Letter from the Chairman/Brief van die...

Letter from the Chairman/Brief van die Voorsitter

Spring is in the air and it is great to see the gardens at the entrance and throughout the complex starting to bloom. It is also nice to see some residents out in the gardens and busy cleaning and painting houses. La Veritas is a beautiful estate and it is gratifying to see that most owners are proud of their homes. Daar was vir 'n lang tyd nou 'n werkery by die ingang en ek dink almal sal saamstem dat dit die moeite werd was. Die ingang lyk aantreklik en professioneel en in die aand is die beligting baie goed.

Die wagte se kantoor lyk ook netjies en skep 'n goeie indruk. Ons kry heelwat komplimente van besoekers en eiendomsagente en dit behoort beslis 'n positiewe

uitwerking op die waarde van ons eiendomme te hê. Die Van Riebeeckshof Huiseienaars Vereeniging maak goeie vordering met die oprigting van 'n elektriese heining bo om die huise en dit, gekombineer met die verbeterings wat ons aangebring het, versterk die sekuriteit in ons kompleks beduidend. Dit maak ook van La Veritas een van die veiligste komplekse om in te woon.

For us as trustees, it is one of our primary goals to make La Veritas Estate a great and secure place to live in and the new entrance with its sophisticated camera system and our electric fence definitely adds peace of mind. Unfortunately, we had to relax the security while construction was underway and we are currently experiencing a lack of cooperation from some residents at the entrance.

The security at the entrance is for our own safety and if everyone does not follow the access procedures, it compromises the safety and security of everyone living in the estate. For that reason we have issued firm instructions to the guards at the entrance not to let anyone in or out of the estate without following the proper access procedure. Anyone experiencing problems with their fingerprint should contact the estate manager: Gerrit van Zyl at #35. The cameras at the entrance also allow us to monitor the performance of the guards, but it can also monitor speeding and tailgating. Anyone found tailgating will be prosecuted and fines have already been issued to residents. We will not tolerate such behavior.

Ek wil graag my dank uitspreek aan die trustees wat soveel van hulle tyd opoffer om te verseker dat ons kompleks glad funksioneer. Ek doen ook 'n beroep op elkeen van ons inwoners om ons te kontak indien daar enigiets is wat ons aandag benodig. Die beste sekuriteit in enige woonbuurt is wanneer bure oplettend is en omgee vir mekaar.

Regards/ Groete

Kobus Louw - Chairman / Voorsitter

Uitgawe No. 10 Maart 2015/ Issue No. 10 March 2015

NEWS / NUUS Issue/Uitgawe No 12.

Oktober / November 2015 Spring / Lente

1. LA VERITAS RESIDENTIAL ESTATE

http://www.laveritas.co.za/



Message from the Editor / Boodskap van Redakteur

Dear resident/Geagte inwoner

Na n lang nat winter is baie van ons seker bly om heelwat meer van die son te sien alhoewel sommiges miskien sal brom,hier kom die volgende droogte weer! En dwarsdeur daardie winter was daar BAIE aktiwiteit in La Veritas wat as doelwit gehad het ,die verbetering ,beveiliging en verfraaing van ons wonings en ons gedeeld leefomgewing.

Onder die doelgerigte leierskap van Kobus Louw as ons voorsitter, en met die samewerking van die Trusteespan is beduidende vordering gemaak ten opsigte van verskeie aspekte van ons woonarea In hierdie Lente Uitgawe van La Veritas Nuus word word baie aandag daaraan geskenk.

TEAM EFFORT/SPANPOGING Wat has made this “Great Leap Forward”possible was a good combination of leadership and teamwork on the side of the Chair,and the Trustees and also much patience on the side of residents. Pse read the rest of this newsletter with care .I contains MUCH important and useful information for YOU as a La Veritas resident and,in the spirit of “ veritas “contains many relevant “home truths”!

COMMUNICATION/KOMMUNIKASIE In conclusion a thought about communication. Communication shld be an ongoing and frank exchange between management and residents aimed at improving a situation and this should also the case in La Veritas. If matters are not being dealt with appropriately within the estate by us as Trustees or any member of staff who is supposed to take responsibilities ,bring it to the attention of the Chair and all or any of the trustees – that what you elected them for. And their contact details are elsewhere in the newsletter. So as residents you need to be cooperative and likewise Trustees and staff need to be accountable. That will be the secret of our success ,IF we are to be successful

Lekker lees en lekker bly. Enjoy La Veritas and play your own role in making it an agreeable place for us all to live. Renier Schoeman:Redakteur en Trustee vir Kommuniksaie Editor and Trustee for Communication

Naskrif Ek bedank ook graag Willie van der Walt vir sy bystand met die bymekaarbring van stof vir hierdie uitgawe en ook sy seun Tjaart vir sy rekenaarkundige bystand met uitleg van die eerste weergawe van die Lente-uitgawe. Dit word waardeer Red.



Trustee Portfolios: A Reminder of Responsibilities

Kobus Louw Chairman, Trustee Responsible for Architecture and Environment

Architecture People have a natural tendency to want to change their immediate living environment due to things like changed financial circumstances, changed family circumstances and the like. Preserving the architectural integrity of the estate is the paramount task of this trustee. •Interfacing i.e. with members regarding changes, additions and alterations being done. •Ensuring that appropriate amended plans are passed for any such intended changes. •Managing the process of ensuring approval is obtained for such changes and

interfacing with both the MHOA and the Municipal authorities in this regard. •Liaising with the Security Trustee to enable security aspects or breaches of rules to be effectively dealt with i.t.o. access and control thereof.

Environment This portfolio encompasses more than mere visually obvious matters. Our environment includes other aspects. Any external factors having an effect on the Estate and its quality of living environment also fall to this portfolio.

Ensuring ease of movement through the Estate for all residents.

Dealing with excessive/insensitive audio volumes from things as innocuous as music, to noise emanating from homes or garages at inappropriate times and at inappropriate levels.

The effect of pets on neighbouring properties from both a noise point of view (e.g. barking dogs) and a health point of view (e.g. people allowing their pets to defecate on a neighbours’ lawn and then not cleaning up.)

Tailgating and Speeding by offenders within the Estate. Dealing with complaints from residents regarding any items falling within the ambit of these matters.

Renier Schoeman

Trustee for Communication The purpose of this portfolio is to ensure that communication emanating from La Veritas Estate is: •designed to sell the benefits of ownership and living within the Estate in a manner which enhances the value perspective as assessed by the readers of disseminated material; •is frequent enough to keep owners and residents abreast of all relevant facts; •is a link between portfolio trustees and owners; and

•periodically polls stakeholders of the estate formally and informally according to need regarding issues on which the trustees require feedback from residents and/or owners.



Johnny Cozzi

Trustee for Finance The purpose of this portfolio is •to advise the trustees on financial issues like setting aside sufficient funds to cover the cost of major renovations/repairs; bearing in mind that this estate, unlike many others, owns it's common property roads, services, etc. •to ensure that financial management is maintained at a level of professional standard and transparency that enables all authorised stakeholders to obtain all

relevant facts upon request.

At Neethling

Trustee for the Security Portfolio This portfolio has both the most potential for negative publicity/image implications and the greatest one on positive marketing i.r.o. all physical visitors to the Estate. (This excludes the effects of electronic marketing and image building via a website and like communication.) It requires more attention, physical focus and effort than almost any other portfolio and cannot function without effective communication and support of all the other portfolios.

•This trustee has the responsibility of ensuring the sufficiency of security on the Estate. •This trustee is likely to find his duties require the most irregular hours of all the portfolios.

Johan De Kock

Trustee for Legal The purpose of this portfolio is •to manage processes that are aimed at ensuring at ensuring that the Compliance Policy of the HOA is adhered to. •to refer questions of law to external advisers for guidance when the need arises and to liaise with such legal advisers as may be required; and •to ensure that the legal and regulatory risks that the HOA is exposed to, is adequately managed; •to assist trustees to be able to perform their duties with due skill, care and diligence; •taking account of the legal implications that may be encountered in the fulfilment of their portfolio duties



TRUSTEE REPORT/VERSLAG

Architecture and Environment The entrance project has been completed and not only is it aesthetically pleasing, it is also functioning very well.

The upgrade also allowed us to implement new things, like a sophisticated battery back-up system to cope with

load- shedding and a brand new camera system to monitor security at the entrance. Probably one of the most

pleasing aspects of the upgrade, is that we now have a sound base to build on for the foreseeable future. Among

these are a sound electrical wiring system and capacity to expand our camera system and the lighting at the

entrance.

Ons is ook hard besig om die tuine by die ingang op te gradeer en ons dank gaan aan Felicity Neethling en Anna-

Marié Louw wat alreeds 'n groot verskil gemaak het. Ek kan net dink hoe pragtig die tuine gaan lyk oor 'n paar

maande wanneer die nuwe plante tot hulle reg kom. Die bouwerk by die ingang het ons ook die geleentheid

gegee om die besproeiingstelsel vir die eerste keer sedert die ontstaan van die kompleks oor te doen. Dit was 'n

behoorlike skattejag om die oorspronklike komponente op te spoor, maar ons is nou goed toegerus vir die droeë

somermaande.

There are no major projects planned for the foreseeable future and we look forward to making the estate one of

the most attractive in the area. I have had compliments from visitors that the houses in the estate look

aesthetically pleasing and we remind owners that there is a colour palette of paint colours for the external walls

of the houses and owners have to get approval for their colours before they start painting. The colour palette is

available at the estate manager: Gerrit van Zyl at #35.

Kobus Louw - Chairman / Voorsitter

Nuwe Hekke – New Look and Feel



TRUSTEE REPORT/VERSLAG (cont’d)

Sekuriteit/ Security

In die afgelope kwartaal het die volgende plaasgevind op hierdie front:

Ons het nou ‘n nuwe sekuriteitsmaatskappy wat diens doen by die hek, ERC. Na die aanvanklike tandekry probleme is dinge nou op koers, en die manne doen hul werk. Daar is nog so hier en daar ietsie wat krap, maar ook dit sal uitgestryk raak. Graag bedank ons inwoners vir hul geduld tydens die intreefase van die nuwe manne.

We have installed six cameras at the entrance, and they work perfectly, and we are able to look out for any transgressions happening at the gates. So watch out, Big Brother is looking at you!

The old electric fence has been taken down, and replaced with a higher and more up to date fence. There is still some work to be carried out, viz. the up touching of the paintwork where the blots were removed where the old fence was attached to the walls. This will be done within the next month or so.

Ons is ook besig met die hernuwing van alle toegangskaarte vir huis- en tuin-werkers. Weereens vra ons u vriendelike samewerking hiermee. Hou ook asseblief in gedagte dat vir almal se veiligheid, alle kaarte slegs vir 12 maande geldig sal wees. U sal ‘n hernuwingskennisgewing ontvang wanner dit weer gedoen moet word.

Access / Toegang

We also want to bring the following to your attention, with regard to safety and security, and we ask you for you cooperation in this respect.

1. Entry Access Access to the Estate will only be granted by using either your registered fingerprint or tag. The guards may assist when a resident’s fingerprints do not readily grant access. In such cases, the resident will be asked to please apply for a tag.

2. Toegang vir besoekers and diensverskaffers Alle besoekers en diensverskaffers moet by die hek inteken en sal slegs toegang verleen word as die betrokke inwoner die nodige toestemming daarvoor gegee het, deur die oopmaak van die hek. Die besoeker sal ‘n besoekerskaart ontvang, wat weer tydens uitgaan by die hek ingehandig moet word. Indien die inwoner nie deur middel van die Mircom stelsel gekontak kan word nie, sal die besoeker/diensverskaffer weggewys word. Geen ander huisnommer as die een waarvoor gevra is sal gekontak word nie.

3. Exit Access All residents have to use either a fingerprint or a tag to open the gate on exit. The guards have been told not to open the exit gate, and only in the case of a motorist handing in a visitors card will they do so. The guards will also not keep the gate open as was done during building operations. Each exit will have to open the gate him/herself.



cont’d 4. Huis- en Tuin-werkers

Huis- en Tuin-werkers sal slegs toegang verleen word as ‘n geldige, geregistreerde toegangskaart by die hek gehou word. Kaarte moet weer met uitgang ingehandig word. Enige werker wie nie ;n kaart het nie, sal soos ‘n besoeker hanteer word en die inwoner sal die persoon persoonlik by die hek moet kom haal en weer afgee. Residents must also take note of the rules pertaining to the use of contractors. (See appendix B of the La Veritas Estate Homeowners' Association Rules). We have found instances where workers have gone out to buy food, and then enter the Estate again. The rules clearly states that under no circumstances may workers enter or leave the Estate, without being in the presence of the contractor. Please advise contractors about this.

5. Tailgating We have noticed that this occurs frequently at the gates. As we now have a camera system in place, we will make use of that to identify culprits. They will be fined a percentage of the monthly levy for each infringement. If we find that a person frequently transgresses, the fine will be increased.

6. Algemene padreëls / General Traffic Rules in La Veritas Dit lyk ook asof sommige persone die algemene reëls van die pad hierbinne die Landgoed ignoreer. Daar is mense wie te vinnig ry, en ‘n algemene gevaar is vir kinders, voetgangers en diere. Ons vra u om asseblief die 30 km per uur spoedgrens binne die Landgoed te eerbiedig. Om die waarheid te sê, met die nou strate is 25 dalk ‘n beter spoedgrens. Weereens, as daar mense is wat dit oortree, en ons kan dit bewys, is ‘n boete u voorland. There are only 4 stop signs on the Estate, and it seems that the majority of motorists are not aware of

what a stop sign means. Fortunately two of those signs are within the range of the cameras at the

entrance, and we will make use of that to identify transgressors, who will be fined.

We ask you to help us to make La Veritas Estate a safe environment to live in, for all of us. Thank you At Neethling , Trustee – Security.

Finances/Finansies

Further to the approval granted at the AGM, 3 major capital projects were undertaken and completed in the first 7 months of the year. The largest of the projects was the new entrance which was completed at a cost of R512 741, this against a budget of R450 000. The other two projects related to security, was the introduction of cameras at the entrance and the upgrade of the perimeter security fence at a combined cost of R149 979, this against a budget of R170 000. We are thus R42 720 over the capex budget, but like with any major projects of this nature, unforeseen problems do arise and money has to be allocated in order to address the issues. At the operational level, we are due to realise a surplus of R74 574, this against a budget of R151 558. Main reasons for the shortfall being an overspend on the gardens which required some attention after the builders moved off site and an under budget of the common area municipal billings, being electricity, water and sewerage. We are therefore expecting an overall reduction in reserves in the amount of R588 146, this against an expected loss of R468 442. The process of rebuilding reserves in now underway, with no major capex expected over the next 12 months. The cash position of the association remains robust, with September cash on hand at R594 964. We once again take this opportunity to thank the owners for their continued prompt payment of levies, without which we could not add value to our estate. Johhny Cozzi , Trustee - Finance



Legal & Compliance

The new rules have been communicated to all residents and owners and we have warned that these rules will be applied in order to ensure a safe, friendly and beautiful environment for us all. During the upgrading of the entrance area we had to relax some of the controls at the gates in order to ensure smooth traffic flow. Now that all the work is done we will revert back to applying the rules as approved at the AGM in July this year. Note that the Trustees have the power to impose penalties for transgressions; for more detail please refer to Annexure D – Compliance Policy in the rules. I would like to highlight the problems and transgressions causing the most headaches.

Gardens and Upkeep of properties: Regular inspection of the Estate and the condition of the individual gardens and front of properties are done. If it is found that your garden is not in an acceptable condition, you will be informed by the managing agent to attend to the problem. Should this problem persist the trustees will raise penalties against you which will be communicated to you and added to your account.

Traffic Offences: Lately this has become the biggest issue in the Estate and there are a few transgressions that are regularly occurring: Speeding inside the Estate – once again note that the speed limit is 30 kph and we have many pedestrians on the roads. Please drive carefully and slowly as our streets are not wide and we do not want you to cause an accident or damage to someone’s property. Tailgating – this is occurring regularly and we are now able to track the culprits with the new camera system at the entrance. Some transgressors have already been identified and penalised. To avoid unnecessary penalties, please avoid tailgating when you enter or leave the Estate. Parking in the street – as mentioned before, our streets are narrow and if you park vehicle(s) in the street it makes it difficult for traffic to pass and you run the risk of your vehicle getting damaged. Again penalties will be imposed when we find vehicles parked for long periods in the streets.

Pets: Finally, I need to remind everyone with pets, particularly dogs and cats, to control your pets and ensure they do not become a nuisance to the other residents in the Estate. The most common issues are pets wandering around the Estate without a leash, dogs and cats doing their business on other residents’ properties, and noisy pets when the owners are at work. Should you not control your pet you will be liable for penalties as well and should the problem continue the Trustees will request you to get rid of the offending pet.

Johan de Kock Trustee for Legal & Compliance

‘n Groot Welkom aan alle Nuwe Inwoners A Big Welcome to all New Residents



Tuine en Verfraaing/Gardening and beautifying our estate We all would love to live in an estate which is pleasing to the eye. Wouldn’t it be nice to see everyone contributing to a pleasant environment, improving the total image of our estate? Hier is ‘n uitdaging vir alle La Veritas-inwoners: Ons begin ‘n verfraaiingsprojek/-kompetisie tot einde Februarie 2016. Almal kan deelneem. Even smaller gardens, more unfriendly structures such as walls and retaining walls/blocks, paved surfaces and drive-ways can be beautified with pot plants, greenery, ect. We are approaching possible sponsors for suitable prices. The winners will be announced in our first news issue of 2016, together with photos of the winning gardens. Watch this space!!! Indien die kompetisie aan die verwagtinge voldoen, kan ons selfs oorweeg om ‘n gereëlde kompetisie in te stel. We could even consider a floating trophy! Kom ons kyk hoe lyk ons woonkompleks teen die einde van hierdie eerste kompetisie. (Tuintrotse Inwoner Willie Vd Walt, Tel: 083 556 6432)



Cont’d

All photographs in this issue by Kobus Louw



CONTACT LIST/ KONTAKLYS

The Trustees Name E-Mail Cellular Landline

Kobus Louw -Chairman/Environment /Architectural

[email protected] 082 321 3197

Renier Schoeman -Communication


Johnny Cozzi - -Financial


Johan de Kock -Legal/Compliance

[email protected] 082 550 9154 021 913 8530

At Neethling -Security


Estate/Landsgoed Name E-Mail Landline

Freddie Van Rensburg -Architectural consultant

Approval for Master HOA Van Riebeeckshof 083 383 0660

Jeremy Petersen -Managing Agent


Gerrit Van Zyl -Estate Manager


The Guard House 021 913 3864

Emergency Services

Name Landline

ADT 021 001 1202

Need an Ambulance? 082 911 (Netcare911) 10 177 (Metro Services)

Need the Bellville Police Station? 021 918 3000

Need the Durbanville Police Station? 021 970 3811

Need the Flying Squad? 10 111



mailto:[email protected]







Cell: 082 777 03 74 | Skype: garethreed | Twitter: garethreedsa | Website: www.create4u.co.za

Website Design, Software Development, Corporate Branding, Advertising & Marketing, Website Hosting, Social Media, SMS Mobile Solutions, Administrative Support, Promoting Products



http://www.create4u.co.za/

Letter from the Chairman/Brief van die...

Documents

Transcript of Letter from the Chairman/Brief van die...