face lift for drab wall under bridge

ONE of South Africa's top graffiti mural artists gave the old grey walls of the railway bridge in Observatory a face lift.
Mural artists from Mitchell's Plain on the Cape Flats, are painting the mural next to the planned giant chest board. The two artists, who were recruited by the Observatory Improvement District (OBSID) have been painting for ten years and featured in a number of hip-hop magazine and blogs, building a quite formidable reputation.
The giant chest board, as well as the mural, is one of the beautification projects implemented by the OBSID. The pixie figures which are featured in the mural are the size of the actual chess pieces and brings warmth and beauty to the area.
The artists did not want to reveal their proper names, and gave their noms de plume as Seth one and Conform. They both work for Artsad, a creative marketing company that employed them after they saw their work.
The artists originally approached the Obsid to graffiti the walls, but were turned down at first.
The mural of pixies playing chess in a forest was completed within two days. They thought of the idea on the day.
Seth one is competing in a competition called Uncontainable Hip-Hop to showcase his work. The best graffiti artists in South Africa will compete.
Seth says: “My style is influenced greatly by the gutters (streets) and the rawness of its people, allowing me a more real perspective in an artistic sense. I am aiming to reach greater levels in this industry as an artist from the gutters. I'm sure when it comes to originality as an artist; my style would be hard to match”.
To vote for him, simply visit spritehiphop.co.za and vote for Sethane.

Naked fury spurs Obs woman to grab thief

A ROBBER who smashed an Observatory resident’s car window in the early hours of the morning got the fright of his life when he was attacked by the naked and furious car owner.
Cathy Cook, a residents in Bishop Road, said it was still dark when she heard the smash of her car window. “I took a flying leap out of bed, grabbed a dressing gown and opened the door quietly... I saw the guy in the car... I ran out and grabbed him,” said Cathy.
She said half of the thief’s body was in the car when she grabbed him and pulled him out. The two scuffled on the pavement, before he turned and ran away down Robins Road. “He went for me, and I went for him,” she said.
It was then that she realised that during the incident her dressing gown had come loose and that she effectively attacked the thief in her birthday suit.
Cathy says that she is upset that she didn't grab anything to whack the robber. She only realised afterwards how dangerous the situation was and to what extent the adrenaline rush overwhelmed her. She was extremely angry as this was the second time her car had been broken into. “He could have had a gun, he could have had a knife, I'm just glad he didn't,” she said.
After the confrontation Cathy went inside and and had blood all over her feet from the broken glass she stepped on when she grabbed the robber out of the car.

The robber had targeted her car for the rubbish bag, and she had no valuables in the car. Cathy says that he stole a car charger and a packet of sweets.

The neighbour across the road phoned for help and another neighbour phoned the Neighbourhood Watch. A member arrived within minutes. “Neighbourhood Watch was really helpful, they calmed me down and they videoed around to look for the guy,” said Cathy. Neighbourhood Watch told Cathy that they knew the guy from the description she gave and he is a regular car thief.

The window was only repaired a week after the confrontation and Cathy was driving around with plastic over her window opening, and parked her car at her friend’s house.

Lion Corner Tavern brings diversity to Obs

The Lion Corner Tavern, the first gay pub and restaurant in Observatory, has had a tough introduction to Observatory, but is determined to make a success of their business and to uplift the part of Lower Main Road where they are situated.

The Lion Corner Tavern, a partnership between three friends, Gert du Preez, Hardus Lindeque and Casper Portgieter, drew objections from the community when they applied for a liquor license. The community has reached the end of its tether with the proliferation of liquor licenses in Obs, while the Lion Corner Tavern had to wait seven months to get the license in the face of the objections. They had to hire a temporary license at R1 200 per week for seven months since their opening. Gert is still taken aback by the response they received from Obs residents and feels that they were bullied by the residents.

Although still a sensitive topic, the issue has died down since as the three owners set about proving that they run a respectable pub.

Casper had bought the premises last year without knowing what to do with it. He then partnered with Hardus and Gert and they came up with idea of a gay pub and restaurant as an alternative to the gay entertainment district at De Waterkant.

The Lion Corner Tavern is central to both southern suburbs and northern suburbs residents and is ideal for those who want affordable pre-drinks before venturing off to their destination, said Gert.

“What we are trying to do is to get the gay businesses to come start investing in Obs,” he said.

The first Gay Pride March was in Observatory, Gert said.

“Observatory has always been an alternative place. People don’t look funny at you when you walk around in Obs, whether you're a mixed couple, a lesbian couple or a gay couple...it has always been an acceptable environment, for people to feel okay in Obs,” he said.

Entering the Lion Corner Tavern is almost like walking into a fifties film. Lace wallpaper, chandeliers, disco balls and everything that “screams creativity” have all been deployed by the three owners. Painted purple, a colour which symbolises wealth and royalty, most definitely suits the style and aim of the bar.

Gert believes there are between 350 and 400 married gay couples in Observatory.

However, Gert said the Lion Corner Tavern is open for all, not only for gay people. . “We don't make gay food,” joked Gert. “Families with their children eat here. Our food is great, we do have the best burgers in Obs,” said Gert. Prices are very affordable, of both food and alcoholic beverages.

Gert said that, despite the initial fears of some locals, they will never turn into a night club. They would have liked to put on cabaret shows, karaoke and live entertainment, but can’t do so because of their license restrictions.

All the windows are sound proof and therefore won't create any noise pollution in the residing area. “We try and work according to the law, when people leave our place we tell them not to make a noise when they go outside and not to leave with alcohol.”

The Lion Corner Tavern is showing tremendous growth and Gert says that they are hoping to buy the property next door so that they can expand the venue.
The biggest attraction at the moment is the regular Saturday braai held at The Lion Corner Tavern. Up to 80 people attend this event, watching the rugby, socialising and enjoying the venue and event.

Sunday night is dress-up night during summer months.

The clientele at The Lion Corner Tavern ranges from 30 years old up until 45 years, but is open to all ages from 18 years above.

Gert says that the Lower Main Road needs uplifting, and that's why he's hoping that more businesses move into the premises to uplift Observatory. The street needs more development. There is space for growth in this part of Observatory he says.

The Lion Corner Tavern is open six days a week, from 11am until 2am during winter and during summer they are open seven days a week.

Gert downplays any incidence of harassment or homophobic hate crimes, saying it has only happened once or twice, and dealing with it was simply a case of chasing the perpetrator out of the bar.

Gert is impressed by the Observatory Public Safety patrols and Premier Security. He says that if he pushes the panic button, they come within seconds.

Obs home to top football club

PASSION was brought back home to Observatory when a soccer fanatic Zaid Omar started the first successful football club in Observatory.

Zaid, 42, grew up in Salt River and his dream was to become a soccer player. The laws in South Africa at that time made it impossible for him to make a career out of soccer, which led him to study sport science.
Kapstadt Football Club (FC) is situated at the Hartleyvale Stadium D field in Observatory and has been based here for four years. The name Kapstadt was given to the club when Zaid visited Germany and they asked him whether there was a club named Kapstadt.
He mentioned that there was an Ajax team, which is a Dutch soccer team’s name, and that there was Santos, which is also a Brazilian team’s name. “The Germans were confused and said ‘you have Brazilian and Holland named teams, but no Kapstadt?’ And I said, ‘Don't worry, there is a team named Kapstadt’,” said Zaid. This then inspired him to start a football team in South Africa named Kapstadt FC. “The spelling gave it an international feel.”
The football club was formed in 2002. “We've been pretty successful, because when we started we were one of the first Football Club to have an international brand to sponsor us... New Balance wanted to associate their brand name to our club name (New Balance FC). When that relationship sort of dated, we adopted our name Kapstadt Football Club”.
When the football club started, they initially only played in the second division which is known as the Vodacom League, and they only had two teams.
Now, Kapstadt FC has two under-seven teams, three under-nine teams, two under-11 teams, one under-13 and a first and second team from 19 years and older. They currently don't have enough field space to play all these teams, and are hoping to get the A field which is currently being used by Greenpoint football club.
“We asked the City of Cape Town to help us. This is an investment to the community, into the people, the kids and the youth, they are just very slow. You'd think that after the World Cup there would be so much money available for South African amateur football, but it's not so,” said Zaid.

There are about 15 young players from Observatory who are members of the club’s Youth Division and around five senior members who reside in Observatory.

The junior fees, which excludes kit, are R240 per month and senior fees are R1000 for the season. Membership is open to all, but especially to those who can meet the membership requirement. “For under-seven players, we encourage and assess players’ basic skills before accepting membership. For seniors, since we’re a performance based club, we would like to encourage aspiring footballers who can indeed compete to join,” said Zaid.

Because of the club being run professionally, being very structured, very organised and very disciplined, their teams are able to remain top of the Cape Town Tygerberg Football Association division. “I am proud to say that every team that plays in the Cape Town Tygerberg (league), is top of their division, that must tell you that we are doing something right,” said Zaid.
There are numerous players who rose through the ranks of Kapstadt FC now playing professional football around the world and in the Premier Soccer League.Vorgen Less (Wits University), Welcome Qalanto (Maritzburg United), Athony Moniz (Vasco Da Gama), Ernil Kemp (Santos), Leroy Maluka (Finland), Danny Bowers (Santos), Craig Jordan (Santos), Asavela Mbekile (FC Cape Town) and James Madidilane (SA Under-20 & Bloemfontein Celtic).

Taxi firm under fire

A COMMUNITY crime-reporting network has flagged Observatory-based Elite Taxis as a major transgressor of traffic rules and a nuisance to public parking in the suburb through its constant hogging of parking bays and pavements in the Lower Main and Station Road area.
Locals have long complained that the metered taxis illegally clog up the parking bays meant for shoppers, who are forced to park far away in less safe places. But the extent of the lawlessness by Elite became apparent when locals started reporting the transgressions on Turn-It-Around, a volunteer crime-reporting website. For example, during the first week of August, eight cases of illegal parking by Elite taxis were reported, compared to one by a private taxi operator.
James Cowley the chairman of the Observatory Neighbourhood Watch said that they have very little respect for Obs residents, they take up a lot of space parking in the streets and the parking bays, which are very few for those visiting Obs. “Many times residents are unable to pass to get in and out of their driveways, because of Elite Taxis service,” he says.
Most of the illegally parked taxis are reported on Turn-it-Around in the evenings. This is when the taxis tout for business from revellers leaving the clubs and pubs of Lower Main Road.
A City by-law governing the taxi industry states clearly that taxis may only park in designated taxi bays. Because there are no such bays in Observatory, it means that taxis have to wait at their respective bases until they are called by customers in Observatory.
Approached for comment by ObsLife, Sulaiman Essop, Elite’s fleet manager, at first argued that it wasn’t illegal for taxis to park in public spaces, saying that the taxi drivers are shoppers at the businesses in front of which they park. “We have all the right to stand there...90 percent of our drivers shop at Spar,” he said.
Later on, he argued that Elite taxi drivers are in fact independent drivers who simply hire the taxis from Elite. He said the company reprimands those who don't adhere to the traffic laws, but added that some of the complaints lodged against Elite taxis are “ridiculous”.
At another stage, Suleiman denied that any of the Elite taxis park in Lower Main and Station Road.
He said Elite taxis are all registered taxis with permits, and the company has been in existence for 23 years. He complained that Elite was being victimised. “Why aren't they doing the same thing to the other taxi companies?”
Sulaiman said that he asked Charl Brooks, who oversees the Observatory Public Safety patrols, to meet about the issue “so that we can get to a middle ground.”

Dog Poisoned in Darien Lane

AN angry resident is blaming the death of his beloved dog Shiloh on poisoning by local drug merchants in Darien Lane off Lower Main Road.

Brendon Hartzenberg, who has lived in Observatory for two years, says it was an act of revenge from drug pushers whom he and his brother regularly chase out of the lane.

His vet confirmed that Shiloh was poisoned, but couldn’t say what kind of poison was used. The dog died soon after the vet examined it. Brendon refused to have it put down.

He says on the day of the poisoning, the tow-truck belonging to his brother Shannon had petrol syphoned from it and towing chains stolen, but they don’t believe the theft is linked to the poisoning incident. Two other vehicles around the corner in Oxford Road were also targeted on the same day.

Brendon explained that the drug merchants regularly walk up the lane, meeting cars or people and exchanging drugs for money. He used to walk the lane with his dog chasing out the suspected drug merchants, he said.

Drug exchange is a daily occurrence in both Lower Main Road and Darien Lane, said James Cowley, the Observatory Neighbourhood Watch chair. But he says that the poisoning was not necessarily from drug pushers - it could be anyone, including criminals who wanted to get into the property.

James hasn't heard about many dog poisonings in Observatory, lending weight to Brendon's opinion that it was an act of revenge.

Obz fire fundraiser Blazes with turn-out

OVER R10 000 was raised for Blackdog Studios, the photographic studio that burnt down in the Barmooda blaze recently, as Observatory’s business community opened up its heart to one of the most hard-hit by the fire.

The fundraiser was held for Blackdog’s owner Sally Mellish, who lost R300 000’s worth of equipment when the controversial nightclub burnt down in mysterious circumstances. Sally’s studio was on the storey above Barmooda.

“I've never come across a more kinder community...complete strangers making an effort for someone they didn't even know,” said Sally.

The Business Development Committee of the Observatory Improvement District (Obsid) organised the fundraiser, with Trenchtown restaurant in Station Road providing the venue for free, Matt Loots from Lotus Media the sound engineering, and time and sweat from Mel du Toit and Kaitlyn Rogers of Bohemian Lofts Backpackers, as well as Kim Whitaker and Jessica Payne of 33 South Boutique Backpackers. Many raffle prizes were sponsored.

Sally says that Trenchtown was packed - a complete full house of supporters. She says that Obs community is a closely knitted community and “it's one of my compelling reasons to come back to Obs,” she said.

Sally is re-opening her studio in Howe Street on 5 August, and jokes that with the fundraising money “I (Sally) can pay my deposit (for the studio)”.

Another hard hit business is Mnandi Textiles, next door to the gutted Barmooda. Mnandi Textiles has existed in Obs since 1991 before moving to its present location in 1994.

The blaze damaged most of the merchandise and left Mnandi Textiles unable to operate for a full five weeks, said Mnandi owner Ilse Oberholster.

The business is insured, and they are slowly but surely regaining material. Ilse says that over the years she collected fabric that can’t be replaced and that too has been damaged.

She is upset about Barmooda, and says that it's not the first time that something bad has happened to her business due to Barmooda. The first time was when gangster Ricky Oaker was shot in front of her shop in 2008 when he was offloading equipment for Barmooda. Ilse says the bullet travelled right through the glass and into the fabric.

Ilse can't even explain the way she is feeling. The shop might not have been burnt down, but the smoke caused a lot of damage.

Ilse said that the insurance is not sure if her goods are salvageable, and whether “the value of it, will be more than the salvaging”.

The shop has been repainted and she is hoping to open soon.