Report 11 Sept 2025

Sep 11, 2025

Caretaker Report

Maintenance on roofs and walls

Ongoing maintenance includes constant repairs and replacement of loose screws. Regular cleaning of gutters continues as scheduled. The wooden doors to the garages at units 1 to 6 have been sanded and treated. Sand sweeping into the paving has been completed wherever requested by owners. Repairs have been completed on the dividing wall between units 15 and 16. A second request to inform us of leaking roofs was posted end September. A contractor, Juan Wessels, are in the process of inspecting the roofs and repairing where needed.

Maintenance on doors Units 1-6, and 19-24

These doors require treatment for sun damage. According to the attached estimate, the cost per door amounts to approximately R548.00. If accepted by the owners, the cost can be added to their levies.

Fire Safety Equipment

Annual servicing of fire hoses and fire extinguishers has been completed by Fernotech. Several owners have purchased additional in-house devices, which were also serviced during this annual maintenance cycle.

Security Enhancements

To address security concerns, stronger bulbs were installed in lampposts and additional lights were added to unit 1, the gate, and unit 18 to illuminate dark areas.

Garden Maintenance

Compost holes dug over the course of three years are filling up nicely, and compost is now available for gardening purposes. Residents may request compost from the gardeners as needed. The compost is also being used as lawn topping and appears to be ideally suited for this purpose.

Two sawtooth oak trees are being relocated complex as they have grown too large for their previous locations. We hope they survive the transplantation. The cherry trees require constant treatment against slugs. The indigenous (Ouhout) shrubs are developing well, and we will be adding more of these plants.

Chimney Cleaning

Our gardeners are not adequately equipped for chimney cleaning tasks. We recommend contacting Juan Wessels at Elficient Services, who specialises in this type of work. ‭(082) 874-9467‬

Fibre Connection

The contract with Internet SA expired at the end of June. Bethnet approached us to install fibre as well, but Internet SA refuses to allow them to use their existing infrastructure. This would require Bethnet to dig and lay their own pipes, involving extensive labour work that is unacceptable to the trustees. This matter remains open for discussion.

Unit Extensions

A Request to add an extension to Unit 10 has been approved. See the resolution by clicking on the provided link. Trustee permission was granted unanimously. Pierre le Grange and Elluman finished the work to perfection.

A question regarding common property and exclusive areas was discussed. Click on the provided link to see an explanation of these terms.

Unit 12 has enclosed its patio after requesting and obtaining permission from the trustees. The enclosure was completed to standard by Elluman.

Fencing

Units 1, 10 and 12 have added white picket fences to enclose their exclusive areas. Maintenance on the fence at unit 7 has commenced.

Eskom to waive registration fees until March 2026

Eskom reaffirmed on April 1 its commitment to waive registration fees for residential solar PV systems – a policy in effect since March 2023 that supports South African households installing typical 16 kVA systems. However, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) notes this remains a temporary measure. They urged Eskom to make these benefits permanent for residential customers. The looming reinstatement of fees after March 2026 risks creating a financial barrier that could deter investment in solar PV and other renewable solutions, slowing progress when rapid, widespread adoption is essential to meet our commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Climate Change Act.

Traffic Safety Concern and Proposed Solution

There is an ongoing safety concern within the complex regarding excessive vehicle speeds on our paved roads. Owners, guests, and workers have been driving at dangerous speeds. This behavior poses a significant risk to everybody within our complex.

Despite repeated requests to offending drivers, the speeding problem has persisted and continues to be ignored. Requests has proven insufficient in curbing this dangerous behaviour.

To address this persistent safety hazard, the installation of speed humps along the main thoroughfares within the complex is recommended. Speed humps are a proven traffic calming measure that physically compel drivers to reduce their speed, thereby creating a safer environment for all residents and visitors.

A quotation has been obtained for the installation of speed humps as follows:

R27,126.00
Elf-icient Services, Juan Wessels
4 speed humps in total recommended: in the regions of units 1 & 2 & 4; 23 & 13, 21 & 15

Quote attached

Caretaker report

Oct 10, 2024

Reporting on activities

Maintenance Program Update
Pierre le Grange is nearly finished with the ongoing maintenance work and expects to complete it by the end of October. The process has taken longer than expected due to frequent interruptions caused by individual repair requests from unit owners. In addition, the body corporate requested that the distribution boxes on the separation walls between units 23 and 24, as well as between units 19 and 20, be sealed to prevent damp issues. Pierre also installed a proper wire mesh fence on the western side. The gate at the rubbish house required a new padlock.

Despite these delays, the Paddocks is already looking significantly improved.

Security Enhancements

To address security concerns, up to eight solar lights with motion sensors have been installed on the northern side of the Paddocks. Cost of lights: R3,192.00 Installation: R3,250.00 These lights now illuminate the previously dark spruit, which had provided an easy entry point for criminals, especially near the side gate between units 10 and 11.

A proper wire mesh fence was installed on the western side between Gino’s Park and the Paddocks at a cost of R6,600.

Security Service
Security quotes from Fairbrothers and Silent Nite Alarms (formerly Wolf Security) have come in with high costs.
• Fairbrothers quoted R100,510 for the installation of sensor beams, a radio transmitter for the alarm, and a wireless siren along the perimeter. Their guarding service would cost R6,480 per month.
• For a wireless panic button, including monthly monitoring and response, they charge a once-off fee of R2,000 and R200 per month for ongoing services.
• Silent Nite Alarms, on the other hand, offers to supply and install a wireless alarm for R3,999, with additional wireless sensors priced at R1,384 each. Their monthly monitoring service costs R325.

Distribution Boxes
DB’s sealed and covered. Cost R3,600.00

Remote Controls for Gate Access
Please note that the older DTS remotes are starting to fail, and they are not compatible with the new Centurion gate system. (Cost for the new system: R12,531) I now have 10 new remotes available for purchase at R300 each. If you would like to order one, please contact me. The cost will be added to your levies.

Roof Repairs
Roof repairs are scheduled to begin in May, 2025. With a cost estimate of, R321,000 we suggest starting monthly contributions from November 2024. These contributions will range from R660 (2-bedroom units) to R835 (3-bedroom units), depending on the total costs.

Water Conservation Efforts
In light of the upcoming Lesotho Highlands Tunnel closure, we must all adopt water-saving practices. Water is a scarce resource, and we need to rethink how we use it in our daily lives, from personal hygiene and washing clothes to cooking, cleaning, and gardening. We often waste this precious resource by using it in ways that could be replaced with greywater, such as for watering gardens, flushing toilets, and washing cars.

It’s time to implement water-harvesting systems, but remember, this does not mean simply filling large tanks with municipal water—wait for rain. However, be aware that while roofs are efficient surfaces for collecting rainwater, the materials they’re made from may not be suitable for drinking. Chromadek® of ArcelorMittal is an organic coated material supplied as chrome free. They assured me its not toxic at all.

While our garden may suffer, we must hope for rain to help sustain her.

Consider practicing “water-fasting” to challenge yourself to use as little water as possible, aiming for less than 50 liters per day.

Report on Borehole Installation Quote (R190,566.50)

We have received a detailed quote for the installation of a borehole on our premises, which covers all aspects of the process from site establishment to final connection to water storage tanks. Below is a breakdown of the key services included in the quote (JM Landmann quote attached):

Site Establishment: Preparation and setup of the area for drilling.
Labour and Transport: All costs related to the personnel and transportation of equipment.
Geophysical Survey: Assessment of the site to determine the best drilling location and depth.
Drilling (165mm): The borehole will be drilled to a depth suitable for accessing groundwater.
Reaming of Borehole: Widening of the borehole to ensure proper installation and long-term efficiency.
Yield Testing: A test to measure the water yield and confirm sufficient flow for our needs.
Testing for Human Consumption: Ensuring that the water meets safety standards for drinking.
Borehole Equipment: Installation of a submersible pump, necessary piping and fittings, submersible cable, and a control box.
Electrical Connection: The borehole system will be connected to the nearest electricity point, which is conveniently located at a nearby DB board close to the storage facilities.
Connection to Water Tanks: The system will also be connected to two 5000-litre water storage tanks, providing an ample water supply for our needs.

The cost for the entire project is estimated at R190,566.50. To initiate the work, an 80% deposit amounting to R152,453.20 is required.

It is worth noting that the selected drilling point is ideally situated at the top of the paddocks, close to the storage facilities, allowing easy access to the distribution box for electrical connections.