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N E W S L E T T E R

From the Estate Manager’s Desk 1

From the Editor’s Desk 2

Recycling Initiative 2

From the Deputy Estate Manager 3

The THOA Board 4

Board News 4

In this Issue:

Thatchfi eld Home Owners Association

Volume 2 | Issue 5 | December 2019

We have space available for adverts.

Please contact Carien for details: 012 661 1952/admin@thatchfi eld.co.za

From the Estate Manager’s Desk

Security over the Festive SeasonOur security team is geared for the festive period and has done all its preparations for the December/January season. That notwithstanding, we still request that you observe the following suggestions from our security team.

Pets: Make sure that your pets are behind working lockable gates. When going on holiday make sure that you have arranged with someone to take care of your pets. Pets must have ID collars around their necks. Thatchfi eld THOA only has three dog kennels. From experience, we know that pets usually roam around the estate during this season and we cannot place them in our kennels as the kennels are full.

Fireworks: The use and discharge of fi reworks is not permitted within the borders of South Africa. Also take note that fi reworks fall under the Explosive Act. It is a criminal offence to possess or discharge fi reworks over the festive and New Year season within Thatchfi eld Estate. Security has been informed to deal with all reported incidents accordingly. Residents must phone the police should they want to complain and lay charges against individuals not complying with this legislation.

Biometrics InstallationIt is expected that biometrics installations at our eight gates would be fi nalized by the end of November 2019. Errors and snags have been identifi ed and AMAX is working on the solutions thereof, and giving feedback

to those effected. A list of frequently asked questions will also be circulated to all residents to help them understand our biometric system and help them to manage the admittance of visitors.

Speeding within the Estate Complaints of speeding within Thatchfi eld are still a concern. We continue to receive complaints about residents not adhering to our Estate speed limit of 30 km/ph. Please drive responsibly and always be on the look-out for other road users, children, and pets on the roads.

Noise PollutionIt is a criminal offence to disturb the peace of another person, or of the neighbourhood. Thatchfi eld Estate is a high density area and we continue to receive noise complaints daily. Be considerate please and respect your neighbours. Don’t be a nuisance to your neighbours.

Water RestrictionsWater is precious and must be treated as such. City of Tshwane (COT) announced water restrictions in Tshwane as our dams are half full. THOA reports pipe bursts and leaks to COT. Should you fi nd any burst or leaking pipes please report to COT by phoning this number: 0123589999. Please ask for a reference number, which you can share with THOA.

StreetlightsThe THOA Board has listened to all your complaints regarding nonworking

streetlights within Thatchfi eld Estate. COT appointed a private contractor, and the THOA is now able to purchase globes, starters, day & night switches, as well as electrical wires to address this issue of malfunctioning streetlights within our Estate.

On behalf of all our THOA staff members I would like to wish all the Thatchfi eld residents a Happy Christmas and New Year. Thank you for your support in creating a safe and secure environment for us to live in. Those who will be travelling please drive safely. Those staying at home enjoy yourselves and may you have a restful end-of-year break.

To all our THOA staff members thank you for your dedication and hard work. Take the festive period to get some rest. Your rest is well earned. To our two new staff members, welcome to Thatchfi eld!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.

Kind regards,Mossie MostertThatchfi eld Estate Manager

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Thatchfield Newsletter December 2019 Issue

From the Editor’s DeskThis is the last edition of the newsletter in 2019, and we would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy and safe festive season. In this issue, we highlight some of the milestones achieved in 2019, we get ready for our AGM, we welcome the new THOA staff, and we offer some safety and health tips for the festive season.

For all those who love running and keeping fit, there is a great initiative in Thatchfield Hills! They started a running club, and it is open to all interested residents of the Thatchfield Estate. To join or to make enquiries, please follow this link to the Whatsapp group:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Jtm2TRKpooG6iOQILoos5h

Below we share some health tips, courtesy of health24.com.

Christmas is notoriously a time to indulge, but don’t let this be the green light to overindulge! You can still enjoy all the festivities of the season and get through the Christmas period without too much impact on your health and waistline. Try our top 10 tips for a healthier Christmas.

Go out for walk after dinner for a healthier Christmas day.

Don’t sit down all dayWe know every Christmas special under the sun will be showing on the TV, but you don’t need to plonk yourself on the sofa all day! Encourage the whole family to get out for a walk at some point – ideally, after dinner to aid digestion. The more activity, the better, so take along any new outdoor gifts, like bikes, in-line skates, footballs or Frisbees, climb trees or play old-fashioned games.

The AGM date have been confirmed as follows: ❙ 10th December 2019

❙ Curro Thatchfield High School Hall, @19:00pm.

Residents are urged to submit any items for the Agenda to the Managing Agent before tha date of the meeting because on the day of the meeting, NO new items will be added nor entertained. THOA hopes that you find this is in order.

Go easy on the boozeIf you are firmly ensconced at home over the festive period, those alcohol units can really mount up. Do try to keep tabs on how much you are drinking, and intersperse alcoholic drinks with soft ones.

Don’t give yourself a Christmas stuffing!Recent research suggests that we consume around 12 600 kilojoules in our Christmas dinner – more than the entire recommended daily intake for a grown man! This huge feast not only contributes to weight gain but also to indigestion and heartburn – not to mention lethargy for the rest of the day, reducing the chances of you burning much of it off.

Instead of gorging yourself on Christmas dinner, eat a normal-sized meal and then take a 20-minute break to see if you are still hungry (it takes this long for the brain to register that the stomach is full). The chances are, you’ll realise you’ve had enough.

Eat fruitAt this time of late nights, overindulging and partying, it’s more important than ever to get your vitamins and minerals, to help you stay in good health. Ensure that your Christmas shopping list enables you to fill up the fruit bowl and get your five a day. (And no, mulled wine doesn’t count as one portion!)

Do something for othersIt’s hard to avoid the consumerism that has overtaken Christmas in the western world, but it doesn’t all have to be about giving or receiving gifts. Try to do something for others this festive season, whether it’s baking some extra mince pies for an elderly neighbour, inviting an acquaintance who doesn’t have family around them to your home or helping out with a local Christmas fete or carol service.

Be a careful cookIf your Christmas duties include cooking the dinner, you won’t be delighted to hear that according to the Food Standards Agency, December is one of the most common months for people to get food poisoning. To minimise the risks, don’t leave food out all day.

Put out small amounts at a time, so that what is on the table has just been cooked or just come out of the fridge. Ideally, try to use any leftovers within 48 hours or freeze them. As for the turkey, always defrost it in the fridge, allowing 10 to 12 hours per kilo and do not wash the bird, as this can spread bacteria around, which will be destroyed by cooking anyway.

Have a happy, healthy festive season!

Recyling is very important as waste has a huge negative impact on the environment. 

To join the recycling evolution please contact TRACEY on 0711470458 for your FREE plastic bags and 40lt colour co-ordinated set which can be stored indoors or outdoors.

Collection day is on Tuesdays. Please leave your plastic bags on the roadside for collection.

Recycling Initiative Thatchfield Annual General Meeting dates

Thatchfield Hills Running Group

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Thatchfield Newsletter December 2019 Issue

Mr Khehla Sam Maseko was appointed as the new Assistant Technician.

From the Board Chair

Low Water Pressure in Thatchfield EstateIn the past few months, Thatchfield residents have been experiencing low water pressure and/or no water coming out of their taps. This has upset many, and it continues to do so. On Saturday, 26th October 2019, the City of Tshwane announced that the current heatwave and insufficient rains are putting a strain on the City’s reservoir levels. Different stages (Stages 3 or 2 or 1) of water restrictions will be implemented. If this does not work, then Rand Water will implement more stringent restrictions across the whole distribution network to try to curb the demand as the reservoirs’ levels are continuing to drop. Thatchfield residents, therefore, are urged to save water and adhere to water conservation measures as part of their daily lifestyle. Kindly ensure that these water restrictions are adhered to: ❙ No watering or irrigation of gardens with hosepipes or sprinkler systems between

06:00hrs and 18:00hrs.

❙ No washing of vehicles with hosepipes.

❙ No filling of swimming pools.

Should residents wish to report water challenges (e.g. pipe bursts, leakages etc.), kindly contact City Of Tshwane at: (012) 358 9999.

From the Deputy Estate Manager

After the resignation of Mr Gert Pretorius (Assistant Technician) and the passing away of Ms Selina Makgoka (Office Cleaner) in the middle of 2019, the THOA Office was left with two vacant posts. The posts were advertised, and interviews were conducted.

They both commenced their duties on the 1st November 2019. THOA management and staff extends a warm welcome to them!

Mrs Winnie Ramaesela Kgole was appointed as the new Office Cleaner.

Misbehaving Adolescents within Thatchfield EstateThe challenge of misbehaving adolescents continues to be a very big concern for residents and the THOA. It is quite scary to note that this delinquency is getting worse in our Estate. There has been ongoing complaints/reports about adolescents misbehaving all around the Thatchfield Estate: ❙ They are drinking liquor and smoking dagga at the corners of the streets, in the

parks, and in front of residents’ properties;

❙ Some have been known to invite other adolescents whom they meet or see within the Estate to join them and take dagga with them.

❙ They are vandalising properties, blocking residents’ driveways, spray-painting the street signs, and insulting security guards and residents when reprimanded for these acts.

Schools are closing soon and children will be on holiday. We urge parents to monitor their children and discipline them, and to cooperate when misbehaviour is reported.

We approach the end of the year riding on a wave of optimism created by Siya Kolisi leading the Springbok team to such an incredible victory at the Rugby World Cup.

We should all, as members of the Thatchfield Community, embrace this moment and reach out to share it with our neighbours and fellow Thatchfield residents.

Talk to your neighbours, smile at people walking in our streets, drive responsibly, and respect our environment by not littering.

Your board members, office staff and service providers all share a common goal with you – the creation of a safe, quiet, attractive living environment.

Siya Kolisi has proved to us that South Africans can achieve great things if we work together.

Let us all follow his example and build a proud community based on mutual respect and teamwork.

I wish you all a safe and joyous holiday season.

THOA Office Welcomes New Staff Members

Carien, the HOA administrator, has as usual provided us with some tips for safeguarding our homes over the festive season, for we can never be too careful when it comes to security: ❙ Ensure that all your garage doors

and windows when you are not at home.

❙ Do not leave valuables near windows or doors.

❙ Do not leave valuables inside your vehicle visible from the outside.

❙ Never leave duplicate keys or access cards in your vehicle.

❙ Do not leave tools such as ladders, picks etc. outside as they can be used to break in.

❙ Never leave keys in the inside of an outer door that has glass panels or glass near the lock.

❙ Should you have an alarm system, ensure that it is in working condition before you go on holiday.

❙ Stop newspaper deliveries whilst on holiday and ask a friend/neighbour to collect post.

❙ Inform your neighbours of your holiday plans and request them to keep an eye on your property.

Safeguarding your home over the festive season

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Thatchfield Newsletter December 2019 Issue

Thatchfield Homeowners Association Office Closing DatesTHOA office will be closed as from 17th December 2019 @10:00am until the 6th January 2020.

The THOA technicians and SSG gardeners will still be on standby working shifts during this holiday period, making sure that the basic maintenance and cleanliness of the Estate is taken care of. During this period, residents may forward their queries or complaints or compliments to the THOA Control Room which will be open throughout the holidays:

THOA Control Room contact number - 072 952 8903

Duty Manager - 073 697 1990 (Available 24 Hours).

The THOA BoardThe THOA Board is made up of the following portfolios:

Chairperson Mr Charles Lloys Ellis

Vice-Chairman Mr Sydney Maluleka

Governance Mr Charles Lloys Ellis

Mr Sydney Maluleka

Mr Collen Ngundu

Finance Mr Sydney Maluleka

Mr Collen Ngundu

Ms Palesa Nhlangothi

Security and IT Mr Charl Homan

Mr Justus Jansen van Vuuren

Mr Themba Thukwane

Mr Zac Malumedzha

Assets, Parks, Recreation Ms Sarah Makumbe

Mr Themba Maluleke

Ms Mernette Swanepoel

Mr Hannes Lourens

Human Resources, Labour Relations Ms Sarah Makumbe

Mr Themba Maluleke

Ms Mernette Swanepoel

Sectional Title Affairs Ms Mernette Swanepoel

Board NewsCollen Ngundu and Palesa Nhlangothi have informed us that they will not be available to serve next year, and Sarah Makumbe resigned recently as she has emigrated.

We would like to thank these three board members for their time and their valuable contribution towards the running of our Estate.

The following directors were re-elected last year and still have another year to serve:1. Charles Lloys Ellis

2. Justus Jansen van Vuuren

3. Sydney Maluleka

The following directors have completed their two year term and have made themselves available for re-election:1. Zac Malumedzha

2. Charl Homan

3. Themba Thukwane

4. Hannes Lourens

5. Mernette Swanepoel

6. Themba Maluleke

Your board needs additional legal and financial expertise and we call upon members with such expertise to make themselves available to serve our community.

Board members are not paid for their services and they give of their valuable time to attend to matters for the benefit of our entire Thatchfield community.

The board wishes to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Mossie Mostert and Vuyo Mbeki and all of the Thatchfield staff for handling the biometric registration of over 10,000 residents. A special thank you to Lizette de Wet, who put in extra hours to ensure that residents are all registered.

Another big thank you to Pieter Koen and his security team for keeping us all safe, and to JM Venter, our managing agent for their continued support and advice.

This was a 2019 project for the THOA, and it is now completed. Please let us respect the building, and whenever you use it, please leave it as you found it. We want it to be spotlessly clean at all times. Remember that you can only utilize the THOA facilities by booking them in advance (Phone 0126611952). Residents not complying will not be permitted to utilize the facilities.

Ablution Blocks at the Sports Field

Lizette de Wet, Admin Assistant, at her desk where most of the finger-print taking happened.