly if they are circling the pot – it is time to root prune. Remove the old roots at the base, but leave the root ball beneath and around the main stem intact. Re-pot into a new pot with a mixture of compost and potting mix.

 

Take care after root pruning and re-potting, not to over-water or fertilise the plant. At this stage there are no leaves to make use of the fertiliser and the plant may die as a result.

 

My experience is that it is best to let the roots be. We have plants that have been in 25 cm pots for over 15 years without root pruning and are still perfectly healthy.

 

Let your motto be “If in doubt, prune – but not the roots”.

 

PRUNING ROSES

The same principles apply to pruning roses. Roses, however, prefer to be pruned slightly later in the season – about July. But a couple of weeks either side will not make too much difference.

 

Hybrid-T roses generally prefer the traditional process, as set out above. Floribundas and related types are more forgiving. These can be trimmed and shaped even using some hedge clippers.

 

With garden roses don’t worry about outward facing bud-eyes and five leaflet leaf sets. Just prune to strong, healthy growth at your desired height. And if you don’t know what a five leaflet leaf set or a bud-eye is, don’t worry about it.

 

Pruning isn’t just for “pruning season”. Feel free to shape your roses all season long like you would any other plant in your garden. While you are deadheading is a great time! You may make a few mistakes, but never fear, it will grow back!

 

Mulch your roses as discussed for the fuchsias. The only difference being that with roses it is important to aerate the soil around the plants. This is particularly important in areas with “heavy” soils. Loosen the soil around the plants to a full fork depth.

 

Spraying with a lime sulphur solution after pruning will help in keeping your roses healthy. Sealing the pruned ends with a sealant can be beneficial, if you have the time and patience. But if you don’t have either – don’t worry!

 

GENERAL:

We have all you need for your mulching – compost, mature chicken manure and coarse pine bark.

 

News supplied by Tanglewood Nursery.

- Small Classes, which allows for more contact between each learner and their tutor

- Different Approach to the subject content. A different teacher with a different teaching style may well allow your child to grasp that elusive concept at last

- Added Advantage over all your child's friends pretending to study at home. Four mornings of hard work that’ll no doubt help them to improve on their exam       results.
-Socialising and getting to meet friends from different schools. Tea time provides time for students to relax and chat, as well as time to ask a tutor for extra worksheets or notes!

 

Download the registration form. 

 

View timetable for Grade 11 and Grade 12.

 

News supplied by ASP Tutoring. 

 

Wildlands thanks you for continuing with your recycling efforts, and dropping off your recyclables at either the Quarry Centre Recycling Village or Cowan House School.

 

Please note that if you are dropping off recyclables at Cowan House:
1. Recyclables MUST be sorted and in clear bags for ease of collection
2. Recyclables MUST be put into the correct bins and if full, left neatly sorted in clear bags
3. Cardboard boxes MUST be flattened
4. Garden refuse is NOT to be dumped
5. Please help us keep the Recycling Village clean and tidy at all times
6. ONLY recyclables will be accepted, these include:

 

NB: Only the following will be accepted and recycled:
• Glass
• Aluminium Foil
• Newspapers and Magazines
• Tetra Pack
• Cardboard
• Plastic
• Paper
• Steel and Aluminium Cans

 

Cowan House does not have sorters to separate out recyclables left at their village, and the Wildlands drivers do not have the time to sort on site as they work to a very tight collection schedule. For our drivers and loaders to work effectively and efficiently we request that you please assist both Cowan House and Wildlands by complying with the above.

 

Many thanks for your co-operation.

 

News supplied.

 

The Hilton Bed & Breakfast caters for business people, travellers and parents with children at nearby schools, as well as providing a venue for pre-wedding get-togethers.

 

Check out Facebook page.

 

A few of the reviews on Tripadvisor:

 

“A lovely stay”
Reviewed 29 March 2016

 

Very good service and the lady who runs the place was very helpful and friendly. The semi-buffet style breakfast was delicious and offered a good variety of breakfast foods and drinks.

 

The rooms were modern and clean and came with coffee and rusks and a pillow chocolate which was refreshed daily. The only thing I missed in the room was a fridge.

 

The gardens are beautiful and well-kept so we chose to have our breakfast on the patio every day

 

“Wonderfully restful stay”
Reviewed 5 January 2016

 

Our three day stay was awesome. From the time that we got there we started to relax. The accommodation was lovely, clean, fresh. The breakfast was great, and the energy was peaceful. I left feeling rejuvenated.

 

“Highly recommended”
Reviewed 26 October 2015

 

I found my stay at The Hilton B&B to be a very fine balance between professional, and homely. The service was excellent and the owners made everyone feel very comfortable. The view just adds to the whole experience. Highly recommended.

 

News supplied by The Hilton Bed and Breakfast. 

 

In 2009 the Ferrets did a successful cross-border foray into Swaziland, playing to a packed “House on Fire” venue, and have played regularly in and around PMB since then. In 2010 they opened for 2009 Idols winner Jason Hartman, at the successful SPCA “Music in the Garden” festival in the city.

 

Although the band has had line-up changes over the years, the quartet playing at MiTH is Chris Palframan (Drums/Backing Vocals), Barry Meintjes (Bass), Paul De Fleuriot (Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals) and Martin Gee Godfrey (Lead Vocals) who have all been regulars since 2009.

 

With a reputation for hard rocking sets laced with fun, humour and crowd interaction, the Ferrets have built a large following over the years. They don’t take themselves too seriously and live by the motto “We’re Live, We’re Loud and we DON’T do midi-files”.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzp4FKRwyAw

 

Also playing at MiTH next Wednesday are:

Freaky Lizards - a fresh out of the box three-piece band from PMB, with Warrick Lunn on guitar and vocals, Cuan Stretch on bass and Jarryd Lunn on drums. While its members are not novices to the local music scene, this new trio - jamming funky beats, running riffs and sneaky licks – is looking for a warm welcome to the music scene.

 

The Marshalls – packed with talent, the Captain himself - Barry Meintjies – will be on bass, Paddy Austin on drums, Christo Loots on Guitar and Vocals, Skippy Khubeka on guitar and vocals and Chris Melling on percussion. All well-known for their considerable skills, The Marshalls should be quite a hit with their old-time blegrass, country and folk!

 

Bill Pocket - one of MiTH’s very own, will take the stage to share some of his favourites covers, with skilfull guitar work and a voice full of character.

 

Visit www.mith.co.za for more details and directions. MiTH meets every Wednesday at The Knoll in Hilton, 7-10pm, R20 entry, food and soft drinks on sale, BYOB.

 

PERFORMERS:
Musicians who wish to play please contact Kirsten Rae Hughes on 072 220 9757 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Performers plus one partner get in free.

 

ABOUT US:
MiTH is a non-profit, semi-open mic music club. An opportunity for musicians to share the joy of their music with a friendly audience which includes fellow musicians – who have all “been there” too. (Non-musicians welcome too!) Whether you’re a newbie looking for your first opportunity to perform publicly, or a more experienced/mature musician simply looking for people who are as passionate about music as you are – come along and join us!

 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Charles Webster - 082 331 7271

 

News supplied by MiTH. 

Please let us have contributions to the Agenda, which will be circulated shortly.

 

News supplied by the Hilton Ratepayers' Association. 

 

It was a fantastic day to honour our nurses for all they do.

 

News supplied. 

Criminals in vehicles are targeting gate motor batteries and then driving off. Gates being derailed is still prevalent and when the criminals have made it onto the premises, they are bashing front or back doors down and then making it into and out of the house in a couple of minutes. It is advisable to have an alarm that triggers on the gate as well as gated main doors to the house, as this does slow down the entry time onto the premises and into the house.

In a recent attempted burglary (20h00) a man came to the assistance of his neighbour and was shot at by the criminals. Three shots were fired and fortunately missed the man. Please be aware that many criminals these days are armed and it is best to call for assistance if you are not sure about a situation.

 

Business Crime
Businesses are being targeted separately and the modus operandi recently has been as follows: The attacks and break-ins occur just after working hours when most of the employees have left the premises. There may be one or two people left on the premises that are working late, and they become the targets of the crime. You need to ensure that the business premises are locked properly and that you have some safety protocol in place for staff that are working late. There was one incident in Hilton and one in Howick over the past 2 weeks.

 

Con artists
There has been an increase in people posing as something they are NOT. I got a report from a Greendale Park resident that stated “On Thursday afternoon 29 April we had another visit of 4 Indian males from Durban asking if we wanted to sell our Toyota vehicles for cash. We did not allow them onto the property and asked them to leave. They were driving a small, old, light blue Toyota with a number plate NU 51072. They have been in our area twice before and every time somebody has had a vehicle stolen or tampered with. We live in the Greendale area. Would you warn people to be aware of them and not to allow them through their gates”.

Another client called in and advised that some black males had come to his house and claimed to be from Samsung and had a TV to deliver for the neighbour. The men claimed no one was answering at the house and requested the domestic worker to open up and accept the delivery of the TV. The client tried to contact his neighbour to advise him of the matter. He could not get a hold of him, so informed the domestic worker to deny them access. It was later confirmed that the neighbour was NOT awaiting any delivery and that it was possibly a tactic to get into the premises.

 

Department of Labour warns of conman masquerading as labour inspector in KwaZulu-Natal
The Department of Labour cautions employers, stakeholders and members of the public of a conman masquerading as a labour inspector who subsequently conducts impromptu inspections and requests monies to be transferred into his account. The warning follows a complaint by an employer in Howick. The complainant became suspicious and contacted the Department, who confirmed the man did not work for the Department.

The Department categorically states that all employers, stakeholders and members of the public are strongly warned of this scam and urged to contact their nearest labour centre to verify any inspectors' credentials. Labour inspectors always carry their identity cards, which bears their details and photo and the card is produced prior to the inspection. The Provincial Communication Office can be contacted on 031 366 2018.

 

Phone calls
I have now experienced this myself three times over the past fortnight. DO NOT give any information to ANYONE over the phone. A suggestion is to ask the person for their name, ID number and who they work for. Tell them that you would like to follow up with the company that they work for. Turn the tables on them and try get their details.

 

Update your information with KSS
Please may I request that if ANY of your details have changed (cell numbers, key holders etc...) that you advise Elaine O’Farrell at the KSS offices. You can email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 033 3305911 and request to speak to her.

 

KSS and Emergency services
Please remember that the Knight Security Solutions (KSS) Control Centre is manned 24/7/365. Our staff are competent and trained to handle ALL emergencies. We have just assisted with yet another house that burned down on Monday 2 May in Hilton. I can’t thank my staff enough for the way in which they handled it.

The KSS Control Centre can assist with any emergency in the Midlands (including PMB). Recently KSS got a call from a client in PMB who has just seen a child get knocked over by a car. He didn’t know what to do, so he called our Control Centre and we were able to dispatch an ambulance to the scene.

KSS are able to help with all criminal activities as well as medical emergencies by dispatching ambulance services, the fire brigade, SAPS etc.... Please put our KSS Control Centre number on speed dial on your phone.... 033 3305911.

 

Fire Advice
Ensure that you have emergency contact details available. You can call the KSS Control Centre on 033 3305911 and they will co-ordinate emergency services for you.

 

1. Make sure you have a safe fire escape method
You may have a very expensive home security system, but you need to ensure that you have an escape plan from the burning structure if necessary.

 

2. Heaters Need Space
Keep portable heaters at least 2 meters from anything that may burn. Never leave heaters on when you leave home or go to sleep. Children and pets should always be kept away from them.

 

3. Be Careful Cooking
Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles. Always watch any pots with oil in them. If oil catches fire, carefully slide a lid over the pan and smother the flames. Turn off the stove.

 

4. Fireplaces
Always watch a fire that you have made in the fireplace. When you go to bed at night, ensure that the burning embers are properly extinguished by throwing water onto them.

 

5. Use Electricity Safely
If an appliance smokes or has an unusual smell, unplug it immediately and have it repaired. Replace frayed or cracked electrical cords and don't overload extension cords. They should not be run under rugs. Never tamper with the fuse box or use the improper size fuse. Get assistance or advice from a qualified electrician.

 

6. Fire Extinguishers
Have accessible fire extinguishers in your house. Make sure they are serviced annually.

You can prepare by doing the following:
• Practice evacuating the building/house blindfolded. In a real fire situation, the amount of smoke generated by a fire most likely will make it difficult to see.
• Practice staying low to the ground when escaping.
• Feel all doors before opening them. If a door is hot, get out another way.
• Learn to stop, drop to the ground and roll if your clothes catch fire.

 

Mediclinic Howick (24 Hour Emergency Centre)
Mediclinic Howick is a community hospital offering state of the art services across a number of specialities. They are relentlessly focused on providing safe clinical care and ensuring that each patient and their family have a superior experience while in their facility.

The hospital continues to enjoy the support of a number of leading specialists from both Howick and Pietermaritzburg. They are also privileged to have excellent support from the general practitioners in the town.

The emergency centre is open 24 hours a day and has the support of local, well trained emergency doctors. The contact number for Mediclinic Howick is 033 330 2456.

 

SA CAN update
Please be advised that the SA CAN head office is located in Gillits (Hillcrest) and they can be contacted on their Admin number 0861623646 during office hours, to assist with any App, financial and membership related queries. SA CAN is available 24/7/365 on their emergency line which is 0861672226. The newly launched “Bull Horns Panic Button” App is available free of charge at the iPhone App Store or Android Play Store – for smart phones. It is easy to install and you can do it yourself. Should you need assistance then please call SA CAN on their Admin number.

 

On an end note...
Another huge plus for our KSS clients and the community is that Knight has been in Howick, Merrivale and Hilton for over 26 years. We know the Midlands - we know these areas well. We know what your needs are. When you have an issue – you know who you are dealing with. Gary and I are on the ground and are very ‘hands-on’ in our business. There are not many Security Companies out there where you can personally contact the owners for advice, or to voice a concern so that we can deal with it.

 

KSS also have an amazing team of staff of over 260 people. We all work well together and are dedicated to making a difference. A big thank you our Managers, Assistant Managers, Financial and Accounts staff, Administrative staff, Operations staff, Technical staff, Control Centre staff and our Security Officers. They work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to ensure your safety.

 

News supplied by Knight Security Solutions.