Crime reported in February 2020
Housebreaking
Theunissen Crescent
Tennant Crescent
Steenkamp Street (x2)
Benade Drive (x2)
Castelyn Drive
Amie Pretorius Street (x2)
Tainton Street
Stock Crescent
Theft out of/of motor vehicles
Hanna Road
Reeler Street
Theft
Benade Drive
How illegal dumping is costing you money
Illegal dumping occurs in several ways. Some examples include (i) dumping household waste or garden rubbish on nearby traffic islands or in parks, and (ii) dumping construction waste in public spaces.
Why is illegal dumping a problem?
Illegal dumping is a huge problem within Fichardt Park and it impacts on the following: Run-off rainwater: illegal dumping can impede the natural run-off of water during heavy rain or storms, thereby potentially causing flash flooding.
- Aesthetics: illegally dumped garbage is a horrible eyesore in an otherwise beautiful Fichardt Park.
- Plants and wildlife: illegal dumping can adversely affect many native species of plants and animals, causing health complications and even death.
- Safety and health: if garbage is dumped in an area accessible to the public and especially to our children – such as our parks – we are then exposed to health and injury risks.
How does illegal dumping affect you?
The FNA can keep the neighbourhood clean and safe because of your membership fees. This year alone, we cleaned up over 100 loads of illegal dumping – costing thousands of rand. This is also very time consuming, thereby shifting the focus of your security team.
What can you do?
- Please Report illegal dumping at our 24-hour emergency number: 076 277 3022
- When you spot an act of illegal dumping, gather descriptive information of the perpetrator and take photos of the act, including the number plate of the perpetrator’s vehicle.
- If you are busy with construction on your property and have construction waste on your sidewalk, please remove within 7 days.
- When putting out your weekly trash, remember to only put out domestic waste – no garden waste.
- Do not put your trash on traffic islands (this is prevalent in Castelyn Drive, Benade Drive, Olive Grinter Drive and Eric Rosendorf Drive).
FICH-Mark 2020
Fichardtpark Neighbourhood Association once again achieved a milestone in their existence when we launched our own market on February 28, 2020.
Everything was made possible by the talented residents of Bloemfontein.
The main purpose of this market is to foster financial independence, especially in the current economic conditions in which the country finds itself. Another decisive factor was to give exposure to people with talent, as well as businesses operating from home.
Many months of planning by a formidable management team led to the phenomenal success that exceeded our highest expectations! Without the help of our Chairman, Kobus Olivier, and office manager, Jacques Meiring, assisted by the Fichardtpark NG church’s winning team, the same degree of success would not have been achieved.
Stalls with various products ranged from leather goods, clothing, shoes, woodwork, water storage tanks, crafts, delicious pastries, beauty products, plants and food stalls, of course, got the biggest attention!
The bouncy castles sponsored by Bloemsec entertained children so that the family could relax in the safety of our neighborhood.
Radio Rosestad, with Johan Gunter, provided great entertainment and continuous commentary and we are very grateful for the exposure they gave us through radio interviews where Susan van Eck, our administrative lady, spoke about the activities of the market.
Stellar breweries contributed to the friendly atmosphere, because what is a successful market without beer and gin.
Car guards, together with the watchful eye of Bloemsec security and our own security managers, further ensured that everyone could visit and enjoy themselves.
We are grateful for every blessing that has come from the market. Planning for the following markets will depend on the health crisis at hand. The market is important to us because we bring everyone together as a CARING NATION
Covid-19: How to stay safe
Wash your hands frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Practice respiratory hygiene
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Masks
- If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection.
- Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
- Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
- If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly.
- Before putting on a mask, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
- Cover mouth and nose with mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.
- Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
- Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks.
- To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of mask); discard immediately in a closed bin; clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Myths
- Cold weather and snow can kill the new coronavirus.
- Taking a hot bath prevents the new coronavirus disease.
- The new coronavirus can be transmitted through goods manufactured in China or any country reporting COVID-19 cases.
- The new coronavirus can be transmitted through mosquito bites.
- Hand dryers are effective in killing the new coronavirus.
- Ultraviolet disinfection lamp kills the new coronavirus.
- Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill the new coronavirus.
- Pets at home spread the new coronavirus.
- Vaccines against pneumonia protect you against the new coronavirus.
- Regularly rinsing your nose with saline helps prevent infection.
- Eating garlic helps prevent infection.
- Older people or are younger people also susceptible.
- Antibiotics are effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus.
- There are specific medicines to prevent or treat the new coronavirus.
Source: World Health Organization
