Chairperson reflects on 20 years in Midrand
MIDRAND – A farewell to a couple who have played a positive role in the Midrand community.
After more than 20 years living in President Park, the chairperson of the President Park Residents Association, John Gainsford, and his wife Desiree, are relocating to New Zealand.
The couple said they will miss the friendships and working relationships they have developed while serving the Midrand community. They not only helped to establish the Homeowners Association in Kyalami Hills Ext 5, but they joined Animals in Distress and were members of the Mix FM board, and more. Describing their stay in Midrand they said, “This has been home for over 20 years. We even got married on our property so it holds a lot of memories, we will miss being here.”
Gainsford spoke about how the need to start the association began. “It started with a large increase in rates due to the revaluation of properties. A lot of people needed to object to that and we had the meeting in our garden – that is how the association began.”
He said the association has developed into different chapters such as Blockwatch; and has moved from e-mail distribution to WhatsApp groups, allowing notifications to be immediately available when there is any criminal activity in the area.
“The community has come together in times when they need each other the most, looked out for each other’s property and making each other aware of criminals hanging around the area,” said Gainsford.
He explained that they have seen a dramatic change in population over the years in Midrand, but there has been no significant development in President Park, although Brandt and Swart streets have been upgraded.
Speaking about crime in President Park, Gainsford said, “There has been a lot of crimes such as fence cutting and theft of car tyres, but when criminals steal that, they get a chance to see what bigger stuff they can steal on a certain property.”
He stated that the greatest challenge in President Park has been the growing number of churches and residents question whether permission to build the churches had been granted.
“We can’t stop development, but it can be kept under control to fit into the environment.”
