Festive messages from moot councillors

Ward councillors in the Pretoria Moot shared their Christmas and New Year’s messages with residents and also reflected on some of the challenges such as Covid-19, the loss of loved ones as well as messages of hope as we enter 2021.

Juanita du Plooy ward councillor region 53

Dear residents,

My wish for you is to have a blessed holiday season, may this festive season bring you all the joy, happiness and peace to last throughout the coming year.

It’s a time for cherishing those who are blessings in our lives and remembering others that are not as fortunate as we are.

It is exceptionally easy to forget about all our blessings and get lost in the flurry of activity during the holiday season.

Make some time to cherish the blessings and true meaning of the season and have a Merry Christmas.

Remember you are blessed to be a blessing.

Frans and Betsie Smith, ward councillor region 52

We are at the end of 2020. A year no one will forget. None of us knew during the festive season last year that 2020 was going to challenge us in an unprecedented way.

Our New Year’s resolutions vanished with the advent of Covid-19.

People lost their jobs, lost loved ones, and lost heart.

Now Christmas and 2021 are ahead.

Again, we do not know what lies ahead, but we can look forward to a better future with new courage and hope.

At Christmas we commemorate Jesus’ coming to earth.

He is God Immanuel, who promised to always be with us.

As He carried us through 2020, He will do the same in 2021. He never said we would not suffer, but He did promise that He would always be with us.

Therefore, we can enter the New Year with confidence.

I would like to wish every resident a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2021.

May we, as in the past, live out an attitude of caring for one another. Let us bear one another’s burdens and encourage and support one another.

Elmarie Linde, ward councillor region 54

Although 2020 was a challenging year in many ways, the Moot community and Christian believers stood together, joined hands, helped and supported where the need was greatest.

It speaks volumes of our residents to still be able to reach out with diligence and help with limited resources.

This year we not only turned to one another, but we also experienced love, grace, and faithfulness of our Heavenly Father anew.

It is an absolute privilege for me to serve together in the Moot community and I would like to express my gratitude for the zeal and dedication, and especially for the understanding the residents have shown in this challenging year.

May each of us experience a true Christ feast and share love and compassion. Merry Christmas!

Elma Nel, ward councillor region 1

May every person in Pretoria experience Jesus’ power and love personally during this Christmas. It was indeed one of the most difficult years ever and we could all experience at all times that our Heavenly Father never left us.

My thoughts and prayers are with families who have lost loved ones.

May 2021 be a prosperous year of togetherness and recovery for every person of our beautiful city.

Sincere wishes of love and happiness from me and my family to everyone.

Elsabe van Staden, Pretoria Moot CPF

1 January 2020 kicked off with great expectations.

Little did we know that all our well-anticipated plans would be seriously disrupted by Covid-19.

We realised that we really live in a global village and that developments in far away places may have a devastating impact on even us living in the Moot.

The consequences of the pandemic will still be felt in years to come.

The visible impact of the pandemic were the loss of loved ones and some of our Moot residents that succumbed to Covid-19.

Numerous businesses closed and in some of our once thriving shopping centres one is greeted by empty stores.

The human tragedy that unfolded placed increased pressure on community-based organisations and the Pretoria Moot CPF was no exception.

Numerous families were fed and helped to survive.

This could only be achieved through the generous contributions of CPF members and the community.

With the opening up of the community, the human tragedy has not subsided and many of our residents are still in serious need of both material and psychological assistance.

The Pretoria Moot CPF wishes all our residents an incredibly Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2021.

We wish you a festive season filled with happiness and enjoying the simple things that make life beautiful and worthwhile.

May it be filled with the warmth of friendships and the comforting love of those dear to us.

May the true meaning of this season fill our hearts, and let us show love and care to our community.

Let us continue to reach out to those in need. May the Moot continue to be a caring community.

Colonel Hlengani Giben Mashaba, Pretoria Moot Police station

In reflection on 2020, I want to thank the residents of the Moot, especially the CPF and all other role players that assisted us to create a safe and secure place for everyone.

It was a year with lot of new demands and at times it placed a huge strain on the way normal policing was done.

Regulations had to be enforced while service delivery to the community still had to continue.

I want to wish members of the community and their families a blessed festive season and renewed, and renowned sense of hope and prosperity as we enter 2021.

Thank you for honouring the members of the Pretoria Moot police and be sure the management and members will be on high alert at all times this festive season.

Communities are urged to play their role by reporting any suspicious persons, vehicles or circumstances to the police immediately by phoning the 10111 emergency number.

Michael Burt, chairperson of Capital Park Residents and Ratepayers Association (Caprra)

2020 was a challenging year for our community in Capital Park and the Moot due to Covid-19. During these challenging times the community of Capital Park has stood up and shown a resilience, support, love and empathy for each other.

When the lockdown was announced many of our residents lost their income and livelihoods.

We would like to thank the community of Capital Park for their kindness and generosity to help the hungry and needy in our community.

I would also like to thank the greater Pretoria community as well as churches, NPOs, NGOs, and government institutions.

Let’s keep working together in the future to make our suburb an even better place for all to live in Tshwane.

Let’s remember what we have accomplished a lot more as a community and let’s show the same love and concern for one another during the festive season and the new year.

May our community be blessed during the festive season and the future.

Ancelize van der Kooi, Kilnerpark Security

May the community have a safe and joyful festive season.

Be responsible and attentive.

We want to encourage the public not only to look out for themselves during the festive season, but also for their belongings.

Put all security measures in place to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of crime.

We wish all residents a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

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