Greetings everyone,

…and welcome to the September edition of the HPP newsletter. Here is the latest news from the Hermanus Special Rating Area which serves all property owners located between Swartdam Road in the industrial district and the eastern boundary of Voëlklip.

Here are the key points of our activities during September:

• HPP Board has approved the purchase of a Thermal Camera for the Lookout Site on Fernkloof Mountain.
• Overstrand Municipality (OM) has invited HPP to join forces in the new Operational Command Centre at the civic centre.
• We are currently reviewing the way in which we communicate with you. You may already see some changes in style.

Disturbing Events

The recent brutal attack on an elderly Onrus couple was shocking and disturbing. We can only hope that this was an isolated incident. Sadly, the gentleman subsequently succumbed to his injuries. My thoughts are with the family and friends.

There were also reports of stones being thrown at motor vehicles on the R43 at Hawston and near the Rotary Way turn-off.

These events have increased HPP’s resolve to fulfil our purpose and ensure safety in public places. We request all property owners to be vigilant with security, set alarms at night and ensure that all house and garage doors are closed and secure.

Annual General Meeting – 29 August

AGMs are not usually the best attended event, but this year proved an exception. We fought off competition from the winter weather plus some social meetings to raise a sizeable and vociferous audience. Afterwards I was humbled to receive compliments saying “A very efficient, open, and encouraging AGM… well done to the Directors and thanks to those who strive to ‘keep the Bubble within the Bubble’…” Another message read “…(dit was) goed om te sien hoe julle verder inisiatief neem om HPP nog meer effektief te maak.”

All resolutions were approved with majority votes. A single voice opposed all the votes in advance. The instruction came from a member who submitted written comments before the meeting but did not attend.

Please visit the HPP website to view the minutes of the meeting.

YOU MAY FIND SOME OF THE QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE AUDIENCE INTERESTING

How are HPP’s strategic priorities determined?

When my term on the board began two years ago, 17 property owners representing a wide range of residential areas and interest groups within the HSRA, assisted in identifying HPP’s strategic priorities. In July 2023, this process was repeated with the participation of 29 participants, who confirmed the strategic priorities established in 2022. The priorities for the envisaged new term (July 2025 – June 2030) were determined by the online survey which was conducted among property owners and reported in the June and preceding months’ newsletters.

Please note that the past year’s improvements in HPP’s operations (e.g. the Safety Kiosk, additional safety patrols, added cleansing services) were based on input received from property and business owners, and supported by the OM.

Why are all HPP Directors not registered with the Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission (CIPC)?

The HPP board is composed of three registered directors: Leon Rauch, Ann Wright and me, alongside six additional board members. The registered directors bear legal responsibilities, ensuring compliance with the relevant laws, financial oversight, and strategic decision-making. They are accountable for the organisation’s performance and actions. Board members, who are not registered directors, play an advisory role. They contribute strategic input, oversee specific portfolios and bring specialised expertise to the organisation. Registering all board members would result in an unnecessary administrative burden, including the time taken to process registrations and updates, especially when board membership changes frequently. Additionally, there are costs associated with registration. This process also demands significant administrative effort to ensure accuracy and timely submission of documents, which may detract from the organization’s operational focus. So, only essential portfolios, such as those of Chairperson, Finance, Governance, Operations and Cleansing, are registered to streamline governance and reduce overhead. This approach is commonly used by similar organisations.

How many employees does HPP have?

The only “employee” is Marcia Bown who is our Executive Officer. She is an independent contractor and remunerated on a fixed, all-inclusive retainer. The safety and cleansing services are outsourced to Fidelity ADT, Iphupha and WCC Technologies.

What is the process for the removal of vagrants?

The South African Constitution protects the rights of individuals, including those who are homeless or vagrants, which means that they cannot be forcibly removed from public spaces. However, property owners do have the right to ask individuals to leave their private properties.

What are the powers of authority of the HPP’s Public Safety Officers?

HPP Public Safety Officers are not designated as peace officers and therefore do not have the powers to issue fines or makes arrests. They however work closely with Overstrand Law Enforcement and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to enhance public safety and address incidents effectively.

Why does HPP not take responsibility for Baboon Management in the HSRA?

Wildlife Management is not considered as a municipal service any longer and regrettably cannot be supplemented by HPP.

Can HPP relook at the use of body cameras by its Safety Officers who patrol the CBD?

HPP has explored and tested various body cameras. It was found that they are not currently suitable for our circumstances due to their high cost and the relatively low number of relevant incidents. However, we will be looking into investing in dashboard cameras for the response vehicles.

My thanks again go to the HSRA’s property owners who attended the AGM as well as those who submitted their apologies and proxies to us.

Invitation from the Overstrand Municipality (OM) for HPP to join them in the new Operational Command Centre

There are several advantages, disadvantages and risks involved in accepting – or declining – this invitation. The HPP board is still considering the options, discussions with the OM continue and I hope to provide more details in due course.

HPP’s communication with the HSRA’s Property Owners

The HPP board is keen to improve its communication with the HSRA’s property owners. We are fortunate to have Sarah Taylor and Peter Doble as board members, as they both have expertise in the communication field. Together with Marcia Bown they have made a variety of proposals which include:

• Shorter and more informal newsletters
• Frequent updates of the HPP website
• Short and sharp communication via WhatsApp
• Face-to-face meetings with property owners – e.g. last month’s meeting with Eastcliff residents.
• Learning how our counterparts communicate with their stakeholders.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions to help us communicate more effectively with you.

Extract from HPP’s Daily Operational Reports

The daily reports from the HPP Control Room during the past month provide a view of what our Safety Officers do. The following incident is of an extraordinary nature:

“The HPP Control Room identified a suspicious vehicle and observed unusual behaviour from its occupants in the CBD. SAPS were placed on standby while HPP Safety Officers conducted a closer inspection. When the vehicle departed the parking area, the controllers were confident that something was amiss. SAPS subsequently set up a roadblock at the CTM traffic lights, where the vehicle was stopped. A search revealed a microwave, kitchen appliances, shoes, and clothing from various retailers, for which the occupants could not provide proof of purchase. SAPS arrested the occupants and took them into custody.”

Please join me applauding our Control Room Staff and the Safety Officers on the great job they do!

As always, HPP urges you to remain vigilant and stay safe.

Jerry van Niekerk

HPP Chair

E-Mail: chairperson@hpp.org.za

Website: https://hpp.org.za