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The Citizen
5 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Brave woman's push for change in east through community forum
Brave woman's push for change in east through community forum In the east of Pretoria, where neglected public spaces and slow service delivery have become the norm, a brave woman has taken it upon herself to lead the charge for change. Deirdré van Helsdingen, founding director of a non-profit organisation, the Pretoria East Community Caring Forum (CCF), has become a driving force behind community-led development in Moreleta Park and surrounding suburbs. Van Helsdingen moved to Pretoria in 1985 as a student and remembers a time when the city was well-kept and thriving. According to her, over the years, she witnessed the city's condition decline and finally decided to take action. 'Only later could I see the decay, and that's when I decided to make a difference and started the CCF,' she said. Van Helsdingen said her passion for community upliftment runs deep. For 18 years, she has been actively involved in the Community Policing Forum (CPF), and her work has often gone beyond just volunteering. She said after selling most of her businesses 12 years ago, she took a year-long break and then returned with a renewed focus on civic action. Her former restaurant inside the Moreletakloof Nature Reserve became a space of environmental revival, where she partnered with Nature Conservation to bring wildlife back into the kloof. 'It is now flourishing,' she said. Van Helsdingen said the CCF began as a personal initiative, funding the first few projects herself. She started by addressing visible problems in the community: overgrown grass, eroded sidewalks, and public spaces in disrepair. She said she used to share her work regularly on social media, which attracted public attention and encouraged others to support the cause. 'We grew then, our workers started to operate from Monday to Thursday, and every Friday, I send a Community Performance Report to the City Manager's Office,' she explained. Recent projects include cleaning the area near the 'White House' on behalf of its owner, as well as cutting grass along Rubenstein Drive. The 'White House' is a property near the Plastic View informal settlement that was illegally taken over by squatters recently. Upcoming plans include restoring a neglected corner on De Villebois Mareuil Drive using soil from the Garstfontein Road Widening Project and planting aloes. One of the key aspects of the CCF's growing impact has been its commitment to collaboration. She emphasised that the CCF is not politically affiliated and welcomes partnerships with anyone who shares their goals. 'We are currently working with the DA on a pothole project and are also in communication with AfriForum,' she said. The CCF Group has since been registered as a Community Upliftment Precinct (CUP). It is a project structure, with one central head office overseeing all administrative functions, including human resources and compliance for its growing network of community initiatives. She said that while progress has been steady, encouraging active participation from residents remains a challenge. It's the difficult part. 'Residents already pay rates and taxes for services they don't receive. Some talk about withholding property tax, which isn't legal at the moment, but who knows what the future may bring?' Van Helsdingen said that despite the obstacles, she continues to push forward with a vision of community pride and resilience. She grew up in Sasolburg, a town in the Free State that won awards for being the most beautiful town. That sense of pride in one's environment is something she hopes to revive in Pretoria east. 'When I moved here in 1985, Pretoria was still beautiful,' she reflects. 'Now I want to help bring that beauty back.' Van Helsdingen said the most rewarding part of her work is the consistent growth and positive feedback from residents. 'Every year we grow. People see what we are doing and thank us. I'm proud of every single project,' she said. She said managing the CCF while raising a son in his matric year and maintaining a social life isn't easy, but she finds joy where she can. 'There's no balance really, but I love having a glass of wine at Rosewood Terrace or Rosewood Trails,' she said. Van Helsdingen further added that she has big plans. 'I hope to see the CCF eventually become a fully-fledged City Improvement District (CID), which would allow for compulsory contributions from residents once 80% support is achieved. That's when we can truly make a bigger impact,' she explained. For now, she continues to lead by example, proving that meaningful change in a community doesn't always start at the top. Sometimes, it begins with a single resident who decides not to wait for help, but to become it. To get involved or learn more about the CCF, email moreletapark@ ALSO READ: Emergency services warn households to be vigilant after Nellmapius shack fire Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Parkview elects new Sector 1 CPF
Following months of a defunct Community Policing Forum (CPF), residents successfully voted for the Parkview Sector 1 CPF at the Craighall Scout Hall on May 8. Sector 1 includes Parkhurst, Parktown North, Craighall Park, and Dunkeld West. Read more: Parkview will soon see an operational CPF The Parkview Police Station Commander Colonel Nkopane Jacob Mabusela, the Department of Community Safety's Thabo Thipe and the Johannesburg District Community Police Board Secretary-General Mahmood Cassim were also present for Sector 1's voting process. The following residents were elected for Parkview's CPF Sector 1: Chairperson: Theo Joannides. Deputy chairperson: Stephen Kellerman Secretary: Pam Ellenberger Deputy Secretary: Gill Spargo Treasurer: Colin Braude Public relations officer: Matthew Hestenes Thipe said on May 24, there would be a joint meeting where Sector 1 and Sector 2 will meet to elect the CPF mother body which will represent the entire Parkview precinct. Also read: Norwood CPF Sector 1 reflects on five years of transformation and security improvements 'These sectors will also be the supporting structure to the Community Policing Forum,' he added. 'The mother body, among other titles, consists of a chairperson, deputy secretary, deputy public relations officer, treasurer and any other additional members like a patroller coordinator. ' Thipe said that after the 24th, there would be an induction session where the various roles would be assigned and explained. 'We will also examine what the legislations that govern the CPF mean in detail. The last step will consist of both sectors having their fingerprints taken and vetted to ensure that one does not have a criminal record, and then once that step is complete, we will proceed with electing a CPF.' Newly elected Parkview Sector 1 CPF chairperson Theo Joannides said he was keen on being elected because he wanted to be an active citizen in the community and help the police. 'At this point and time, the police are lacking in their public relations department and as community members, we need to bridge that gap and understand that there is a relationship between community involvement and the community police,' he added. Joannides added that it was also important for police to be approachable. 'It cannot be that our community members are victims of crime but don't want to report the crimes. They have to report these crimes for stats purposes and for the police to understand the type of community residents live in.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: Norwood – Dont miss the CPF Sector 1 general public meeting At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
02-05-2025
- The Citizen
Sebokeng SAPS conduct school search operation
SEBOKENG.-The Sebokeng Police recently collaborated with Sector Managers, Community Policing Forum, Youth Crime Prevention Desk, Gauteng Traffic Wardens and Siyabangena Patrollers to conduct a school search operation at Sizanani Secondary School in Zone 13 Sebokeng. Police spokesperson, Sergeant Nthabiseng Mokhachane said that the aim of this operations was to address the learners about, substance abuse, possession of dangerous weapons, gangsterism, bullying, sexual offenses and other crimes that may affect learners. 'The operations will be conducted weekly at random schools in order to make schools safer and crime free. Some learners tend to recruit others to be gang members or introduce them to illegal substances, therefore schools are no longer treated as a place of learning. The Station Commander Brigadier Thembekile Kubone would like to encourage parents to assist the police in anyway possible, and further plead that if parents notice any unusual behavior in their children to contact Sebokeng SAPS Social Crime Prevention for further assistance.' Meanwhile the police urge the community members to participate in various structures of community patrols and to further call Sebokeng SAPS on 082 498 9563, 112, 10111, 08600 10111 or alternatively via MySAPS should there be any information. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
24-04-2025
- General
- IOL News
Malvern family faces tragedy after fire claims home and puppies
Willem and Johanna Uitslag are piecing together their lives after a fire ripped through their home in Malvern on Wednesday. Image: Leon Lestrade / Independent Newspapers. A Malvern family is piecing together their lives after a fire destroyed their home along with three puppies on Wednesday. Willem Uitslag, the tenant, said it was the strength of God that helped him escape the fire after the roof collapsed while he was rescuing puppies from his room. Uitslag, his wife Johanna, and his father-in-law Louie were on the porch of the old wood and iron home when they saw smoke coming out of the room. Their 15-year-old son Willem Junior was in another room. Uitslag said that within a matter of minutes, the house was engulfed in flames. Uitslag said he immediately rushed into the house to get his son out to safety. Willem said he realised that his dogs were also inside one of the rooms and re-entered the home while the fire was spreading. The family has a Dachshund, a Rottweiler, a Great Dane and two Pitbulls. They had nine Rottweiler puppies inside a basket in their room. Three of the puppies died in the house. 'The smoke was overwhelming and the flames spread very quickly. I could not grab anything or try to salvage our possessions. I got into the room where the pups were and grabbed six of them. The roof then collapsed above me. I passed the puppies to a family member through the window. I was stuck inside. I then grabbed hold of the burglar bars, shook them loose and made my escape. God gave me the strength,' Willem said. The family had been renting the home for the past two years. On Thursday, the family were salvaging tools they could find among the ashes so that Willem could continue earning an income as a mechanical fitter. Johanna was emotional about losing her mother's ashes which were kept in an Urn in the lounge. Her mother had died on 23 March 2025 and she was planning to scatter the ashes in Port Shepstone next week. The family had been accommodated by a relative on Wednesday. They are uncertain about their future. Johanna was concerned over her father's health after he lost his medication for Asthma and nebulizer. 'We have lost everything. We stood in the rain and watched the house perish before us. The only clothes we have are what's on our backs and on the clothes-line. We are grateful for the donations of clothes and blankets we received from the community. My child needs to get back to school. His books and clothes are in ashes,' she said. Kevin Pillay Malvern Community Policing Forum Chairperson (CPF), said in terms of community relief any disaster activates the entire community. "The CPF will continue to play a role in whatever they can to assist. We did try and accommodate the family at the trauma centre for the night but they were taken in by their family," he said. eThekwini Municipality ward 63 councillor Chris Van de Berg said he notified disaster management about the incident. Durban Fire Divisional Commander Narend Birjalal said when they arrived at the scene they found one formal house well alight. Birjalal said two rescue pumps, a water carrier and command vehicle with 10 firefighters attended the scene. 'One male was treated for minor injuries. Six puppies were rescued. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The entire house was engulfed in the fire under control in 15 minutes,' Birjalal said.
Irish Independent
23-04-2025
- Irish Independent
Gardaí investigating suspected stabbing in Cork say no injuries have been reported
The incident, which took place earlier this afternoon in the East Douglas area of the city, saw a man allegedly attacking another man in a suspected stabbing incident before fleeing the scene. In a statement sent this evening, Gardaí say that responded to reports of an assault on East Douglas Street, Cork, shortly after 2:45pm. 'No injuries were reported and no individuals came forward at the scene. Those believed to have been involved had already left the area,' the statement reads Local Labour councillor Peter Horgan says the incident is a shocking one, which has happened at a busy shopping and dining district in the middle of the day. 'It's a busy footfall area in the village, it's very concerning that this happened,' said Horgan, who was one of many councillors who recently attended a Community Policing Forum in the area. 'It's very shocking to have this in the middle of the Easter Holidays with families around the village. I was down there earlier today at lunchtime and you could see families enjoying the last few days for the holidays, so this isn't 3am after a feed of drink kind of thing, this is in the middle of the day and is very concerning for people in the community. 'All I would say at this stage is that: anyone who was in the vicinity at the time should make themselves known to gardaí. Anyone going to the village may consider alternative routes. 'The gardaí need to be given time to investigate the incident but in my experience they are absolutely dedicated to ensuring the criminals that might want to take advantage of our society are brought to heel.' Gardaí were seen questioning a man just before 5pm this evening, in an area cordoned off by an alleyway that connects the car park at the old Douglas cinema, and the main street of the village. Gardaí have contacted local businesses in the area as part of their investigation.
