On SUNDAY 20th OCTOBER, we are calling for all concerned citizens to meet just inside the entrance to the reserve at the end of Alexander Road Extension at 8am to conduct a mass walk through the reserve to locate and remove snares.

SPCA Pietermaritzburg
Yesterday at 10:29 AM ·
Bisley Nature Reserve- How can you help

From Friends of Bisley Nature Reserve. We, a few concerned citizens of Pietermaritzburg are desperately concerned over the well-being and survival of the remaining game in Bisley Reserve. We have identified as a priority the feeding of the animals which due to their condition, require special pellets which we have sourced and are available through the SPCA on 033-386 9267.

Secondly, due to extensive poaching and snaring ( Poachers went so far as to erect drying racks and a “bush-meat butchery” inside the reserve) a concerted effort to remove the hundreds of snares is required. On SUNDAY 20th. OCTOBER, we are calling for all concerned citizens to meet just inside the entrance to the reserve at the end of Alexander Road Extension at 8am to conduct a mass walk through the reserve to locate and remove snares.

Please wear long pants and long sleeves as thorns are abundant. Good walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen is advisable. Most importantly, bring a pair of pliers or side-cutters to remove the snares.

If you cannot be there, please assist by passing this message on to your friends or by donating for feed. The SPCA through Senior Inspector Roland Fivaz have set up a special fund for the purpose and will also arrange for placement of the pellets in the right spots. I can be contacted on 061-660 8123 for queries. SEE YOU ON SUNDAY!

News supplied by uMngeni SPCA.

On 17 October 2019 Malcolm and Sue Stewart-Burger celebrate 60 years of marriage. Moving to Howick in 1969, Malcolm and Sue lived in the Howick Falls Hotel for two years before moving into the house that they built and have lived in for almost 50 years. The couple have seen many changes and developments in Howick over the years.

Pictured below L-R:
Malcolm and Sue Stewart-Burger

Malcolm and Sue Stewart-Burger built their home in Howick 50 years ago. Building started with no other houses in Greendale Park. Midmar Dam can be seen in the distance.

Malcolm and Sue Stewart-Burger on their wedding day.

Welcome new Operations Manager
The UCSI is managed 24/7 by the UCSI VCAT* TrackBox SNIPR Control Room platform which is headed up by Keegan Naidoo. Keegan started working full-time for the UCSI on 1 September 2019 and also takes on the role of managing any priority crimes that are committed in the KZN Midlands. Currently Keegan is assisting Hawks and Crime Intelligence with a murder and farm attack that occurred in our area. Both incidents involve vehicles that came into our uMngeni area. The UCSI also assisted SAPS with another murder and an incident of poaching over the past month. Both of which are now cases closed. * Violent Crime and Technology.

Invest in the holistic safety of your community with the UCSI
If you would like to make a capital donation towards the erection of the next 10 strategic UCSI SNIPR camera mounted gantries, please contact the UCSI on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Keegan on 0630689652. The UCSI would like to have all the access and egress points into our uMngeni Municipal spaces covered before the festive season. Not only will this deflect criminals, but it will also facilitate the successful apprehension of criminals – as has successfully happened during the course of this year so far. Since March 2019 the UCSI has been involved in over 30 successful cases and assisted law enforcement at local and provincial level.

The UCSI is a registered Not-for-Profit Company and is able to issue a Section 18A for all donations made. The UCSI is also BBBEE level 2 and registered with PSIRA. To benefit from the services of the UCSI and ensure sustainability in our community, please affiliate and contribute a monthly membership fee. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get a membership form emailed to you.

The UCSI is making amazing progress in our communities, and as quoted by Captain Sikhakhane who is the Station Commander of Hilton SAPS “We are making magic”.

The UCSI is now also involved in advising a community from the North West Province of South Africa, who heard about what we are doing as a community. They are coming through to meet with the UCSI Board and role-players to see how we have rolled out our project in partnership with our Municipality and Department of Transport as a Best Practice Model.

Business update
The latest businesses to come on-board being: Howick Districts Landowners Association, Fairfield Dairy and Farm, Falcon Equipment, The Voigts Group, J Leslie Smith Attorneys, Rotunda, Fogden Properties, Cowan House, Hilton Rate Payers Association, Hilton Hawks through the HCSI, Wedgewood Nougat, Frosties, Broadacres Estate, Sakabula Estate and Midmar Building Supplies.

Do you want your business to be a part of those leading the way in terms of community Safety Responsibility?

Gantry update
To date twelve (12) UCSI gantries have been installed. There is another gantry in the Curry’s Post area coming on line soon, and then 3 more gantries in Hilton by the end of October 2019.

When these afore-mentioned gantries are erected, it will take the UCSI gantry number to 16 gantries that have been funded by our uMngeni Communities and fall under the Management of the UCSI.

Another 4 gantries are pending and should be feeding through by end of November 2019. On top of this there are an additional 4 privately owned gantries that feed through to the UCSI and then another 11 from surrounding areas also feeding through to the UCSI. In total, by the end of November 2019, the UCSI envisages over 35 gantries feeding through to the UCSI Control Room platform.

Some gantries are awaiting final funding and if we can get the capital (CAPEX) to complete those then that would be awesome. It must be noted that each gantry must have the required monthly operational costs (OPEX) committed to by the community before erection, and these costs are covered though community affiliation / membership contributions.

OPEX is collected on a monthly basis through fee paying community members (business entities and private individuals) and goes towards the payment of:
• SNIPR Fees
• Data Fees
• Tamper Monitoring Fee
• Insurance (Comprehensive) and liability
• Maintenance
• Administration
• Fuel / Cell phone
• Technology / Hardware / Internet
• Stationary / Marketing
• Office rental, lights, water
• Internet
• Staffing
These operational expenses are pivotal to the success of the UCSI in empower Law Enforcement and deterring criminals from our communities.

Urgent attention
Some serious attention needs to be placed on the following areas:
1. R617 / Mpophomeni
2. Midmar exit from N3 going into Howick
3. Merrivale exit from N3 going into Merrivale
4. Merrivale Rural on Cedara Road
5. Howick West
Attention also needs to be placed on the Howick CBD and Howick Falls Precinct. The UCSI is in a position to assist the uMngeni Municipality with the erection and monitoring of 24/7 CCTV cameras in the Howick Falls area.

Interesting Statistics
Some interesting statistical information for the months of August and September 2019. These figures show the number of vehicles that passed under some of the gantries in our areas (note these are bi-directional stats):
• Worldsview (Hilton): 167423 vehicles in August and 116140 vehicles in September.
• Life Hilton Private Hospital (Hilton): 250714 vehicles in August and 239147 vehicles in September.
• Knight Security Solutions (Merrivale): 366249 vehicles in August and 303477 vehicles in September.
• uMngeni Bridge (Howick): 294216 vehicles in August and 354482 vehicles in September.
• Lower Karkloof Road (Howick – Yard 41): 264558 vehicles in August and 219245 vehicles in September.
• Lower Curry’s Post (Eagle Ridge): 69591 vehicles in September.
• Natal Forest Nursery (Tweedie): 204634 vehicles in September.
• Karkloof Club intersection: 52330 vehicles in September.
These are significant figures and with the festive season approaching there are still gaps where gantries need to go up.

The CAPEX funding received goes towards the physical erection of the gantry and the cameras, and is a once off donation, while the OPEX (Operational) funding goes towards the on-going monthly expenses incurred by the UCSI in order the effectively and professionally manage the UCSI SNIPR gantry network.

The UCSI continues to meet with local, Cluster and Provincial Law Enforcement Officials (including Hawks and Crime Intelligence) to ensure that the protocols and procedures followed are professional. The UCSI has also met with the Senior Public Proctors of the Pietermaritzburg and Durban Regional High Courts. The UCSI is working successfully alongside SANRAL, N3TC and Transnet.

The UCSI Board of Directors wishes to thank the uMngeni Municipality for all the support to date. This public-private partnership is proving to be a success and leading the way in active crime fighting in communities. The UCSI is a flagship project that can be considered as paving the way in “best practice” for other Municipal areas.

News supplied by UCSI.

Emma is a Grade 7 pupil from Laddsworth Primary School who decided to donate her birthday money to FreeMe Wildife, a total of R1200 .

Thank you Emma for thinking of us on your very special day!! 

We  LOVE you  from the FreeMe Wildlife bunch.

Pictured above Wade Whitehead(CEO FreeMe), Emma Lycett, Clinic Manager Kirsten Steytler (right).

You are invited  to another FreeMe Wildlife Talk!

This time, with the fast approaching baby season, we decided to make it all about the babies.

Wildlife Babies - When to Intervene, is a talk about how our local Wildlife live and raise their young. When do you rescue and when do you leave them alone? Hosted by Kirsten Steytler, our clinic manager.

When? 2pm, Saturday 12th October 2019
Where? FreeMe KZN Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Cost? R60.00

Booking is essential. Contact us on 033 330 3036 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

News supplied by FreeMe KZN.

We always love a good news story and here is another that won't dissapoint.

An anonymous gentleman brought bread , milk, eggs,over the weekend 5 October for the carguards at Fairways on Main.
The centre management would like to Thank you.

You provided a full meal to people who need. You will never know how grateful they are, thank you for making a difference.

God bless abundantly .

News supplied by Julie Coles, Centre Management for Fairways on Main.

Get these specials at Harvard Electrical Wholesalers. Valid for October.

Find Harvard Electrical Wholesalers at 22 Harvard Street, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 3290.

Break the mould with a BrewWithAView year end function. Our beergarden is the perfect venue for your staff and clients to relax after a long, productive year. Get to know each other over a craftbeer in the tranquillity of our beergarden. Treat your guests to the best in the kzncraftbeer scene.

Alternatively, you could hire us for your year-end event. We’ll bring the kegs and our mobile bar to serve your guests. Call 033 2344432 (answering service) or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

News supplied by Lions River Craft Brewery.

A little group of friends that arrived at FreeMe with an owlet. Diego and his two friends, Kirsten and Kyle being greeted by Wade Whitehead (FreeMe Wildlife CEO).
Tammy Caine (FreeMe Wildlife's Raptor Specialist) came through to chat to the group. She explained that Spotted Eagle Owl chicks are often found on the ground, and that it is perfectly fine to leave them there, unless they are in immediate danger. The species will often nest on the ground, and even if they nest higher up, the chicks will leave the nest before they can fly properly and spend a week or two exploring their surroundings before they are able to fly off with the parents
Tammy thanked the kids for knowing the right food to feed the owls. She also told them that although rats and mice are often primary food for owls, Spotted Eagle Owls will also eat insects, birds, bats, and even snakes and frogs!
Growing owlets like this one need more than one rat a night to sustain them, so although the food was the right kind, it was not enough. So the decision was made to admit the owlet, feed it up, and arrange to release it again where it was found once its condition has improved.
Diego and his friends were given lots of interesting information on owls that will help them to A big thank you goes to Dr John Carlyon for the donation of his wonderful book 'Nocturnal Birds.' Incidents like these are exactly the reason Dr Carlyon donated the books, as it is his contribution towards spreading awareness on owls to promote their protection and conservation.remember everything they were told, and to learn new things.
With the owlet off with Tammy to be settled in a recovery box, Diego and his friends are delighted by everything they have learnt about owls, and are excited about becoming owl advocated in their community.

News supplied by FreeMe Rehabilitation Centre.

Howick High School Head Prefects have been chosen for 2020.

Deputy Head Boy - Craig Pike, Head Boy - Aiden Pieters, Head Girl - Abigail Petersen and Deputy Head Girl - Emma Hyslop.

Age Quod Agis.

News supplied by Howick High School.

The Arthritis Foundation recently released guidelines on CBD, making them the first member of the medical community to do so. What they had to say was encouraging.

They acknowledged that although rigorous clinical studies are still needed, CBD may help with arthritis-related symptoms, including pain, insomnia and anxiety.

Among the key takeaways, two things stood out to us at The Hemp People:

1. While CBD in moderate doses has no major safety issues, potential drug interactions have been identified, therefore always consult with your doctor first.

 2. Buy from a reputable company that independently tests each batch for purity, potency and safety and provides a certificate of analysis.

To read the full report, go to arthritis.org and search “CBD”

News supplied by The Hemp People.

Come join us for a FUN filled morning. A Zumbathon for a  cause.

Dress Code: Pink
Adults: R60
Scholars: R40

Venue: Dave Mayo Centre, Howick High School.

All profits will be donated to Howick Hospice

Women In Business (Midlands) Networking Breakfast.
All entrepreneurial women welcome.
Topic: Victimization and Harassment
Date: 30th October 2019.
Guest Speakers:
Whyona Sithapersad (J.Leslie Smith & Co) and Sindy Marais (Infinity HR Consulting)
Time: 8am to 10am
Venue: Black Olive, White House Centre, Howick.
Cost: Members of R100 per person includes breakfast.

News supplied.

Howick High pupils Kyle Attlee, Robert Pike and Craig Pike recently competed in the 85 km Fish River Canoe Marathon where Kyle and his partner achieved 8th place and Robert and Craig (cousins) a few seconds behind in 9th place in the U18 category. We also congratulate siblings Wade and Briony Wood who also completed the Fish Canoe Marathon in a K3 with their father, Kemsley.

Robert and Craig also competed in the 63 km SA Schools Canoe Championships held on the Liebenberg's Vlei River in the Free State where they achieved 10th place in South Africa.

Pictured above Robert Pike (front) and Craig Pike (back).

News supplied by Howick High School.

In honour of World Rabies Day, Dr Danny Steckler is offering her time to visit schools in Howick and Nottigham Road to teach kids about the importance of Pet Cre and Pet Safety.

Book your spot for your Schools Pet Care and Rabies Talk by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

News supplied by Howick Small Animal Veterinary Clinic.

A Small team making a Big difference!
Singakwenza has moved! The team has a new home at the Build It Centre in Hilton and they are looking forward to welcoming you there. Thanks to the amazing support Singakwenza receives, more than 50 Early Childhood Development practitioners are currently being trained and over 1 100 delegates having attended Waste 2 Toys Training Workshops so far this year. 

News supplied by Singakwenza.

The practice of meditation, particularly mindfulness meditation, has recently surged in popularity. This is largely because the health benefits of mindfulness meditation are very impressive and supported by scientific studies.

Most meditation practices emerged from a religious context. Mindfulness is just one specific meditation approach, and is often defined as either a ‘state of mind’ that is both focused and flexible and/or as "paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally."

Mindfulness is very well-studied in health research. The scientific literature shows that it is helpful in an enormous range of health conditions. Stress reduction appears to be the common link.

Stress is associated with a reduced ability to use the prefrontal cortex of one’s brain. This is the part of one’s brain that is responsible for most of one’s higher order thinking abilities such as problem-solving and decision-making. Mindfulness allows for the effective use of one’s prefrontal cortex, under stress.

Those who regularly practice mindfulness tend to have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which helps to limit the many negative impacts of stress including the physical, emotional and cognitive difficulties most of us experience when “stressed”. This is important as many health conditions are worsened by stress and the ongoing presence of cortisol in one’s bloodstream.

In general, mindfulness has a direct and positive effect on mental health, especially anxiety and depression. Anxiety causes chronic, excessive, and often uncontrollable worry and, sadly, up to 60% of patients do not improve with conventional treatment, such as medications and psychotherapy. Studies show mindfulness can help. In this regard, numerous studies have found significant benefits, particularly when mindfulness is used alongside anxiety medication.

Research has been equally positive when it comes to clinical depression. This is a complex disorder characterized by low mood and/or avoidance of usual activities. Conventional care includes medication and psychotherapy. Unfortunately, many individuals relapse at some stage. Mindfulness has been shown to help prevent relapse for those who do not wish to use maintenance antidepressants. (Note that this does not mean that those with depression should discontinue medications.)

When it comes to obesity, weight loss and metabolic syndrome, mindful eating helps to increase one’s awareness of hunger and satiety cues. And it makes sense that mindful eating is beneficial for weight loss given our modern, fast-paced, fast food lifestyles where many of us gobble down our meals without much awareness of the amount we are eating let alone of the wonderful flavours of the food.

In general, research suggests that the potential health benefits of mindfulness meditation are very impressive. It's a harmless practice that can only be good for us, and there are many inexpensive or free resources, courses and meditation apps available online. Alternatively, if you are looking to explore the benefits of mindfulness alongside other interested individuals you might like to try an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course. If you are intrigued, join me at one of my upcoming free talks on mindfulness and stress.

News supplied by Alistair Mork-Chadwick.

Elderly with disabilities or handicaps face several day-to-day challenges that others often don't understand.

Despite these challenges, they strive to live as independently as possible and want the same opportunities and choices in their lives as those without disabilities.

Get the home based assistance your loved ones need at www.nightingaleshomecare.co.za

News supplied by Nightingales Home Based Care.