Call for Edenvale community to stand together
"We want to re-establish Edenvale as a place to live, shop and to enjoy."
There was a call for the community to stand together and be heard at Edenvale’s City Improvement District (ECID) annual general meeting on May 18.
The meeting was held in the Edenvale Library auditorium.
In his opening address, ECID chairperson, Dr Paulo Agostinetto said the turnout for the evening was poor.
One of the biggest concerns that were raised in the address was the membership for the ECID committee.
Manager for the ECID, Mrs Linda McKenzie said that the year had been challenging.
Several of the challenges were raised in her manager’s report.
These included the hygiene at the Edenvale taxi rank, the vagrants within Edenvale, criminal elements and government departments not performing as they should.
“In the past year ECID hosted two festivals, the Festival of Lights and the Flavours of the World Festival, both of which went well, with request for more festivals such as the Flavours of the World Festival,” Mrs McKenzie said.
She added that progress had also been made with the organisation’s website, which also offers a business directory.
Mrs Mckenzie said future plans for the ECID include a camera system for the area, which will be used to enhance security in the area.
Dr Agostinetto said that the ECID is for the benefit of Edenvale and the organisation has always been open and honest.
During the discussion of financial statements for the period which ended in March this year, the issue of payment from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) was raised and it was noted that progress had been made on the issue; however the issue was affecting future projects.
“Finances are not where we want them to be, but we have not stopped fighting,” he said.
It was proposed that the current board members remain as the directors.
Dr Agostinetto added that there was a need for new blood as new views will help grow Edenvale.
All seven proposed resolutions were accepted at the meeting.
Mr Kevin Norman shared Mamba’s security report and said that added security in the CBD had made a difference.
Mamba security provides the ECID area with two scooter guards during the day and a patrol vehicle for the evening.
Although representatives from the SAPS and the EMPD were unable to attend the meeting, Dr Agostinetto thanked them for their service.
He also said there was an open invitation to the EMPD and SAPS members but it was “disappointing” that the SAPS hadn’t attended the meeting for a while.
“We want to re-establish Edenvale as a place to live, shop and to enjoy. We don’t claim to be perfect, but participation is essential” said Dr Agostinetto.
