MINUTES FOR THE MEETING OF THE 15th MARCH 2023

MINUTES FOR THE MONTHLY PUBLIC MEETING OF THE

NEW KILLARNEY-RIVIERA ASSOCIATION

HELD VIRTUALLY OVER THE INTERNET

ON WEDNESDAY 15 MARCH 2023 at 18H30

PRESENT:             Wayne Ford (Killarney Village); Charles Whyte (Beverley Heights and Daventry Court); Amina Omarjee (Killarney Wilds); Shenaaz Mayet (Sevenoaks); Kim Robinson (Killarney Hills); Thandi Nkopo (Sevenoaks); Eleanor Huggett (Ward Councillor Ward 73).

1.     WELCOME

• Wayne opened the meeting, and welcomed all attendees.

2.     APOLOGIES RECEIVED

• Aadila Hoosain (Earls Court); Ernie Blom (Berkeley Square).

3.     DISCUSSION OF TIME CONSTRAINT

• We have load-shedding in progress, so some people may be participating in this meeting on battery power. We will therefore keep the meeting to one hour if possible.

4.     CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES, AND MATTERS ARISING

• The minutes of the previous meeting had been circulated to all attendees, and were approved. The details were incorporated into the monthly newsletter.

5.     STATUS OF OUR SUBURB, AND LIST OF ISSUES REQUIRING ACTION

• Pavement and pothole repairs – the details of the situation had been laid out in the covering letter attaching to the agenda. The project was agreed upon by the attendees.
• It has also been suggested to ask the Discovery Pothole Patrol if they would repair our potholes and pavements, even if we need to pay them to do it.
• Cllr Huggett reported that the JRA road repairs seem to be improving, and she will try again to persuade them to attend to our roads – even if just the main roads.
• The final decision will be taken by the members at the April public meeting of the NKRA.
• Overgrown pavements in 7^th Street – it was agreed that an intervention is urgently required for the overgrown pavements on the motorway side of 7^th Street, as the pavement is now completely blocked by vegetation and rubbish. We have a quote of R8,250 – which includes removing three skips full of waste. Again, Cllr Huggett suggested that we allow her a few weeks to see if the JRA could be persuaded to actually do their job. The final decision will be taken at the April public meeting of the NKRA.
• Illegal hawkers in 7^th Street – The Killarney Wilds building, which is directly opposite the problem spot, is very opposed to any arrangement which will make the hawkers permanent. No such idea can be formalised without the consent of the residents who would be most affected by it.
• Cllr Huggett reported that the JMPD have been on a by-law drive, and are bringing in more staff. However it was noted that the hawkers have been removed before, only for different hawkers to take their place. The dumping and squatting on the motorway embankment is also a serious problem, and it is getting worse.
• It was also noted that the illegal hawkers currently have everything they want, with no restrictions or enforcement. They therefore have no incentive to agree to anything with the residents, especially if it will impose additional obligations on themselves.
• There would be no point to us reaching an agreement with some individuals, if other illegal hawkers then arrive but make no commitment to adhere to any restrictions. Until JMPD resumes actually shutting down illegal hawking, we will have no leverage to bargain with, and so it was agreed that we need to wait before approaching the hawkers with any talk of “legalising” their activities.
• Illegal taxi rank in 1^st Street – the Mall has been talking about building a taxi facility on their own premises in early 2024, but we will wait to see if this actually happens. Cllr Huggett will continue to interact with the Mall management to discuss progress with this project, and to keep them aware that we are not giving up.

7.     GENERAL

• Wayne will send a list of all buildings to Kim, noting which buildings are already members.
• The project to legally boom off the western end of 1^st Street is bogging down in red tape, but the affected buildings have not given up.
• Residents thanked Cllr Huggett for helping to obtain City Power action to repair the recent problem in the electrical feed into Hyde Court in 1^st Street.
• Another cell phone has been snatched in 3^rd Street near the Mall – residents must be continually warned not to display phones on the pavements.

The meeting was closed at 19h52, with thanks to all who participated.

Our next public meeting will be held virtually on

WEDNESDAY 19 APRIL 2023 AT 18H30

PLEASE PASS ON THESE MINUTES TO OTHER RESIDENTS IN YOUR BUILDINGS

JMPD call centre hotline number – 080 872 3342

JMPD Control Room – 011 758 9620

City emergency hotline on 011 375 5911

SAPS patrol van – 071 675 6001

If you get no response from the patrol van, please call 10111

Councillor Huggett – by SMS or WhatsApp – 071 785 8068