Suiderstrand is in ‘n gevaarsone van seisoenale vure geleë en daarom het verskeie inwoners die inisiatief geneem en befondsing vir ‘n brandwaentjie bekom. Dit was ook die begin van n proses om ‘n wettige dokument daar te stel om vrywilligers teen potensiële eise te beskerm, wat met die beste intensies sou probeer om sy buurman se eiendom te beskerm. Die intensie is nie om die brandweer se plig oor te neem nie, maar slegs as ‘n moontlike buffer te dien tot die brandweer opdaag.
Na vele pogings en met die hulp van talle mense het ons uiteindelik daarin geslaag om ‘n vereniging met regspersoonlikheid te stig. Tydens die stigting is ook besluit dat die vereniging ook sal dien as ‘n sambreel vir algemene Gemeenskap- en Bewaringinisiatiewes. Die vereniging is dus doelbewus so geformuleer dat dieselfde platform gebruik kan word vir bv bewaringsbewuste aangeleenthede, skoonmaak van strand/dorp, verwydering van indringer plante ens.
Huidige bates (Brandwaentjie, toerusting en kontant) is oorgedra na die vereniging en alle fondse wat vir hierdie doel ingesamel was, word steeds so ge-oormerk en gespandeer.
Die vereniging is nie ‘n vervanging van die SIV nie – die SIV is en bly Suiderstrand se spreekbuis tot die wykskommitee soos tans die geval bv. Suiderstrand pad, instandhouding van binne-paaie en sypaadjies, kwaliteit van water voorsiening, ens.
Die konstitusie is opgestel na raadpleging van ondere andere:
Elke person wat eiendom in Suiderstrand besit/huur, is geregtig om lid van die vereniging te word. Die persoon moet onderneem om die konstitusie en brandbestryding reëls te eerbiedig en ‘n minimale jaarlikse ledegeld te betaal. ‘n Lidmaatskapvorm moet ingevul en geteken word om ‘n eiendom te kan betree ingeval van ‘n brand. Let daarop dat die lidmaatskapvorm die vrywilligers toestemming gee om jou eiendom te betree, soos en indien nodig gedurende ‘n brand.
Alle lidmaatskap fooie en donasies sal deur die kommitee verdeel word soos benodig. Die Brandwaentjie sal voorkeur geniet, maar daar mag dalk ook ander behoeftes wees soos bv om gif aan te koop vir indringer plante, petrol vir kettingsae ens ens.
Die bestuur van die vereniging (ten minste 5 persone) sal bestaan uit ‘n voorsitter, onder-voorsitter, tesourier, sekretaris en onder-sekretaris. Hierdie bestuur moet ‘n brandbestrydingshoof aanstel wat bygestaan moet word deur ‘n subkomitee. Hierdie bestuur (soos verkies in Sept 2023) was geag ‘n interim bestuur tot Desember2023 te wees, waarna ‘n meer verteenwoordigende nuwe bestuur verkies is.
Sake waaraan die bestuurskomitee aandag gee is onder andere die volgende:
Suiderstrand is situated in an area that is vulnerable to seasonal wildfires. A group of concerned residents took the initiative to collect funds for the procurement of a fire-trailer dedicated to our town. Protecting volunteers operating the fire-trailer in good faith from any claims that may arise, however required a legal framework (document) describing and supporting the initiative. The intention is not to replace the fire authorities in an emergency, but to act as early responders until the fire brigade is on-scene.
After various attempts and with help from many people, we managed to lay the groundwork for a legal entity. It was then suggested that the Association should also serve as an umbrella body for general community and conservation initiatives. The Association was therefore specifically set up so that the same platform could be used for fire prevention, conservation and community matters, including general conservation initiatives, beach and suburb clean-ups, alien vegetation removal, etc.
Current assets (“Brandwaentjie”, equipment and cash) was transferred to the association with the undertaking that all funds received for fire prevention purposes will be ring-fenced for this purpose only.
The Association is not meant to replace or compete with the SRA (Suidpunt Residents Association). The SRA remains Suiderstrand residents’ platform to engage the Ward Council on issues such as the Suiderstrand road, the maintenance of internal roads and sidewalks, availability of good quality water, etc.
The constitution was set up consulting among others:
Any owner or resident of Suiderstrand is eligible to become a member of the Association. Each member must undertake to abide by the constitution and fire-prevention rules and pay a small annual membership fee. A signed membership form will need to be submitted before we can enter any property in case of fire. Please note that the membership form gives volunteers permission to access your property, if necessary, in case of a fire.
All membership fees and donations will be disbursed by the committee as required. The fire-trailer will take precedence in the allocation of funds, but there are other requirements such as poison for alien plant control, petrol for chainsaws etc.
The management of the Association (at least 5 people) will consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and Under-Secretary. This committee must appoint a Fire Head who must be supported by a sub-committee. The management committee (as appointed in September 2023) served as an interim committee until December 2023, after which a more representative Committee was appointed.
The following matters (among others) are currently supported by the managing committee: