Samantha Jankovich-Besan Chairperson S.P.F Aberdeen

At the committee meeting of the Aberdeen Sector Policing Forum Sector 1 on 17th February 2009, Mrs Samantha Jankovich-Besan was elected as the new Chairperson.
Samantha, her husband Nikolas and children Joshua and Angelica moved to Aberdeen from Cape Town in December 2008. Joshua and Angelica are both attending schools in Graaff-Reinet.
Samantha matriculated from Rhenish Girls High School in Stellenbosch in 1986, and became a Rotary Exchange Student in the U.S.A. in 1987. She is presently studying for an LLB degree through Unisa. She and Nikolas, who have been married for 15 years, have an internet based business which they have managed together for the last 6 years.
Samantha has a great interest in community activities, such as the uplifting of the community and assisting with projects as a committee member of the S.P.F. in Aberdeen. She has the desire to raise the profile of the police in a positive manner, and to engender a strong bond between the police and the community. Samantha’s fresh new outlook on Aberdeen is both constructive and immensely helpful and her support is valued.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Aberdeen Sector Policing Forum Sector 1

The first meeting for 2009 of the Aberdeen Sector Policing Forum was held on 17th February at the Aberdeen Police Station. Inspector Renee Sweetland, the Sector Town Manager and Police Liaison Officer, chaired the meeting. All participants were welcomed, and their concerns and ideas were all duly noted. Inspector Sweetland gave an explanation of the role this Sector Policing Forum has in the community, the projects that are presently being addressed, and those projects which need urgent attention for the wellbeing of Aberdeen Town.

This Forum gives a voice to the community, helping them to address issues which make for a more constructive, peaceful and crime free environment. The committee is inviting all Aberdonian’s to attend all future meetings, and notices will be made available to the public on the notice boards outside the post office and the municipality of the time, date and venue. The concerns of the community can then be heard and addressed. There are also two “suggestion boxes,” one is placed in the Municipality and the other box is in the Aberdeen Community Services Office. Details of the committee members of the Sector Policing Forum will be available at the Aberdeen Community Services Office, and the Police person on duty will have contact details should they be required.

The Committee elected Mrs Samantha Jankovich-Besan (Chairperson) Mr Jonathan Bowker (Secretary) Mr Van Wyk, Professor Orlando Meyers, Mrs Meredith Kraut and Mrs Joan Tinker. Mr Desmond Coetzee expressed his wish to assist the Committee with valuable input. Inspector Renee Sweetland is the Sector Town Manager for Aberdeen. The Forum is expecting to have more committee members by 10th March 2009 at the next meeting. These committee members will represent the municipality, local schools, Health and Welfare Organizations, and local businesses.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Camdeboo Municipality - Recession Strategies?

The Camdeboo Municipality should develop strategies to help Aberdeen and Nieu-Bethesda out of permanent recession. Folks across the world are understandably worried about the flailing economy. Residents in some of South Africa's rural areas live in a permanent state of recess. I'm talking about areas where double-digit unemployment is an unfortunate way of life. Devoid of needed infrastructure - from water and sewerage to quality roads and schools - they struggle to keep their best and brightest at home as well as to lure not only high-paying jobs, but jobs that pay anything. Despite these areas' dire situations, there hasn't been much of a sense of urgency over the years among Camdeboo Municipality leaders to address the dearth of infrastructure, economic development and employment they endure.
I have personally observed the response of our Municipality regarding developing businesses in Aberdeen and Nieu-Bethesda. Business is booming in Graaff-Reinet and jobs are created by this. Yet people from the small towns are struggling. I remember - and I must say I was personally part of the structure called the Aberdeen Business And Development Forum - we where trying to revive our businesses in Aberdeen. The structure tried to rope in our Municipality but they never showed any interest in our endeavors. We wanted to secure the by-pass in Aberdeen with the intention to develop a business hub in that area. I must say the research done by members of the structure indeed outlined the potential of a sustainable business in our by-pass as much traffic passes through that vicinity. Our main idea was to take the business out of town to our passing clients. Once again, the Camdeboo Municipality is not interested in reviving and building our economy in Aberdeen and this results in people from both towns spending their money in Graaff-Reinet. As usual, rural communities and highly impoverished countries continue to suffer. When Graaff-Reinet gets a cold, Aberdeen and Nieu-Bethesda catch pneumonia! Generally, Aberdeen and Nieu-Bethesda don't get consistent investment and little has been said as they've languished under the weight of high unemployment.
But there's also good reason to help rural areas get on their feet. They are a drag on the State economically in good or bad times. If the State is going to reach its full potential, it must help shore-up long neglected rural areas. Local businesses employing local people help build an area's economy. When you have that going on during good times, then you're in better position to weather the tough times. We want our own businesses in Aberdeen and to STOP spending our money in Graaff-Reinet. I think I should say to our Municipality, our Councillors and our Municipal Manager: "Communities aren't always judged on how well the wealthy are doing. They're judged on how well the disenfranchised are doing."

Article By: Lulamile Klassen

Food For Thought...

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom
by legislating the wealthy out of freedom.

What one person receives without working for,
another person must work for without receiving.

The government cannot give to anybody anything that
the government does not first take from somebody else.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to
work because the other half is going to take care of them,
and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to
work because somebody else is going to get what they work for,
that, my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it..."

~ The late Dr Adrian Rogers : 1931-2005 ~