It’s been a busy few weeks for the CID team, as I’m sure it has been for most of you! November is always a frantic month, as everyone tries to cram in as much as possible before taking some time off to relax and enjoy the Christmas festivities or go away on holiday.
One of the highlights from the past month is the promotion of Vincent Jonathan to Shift Manager for our CIDs. Jonathan joined Vetus Schola Protection Services just over a year ago, and has continuously demonstrated his ability to improve and protect our CIDs since then. I am confident that he will thrive in his new leadership role. Click here to read more about Kevin Jonathan.
I’d also like to extend a warm welcome to all the new tenants in our CIDs, including Deliottes, Cruz Café, Ink on Time and all those situated in the new Cape Quarter 2. Look out for more information in our next newsletter.
Our CID team has been focusing on a number of crime prevention and safety initiatives, including the informative road blocks, which you can read more about in the Crime and Grime section of this newsletter. Captain Lourens has been instrumental to the success of these roadblocks and I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her dedication and hard work. Read her interview here.
We have also been planning and setting up a number of initiatives to ensure that your festive season is as safe and stress-free as possible. Read the “CID team gears up for the Festive Season” article to find out what projects are in the pipeline.
For those of you that are still setting up end of year functions, or are planning strategy sessions to get the ball rolling in early 2010, make sure that you keep the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice conference venues in mind.
There is a impressive array of fun-filled events, shows, exhibitions and fairs leading up to Christmas this year, so be sure to check out the events section for details.
Let’s hope that the rest of November is lovely and summery, so that you can put our summer safety tips to good use!
Don’t forget to email any questions or information through to info@gpcid.co.za and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Best wishes,
Marc Truss
OK/GP CID CEO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS MONTH?
We pride ourselves in having the top events happening in and around Cape Town listed on our website each month.
Here are our favourite events in and around Cape Town
Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts
When: 22 November 2009 – 11 April 2010.
Click here for more info
The Gift Affair
When: 26 – 28 November 2009.
Click here for more info
Cats
When: 29 November 2009 – 10 January 2010.
Click here for more info
Cap Classique and Champagne Festival
When: 5 - 6 December 2009.
Click here for more info
SUBMIT YOUR CAPE TOWN EVENT
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR CID?
CRIME AND GRIME
Informative Road Blocks
The CID team has been working in collaboration with Metro Police and SAPS at a number of informative road blocks in the GP and OK CIDs over the past few weeks.
This proactive initiative is designed to get law and order back on the streets, and to educate the public and inform them of any wrong doing, which may be as simple as an expired licence disc or not wearing a seatbelt.
GP and OK CID security manager, Marius Swanepoel, says “These roadblocks are a great opportunity for us to remind our residents about important safety issues such as locking their car doors, keeping their windows at least half-way up and keeping all handbags and laptops out of sight."
Read more
CLEANSING
Waste Update
In October 2009, 'supplementary cleansing' has resulted in the collection and removal of an estimated 9 800 kgs (1 400 bags) of waste from the Green Point CID area and 11 550 kgs (1 650 bags) from the Oranje-Kloof CID area.
INTERVIEW
Interview with Captain Michaela Lourens (Military Rank – Medical Corps)
Over the past year, Captain Lourens has played a significant role in assisting the GP and OK CIDs and SAPS with a number of road blocks designed to curb and prevent drunk driving. On behalf of the CID team, I would like to express our gratitude to Captain Lourens for her dedication and hard work, and share the following interview with you to give you an idea of her involvement:
How are you involved with the GP and OK CIDs?
I am a Nursing Sister and Midwife with 24 years experience working for the government. I became involved with the GP and OK CIDs about a year ago as I wish to assist them in their task to reduce the amount of drunk drivers that are on our roads today. My task is to draw blood from the suspect after he/she has been arrested under suspicion of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol. The blood specimen is then sent to the laboratory for analysis to determine the amount of alcohol in the blood. This reading will make the case solid if it is determined to be over the legal limit.
What is the purpose of the informative road blocks run by the CID team in conjunction with SAPS and the Metro Police?
• To reduce the number of people who get behind the wheel whilst driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• To check for unregistered vehicles as well as unlicensed persons who are behind the wheel.
• The safety of the vehicle is also checked and we also check for stolen vehicles.
What is your general view of the South African liquor licensing laws in clubs and restaurants? Do you think it would it reduce the number of drunk-driving related accidents if bars had to stop serving alcohol earlier than 2am?
I think that the general laws should be made tighter and the cut off time for the selling of alcohol should be made earlier as there is little else to protect the innocent who make use of the roads at the same time as the drunk drivers. But then I also think that changing the times that alcohol is allowed to be served will do too little to be of any good. What we need is more visible road blocks, public education and shuttle services for the places that serve alcohol.
Read more
LIFESTYLE
Cape Quarter
The official launch of the Cape Quarter was a great success, with a week-long celebration filled with live music, culinary delights and impressive exhibitions. The good news is that it doesn’t end there! There are a couple of fantastic opening specials which are definitely worth a try:
• Andiamo has a pizza and pasta special running until the end of November 2009: any two pastas or pizzas, plus two glasses of Boschendal La Paviolion red or white wine for only R120.
• Tank Restaurant and Sushi Bar has half price sushi and cocktails everyday from 12:00 to 18:00.
Look out for more in our next newsletter.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
Protea Hotel Fire & Ice boasts an impressive array of conference venues
We chatted to Anton Gillis, general manager of Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! to find out what makes their conference venues stand out from the rest. Here is what he had to say:
Where is the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice located?
Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! is situated in the entertainment hub of the Cape Town CBD – wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do is never too much hassle. The hotel is minutes away from the V&A Waterfront, Clifton and Camps Bay beaches, Table Mountain, and the bars and restaurants of Long Street and nearby Kloof Street
What makes your conference venues different to others? The state of the art, yet affordable, conference facilities which will definitely appeal to corporate companies looking for a unique offering. These facilities include four separate venues that are ideally suited for executive board meetings and there are two multi-use rooms equipped to hold functions for up to 250 delegates, making this the perfect venue for product launches, conferences, training or end of year parties.
How many people do these conference rooms cater for?
Up to 250 people.
Read more
INTERESTING NEWS
CID team gears up for the festive season
With the silly season fast approaching, we have compiled an overview of upcoming Green Point (GP) and Oranje-Kloof (OK) CID initiatives leading up to the festive period and 2010.
There will be a number of changes and upgrades, particularly in the GP CID, including the new and improved signage, increased security and wide walkways and cycle paths. These new pedestrian zones will add to the aesthetic appeal of the area, and also make it a friendlier and safer place to live, work and play.
The GP and OK CIDs will be retaining tried and trusted security and safety methods over the next couple of months, and will be looking for ways to improve their services too. Says Marc Truss, “We plan to conduct additional training to ensure that our team is up to speed and can assist residents and tourists with directions and advice as well as ensuring that they have a safe passage whilst in our CIDs.”
Read more
New CID shift manager appointed
On behalf of the OK and GP CID team I would like to congratulate a former member of SAPS, Kevin Jonathan on being selected as the new shift manager for our CIDs. He has been a dedicated member of our team since the beginning of October 2008 and has earned the trust and respect of his CID and Vetus Schola Protection Services colleagues, business owners and the residents of our CIDs.
When asked about his new position as shift manager, Jonathan said, “My goal is not only to reduce crime in Green Point and Oranje Kloof, but also to serve and protect these communities, thereby creating a community free of crime, as well as to equip my officers with necessary training and knowledge in order for them to be successful in our mission”.
Read more
EVENTS
Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts
22 November 2009 – 11 April 2010.
This is a perfect way to spend a Sunday evening in Cape Town. Bring your friends and family and enjoy the breathtaking setting of the botanical gardens with a picnic and a bottle of wine.
Read more
A Gift Affair
26 – 28 November 2009.
This gift affair is full of carefully selected, beautiful handcrafted products and inspirational ideas. It is a great opportunity to find exclusive and original gifts, sensational home and garden accessories, fashion items and handcrafted toys. There will also be an extravaganza of delicious and decadent deli treats at the slow food market.
Read more
Cats
29 November 2009 – 10 January 2010.
Since Cats first opened on the West End stage in 1981, it has become one of the world's best-known and best-loved musicals. Don’t miss this opportunity to watch it at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town.
Read more
Cap Classique and Champagne Festival
5 - 6 December 2009.
Spend the Champagne festival weekend popping corks, filling flutes, sipping vivacious bubbly and snacking on delicacies prepared by some of the valley's gourmet masterminds.
Read more
USEFUL TIPS
Summer Safety Tips
When summer finally arrives, make sure that you get out and enjoy the gorgeous sunshine and clock up a couple of leisurely days on the beach. While doing that, keep these practical safety tips in mind to ensure that your summer is as safe and stress-free as possible:
• Don’t forget the basics – slap on plenty of sun-block, wear a wide-brimmed hat and try to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm.
• Invest in a good pair of sunglasses. Check that they block both UVA and UVB rays.
• Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard – usually in a zone between two red and yellow flags. Avoid swimming near rocks, piers, or jetties.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Don’t leave your personal belongings unattended on the beach.
Read more
GP CID Contact Numbers
GP CID Patrol Vehicle
082 214 3228
GP CID Shift Manager (24 hrs)
071 670 3019
OK CID Contact Numbers
OK CID Patrol Vehicle
082 217 1386
OK CID Shift Manager (24 hrs)
071 670 3019
OK CID Manager
Mike Reeler
082 411 7778
General OK and GP CID Contact Numbers
Chief Executive
Marc Truss
082 560 0684
Security Manager
Marius Swanepoel
082 922 1832
Operations Manager
Dolf Venter
071 680 0801
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your objective. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
