Alberton Boulevard businesses gathered at the Alberton Civic Centre to share their vision of rejuvenating the CBD on May 5.
With the aim to bring in more businesses in the area, business owners were informed of a proposed vision for the improvement and revitalisation of the Alberton Boulevard.
Entrepreneurs who came to the centre received a presentation from BEKA Schréder, a company that has been around for more than 40 years.
BEKA Schréder is Africa’s leading manufacturer of luminaires and Glass Fibre Reinforced polyester (GRP) poles.
They introduced a technologically advanced light-emitting diode (LED) luminaire to business people who attended the presentation.
According to Danie van der Nest of BEKA Schréder, the energy-saving product aims to curb crime with its various features and to create a safe environment for consumers.
“We have seen what huge difference these poles can make in people’s lives, with the pedestrian and walkways lit up. The product is a single solution, which brings together the whole infrastructure. It offers lighting, Wi-Fi connectivity and has emergency points and a public address system, which allows businesses to communicate with customers,” he said.
Referred to as an infotainment product, he said the product will brighten the Alberton CBD and bring in more consumers as well as other businesses in the area.
“This pole enables one to play music from it and has security cameras. You can also have the police, emergency services and fire departments buy into this concept. The pole has trigger points alerting them that something is happening where it has been stationed,” said van der Nest.
Janice Coopoosamy of Alberton City welcomed the proposal.
“We would love to see rejuvenation come to light and it’s a slow process because we have previously tried to get it going again. I think we will have to look at the merits and its benefits,” she said.
Ward 106 councillor alderman Bruna Haipel said: “We want to upgrade the boulevard and to make it more user-friendly because we don’t want it to die like other CBDs, we want it to be vibrant. We also want to make the area safe and secure for everyone.”
Haipel advised all businesses in the CBD to come on board in assisting them in making this possible.
