In defence of Bombela

 Ivo Vegter is South Africa's most prominent stirrer.

He always gets to the heart of matters, and even if you don't agree with him, he is always good reading.

Here he writes about the company that has torn our suburb in every possible direction.

In defence of Bombela

The Gautrain operators have taken a great deal of flak over the lavish funding they received and the extraordinary revenue guarantees they enjoy. But would you be a good profit-seeking capitalist if you didn't take free money from corrupt socialists, when it is lawfully on offer?

http://www.thedailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2011-07-25-in-defence-of-bombela

Bugweed and litter

Update: By close of business, William reported he had removed 500 bugweed from the garden. Yet, on the surface of it, it looked as if the garden was relatively clear. This means we have cleared, in seven months, 3 500 from 87 Hilton and 68 Clulee.

Secondly, I enjoyed Neville's chirp that we were lucky only to have two black bags of litter on our verge. But, again, it hardly looked as if we had any litter. But with a school operating across the road, and a construction crew just down the road, the litter was deeply entrenched.

It is my experience that bugweed is utterly pervasive, as is litter, and we tend to live around both of them.


Original post: One of our first acts on moving into No 68 Clulee was to clear the bugweed. On the surface it looked as if there was none. William, our gardener, has just finished clearing over 300. (Above is what it looks like.)


Last Sunday, 702 ran a programme on how toxic and noxious this weed is. Utterly horrible. It is literally against the law to have it on your property.

During this year alone at 87 Hilton Road we pulled out over 3 000 of these plants.

Our second act was to clear the verges of litter. Two black bags later ...

Inverters and more

 My good friend Duncan McLeod bought a giant inverter. It's enough to power half of Randburg.

But most of us don't have R2 000 sitting around.

An inverter is a simple device. It delivers mains power when you need it, as many of us do, and charges when the mains are back on.

I won't go into an electrical instruction lesson here, but suffice it to say, if your business depends on power when Eskom goes down, I would heartily recommend you invest in an inverter-backup battery solution.

I bought a ton of them back in 2009 when the power was down all the time, and quite honestly, they saved our butts.

You have two choices: large, costly and centralised, or lower cost and decentralised.

If anyone wishes to discuss this, please contact me.

Derek and Janine Freeman inquire ...

Power update: It would seem the DA moved heaven and earth to resolve the power situation in 1st Road. Eskom crews are currently working there.


I worked with Darren Bergman and his team, including Helen Zille, and even Tony Leon in Buenos Aires, to get the work crew in. Darren and David at his office were unreal in their responsiveness. I have advised Helen and Tony. This, not what the ANC offers, is what ward councillors are about.

The innards of the distribution box were stolen and a work crew are working on and will work through the night to restore and hopefully to secure.

Derek has just called to say thank you. I just made a few calls, Derek. You look after yourself, your good wife and your baby. And I am at 68 Clulee all of tomorrow if you want to borrow my generator.



Power update: Janine Freeman asks: "Do you perhaps have a contact email address for Darren Burgman, our DA representative?

"We still have no power, and both City Power and Eskom are saying there has been no log of a fault - which we have now logged.

"Would like to try and escalate, as we have a four-week-old baby at home and we need electricity for bottles and to keep warm temp."

Darren is on 082-456-8636 or bergman.darren@gmail.com.

He has committed to getting the Freemans' power restored today.


That is the DA in action.



Water update:  Bev Cooke advises: "I managed to get through to Jhb Water to be informed that there was a planned water disruption in Linbro for today. They have had some challenges and they now estimate that we will have water at 9pm to night."

Earlier: My understanding via Intaprop is that the lack of water is due to the laying of new pipes and the diversion of existing ones for the vast new warehouse. We are no more than 100m now from the reservoir, and were without water for half of today, and had a trickle for the rest.

Update: 702, at my instigation, is reporting and confirming that Linbro Park's power is fluctuating between 110V and 180V and seldom peaking at the required voltage of 220-230V. This will run until 7pm.

David Blood of Kempton Park and SuperSport fame has assisted immeasurably in getting this issue to the fore. He is a national treasure.

You are paying for something, but not getting it.

The Freemans asked: Has anyone else reported the lack of power and water in 1st Rd, from house 118 and downwards towards Linbro Business Park?

More on armed robbery

 Neighbour Roger Price reports:
This occurred as the victims were leaving Linbro, not in the suburb. It appears that it could have happened at London Road exit, as one victim was driving back to Linksfield, having delivered flowers in Linbro. Probably the same gang who attempted to hold up Margie McKay? No personal possessions were taken, but at least one victim was assaulted.

If so, London Road exit is now a hot spot for crime.

More: The woman who was assaulted and robbed. The only other detail I have is that she put up a fight and got beaten for her courage. Another victim, a man, interceded and managed to calm her and prevent further assault. I am sure the incident will have been reported to the police.

Update on petrol and gas

Update on the petrol: Seems Solidarity has called off its strike. One by one, things are getting back to normal.Woodmead Engen also has plenty of petrol.

Update on the gas: The hardware store in the Wendywood Shopping Centre has as much gas as you can need and buy, at immediate notice.

Update: I had a meeting with SuperSport in Parkhurst. Afterwards I needed petrol. I had to drive 20km before finding some in Houghton. Eish!

1 Petrol seems to be freely available at Engen Longmeadow
2 BP Edenvale North had petrol but is sold out ... queues stretched 500m down Van Riebeeck on Saturday
3 The two Caltex garages at the bottom end of Edenvale would seem to still have petrol
4 The average waiting time for gas, I am told by Jacks Paint in Stoneridge, is 17 days

N3 closed

702 is reporting that an accident has closed down the N3 north at London Road. All lanes are closed and.will be for some time.

Robbery in Linbro Park

Neighbour Linda Grobler reports: "Thursday night they broke in at my storeroom at Party Land. They sawed off the burglar bars of a small window. They stole my two urns, about eight small chairs, lots of glasses and cups.(Everything they could get through that small window).

I am so angry and powerless! Will we ever again be able to live in a country with peace and without fear?

I think that the culprits live in the houses that owners rent out to 10-15 people.

As I was writing this mail, someone broke into a visitor to Party Land's car, and in a few seconds, stole his purse under his seat, pulled out his gps.and screen, and went through his CDs and ran away.

Now I really feel like just packing up and leaving! I can"t live like this!!"

Petrol

For anyone needing petrol, my understanding is that two Caltex garages in Edenvale have just taken delivery.

For updates: www.gotpetrol.co.za

Comparing Zimbabwe with South Africa

 Neighbour Mario Cremonte posts:
I had an e-mail from a friend in Zimbabwe yesterday and she sent me this picture and story that I thought was delightful. They had been away at a game park and on the first evening while sitting in front of the fire in the bar, in walked a fully grown warthog. He walked over to the bar and without a word the bar man handed him a pillow. He took the pillow, put it next to the fire and promptly lay own with his head on the pillow and went to sleep where, apparently, he spends the cold nights. Then in the morning he's off into the bush again! My friend,Cynie, says that if the barman isn't there he'll grab a pillow off one of the couches! Here he is:

And then:

Back in potholed, petrol-free, dirty streets, taxi nightmare, etc ...... RSA.

But, hey, it's not all bad.

Arrived, drove past toyi-toiying steel workers; hit my first pothole; 28 hours later hijacking with shots fired at London Road; 32 hours later all electricity gone at home for 1 1/2 days; electricity cables still being stolen; Cele's and other corrupt politicians' cases continue; unkempt verges; all petrol stations out of fuel because of petroleum workers' strike; car queues everywhere; till operators still happy to serve; 15 roadside entrepreneurs; no work placards; self appointed parking attendents; no gas!!

And all this was before lunch.

Wonder how the rest of the day will pan out?

Good to be home.

Mario

Road block/robbers

Roger Price advises: "A friend has just informed me that several men have created a "road block" in Linbro Park, held up three cars and robbed the occupants. I have no details of the road."

I will provide more details as they become available.

Burglar/intruder Wellington

The guy who I found in my former property, 87 Hilton, on Saturday, I am advised, is one of the low-lives who brutally slaughtered the pig down at the bottom of Clulee in January.

More details to follow as they emerge.