News from Resident's Association of
rahb@houtbay.org.za
www.houtbay.org.za
[Sept 2005]
The Hanging Meadow is a famous landmark and the
most prominent piece of Public Open Space in
The Hanging Meadow Home Owners Association
(HMHOA) applied to lease the area in 2003, and this Association opposed the
application. The
In August 2005 surrounding neighbours and the
Association were alarmed to see a fence being erected across the meadow above
the
This is a test-case for the community of
In the case of the Hanging Meadow the security factor
has fallen away now the surrounding estate is built up and Home Owners can
secure their property perimeters as they wish. The meadow is no longer being
crossed by footpaths, as was the case during the building phase, and the
built-up embankment on the edge of Military Road is a natural barrier to
intruders. It is also noteworthy how the natural fynbos vegetation has
re-established itself. No intrusive gardening is desired. This Association will therefore be opposing
the lease of the Hanging Meadow, supported by the immediate neighbours. The
APPLICATIONS TO COUNCIL
Comments and objections may be sent to: The Executive Director, Urban and
Environmental Services, South Peninsula Admin, City of
- Bed and Breakfasts -
Erf 4238, Smallwoods, Blackwood Close: application for B&B
Category 2 with 5 bedrooms. Deadline
for objections is
Erf 2675, Marlin Spike,
-
Subdivisions -
Erf 8326,
Erf 3644,
Erf 1810,
- Rezoning
-
Erven 1126-8,
Kronendal Primary School (KPS) has had an unfortunate run of negative
publicity in the past year due to the attempt by the Department of Education
(DOE) to place Grade 8 pupils, graduating from Orange Kloof Primary, at KPS
from the beginning of 2005. This move
was apposed by the parents who had the legal right to do so since KPS is a
Section 21, or Model C, school. The
primary concern of the parents was that this move would introduce too large an
age spread between Grade 1 and Final Grade as well as a marked difference in
educational background. However, the
parents did vote to accept an increase in the number of pupils from less
fortunate communities but spread evenly over all Grades, which would allow for
a more gentle cultural synthesis. This
would increase the number of pupils unable to contribute financially, a number
of which the school does already support.
However, the DOE have not accepted this. The issue was mostly aired in the press in a one-sided manner
which cast the schools Governing Body, and parents, in a negative light as it
overlooked the desire of the school to improve the cultural mix in a manageable
manner and ignored the legitimate fears of parents of younger pupils being
overwhelmed by the increase age spread.
This issue has resulted in a decline in pupil numbers in 2005. This most probably due to fear among some
parents that the DOE might enforce the placement of Grade 8's, as was rumoured
at the time, as well as possible protests that may occur from the community,
from which the Grade 8's originate, stirred up by negative propaganda. The intake of Grade 1's has been considerably
lower, but parents have also withdrawn pupils from other Grades and moved them
to other schools mostly outside of
The school has an excellent academic record maintained by a low pupil to
teacher ratio, currently no more than 30 pupils in a Class, and excellent
educational facilities. Past KPS pupils
have achieved excellent matriculation results with a quarter achieving an
A-aggregate. KPS pupils graduating from
Grade 7 to Grade 8 have readily been accepted by which ever High School they've
applied to without having to be enrolled at the perceived "feeder"
schools - a myth that tends to also limit KPS's enrolments. In a recent province wide survey of Grade 3
Learners, 98% of pupils were assessed as fulfilling the requirements for the
Grade while the
Pupils are drawn from all cultural backgrounds in
We appeal to all residents not to perpetuate the negative politics that
have unjustly marred the school's reputation in recent months, but to rather
dwell on the intrinsic excellence of the school. We ask that the community look for positive ways in which they
can be involved in protecting and enhancing the valuable cultural asset of KPS,
while we ask that KPS continue to look for means to enhance there value to the
community. And we plead that
Politicians do not use KPS to selfishly enhance there own transient careers,
with social experiments whose failure will be a setback for our children who
have a whole life ahead of them.
Chairperson,
Residents' Assoc of
Tel:
790-0268, Email: lens@telkomsa.net
MEMBERSHIP
(R50
per couple, R30 per individual)
Forms from
Chairperson or Library.
[Sept 2005]