Marloth organisations give annual feedback on town’s issues

MARLOTH PARK –  The Marloth Park Property Owners Association (MPPOA) and Marloth Park Ratepayers Association (MPRA) have been working together with other community initiatives like the Marloth Park Wildlife Fund, Honorary Rangers and community policing forum (CPF) to tackle common issues such as these and will even share an office soon.

Members of MPPOA gathered at Henk van Rooyen Park on Saturday morning, and on Sunday morning MPRA members packed the Aamazing River View Restaurant for feedback on issues surrounding the proposed Marloth Park Conservation Trust and town problems such as gate security.

MPPOA chairman Denis Goffinet explained that the various groups united to propose that Marloth Park join the Greater Kruger Initiative (GKI). This would give them access to a variety of resources to deal with issues such as poaching, security and conservation to help them become a “better neighbour” to the Kruger National Park (KNP). They would in essence be serving as a buffer zone for the Kruger.

READ: Joining forces with KNP is key to developing local communities

These negotiations have currently been put on hold due to an interdict by the trust initiative, which wants clarity on ownership of Marloth Park’s assets before negotiations can proceed.

MPPOA and MPRA are currently in a legal battle with the trust initiative and MPPOA has submitted complaints and petitions from property owners, contesting the initiative’s intentions.

According to the team from the Marloth Park Conservation Trust, the aim of the trust and its public benefit company is to hold the shared assets of Marloth’s property owners (such as Lionspruit and other public areas), to ensure that they and Marloth Park are managed and used to the benefit of the owners. For more information on the initiative, visit mpconservationtrust.co.za.

Many property owners are not in favour of this and MPPOA’s lawyers submitted 346 signed objection forms.

Cindy Benson of the MPRA explained that they have also joined the battle in a effort to strengthen the case and have received more than 1 200 votes against the trust initiative and 47 for it.

Benson and Goffinet stressed that there are still people unaware of the trust initiative and urged property owners to speak to their neighbours to afford them the chance to voice their opinion on the matter.

Goffinet explained that legal costs are at more than R221 000 and that donations are sorely needed to fund their efforts.

Regarding gate security, he said he and Benson have handed a proposal regarding more effective security measures to the Nkomazi Local Municipality and hope for positive news.

Nadine Edgecombe of the CPF also presented a crime report, mentioning that crime in Marloth Park is still very low, considering its proximity to the various borders. She mentioned that the law-enforcement officers and CPF members worked very hard to patrol and attend to a variety of crimes and problems like noise complaints.

READ: No lives lost on the Onderberg’s roads over Easter weekend

Edgecombe stated that many of the burglaries and thefts reported were due to people neglecting to lock doors or leaving valuables in plain sight.

READ about recent burglaries in Marloth: Police bust suspected chop-shop in Naas

The issue of pets in Marloth Park was also briefly mentioned and residents were reminded that none are allowed due to ecological concerns. The Nkomazi Local Municipality is still preparing their policy on the issue and need to implement it soon.

READ: Court ruling not an ‘OK’ to keep pets in Marloth

On the issue of game management, there is a plan in place to capture excess game and move them into Lionspruit, which has a shortage. Two mobile bomas will be erected and some animals will be darted.

Benson mentioned that the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency agreed that once the two old lions in Lionspruit die, three would be relocated there.

As the various Marloth Park organisations have united in their efforts, they will share the former MPPOA office at the Marlothi Shopping Centre. This new community office will act as an information centre, home base and coffee stop for CPF members. Property owners were urged to volunteer to help man the office, even if it is just a few mornings a year.

Members also voted to elect the new committee. For MPPOA they are: Denis Goffinet, Lisa English, Louise Marais, Peter English, Tommy Randall, John Bryson, Chris Tear, René da Schouwer, Carol Nake and Julie Hanson.

At MPRA’s meeting, Cindy Benson, David Francis, Abel Coetzee, Laura Burnett, Toy Bytel, Marius van der Merwe, David Francis, Renier du Toit, Letitia Matthews, Karen Watt and Bennie van Zyl were voted in.

They can keep up with the latest news from these organisations by joining the Facebook groups.