Melville’s 3 Body System

Happy Tuesday Melvillains! Grab your swimming trunks and bikinis, this week's issue of Melville Untold is scorching hot – and we're not just talking about the looming heatwave. We're diving deep into Melville's power trio: the MRA, MBA, and MSI. Ready to get into this week's Melville news?

In today’s Melville Untold,

• Melville’s 3 Body System

• Heat Wave Looming

• Level 1 Water Restrictions

Let’s go. 

• Aubrey “Snaps” Moloto, 

Melville’s 3 Body System

After talking to Danny in issue #3 of the Melville Untold we have grown a deep respect and pride for the Melville community. We came to understand that Melville is not what it is because of any one person. There is a vital, intra-connected system, like organs in a body that keeps this suburb functioning.

The three entities that make up the Heart, Mind, and Body of the Melville community are:

Heart: The Melville Residents Association

Mind: The Melville Business Association

Body: The Melville Security Initiative.

We made contact with these organ-isations to understand, celebrate and show the community all they do behind the scenes. As we spoke to one representative after another, we noticed that one entity cannot explain how they work without relating to the other two. The synergy of these entities has Melville's residents at its core. Home. Commerce. Safety.

The Heart - Residents

The Melville Residents Association is where all of Melville’s community support efforts started. The oldest serving member, Derek Milne, reckons that the MRA has been alive for well over 25 years.

The Heart consists of 9 main portfolios that serve as the arteries that keeps the community running:

- Communication

- Legal

- Finance

- Heritage

- Liquor Licenses

- Events

- Safety

- Environmental Affairs

- Land Use

These portfolios serve as direct liaisons to the various departments in the City Of Joburg municipality. Darryl Gouws is the newly appointed Chairman, he brings a young vibrant energy necessary to keep the pulse of the MRA strong. With many types of entities springing up and embarking on different ventures, the MRA supports and advocates for the best interests of Melville’s residents - encouraging good businesses while protecting the community from disruptive ones.

Residents and business interests don’t always overlap. Kelsey Glennon, a long-serving MRA board member, believes that since the revival of the MBA via Jovana Korać (MBA co-chair). ”It’s been really great to have a more collaborative and informative relationship between the two entities, that helps us come to a positive resolution when things don’t overlap”. If you’re interested in joining the MRA, “The MRA always needs volunteers and are happy to have people get involved and be active citizens in our suburb to make it a better place.” beams Kelsey. There are a couple of ways to acquire membership within the MRA. As a resident, one can register and pay an annual membership fee or sign up with Beagle Watch. As a business, you can contact the MRA to check if your business qualifies - it is worth noting that resident memberships are prioritised.

Residents contact the MRA for various reasons ranging from power & water supply issues to reporting illegal activities that either disrupt or threaten Melville’s heritage. The MRA being accessible via your WhatsApp, email or their Facebook page makes them effective in addressing issues.

The Mind - Business

The Melville Business Association is an organisation that supports and represents the interests of businesses and their patrons in our neighbourhood. The MBA was created by Melville businesses banding together to support each other and revive Melville’s economy, while respecting the residents and enhancing the experience of patrons visiting our wonderful village. The MBA has been around for many years but lost momentum, broke down and nearly perished along with vital members during COVID. The COVID era rocked global trade industries and Melville was no exception. With stores of businesses shutting their doors and millions of citizens losing their jobs, crime shot up. “Phone snatchings became rife” says Rudi Theunissen, an MBA co-chair and owner of 7th Street Guesthouse. “I did not feel that it was safe to send my guests to the strip”. With this new challenge to help businesses survive and then thrive, the Melville Business Association was resurrected. A formidable force against any threat to the Melville marketplace. Businesses of Melville now had a support system to lean on when their backs were against the wall.” We needed to come together, and make a plan to get the suburb back to what it should be.” Says Rudi determinedly. The co-chair believes that “Melville needs to first be safe, then we can colour between the lines”. This is the main reason why the MBA’s main focus since regrouping has been safety and security, working very closely with the MSI. Like the MRA, the MBA is run by volunteers from Melville’s business sector. Any business can join the MBA for free, contribute and volunteer to help with their projects and initiatives. Jovana says that more help is needed. She’s calling out to anyone passionate about Melville to join the MBA and volunteer to help.

In Rudi’s point of view, the new MBA started being effective in February 2024. That was when their biggest initiative to date was launched. The Community Police Forum patrollers. A group of security guards who patrol 7th Street daily. Businesses contribute to a monthly pool and the money then pays the patrollers and buys them equipment to protect and make them more effective at their jobs, with plans to contract a more formal security company soon. The MBA also collaborates with urban management (Danny’s CREASS) to tidy, paint and repair the neighbourhood. When the municipality fails, the MBA and CREASS step up. Their current mission is to make 7th Street safe and accessible to patrons and most importantly, Melville residents. “We want residents to feel safe and comfortable enough to bring their families here,” says Jovana.

The MBA works very closely with the MSI and MRA on various projects, like events, clean-ups and safety initiatives. Many of these projects are made possible by contributions from businesses on 7th Street. The MBA would like to appeal to businesses in the surrounding areas to contribute as well, as their business stand to benefit from a safer Melville as whole. Rudi added that ever since the CPF patrollers were introduced they feel much more comfortable sending their guests up to the strip. Moving forward the MBA plans to expand on this campaign of making Melville streets safer so that even residents are contributing. This will make it possible for patrollers to cover more of the neighbourhood “so we can take back our suburb” says Jovana.

The Body - Safety

Last but not least, we have the Melville Security Initiative. This community body is responsible for the improvement of the safety and security framework in our suburb. Formed in early 2009, MSI is governed by three volunteer directors and an accountant - who are supported by an operations manager (Danny), and an armed response contractor (Beagle Watch). The Body works hand in hand with the Heart and Mind.

Here's how:

- During events, they ensure the safety of both the residents and the general public.

- They monitor problem vacant properties in collaboration with Beagle Watch.

- Together they help keep the Koppies safe for residents and visitors.

- The MSI through Danny’s CREASS organisation works with the MRA on clean-up projects and other greening projects. (Refer to issue #3 of the Melville Untold for an in-depth explanation of these operations)

- The MSI also investigates and implements traffic calming measurements in Melville, especially on 7th Street and 4th Avenue where most businesses are situated.

MSI recently launched the Safe Streets project aiming to reduce crime in Melville by using traffic calming and flow control solutions. The project is still in progress. Danny works closely with Beagle Watch, SAPS, and JMPD in all Melville crime-related incidents.

The Heart, Mind and Body works on a volunteer basis, so the best way for people to join the MRA, the MBA and the MSI is to look out for communications on their respective channels when people are needed to fill specific roles.

Important Contacts:

MRA: [email protected]

MSI: [email protected].

Contact Danny for more urgent matters on his direct line: 066 448 3249 or email him at [email protected]

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What’s Happenin’ 🤔

Here are some things that you can get up to in Melville this week!

Kids And Family Friendly Things To Do 🏡

08/10 Tuesday | 10.30am - 11.30am | Bambanani | Bamba Club

09/10 Wednesday | 5.30pm for 6pm | Love Books | Potential Works - uMoya: The Science and Wonder Of Conscious Breathing by Dr Ela Manga. In discussion with Ferial Haffajee | RSVP: [email protected]

11/10 Friday | 2.30pm 3.30pm | Bambanani | Halloween Crafts (Every Friday in October)

12/10 Saturday | 9:00am - 2pm | Kruis Church, Melville| Live DJ set by Marigold | Melville Market

12/10 Saturday | 9:00am - 2pm | Melville Tennis Courts | Melville Artisanal Market

13/10 Sunday | 6pm - 9pm | The Melville Mudroom | Making Healing Dolls workshop | mail [email protected] for more information or bookings

13/10 Sunday | 8.30am | The Melville Koppies | Second Sunday of the month poetry with Rabbie Wrote and open mic session | R90 Per adult, U18 R50

Karaoke Nights 🎤

09/10 & 12/10 Wednesday & Sunday | 6.30pm to 12am | Ratz Bar | Prizes to be won | Free entry

09/10 Thursday | Karaoke Kong | 6.30pm - 10pm | WITS Astronomy Club: Karaoke Fundraiser | Tickets from R30 for non Members - Members, RSVP via the link in @wits_astronomy's bio

10/10 Thursday | 7.30pm to 12am | Jo’anna Meltbar | Free entry

11/10 Friday | 8pm to 12am | SIX Cocktail Bar | Free entry

10/10 Thursday | Karaoke Kong | 6pm - 10pm | Quiz Night: Hip Hop Music Quiz | Tickets Free

11/10 Friday | 8pm | Coca Lounge | Open Mic (Poetry) | R50 Entry at the door

13/10 Sunday 2pm | SIX Cocktail Bar | Salsa Sunday’s - Lesson’s by Pule Pujas Seleki | Happy hour till 7pm

13/10 Sunday | Blanco On 7th | Bottomless Mimosas Sundays | All day | Reservations 0662082548

13/10 Sunday | White Campus Square | Social Sunday ZA - Bottomless Mimosas Sundays | All day

14/10 Monday | 8pm | SIX Cocktail Bar | Monday Night Comedy featuring new and seasoned comedians | Free entry

Melville Weather For The Week 🥵 

Extremely hot weather conditions ahead, get your hats, shorts and sunblock on. Gather your family and all of your friends, let’s get a rain dance routine going!

Tuesday

24🌡️ 11  | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 2% | 15 km/h 💨

Wednesday 

26 🌡️ 14  | ⛅️ |  🌧️ 25% | 11 km/h 💨

Thursday  

29🌡️ 15 | ⛅️ | 🌧️ 2% | 9 km/h 💨

Friday 

31🌡️ 15 | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 0% | 13 km/h 💨

Saturday 

34🌡️ 16 | ☀️ |  🌧️ 0% | 6 km/h 💨

Sunday

13🌡️ 15 |  ☀️ |  🌧️ 0%  | 9 km/h 💨

Monday 

33🌡️ 15 | 🌡️ |  🌧️ 39% | 9 km/h 💨

Live & Music Events Lowdown 🎸

09/10 Wednesday | SIX Cocktails Bar | Live Jazz Sessions - Marcus Wyatt, Dave Cousins, Amaeshi Ikechi & Peter Auret| 8pm til late | Free entrance 

10/10 Friday | 8pm | Coca Lounge |Time To Jam It Out - Open Mic | Free entry

11/10 Friday | Smoking Kills Bar | DBAF & The Grind Radio Present: Rumbling Bass | Free Entry

12/10 Saturday | Smoking Kills Bar | Broaden A New Sound & Lilies Radio present: The Wretched & Likhona Camane Live | Tickets R100 

13/10 Sunday| 4pm | Jo’anna Meltbar | Sola Vida Drum & Bass | 1/2 price cocktails | Free entry all day

13/10 Sunday| 4pm | Coca Lounge | Live Music With Rick Leoh | Every Sunday 8pm - 10pm

14/10 Monday | Blanco On 7th | Mogodu Lifestyle Monday | Reservations 0662082548

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UJ Sport 🏉

The UJ sports teams have been on fire lately! Let's break down some of the action.

UJ's netball squad's unbeaten run came to an end in the FNB Varsity Netball tournament. The ladies in orange narrowly lost to UFS 58-55 in a nail-biter of a match live on TV. Talk about keeping us on the edge of our seats!

Cricket enthusiasts, listen up! UJ's cricket team knocked it out of the park in their recent match, winning by 10 wickets. Ross Murray was the star of the show, smashing 46 runs off just 20 balls. Liam Mokobi (32 off 30) and Clayton Pather (28 off 17) also came through with solid performances. On the bowling front, Cayden du Preez (1/42), Lesedi Mabuza (2/12), and Gomolemo Sibi (2/12) kept the opposition in check.

But wait, there's more! UJ's rugby 7s team brought home some serious hardware, clinching the 2024 USSA Rugby 7s Men's Bowl Championship. Way to represent, lads!

And for all you sports science buffs out there, the Department of Sport and Movement Studies is hosting a public lecture on Sports Injury Prevention. It's happening on the 13th of October, so students, mark those calendars if you want to learn how to keep your game strong and injury-free..

Civil Matters 👷‍♀️

Attention Melville residents: Level 1 water restrictions are now in effect from 1 September 2024 to 31 March 2025. It's crucial that we all comply with the Joburg Bylaws to conserve our water resources. Especially considering what we’ve been through!

Here's what's prohibited between 06:00 and 18:00:

• Filling swimming pools

• Using hose pipes to clean paved driveways

• Washing cars

• Irrigating gardens

Important notes:

• Garden watering is allowed between 18:00 and 06:00

• Car washing is permitted using buckets between 06:00 and 18:00

Let's all do our part to make water conservation a way of life in Melville. Every drop counts!

If you notice any water leaks or bursts, please report them promptly to Joburg Water via email at [email protected]. This is the quickest way to address these issues.

For escalation of water-related concerns, you can contact our local representative Jonathan Thompson at +27 65 808 6245.

Thank you! 🙏

And there you have it, folks – another slice of Melville life, served fresh and piping hot! We hope this week's stories have given you plenty to chat about over your next cup at your favourite local spot. Remember, Melville's magic lies in its people, so keep those eyes peeled and ears open for the next untold tale. Got a scoop? We're all ears!

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Until next time, stay curious, stay kind, and stay uniquely Melville. Cheers to another week in our beloved 'burb!

Salani kahle ✌️🤍