Dear All,

To those of you who pay via EFT, cash, cheque or Internet transfers:
Please do not forget to make your payments promptly this month. We would like to request that those members who pay cash start depositing it directly into our banking account. The reps will not be able to continue collecting cash from the increasing number who pay in this manner. Banking details are available from Tracy or any one of the reps.

We expect to be kept very busy with the influx of holiday makers and would have liked to have more guards for the festive season. Unfortunately our financial position has not allowed us to increase numbers. However SAPS are increasing their patrols and bringing in members on motor bikes. Please be vigilant over the “silly season” and keep your eyes and ears open. Make sure you know your neighbours and their movements over the festive season.

The house attacks where victims are being tied up are on the increase, so please advise your families and staff not to take any chances. Advise your domestic staff when and who might be calling to repair or install, what ever it may be you need done.

I know you may wonder why I am about to repeat this next message, but there are still people who do not know our emergency number. Please put the number into your cell phone urgently. You never know when you may need to dial it.

In case of emergency phone 083 393 5066

ADMIN ONLY: 031 9140132 - Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm (Out for an hour on lunch)

If you have elderly neighbours or people who do not have access to the internet, please ask them if they know these numbers. I am sure it is all our non internet connected members who do not have the numbers. A few people have complained that they have called the office admin number on weekends or after hours and there is no reply. Please note that this is an ADMIN number ONLY.

We have been asking our business members to add our logo to their adverts in the mini ads, South Coast Sun and any other advertising material so that the community can identify the CCPO supporters. Please let your ad people know if you’d like to add the logo to your advert.

Remember the CCPO was formed by the community for the community to help the SAPS protect the community. Help spread the word about where and who to phone in time of need.

Our numbers are growing at a rate of about 60 new members a month. Much slower than we would have liked, but growing none the less. We have people saying “I’ve wanted to join from the beginning but just haven’t gotten round to it”. Please don’t let this be you – please sign up if you haven’t yet and please encourage your neighbours to join. Our forms are available on www.ccpo.co.za.

Thanks again to Bruce from Lords & Legends for the use of his vehicle by our Operations Manager.

I think that is all for this week. An early reminder that this Admin office will close over the festive season, from the 21st December 2007 and re-open on Monday 7th January 2008. Naturally the guarding will continue throughout.

Untill next week then, keep safe and vigilant.

Tracy

P.S. remember to visit our website from time to time. It is now run by The Designer Boys, who do a fantastic job keeping it up to date. Also noted, we now have new jokes on the joke page. Thanks guys

New’s from the Community

Karen says:

It is with great disappointment that I see the only bank in Toti to have signed up with CCPO is Absa! I can't believe that the others have not felt obliged to do so yet, since their clients are benefiting from the security guards (who I have seen in action a couple of times, and am very impressed each time!) and they are also benefiting financially from the debit orders of the members.

I propose that all the members write to or phone their bank managers and ask them why they have not yet joined. Perhaps if we pressure them enough, it will work. I am phoning my manager today at the Standard Bank.

Keep up the good work,

[EDITORS NOTE] On that note we would like to welcome FNB and Nedbank to our membership. Thank you we need the support, and well done to Yvonne for her tireless efforts in signing up new members.

Adele of Safecare says:

Dear all CCPO Members
On behalf of Safecare a huge thank you for your generosity and support for our Christmas party.
It was a great success and a wonderful event.
Thank you for all the contributions and helping us to make this day possible!

Safecare is hosting a
'BOWL FOR CHARITY'
Fundraiser on Sunday, 9 December 2007
from 9am - 4pm
at the Doonside Bowling Club
Entrance fee is R15.00 per person.
We kindly ask you to join in on the fun
and any possible contribution or donation
towards prizes and raffles.
Cash bar available.
Food/Snacks for sale.

Pat says:

On Friday 16th November my alarm had a will of its own and went off. Even before my Security Company could phone me, one of your CCPO vehicles was here. I often see one of your Cyclists patrolling the area. We are so grateful, that when we do see him, we offer him something to eat and drink. It is not an easy job these people have and I would like to thank every staff member for your unsurpassed effort. I cannot believe there are still so many people that have not signed up. Silly Season is here, I urge you all to sign up so that we can have a peaceful time in our homes and on our streets. After all, what can you buy with R100 these days? 2 loaves of bread, 4 liters of milk and very little else. Maybe a packet of fags if you smoke.

I wish you all a Blessed Christmas and a wonderful 2008!!!

Kind regards

Roxane says:

I'd like to congratulate you all on a job well done, I feel so good when I see the guards in and around Toti. Keep it up, I only have good words to say when asked about you guys.

Well done everyone.

Shane says:

Obviously in the next couple of months all the flats along beach road a going to be full of holiday makers. All of whom are going to benefit from the services of CCPO.

It would be great if we can get ways for the rich vallies to contribute. I’m not sure how other then fund raising or body corporate that control the flats they stay at assist….

Just a thought. If we can get it right it could be a bumper month once a year for CCPO to get a little extra funds….

[EDITORS NOTE] Good Idea-how about CCPO collection tins - (Ha Ha) - Beware of fraudsters.

Richard says:

I know this was mentioned in the local paper so just a reminder that there is a new form of meth "Strawberry Quick" and it looks like the "Pop Rocks" candy that sizzle in your mouth. In its current form, it is dark pink in colour and has a strawberry scent to it.

Please advise your children and their friends and other students not to accept candy from strangers as this is obviously an attempt to seduce children into drug use. They also need to be cautious in accepting candy from even friends that may have received it from someone else, thinking it is just candy.

Paul has his say:

After the murder of Sam Wyer the community showed their outrage at the crime trends in Toti at a public meeting at the Toti Civic Centre by arriving in there hundreds. This show of public outrage I believe was one of the motivating reasons for the establishment of the CCPO.

It now seems that the CCPO is battling to increase the membership past the 2000 mark. It looks like the majority of the residents in the Toti area are a bunch of parasites and are willing to reap the benefits of those that are contributing to this worthy cause.

Some residents believe it is the police's job to curb crime and they pay tax towards this. These people are right, but please wake up and smell the roses, it is not happening. The community must stand together because the majority of the police are not capable or not willing to do there jobs, respect to those policemen/women that are doing their best.

To the residents of Toti "STICKING YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND LEAVES YOUR REAR EXPOSED FOR ALL TO SEE"

Well done to the CCPO.

[EDITORS NOTE] Thank you all for your comments and support , I see we have some passionate members out there.

Simon says:

Just for your information, the lock on my car was forced during the day in the car park next to Kentucky Fried in Toti Centre. The ignition was wrecked as they tried to start the car I guess and then they left it. I think it was the gear lever lock that caused them to break off the attempt.

When the locksmith came to get me mobile again he did advise that mine was the 3rd car he had attended to yesterday for the same cause. (Wed 28th)

Is it possible for this very busy car park to be more heavily patrolled as a lot of us in the offices here have to leave our cars a fair distance from us as the remainder of the parks are 1 hour parking.

This week Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd, I will not be in the CCPO office. All admin queries will have to wait for the Monday 26th I am afraid. Any incidents can be phoned through to the Emergency number 083 393 5066.

Just wanted you to be aware that your CCPO board, should have your street address number in the case of households and if you are a flat or unit then your flat number. We are in the process of having stickers made to give to all the body corporates making it easier to see if the number pertains to the entire block i.e. Body corp membership or one unit in the building an individual membership. Our rep will bring these to the relevant Body Corporates when we have them, as well as in the cases where only some are members we have stickers stating CCPO member to go onto your mail box.

Ted asked us to advise those interested of the following

USCATA has arranged an easier system for people who wish to join as members, if they shop or live near the Seadoone Shopping Mall.

Alida the only blonde Car Guard who normally looks after the parked cars in the avenue nearest the Post Office has kindly agreed to be our go between and will have a book of membership forms and Stickers.

Just ask her for the booklet fill in your details sign at the bottom tear out your form give her R20.00 make sure you get a set of 10 Stickers and we will register you or your group as members and supporters. The same applies at Athlone Park Pick and Pay Shopping Complex. Wally the Car Guard who normally looks after the cars parked near the main entrance has agreed to do the same thing.

That’s all folks
Stay safe
Tracy

Crime reports from Members:

Anthony says

There is a black man that is always hanging around the bottom of Ridge Rd by the steps opposite the entrance to Toti Mall. It seems like he is selling drugs he always seems to be disappearing into the surrounding bush and then coming out and slipping something to who ever he's talking to. He's short, stocky and has some kind of mark or scarring on his face. This area has long been a hotspot for muggings even in broad daylight. Seeing that most of the residents belong to the CCPO, hopefully a guard will do more patrols as there seems to be an increasing criminal element around.

Peter says:

Opened my front door at 0530 this morning ( 16th) to see that vandals had set fire to my plastic Dumpy Mail box attached to the wall.

On closer inspection, noticed lots of broken glass lying on the ground. Looks like the culprits used a sort of Molotov cocktail, not just lighted paper. Wall is covered in soot and melted plastic. My garage door is only a meter away with 2 vehicles inside, could have caused a major fire. A very strange thing to for a vandal to do or maybe a neighbour has it in for me.

Flippie says

I would like to report on Monday the 12 November I parked my car out side my garage for only 5min and heard my alarm going off. When I came out they had already broken into it but the alarm had scared them away. I never leave my car out side but what worries me is that we are being watched all the time. I live in Sykes road Warner beach. I just can’t believe that they were so fast.

Ayanda Mhlongo

Durban police have received yet another report after the man suspected of being a paedophile was spotted around a school in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban.

The latest complaint was reported to police at the Amanzimtoti Police Station, said Superintendent Vincent Mdunge.

"Our concern now is that this man seems to be moving around from area to area, making it difficult to locate him. That is why we are relying a lot on the public to assist us," Mdunge said.

He has either attacked or been spotted in at least five suburbs in and around Durban, including Hillcrest, Bellair, Wentworth, Umbilo, Morningside and Amanzimtoti.

Mdunge said police also received calls from school principals and teachers concerned about the safety of their children.

A massive manhunt is under way for the man and police have circulated copies of his identikit to all police stations in and around Durban.

Small business and major shopping malls have promised to help the police, some distributing identikits of the man to tenants and their customers.

The man, believed to be in his mid-20s, is wanted for several attacks on school pupils, including the rape of a 12-year-old in Hillcrest.

The man tries to lure children with promises of expensive cellphones and PlayStations.

Police suspect that he is also behind the attempted abduction of two schoolgirls in Umbilo.

The Daily News has been inundated with calls from the public expressing concerns about the recent incidents.

A Queensburgh mother of three, Janine Hall, said she was extremely worried about the attacks on the children.

"I am so scared, not just for my children, but for all children. There is definitely something wrong with him and he needs to be taken away from society.

"I just hope people will stand together and assist the police to catch him before another child is attacked, or even killed," she said.

By Matthew Savides

The controversial street and building renaming process in the eThekwini Municipality could be finalised by the middle of December, with the names changed as early as January.

A special meeting of the Masakhane grants-in-aid, non-racism, non-sexism committee, which dealt with the issue, has been called for the end of November, when the list will be discussed.

An initial list of 500 names was submitted to a task team, headed by Municipal Manager Michael Sutcliffe, which was then whittled down to 89 names and sent to ward committees for public comment a little more than a month ago.

Masakhane committee chairperson Zandile Gumede said the list was still being assessed by the municipality's legal department, but it would be ready before the November meeting.

If agreed to at the meeting, the proposals will be sent to the executive committee and then, if ratified, to the full council on December 10.

Sutcliffe said the new names would be finalised by the end of 2007, but Gumede said it would be "a miracle" if they were erected by then.

Because of the national ANC conference in Limpopo, as well as the shutdown of many municipal departments over the festive season, the new road signs would be put up in January or February.

Gumede said there were "no controversial names on the list", because all the proposals had received comment by various ward committees.

Street renaming has been one of the most controversial projects by the ANC-led eThekwini council, and prompted a protest march by the IFP and DA supporters earlier in 2007.

The DA also took the matter to the Durban High Court. Among the concerns were that certain proposed names were "insensitive" and had no relevance to KwaZulu-Natal or South African society.

Residents of Amanzimtoti were concerned that Kingsway Road was to be named after convicted bomber Andrew Zondo, who killed several people in a bomb blast in the town.

Wayne Strickland has been employed by the CCPO as a supervisor, to assist Les Spence in his duties. Wayne was previously employed by Chubb and has an excellent knowledge of the Toti area, as well as how to manage crime situations.

Unfortunately, due to Nissan downsizing, the CCPO has been forced to hand back our vehicle! This means that Les and Wayne are responding to calls and situations in their private vehicles. A very big THANK YOU, to Bruce Lithgow of Lords & Legends for allowing us to use his vehicle for a while until we sort ourselves out - anyone who is able to help, please contact us urgently! This has happened at the worst time with Christmas around the corner.

Our finances are improving slowly but surely, we are R14 000 a month short of covering our expenses with the current guards in place - i.e. 18 during the day and 14 at night. We were hoping to increase our guards by 5 per shift over the December period, but have had to put that on hold due to financial constraints.

We'd like to thank Weiss VW, Lords and Legends & the Rugby Club - they have all put CCPO/Secure Logic guards at their premises on a permanent basis. They will therefore serve as extra eyes and ears for the CCPO and be linked to the CCPO infrastructure via radio. Thank you to those businesses for helping us to grow our "team".

We are very sad to say that crime is very high in our area at the moment. Although you will see from our crime report below that we are attending to so many incidences, we are not able to cope with the number of guards we have. We are urging everyone to do whatever they possibly can to increase our income so that we are able to be more pro-active as apposed to reactive.

Please be aware that firearms are being stolen - safes are being ripped off the walls. House robberies are being committed predominantly during the day. Clients or their domestics found in their homes are being tied up and assaulted. Please keep your eyes open and report suspicious people/vehicles/circumstances.

NON CCPO incidences

• Kiaat Rd - tied maid up
• Merritt Ave - tied maid up
• Over 10 fire arms stolen in the last 2 months
• 60 vehicles stolen in the past month

To all our members thank you for the support. It is an ongoing battle fighting crime and your support and thanks are always appreciated.

My thanks to Cindy for writing the newsletter, I am finding there are not enough hours in the day.

Till next week.

Stay Safe, and vigilant.
Tracy