Residents,

2012 has sped by to meet 2013, which would bring its own and new challenges to our administration. I do not intend to dwell on these challenges now and suffice to say that the rest during the upcoming festive season will enable us to tackle them heads on in the same way that the Springboks and Proteas dealt with their recent opponents.

One of the year end characteristics is that it brings a time of reflection and I do wish to share with you some highlights.

Onafhanklike graderingspanele het gedurende die afgelope jaar die volgende toekennings aan Drakenstein Munisipaliteit toegeken:

lGroenste munisipaliteit in die Wes-Kaap. Dit sluit in die 6 kategorieë nl: afvalbestuur (insluitend die ou Skoonste Dorp-kompetisie), energie doeltreffend en bewaring, biodi-versiteitsbestuur, kusbestuur en stadsverfaaiing, waterbestuur en bewaring, lugkwaliteitsbestuur en leierskap, institutionele reëlings en openbare deelname.

lDrakenstein het ook nog 'n verdere 3 spesiale meriete toekennings losgeslaan vir afvalbestuur, lugkwaliteitbestuur en leierskap, institutionele reëlings en openbare deelname asook 'n toekenning in die innovasie-kategorie vir die Meulwater Watersuiweringsaanleg.

lBlou Druppel status vir water-kwaliteit en verwante infrastruktuur installasies 96.29%

l7de beste munisipaliteit in SA (uit 283) vir vlakke van dienslewering en gehalte van infrastrukture (Municipal IQ assessment)

lGroen Druppel status vir afvalwater bestuur met 'n 80.3% gradering

lLae persentasie waterverliese in die verspreidingsnetwerke van 1.98%

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER: DECEMBER 2012

DRAKENSTEIN MUNICIPALITY Contact Details: TEL: 021-807 4500. FAX: 021-872 8054 WEBSITE: www.drakenstein.gov.za

lWinner of Western Cape Government Certificate of Excellence for good Integrated Development Plan (IDP) practice: Legislative-compliant simplified IDP

Regarding good governance, I can report that the municipal organogram has now been revised, both for the management macro structure and micro structure. This will bring it in line with the approved five year Integrated Development Plan. This revised structure will enable us to manage better in dedicated focus areas with continuous performance manage-ment to ensure sustainable progress with our plans for development in Draken-stein.

The Problem Building By-Law has now been adopted by Council and will now enable us to act against owners of derelict and abandoned buildings and land.

Council approved a further 1.82 hectares of land for industrial erven opposite the Wellington Industrial Park and trust that further new investment and employment will be accelerated.

Die ou Paarl-Oos Polisiestasieterrein is verhuur aan die Paarl-Oos Gemeen-skapspolisiëringsforum en ander gemeenskaps-organisasies kan ook die Huurder nader om van die geriewe te huur vir eie gebruik.The 2012 census statistics confirmed that Drakenstein now has a 255 000 population and this entails 61 000 households, incidentally now being reached through this newsletter.

Erf 6267, Wellington (Van Wyksvlei) is verkoop aan die Departement van Openbare Werke, Wes-Kaap vir die oprigting van 'n nuwe sekondêre skool wat 'n verdere ±1 000 leerlinge sal kan huisves.

Oprigting van huise in veral die Drommedaris ontwikkeling langs die verkeer toetssentrum vorder goed en ±400 huise is gedurende 2012 voltooi.

The Paarl East Thusong Centre is now operational and in service to the community. Various community service related organisations are now based there.

In terms of the Water and Sanitation Services to Farm Workers Policy as adopted in 2011, to date services to 441 households on 51 farms have been upgraded through the Drakenstein subsidy scheme.

In vorige verklarings het u reeds kennis geneem van ons beplanning om parke en openbare areas op te gradeer. Die uitrol proses sal in samewerking met die wykskomitees plaasvind en spesifiek gemik word op verbeterde gebruik, opgradering, volhoubare instand-houding en waar nodig werke met werkskeppings geleenthede.

The above-mentioned highlights and other improvements in quality of service delivery was brought about by a team effort between councillors and officials and I hereby wish to express my gratitude to each and every one of my team members.

Ek wens alle inwoners 'n Kerstyd van vrede en seën toe en ook 'n voorspoedige 2013.

Die Uitvoerende BurgemeesterAdv Gesie van Deventer

EMERGENCY NUMBERS: Ambulance: 10177, Hospital: 021-8602500, Police: 021-8074000,

Fire Brigade: 021-8722323, Water: 021-8074715, Electricity: 021-8722557, Help Desk: 021-8074782

NOOD NOMMERS: Riool – Basil Erasmus - 082 4979 187, Brand gevalle - Johan Davids - 082 4159 359

Brand gevalle - Kwella - 082 7762 945, Storm water - Jeremy Schoonraad - 082 497 9036,

Skoon water - Basil Meyer - 082 4979 131, Elektrisiteit - Michael Rhoda - 082 3720 503, Elektisiteit - Emial - 082 7762 926

rakenstein Municipality confirmed its commitment to strive towards being A Place of Excellence for all its Dresidents as well as surrounding areas. The construction

of a further phase of the Van der Stel link between Jan van Riebeeck Drive in the north and Langenhoven Road in the south at a cost of R12 700 000 has been completed recently.

The official opening of the northern connection between Bo-Dal-Josaphat Street and Jan van Riebeeck Drive took place on Thursday 29 November 2012 by the Executive Mayor, Adv. Gesie van Deventer.

“This road is not for my use but for the use of you, the residents of Drakenstein” said the Mayor to the community members at the opening of the road.

Drakenstein Municipality has over a number of years experienced increased pressure on the road infrastructure, especially the major through and collector routes.

Seen in the context of being virtually at the centre of a hub of main transport routes, the area provides corridors for traffic movement including produce haulage between Cape Town, the South Coast, West Coast, Northern Cape and Northern provinces bypassing the town centre.

Municipality building roads

New library for Windmeul Although education is not a municipal function, it's still an important factor for Drakenstein Municipality. An historic moment in Drakenstein took place with the recent official opening of the Windmeul Satellite Library at Windmeul Primary School.

The Executive Mayor, Councillor Adv. Gesie van Deventer, emphasized to the learners the importance of reading and vital role the library plays in education.

“I challenge all of you sitting here to read at least one book, write about the story that you have read and send your letters to me,” said Adv.Van Deventer.

The library is stocked with children and adult books and reference collections to help learners with school projects and assignments. The entire collection was put together at short notice and made possible by the Regional staff and management of Western Cape Provincial Library Services.

Since the opening of the library on 16 October to November, the membership has grown to 178 children and 8 adult readers and 157 books was circulated during this time. The library is open twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 09h00 to 16h00.

DONATION. Drakenstein Library Services won the first prize, R20 00, for the best library community project with their HIV/AIDs awareness campaign at the national competition for community projects sponsored by the Universal Knowledge Systems (UKS). This money was donated to four Non Governmental Organisations (NGO's). The four organisations Norsa, Monte Christo Miqlat Bowy House, Butterfly House and Helping Hands received each R5 000. Here seated (from left) Murtle du Plessis (Butterfly House), Councillor Noel Adams (Portfolio Holder: Social Services and Community Development), Corne Steyl (Monte Christo Miqlat Bowy House), standing (rear from left) Genevia Philander (Norsa), Lorensia Thomas (Manager: Drakenstein Library Services), Dinka Cloete (Drakenstein Library Services) and Marie Louw (Norsa).

Children Christmas Party

CHILDREN CHRISTMAS PARTY. Here are the Executive Mayor, Gesie van Deventer with the more than 800 children who were entertained by music, poppekas and spoiled with a gift.

It is that time of the year again where people all over the world are celebrating Christmas. The true spirit of Christmas is the spirit of giving, it is evidenced best in a generous heart and it shines out with stark clarity in the lives of those who possess it.

This holiday season, regardless of our cultural or religious background, we can all be thankful for what we have and give to those that are less fortunate than ourselves in any way we can.

A local motor dealer, McCarthy Toyota Paarl, acted in the true spirit of giving by generously sponsoring the Mayor's Children Christmas Party in Paarl East on 8 December 2012.

The Mayor and McCarthy Toyota Paarl wish the community of Drakenstein a blessed Christmas and a prosperous 2013.

Soup kitchens in Drakenstein:

Night Haven - Ambagsvallei Street 021-8621812

Monte Christo Miqlat - 19 Pastorie Ave Paarl 021-8721179