Unattended alarm irritates residents
Paulshof - PAULSHOF residents were in panic mode as a noisy security alarm kept going off for hours throughout the weekend, a problem that has been ongoing for a month without any intervention from security personnel assigned to the site.
Karolynn van Vuuren wrote to Ward 106 councillor Stephen Moore on behalf of residents complaining that they had been subjected to the irritating noise of the fence alarm from Rietfontein Nature Reserve for more than a month.
“The alarm seems to not be monitored, even though the site is supposed to be under a 24/7 security service,” complained Van Vuuren.
“Once again the alarm went off all weekend. I cannot believe that there is no one accountable for this and, at the very least, be able to take responsibility for switching it off when it is activated. The alarm went off on Saturday morning, 23 May at around 4.10am, Sunday morning, 24 May at 5.18am and again this morning, 25 May at 3.23am. It was still going off this morning when I left for work at 6.40am,” said Van Vuuren.
The noise is affecting Lonehill West, Correctional Services Compound, informal residents at the Clay Oven, Paulshof Hill and Paulshof Ext 10.
Moore said he was equally disturbed by the unattended alarm.
“The big concern for me is the long period of time being unattended. If the security guard just doesn’t know how to turn off the alarm it is one thing, but if he simply isn’t there and the reserve is supposed to be guarded 24/7 this is a serious problem,” said Moore.
Moore told Fourways Review that he did not know the name of the security company contracted to provide security services to the reserve.
The councillor has since alerted Johannesburg City Parks which is responsible for maintaining reserves. He said City Parks has not yet come back to him with an answer.
Van Vuuren said criminals might soon realise that the alarm does not elicit a response from anyone.
She also alleged that their security was further compromised over the weekend after Eskom contractors removed part of the eastern boundary fence of the reserve to gain access to the servitude they were working on over the weekend.
For breaking news or to stay informed of what’s happening in your community visit the Fourways Review website, like our Facebook page and follow @Fourways_Review on Twitter
