HOW TO KEEP CRIMINALS OUT

 

The 6 most common ways criminals get into homes and how to keep them out

Our homes are supposed to be our safe havens, places of peace and relaxation, happy memories and stability. Unfortunately, with crime levels as high as they are most South Africans actually live in a constant state of stress - at home, at work and even on holiday.

One way to create better peace of mind at home is to make sure you have adequate security to keep criminals out, says Charnel Hattingh, National Marketing and Communications Manager at Fidelity ADT.

“Good home security starts with knowing your property’s vulnerabilities,” she explains. “Walk your property and see things through a criminal’s eyes. Is your perimeter protection adequate? How easily can the gate be derailed? Do you have enough lighting around the house? Should you put a better lock on the front door?”

She says these are the six most common ways criminals gain access:

1.    Forcing locks on gates.

2.    Forcing locks on doors.

3.    Breaking windows and forcing burglar bars.

4.    Climbing over walls.

5.    Disabling electric fencing.

6.    Through open garages which are connected to the house.

Hattingh points out that these methods of gaining entry are often even used when residents are inside the home.

“If we look at the common methods of entry, it is obvious that good perimeter protection is your first line of defence. This includes proper walling with razor wire or electric fencing (with tamper sensors), good lighting, a secure automated gate which cannot be tampered with or derailed and an intercom system which allows you to see who is at the gate.”

“Poor perimeter protection speaks volumes – it is an indication to criminals that your house is probably also easy to get into.”

Other ways to protect your home and family:

·   Keep small dogs in the house as they can alert you early to anything untoward.

·  Outdoor beams are valuable early-warning devices and sensors should also be installed along outside walls, on the roof and in the ceiling.

·  Subscribe to an armed response service and ensure all your security systems are linked to this.

· Install sensor lights strategically around the house, especially in front of bedrooms.

· Install strong doors and security gates with good quality locks.

· Activate outdoor beams and an alarm in unused areas of the house when you are home.

·  Never leave the gate open if you are entertaining and expecting guests.

· Close curtains/blinds at night.

·  Place panic buttons in areas your family is likely to need them, like in the lounge and in the garage.

·  Get to know your neighbours and keep an eye on each other’s properties.

·  Be part of local crime WhatsApp or Facebook groups.

· Support your Community Policing Forum and attend meetings.

· Report suspicious activity or vehicles to your security company or the SAPS to investigate.

·  Report all incidents of crime, no matter how trivial. This helps security companies and police identify trends and implement strategies to curb crime.

Hattingh says it is concerning that many residents do not bother with improved home security because they believe “if they want to get in they will, no matter what”.

“This is not necessarily true. Criminals are not likely to target a home with proper security; it is simply too risky when they can just move on to an easier target instead. It is important to regularly check your perimeter for weaknesses and to stay informed of crime trends in your area.”

If you need to think about it, how good is it really? Book a free home security or upgrades assessment and always stay one step ahead of danger. Call 086 12 12 300 or email alwaysthere.c@fidelity-services.com

 Fidelity-ADT

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COPING WITH COVID-19

Coping with COVID-19: A recent UK poll shows there are three major responses to lockdown, but how did you cope with the lockdown as we look back? And what does this tell us about how your brain works? 

By Dr Samantha J. Brooks Ph.D.

According to a poll carried out by King’s College London in April 2020 - involving 2,250 respondents - there were three main responses to the COVID lockdown: acceptance, suffering and resistance (Duffy & Allington, 2020).  These different responses were distinguished by the level of support for the lockdown measures and compliance with them, how people felt they coped, the extent to which they followed official rules and by their expectations about how things will look in the future.  Accepters were mostly male, around the age of 50 who tend to hold conservative views (South African equivalent loosely ANC). Sufferers were mostly female, around the age of 44 with no strong political views.  Those who resisted the lockdown were mostly male, significantly younger on average at age 29 and tend to hold labour views (loosely equivalent to the DA). Accepting and suffering groups accounted for about 45% of the UK population respectively, whereas resistance was in the minority, at about 10%.

Accepters say they followed the lockdown rules almost all the time and didn’t feel particularly disturbed by it (e.g. they haven’t lost sleep or felt anxious or depressed).  Interestingly though, accepters don’t believe that life will return to normal any time soon, they seem to put their trust in the government, and spend less time compared to the other two groups checking the internet or social media for updates on coronavirus.

Sufferers however did report feeling much more anxious and depressed than the other two groups since

lockdown was introduced and have worse sleeping patterns.  They tended to follow the lockdown rules completely – often more than the other groups – and supported the lockdown measures.  However, this group didn’t trust the government, believing that it acted too slowly, and that it uses misinformation.  Suffers are likely to check the internet or social media daily for updates on coronavirus.

Resisting people only complied with the lockdown rules 50% of the time and did not support the measures imposed by the government, believing that too much fuss was being made.  In fact, these people would often secretly go against official guidance, such as meeting up with friends outside the home or going outside during curfew.  And this group were much more likely to believe in conspiracy theories, such as the coronavirus being created in a lab and deliberately spread.  Finally, this group checked the internet or social media for updates on the virus much more often than the other two groups.

What do these responses to the lockdown tell us about differences in how our brains function? 

Research suggests that there are three types of conformity behaviour in any given population: compliance, identification and internalisation.  Compliance is when we pretend to go along with things but really, we resist them.  Identification is when we partly comply with the rules but then change our minds, back to our original beliefs, when in private.  Internalisation, however, is when we fully – both in public and in private – accept the rules, even if they go against the norm.  And this is what we have seen throughout lockdown across the world. 

People who tend to accept rapidly changing rules imposed by their government, tend to have unwavering, deeply held beliefs in tradition and power.  Such people are likely to have internalised beliefs about authority that contribute to their sense of self, which can often reflect in increased ventromedial prefrontal activity.  The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is linked to self-representation, control of emotion, reward and goal-oriented behaviour.   In the suffering group are people who try –but struggle – to accept rules imposed on them, have difficulties with emotion regulation and are more likely to experience anxiety and depression.  This is represented in the brain as reduced dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation and increased anterior cingulate cortex/amygdala activation. These brain regions are linked to cognitive control and emotional arousal, respectively.  Finally, those who resist the lockdown rules are perhaps the least emotionally influenced by changing rules, because they are already engaged in high emotional responses to the environment – typical of the younger group who constituted those who resisted lockdown.  Additional societal changes seem to overburden an already-overloaded prefrontal executive control system in the younger group.  And since an overburdened prefrontal cortex is costly for the brain’s energy reserves, a choice has to be made between behaviours that are associated with having a strong peer-group identity, such as flouting lockdown rules by continuing to socialise with friends, or behaviours that represent parental control, such as adhering to societal rules. 

With these ideas in mind, in collaboration with the University of Witwatersrand we are currently testing how cognitions and emotions function across the three groups that respond so differently to lockdown rules.  Thankfully President Cyril Ramaphosa has now lifted the lockdown restrictions to level 1 – but think about how you coped with the lockdown measures, and what it might tell you about how your brain functions!

Have a wonderful time enjoying the relaxed lockdown Harfielders, but remember to continue adhering to the rules (face masks, social distancing) that keep us all safe!

Dr Samantha Brooks is a UK neuroscientist in Harfield Village, specialising in the neural correlates of impulse control from eating disorders to addiction.  For more information you can contact Samantha at: drsamanthabrooks.com 

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BOND GRANTS FOR WOMAN TRIPPLED

Bond grants for women triple over the past decade

Women are taking firmer control of their financial independence, with more applying for bonds to buy property. In the last decade, the number of BetterBond’s applications from women has increased by 12%, with 40% of all applications received this year being from women. Also, in 2010, only 14% of bond grants were for women, and now that number is sitting at 41%.

“While there is still a gender pay gap in South Africa - men earn an estimated 35% more than women for doing the same work in some professions - it is encouraging to see the significant growth in bond grants for women,” says Jenny Rushin, BetterBond’s National Development Manager, BetterBond. “With the current lending environment and interest rates at historic lows, property is now even more accessible to women.”

Single women are also thinking of their long-term financial stability, and considering property as a viable investment option. “Last year, 60% of BetterBond’s applications from women were from single women,” says Rushin. This supports Lightstone data released this month which shows that over the past five years, single women first-home buyers have outnumbered male, married couples and multiple buyers.

Michelle H, 33, is a South African teaching in China. She found herself stranded in South Africa while here for her summer holiday, because of COVID-19. Looking to supplement her income, and to add to her property portfolio - she already owns two - she decided to invest in two buy-to-let properties in Cresta. Women are no longer waiting until they are married, or have children, to enter the property market. Like Michelle, many are seeing property as a means of establishing their financial independence.

Pule M, 45, initially thought she was too old to buy her first prop erty, as she is eight years older than the average woman who applies to BetterBond for a home loan. But she is one of many who realise that it is never too late to get a foot on the property ladder. Rushin says all women buyers should have a credit score, and enough cash flow to cover monthly expenses as well as bond repayments. “Having a “rainy-day fund” for unexpected expenses, such as home repairs or additional costs, is also recommended.”

Pule says she approached a bond originator for guidance as she knew very little about what was needed to make her dream of being a homeowner a reality. Once she had pre-approval, she knew what she could afford when she started looking for a property. Pule says she was surprised to find that there were no costs involved for the bond origination service.

As BetterBond applied to more than one bank on her behalf, Pule was able to secure the bond amount she needed. Not only was her application approved, but Pule was granted a 100% bond, meaning that she did not have to pay a deposit to secure her new home in Mamelodi East.

BetterBond’s average loan amount for women applicants is R935 000, says Rushin, which means that no transfer duty is payable on these properties. The threshold for transfer duty costs was raised to R1 million earlier this year, making it easier for more buyers - particularly first-home buyers - to afford property without having to pay a percentage of its value to SARS.

According to Lightstone, freehold properties in emerging suburbs, such as Parklands in Cape Town and Soshanguve South near Pretoria, continue to be popular among women buyers. Michelle bought her property in a complex in Cresta, because of its convenient location close to schools, and controlled access. As a single woman, with no dependents, it was also important for Pule to find a secure, low-maintenance property.

Pule may have been the first woman in her family to own property, but her sister is keen to follow suit, now that she has seen that women are successfully securing bonds and that the current interest rate means that they can afford more than before. “Not only are more women applying for bonds, but the average purchase price of the homes they can afford is steadily increasing, suggesting that women’s improving buying power is having a significant impact on the property market,” says Rushin.

Anne-Marie Bamber is Norgarb Properties dedicated Home Loans Consultant. She has over 15 years’ experience in assisting clients with their Home Loan needs and has placed many happy families in their dream homes.

Contact her today for no cost stress-free home-buying.
Anne-Marie Bamber
Home Loans consultant
Tel: +27 (0)21 851 3568 | Fax: +27 (0)21 441 1494 | Cell: +27 (0)82 071 1665
E-mail: anne-marie.bamber@betterlife.co.za

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SUPPORT ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANISATION

You can support ARO by donating any unwanted quality household goods.  

All goods are sold in the ARO Charity Shops to raise funds to relieve the suffering of sick and abused animals living in poor communities. 

ARO Bergvliet Charity Shop 51 Main Road, Bergvliet (next to Babygoaround) 021 715 7525 Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 09h30 to 16h30 Saturdays: 09h00-13h00

ARO Kalk Bay Charity Shop 70 Main Rd, Kalk Bay (shop is situated in Belmont Road just of the Main Road. Belmont Road is directly opposite the Trading Post situated on Kalk Bay Main Road) Geraldine: 082 805 5005 Opening hours: Thursday to Sunday: 09h30 to 16h00

Animal Rescue Organisation

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OCTOBER IN THE GARDEN

We've had rain! Our dams are in excellent shape for the Summer – what a relief, and reason to truly celebrate as we head into the heart of Spring. 

The blossoms are out, flowers are blooming, and I think we're all very ready for Spring after what feels like an extra long Winter of hibernation on various levels. It's the perfect time to start new things and get planting while the ground is fertile from the rain, before the temperatures start climbing more dramatically. Here's our plant list for this month:

October's plant list: 

Amaranth, Basil, Bush and Climbing beans, Beetroot, Butternut, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Chard, Cape Gooseberry, Celery, Chives, Chilli, Cucumber, Eggplant, Kale, Kohlrabi, Ginger, Globe Artichoke, Leek, Leaf Mustard, Lettuce, Jerusalem artichokes, Onion, Parsnip, Parsley, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Radish, Rhubarb, Sweetcorn, Sweet pepper, Sweet potato, Turnip, Tomato, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini 

October's What's-in-season list:  

Vegetables: Globe artichoke, Beetroot, Green beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chives, Courgettes, Cucumber, Leeks, Garlic, Lettuce, Mealies, Mushrooms, Onion, Parsley, Parsnips, Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radishes, Spinach, Squash, Sweet potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Waterblommetjies

Fruit: Apricots, Mulberries, Bananas, Oranges, Lemons, Grapefruit, Naartjies, Guava, Paw-paw, Pineapples, Kiwi, Rhubarb, Strawberries

Happy planting!

Patchwork Group
Gabriella Garnett
076 2199 849 | gabriella.garnett@gmail.com

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FOHP RETURN TO THE PARKS

 

Return to the Parks Hi everyone, long time no see! It's been a difficult time for all of us, but the Friends of Harfield Parks are happy to announce that we are returning to work in the Parks now that Level 2 is well underway. Some of you may have noticed that Peter is already back at work, and we'll be gearing up operations now that we can work outside again. We'd like to give a particular acknowledgement to our donors who continued supporting FOHP through lockdown. Your support in a financially-constrained time is incredibly appreciated - thank you so much for helping keep our spirits up!

 

Cape Town food growing initiatives Lockdown hasn't been all bad - one positive spinoff has been the rapid growth in community micro-farming initiatives all over Cape Town, in which community groups, faith-based organisations and individuals have started food gardens to feed themselves and each other. If you'd like to read further or get involved, the CTT Food Growers' Initiative Facebook page catalogues all sorts of projects from individual food gardens to Community Action Network (CAN)-supported projects.

 

City of Cape Town - Tree application form Trees are a vital part of keeping our cities clean, cool and quiet. Thankfully, the Recreation and Parks department actually helps Capetonians by providing a free tree-planting service (subject to a few restrictions). If you'd like a tree for your pavement or pavement-adjacent garden, you can request one from City Parks by filling in their tree-planting application form.

 

Request for donations The Friends of Harfield Park are funded primarily through donations. and (historically) the money we were able to raise at the Harfield Village Carnival. As there will be no Harfield Village festival this year, we've lost a major source of funding and will be looking for alternative ways to fund our operations. If you are able to donate to us, your money will go to the following: Picking up litter and dog waste Acquiring new plants and trees for the parks Maintaining and improving the pathways New large-scale projects, such as purchasing a water tank for additional irrigation during the summer months, and possible water-permeable pathways for the parks Please consider contributing to our efforts to keep our parks clean and thriving by setting up a monthly donation or donating once-off via the Snapscan at the end of this newsletter.

 

Warm regards, The FOHP Committee For more information and directions you can email us at harfield.parks@gmail,com. You can donate using the following details: Friends of Harfield Parks; Standard Bank, Claremont; Account number: 076293874 Or use the Snapscan below.

 

Friends of Harfield Parks www.harfield-village.co.za www.facebook.com/harfield.village.community

ONE WORLDWIDE WILL OR SEPARATE WILLS?

1. Is it a problem if I only have one will in respect of my worldwide assets?

No, as long as the will meets the legal formalities required by the country in which it was signed it will cover the distribution of your worldwide assets wherever situated.

2. Are there any benefits to having a separate will in each country where I own assets?

•  Yes, if you have assets in France for example, a will drawn by a French notary governing your French estate will ensure that same complies with French law and will minimise the chance of problems with the administration of your estate due to a possible conflict between French and South African law.

• It will also avoid delays in the administration of your estate. If you only have one will in respect of your worldwide assets then the original of this will must first be processed by the legal authority in the country where you permanently reside. Once the process is complete a suitably certified copy of that will would have to be issued for processing by the legal authority in the other country where you own assets. On the other hand, if you have separate wills the processes in each country concerned can commence immediately and simultaneously.

3. Are there any concerns which I need to take into consideration when having separate wills?

• Yes, for example, if a testator deposes to a will in South Africa which limits the scope to his South African estate only and thereafter deposes to another will in France, the will in France may revoke the South African will if the testator is not careful when it comes to the wording of the French will.

• In addition, if the testator has previously had a French will drafted and wishes to create a new French will he must ensure that the French will only revokes his previous French will and not any other will in any other jurisdiction where he has assets.

• It is a common misconception that having 2 wills equates to having 2 separate estates. A person only has one worldwide estate. Having two wills simply facilitates the administration of the estate in each country and ensures that you receive the best possible legal advice in connection with your affairs in the country concerned. However, from an income tax and inheritance tax perspective, these taxes may be levied on your worldwide assets unless a rebate exists in terms of a double taxation agreement.

Contact us at estates@stbb.co.za for a will consultation.

STBB Claremont



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OZONE CLINIC CAPE TOWN

 

Second Avenue Harfield Village: a place of restaurants, businesses, community and character. So what’s missing from this unique spot in the heart of the Southern Suburbs? Well, perhaps a revolutionary health and wellness clinic that uses Ozone Therapy and natural products that will holistically heal and energize your body! Not to mention the 100 conditions that it can treat PLUS a whole-body detox PLUS a sauna session that can burn up to 600 calories in half an hour. Sounds too good to be true? Trust me, it’s not. 

So, I know what you’re thinking – surely this is just another fad treatment that’s going to be sold to us as the answer for good health along with bacon and cauliflower pizzas? Well not only has this treatment been around for the past 150 years (including being used in WWI to treat infections), but the benefits have been documented by numerous leading professionals. 

Click on image to enlarge.

And of course, the most important question – what on earth is Ozone Therapy? And “I thought ozone was a bad thing?”. Before I get into what Ozone Therapy is, let me just clarify that ozone (O3) is not the bad “pollutant” that we were led to believe with the “ozone free” stickers on our fridges. In fact, ozone is simply the indicator that scientists use to determine how polluted the atmosphere is. High levels of O3 means high levels of pollution. Without stating the obvious, O3 consist of three oxygen molecules. Oxygen consists of two molecules in our atmosphere, but if a third molecule is added, it becomes a highly unstable element called “Ozone”.

As you know, we kind of need oxygen to survive. In fact, it’s pretty much the number one thing that sets us apart from the rest of the universe. And being the typical disastrous race that we are, we are currently killing off the oxygen levels in our planet and in turn in our bodies. The result is that our bodies aren’t functioning properly. We have less energy, poorer immune systems, inflammation, infections and the ultimate killer: cancer. 

Which is where Ozone Therapy comes in. Because ozone is so unstable when it enters the bloodstream it splits again, allowing the extra positively charged oxygen molecule to bond with negatively charged toxins. At the same time, the pure oxygen floods your body, providing your starved cells with the one element that they need. The result is a full body detox, a boosted immune system, a complete body cleanse of viruses and bacteria, reduced inflammation...and and and…(seriously I could carry on for forever). 

So, now let me briefly introduce Ozone Clinic Cape Town. 

Ozone Clinic was launched in Port Elizabeth and after being blown away by the incredible benefits, we have decided to launch a Cape Town branch in Harfield Village. We’re based at 28 Second Avenue and will be offering Ozone Therapy in the form of the HOCATT™ (Hyperthermic Ozone and Carbonic Acid Transdermal Therapy) sauna pod. This incredible treatment involves 30 minutes of your time where you get to relax, detox and heal your body from the comfort of a high-tech sauna pod. The sauna session starts off with a carbonic acid cycle where CO2 combines with steam in the sauna pod, allowing your pores to open up. Oxygen is then passed over an electrode to produce ozone in the steam, flooding your body with that super oxygen while you sweat out your daily pollutants. 

If you’re interested, please feel free to pop in from the 7th of September! We’ll also be offering a slimming clinic, combined with nutrition plans as well as a Fat Freeze clinic and will be selling some incredible natural products and supplements.

Ozone Clinic Cape Town

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