A lunchtime braai, arranged by the Hilton Community Neighbourhood Watch (HCNW) and sponsored by Hilton Quarry SuperSpar, was recently held at Cowan House in appreciation of the sterling work carried out by their members, who have gone far beyond the call of duty, to reduce crime in Hilton.

The HCNW was established in mid-2019 by members of the Hilton SAPS and Community, to counter rising crime in Hilton. The HCNW then established the Hilton Rapid Response (HRR) motorized unit which comprises the Hilton SAPS, volunteer members of the Community and some of the Armed Response Security companies operating in Hilton who volunteer their services free to the unit.

Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to Knight Security Solutions, Red Alert, Magma Security, Winterskloof Tactical Surveillance Unit, Aliwal Security, Pmb Security, National Security and Bidvest Protea Coin (Mondi) at the braai.

A network of five Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera gantries have been erected at the five main entry/exit points to Hilton by the Umngeni Community Safety Initiative (UCSI) which have proven successful in supplying information to the SAPS regarding vehicles suspected to have been involved in crime. The UCSI also received a Certificate of Appreciation from the HCNW.

The successes achieved by the HCNW and HRR are directly attributed to members of Hilton SAPS who lead and guide the process, followed by Armed Response Security companies and members of the community. This initiative is supported and appreciated by the Hilton Community.

Caption: Supporters and members of Hilton Community Neighbourhood Watch gathered for a lunchtime braai in appreciation of their success since 2019. A big ‘Thank you’ goes out to Hilton Quarry SuperSpar for sponsoring this event.

 

Photo credit: Ashleigh Wegener Studios

 

Contact for queries: John Holliday 082 806 6749

 

MiTH 09th December 2020

BOOKINGS: https://www.miid.co.za/Events/PurchaseTickets?EventID=15395 / 082 331 7271
(Please book early to avoid disappointment.)

VENUE: The Knoll Historic Guest Farm

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to possible exposure of a band member to COVID-19, Serrotone cannot play at MiTH this coming Wednesday. The Undaunted have kindly stepped in to fill the gap. If anyone would like a refund, please contact MiTH on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

9pm: The Undaunted
One of the KZN Midlands' favourite and most hardworking bands, The Undaunted is known for rock classics dating as far back as the 1950s, and playing a vast array of well-known material stretching all the way to contemporary pop. With Evan Oosthuizen on lead vocals and rhythm, Geoff Clarke on lead guitar, Barry Hosford on bass and Robbie Marais on drums (though Robbie is also ill this week and his place will be taken by a stand-in), The Undaunted boasts a long history and vast musical experience. The band was actually due to play at MiTH earlier this year and missed out due to lockdown regulations, so we're glad they'll be back to entertain us this Wednesday.

8pm: Basson Laas
At its core, music has always been synonymous with life, and man’s volatile emotions. Its waves wrap around us like a heated blanket during winter, and its frequencies bring back images from the past – even a familiar scent from our childhoods. It brings cheer, enables us to love, and encourages us to be hopeful. In essence, it sets us free from the bitterness and confusion that often consumes our lives and fills it with serenity.

Basson Laas, a young farm boy from the North-West Province, was given the opportunity to perform live in his early twenties while studying business at the University of Pretoria. Three friends who whiled away the hours making music on their stoep evolved into the band called Man the Fields, adamant to perform their folk style acoustic vibe at any market, exhibition, bar or restaurant that would have them. Now, Basson is taking the stage as a solo singer/songwriter. Inspired by a broad spectrum of international artists, he also showcases original songs written in the previous decade. Basson’s lyrics are rooted in a complex nostalgia, mirrored in the dirty/clean tone of his ivory-coloured, hollow-body guitar. Although at the beginning of this new musical journey, he is excited by the prospect of hopefully being a traveling musician that will, in turn, inspire others.

7pm: Alan Strang

Despite a lifelong love of music, Alan was a latecomer to the music scene, getting actively involved in the Buskers & TJs Acoustic Music clubs in Johannesburg. Now a resident of the KZN Midlands, Alan joins us on the MiTH stage for the second time, albeit a little later than originally planned as a result of the April lockdown. True to his love for Irish and Scottish traditional music, Alan will be sharing some of the songs which have resonated with him over the years within the theme of Reflections of a Dreamer. As a member of various collaborations, he’s performed at music festivals including Splashy Fen, Four Winds in PE, and Barleycorn in Cape Town. In more recent times, he has recorded and performed often with the Waldorf String Band, latterly becoming a regular member of the band. To view some of Alan’s work, try the following search phrases:
Reflections of a dreamer + Alan Strang; Waldorf string band + Pipes of Donegal/last performance

ABOUT MiTH: Arguably the KZN Midlands’ best-loved music venue, Music in The Hills (MiTH) is an opportunity for beginners, professionals, and passionate music fans to share the joy of music at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm. Visit www.mith.co.za for more details and directions. Musicians can contact

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for slots.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: MiTH takes place every second Wednesday at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm, Knoll Drive, Hilton. Doors open at 6pm and the music will kick off at 7pm. Entrance is R75 book online in advance and pay online or at the door. Bring your own booze. Food and soft drinks are available for sale.

DIRECTIONS TO MiTH: Take the N3 to Hilton, take the Hilton turnoff and go South into the Village (away from Hilton College). Travel 5,2km along Hilton Avenue (past two sets of traffic lights and Crossways Pub) and keep going straight as Hilton Avenue turns into Dennis Shepstone Drive. At the 5,2km mark, Knoll Drive will be on your right – the entrance to MiTH is the *second* entrance on your left into The Knoll Historic Guest Farm.

 

Supplied by MiTH.

Grace College is proud to introduce our 2021 Head Prefects.

 

From Left: Isha Ghoorah (Head Girl), Simo Manqele (Deputy Head Girl), Mitchell Francis (Head Boy), Donovan Baugh ( Deputy Head Boy)

 

News supplied.

WILDLANDS, a programme of the WILDTRUST and the Emvokweni Community Trust (ECT) working collaboratively with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) and Tracy and Du Plessis Game Capture (TDC) recently welcomed 10 giraffes from the Munyawane and Phinda Private Game Reserves to Somkhanda Community Game Reserve.

During a recent translocation, eight female giraffe (and two males) have been added to the male dominated giraffe population at Somkhanda Community Game Reserve to bolster the population and add new genes.

WATCH VIDEO 1min CLIP HERE: https://www.facebook.com/WildlandsConservationTrust/videos/134021798167071

Somkhanda’s Reserve Manager, Meiring Prinsloo said, “The current sex ratio of the Somkhanda giraffe population is skewed towards males. This generous donation of additional females will help rectify the sex ratio in our population and enhance our active contribution towards giraffe conservation.”

Latest estimates show that there are only about 111,000 giraffe remaining in all of Africa. Their numbers have dropped by almost 30% over the last three decades in what GCF calls a ‘silent extinction’. The greatest threats to giraffe in the wild are habitat loss and fragmentation caused by a growing human population as well as diseases and illegal hunting/poaching in some parts of Africa. Giraffe are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

To put these numbers into perspective, there is one giraffe for every four African Elephant in the wild. Africa’s elephant population is estimated at approx. 415,000 animals. These figures speak volumes for the amount of work that is still required to save these animals from extinction. We believe in working collaboratively with individuals and organisations who value both people and planet and share our vision of making meaningful change to our environment.

“This operation forms part of our wider mission to restore biodiversity and re-wild areas that have been transformed. We have been particularly successful in linking community reserves and international donors to move large numbers of game into areas where they can thrive. These re-wilding efforts don’t only improve biodiversity, but also support rural development through tourism as the new wild-areas become safari destinations,” Said Dr Roelie Kloppers, CEO of the WILDTRUST.

The Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) is the only NGO in the world that concentrates solely on the conservation and management of giraffe in the wild. GCF works on, manages and supports giraffe conservation initiatives that concern all four species of giraffe in 16 African countries. In the last few years, GCF has supported giraffe translocations in six countries and successfully translocated over 100 giraffe which has effectively increased giraffe habitat in Africa by over 21,000 km².

Director of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Stephanie Fennessy, added that “While giraffe are in real trouble in most parts of Africa, their numbers are increasing in Southern Africa. We now estimate that over half of Africa’s giraffe population lives in Southern Africa. This is due to good game management and successful conservation efforts and initiatives like this one.”

Giraffe may not be part of the Big 5, but they are one of the most iconic African animals and urgently need our help now. Translocations are an effective conservation strategy to establish new populations or strengthen existing ones and are an important conservation tool to safeguard the future of giraffe.

 

PHOTO CREDIT: KIRSTEN OLIVER

 

The latest status re the load reduction rotational issue for Hilton residents is as follows;

1) The rigging exercise to replace the faulty main power transformer (132/33kV 45MVA unit) at Retief S/S, which is the supply source for Hilton, is in progress but will only be complete early next week, weather permitting. It’s an onerous task and the weather isn’t helping. Then follows the stringent pre-commissioning tests prior to energizing and final commissioning, so a conservative estimate is to have this unit back in service by the middle to end of next week if all goes to plan.

 

2) The two 33kV cable faults on the Line B feeder out of Retief S/S have been repaired but another fault has since been identified on this same feeder and suspected to be on the overhead line sections being investigated currently, which needs to be cleared before this feeder can be put back into service.

 

3) Additional load reductions that deviate from the schedule issued could be required at short notice, but hopefully, this will be communicated to all immediately prior to the event, should the notification from Msunduzi be received in time. In the meantime, it’s recommended that all residents assist by managing their load accordingly and disconnect any non-essentials to prevent unnecessary load creep and in so doing, retain the supply interruption inconvenience as per the schedules issued.

 

Anyone who may be considering alternative energy solutions like solar PV, is welcome to contact Rob on 0836622144 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Kind regards and keep well,

 

Rob Maitland-Stuart (HRA, Electricity) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Mike Tarr (Chair, Hilton Ratepayers’ Association) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

SAMA Award-winning musician Matthew Mole recently added his voice to the chorus calling for increased ocean protection within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in South Africa, in partnership with local environmental NPO, WILDTRUST. South Africa currently only protects 5% of its oceans and the need to increase this is urgent.

 

 

Matthew Mole in collaboration with WILDOCEANS (a programme of the WILDTRUST) is rewarding you for doing something good for the planet. Take the "Clean up your hood" challenge and you could win one of two sets of 5 tickets, to Mole's next concert – in your hood.

 

To enter, you need to:
1. Pick up at least one bag of rubbish in your neighbourhood, in your local park or on a beach close-by
2. Post the evidence on social media with #OceanChallengeAccepted
3. Tag Ocean Impact (@OceanimpactSA) in your post

If you are in KwaZulu-Natal and looking for a beach clean-up event to join, get to the Umgeni River Mouth at 8 am on the 28th of November. The “one change initiative” together with several KZN based organisations, will be hosting a clean-up all the way along the Durban coast.

“We are unbelievably grateful to Matthew and Jess for giving up their time and adding their voices to this very important campaign,” said Campaign Manager Ruth Mthembu. “We already have the most amazing MPAs in South Africa that support multiple ocean activities and look after our diverse marine life such as, Addo, De Hoop, Table Mountain, iSimangaliso, Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks, let’s keep the momentum going and add more to the list. A 10% MPA footprint in our oceans will see the rolling out of multiple benefits for our country – let's stand together united on better protection for our oceans and everything in it.”

 

IMAGE CREDIT: Taryn Hatchett

 

News supplied.

 

News supplied.