HPP Newsletter - March 2024
Supplementing Municipal Services for a Safe, Clean and Healthy HSRA
Dear Hermanus Special Rating Area (HSRA) Property Owner,
During March
- We met with the Chief Financial Officer of the Overstrand Municipality (OM) and her team to give notice of our intent to extend the HSRA’s term beyond 30 June 2025, for a further five years. Work also started on drafting a survey to determine the views of property owners on what the HSRA’s priorities should be in the new term. We plan to distribute the survey to property owners at the start of May.
- HPP Board representatives met with Deon de Kock, the Chairman of the Westcliff Residents’ Association (WRA), to discuss the Westcliff camera surveillance plan and other safety related issues. HPP is thankful for the WRA’s whole-hearted support.
- We received a proposal from the Hermanus Baboon Action Group (HBAG) to include Baboon Monitoring in the mandate for the HSRA, in specified baboon affected areas of Eastern Hermanus only. At the time of writing this newsletter, we were engaging with HBAG to clarify our understanding of the proposal and the various options at hand.
- The Board signed off on the Whistleblower Policy, which encourages and enables HPP stakeholders to raise serious concerns re inappropriate conduct of HPP’s Board members, contracted workers and employees. This policy should be read in conjunction with the Code of Conduct, which was agreed in December 2023.
- Stephen Grundlingh joined the HPP Board as a co-opted member in the place of Nigel Thatcher.
The Whistleblower Policy
HPP requires directors, managers, employees, and contracted consultants to observe the highest standards of business and personal ethics. As representatives of HPP, we must practice honesty and integrity in fulfilling our duties, responsibilities and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
HPP has an open-door policy, and all parties above should direct their questions, concerns or complaints, in writing to the HPP chairperson or deputy chairperson. In the event of the chairperson and his/her deputy being jointly implicated, the relevant concerns and allegedly implicated directors should be reported to the full board.
Both the Whistleblower Policy and the Code of Conduct can be found on the HPP website under the tab titled “Archive – HPP NPC Company Documents.” https://hpp.org.za/company-documents/
Appointment of Stephen Grundlingh as a co-opted member of the Board
We unfortunately lost the services of Nigel Thatcher, who was seriously injured in a cycling accident in February this year. Nigel’s injuries include a broken neck and dislocated vertebrae. Doctors estimate that it will take between six and twelve months, for him to recover fully.
Nigel was responsible for the Operations Portfolio where he did outstanding work for HPP. The Board thanks him for the dedication he showed in this task. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Thankfully, Stephen Grundlingh has agreed to be co-opted onto the Board and to take charge of the Operations portfolio.
Stephen Grundlingh
Prior to retiring to Hermanus in February 2021, Stephen’s 35-year professional career included 10 years as a diplomat, followed by 25 years with a leading global investment management organization.
Stephen began his working career with the former Department of Foreign Affairs in 1985, which included serving in diplomatic posts in London and New York between 1987 and 1996.
Stephen joined Franklin Templeton Investments in 1996 and held various management positions, including senior executive roles in South Africa, Singapore and the United States.
Stephen graduated with a B.A. in law and politics from the University of Stellenbosch.
Born and raised in Paarl, Hermanus has been Stephen’s (and his family’s) favourite holiday destination for over 60 years. Stephen resides in Fernkloof Village.
Clarification of terms used frequently
I am aware that the terms and acronyms in HPP’s various communications, may cause confusion to some readers. A brief explanation follows:
The Hermanus Special Rating Area (HSRA)
Special rating areas are established in accordance with the Constitution and the Municipal Property Rates Act. The Overstrand Municipality has established a Special Rating Area By-Law, as well as the Overstrand Municipality Special Rating Area Policy .
The boundaries of the HSRA are 17th Avenue in the East up to Swartdam road in the West, with Still Street as the southern border and Fernkloof Nature Reserve as the northern border. Suburbs included in this area are Westcliff, Westdene, Industria, Northcliff, the Central Business District, Eastcliff, Hermanus Heights, Fernkloof, Kwaaiwater and Voelklip.
As communicated in previous newsletters, the terms “City Improvement District” or “Community Improvement District” are being used in other municipalities, instead of “Special Rating Area.”
Hermanus Public Protection (HPP)
Hermanus Public Protection is the management body formed to accept special rates from the Municipality and to provide additional services, on behalf of the Municipality to property owners of the HSRA. It is a non-profit company (NPC).
I have also been asked what the relationship is between HPP and the Hermanus Ratepayers Association (HRA).
Hermanus Ratepayers Association (HRA)
The Hermanus Ratepayers Association is an independent public benefit organisation which represents the interests of ratepayers who reside in Ward 3 and part of Ward 4. As a “watchdog” organisation it seeks close co-operation with the Overstrand Municipality with the aim to preserve the character and natural beauty of Hermanus.
A collaborative relationship exists between the HRA and HPP. The HRA Chairman participates in an annual strategic review of HPP and, more recently, we worked together in conducting a Think Tank on homelessness, vagrancy, and unemployment in Hermanus. Many members of the HRA are also HPP members.
At a recent AGM a new Executive Committee was elected and charged with the renewal of the HRA. HPP wishes them well in this task.
Resident ratepayers unfamiliar with the HRA are invited to visit their webpage – https://hermanusratepayers.co.za
Please Note: To become a member of both HPP and the HRA, property owners are required to join each organisation separately. To become a HPP member please visit https://hpp.org.za/members/
Good News Story
The HPP control room team comprises individuals with remarkable abilities to identify suspicious behaviour, honed through years of experience in crime prevention. Proficient in reading body language, they swiftly deploy response teams to intervene before crimes may potentially occur. Two stories follow, illustrating various controllers’ expertise during the month.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, March 10th, a vigilant HPP camera operator spotted two unidentified individuals riding a bicycle in the Hermanus CBD. Their time of travel and demeanour immediately raised concerns. The control room team tracked their movements and alerted the HPP Special Response Unit. Though an initial search yielded nothing suspicious, a camera operator later observed one of the men concealing something in the bicycle’s handlebar. This prompted a second search by the Special Response team, resulting in the discovery of a plastic bag containing illegal narcotics. The suspect was apprehended and charged with possession of an illegal substance.
A few days later, on March 13th, a camera operator noticed known troublemakers loitering in the Industrial area. Monitoring their movements, the operator witnessed one of them pilfering a bush cutter from a garden services vehicle before fleeing in a taxi. Law enforcement promptly traced the taxi, recovering the stolen item and detaining the driver on suspicion of possessing stolen goods. However, the primary suspect remained at large.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our committed team.
As always, HPP urges you to remain vigilant and to be safe.
Jerry van Niekerk
HPP Chair
E-Mail: chairperson@hpp.org.za
Website: https://hpp.org.za