Robin’s Residents and Ratepayers Association (RRRA) hit the ground running with community initiatives in their areas.
In 2000, a group of neighbours began the Robins Action Group and its main purpose was to erect boom gates in streets in some of the suburbs in order to improve security.
RRRA chairperson Julian Cloete said, “Other areas were successful, but the Johannesburg City Council stepped in and prevented our road closures, including confiscating the fences and gates which we had purchased.” There are a number of schools in the area as well as a municipal bus route which would have been interrupted by these road closures.
It was, however, decided by the committee in about 2004 not to give up on some of the community ideas which were discussed at the time. In 2004, a formal residents and ratepayers association was established after a public meeting of the various suburbs. The RRRA was established to promote community spirit, while at the same time reduce crime, increase security and become involved in various community projects.
The association covers the area between Malibongwe and Republic roads and between Judges Avenue and Maria Street. The suburbs include Robin Hills, Jacanlee, and extensions of Robindale, and also a few extensions of Randpark, Cresta and Fontainebleau.
“One of the successful projects in the past has been to fence off an area in our suburbs to protect the natural environment,” said Cloete.
This area is affectionately known as the ‘Robins Koppie’ and has been a place not only for residents but also visiting academics from the University of the Witwatersrand who, according to Cloete, have brought overseas visitors to see the geology and natural flora of the area.
“One of our more recent projects is to assist the City Council in improving the public areas outside King’s School and the local chapter of the Scouts, in an area consisting of two parks, intersected by Cherry Road, namely Cherry Drive Park and Oorbietjie Road Park.”
Committee members have been interacting with King’s School and the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo to find ways to clean up these parks and to regulate them in the future, not only with fencing but also to reduce the vagrancy and known drug trafficking which takes place there.
Cloete added, “We continue to look at coordinating the security companies in our area. Street captains have been established in different streets, and we use WhatsApp groups to communicate.”
The association has been involved in sector policing, with the Linden Police Station, and has served on the ward committee of the Johannesburg City Council.
Although the association was dormant for a while and the executive committee did not meet regularly, it has now been reinvigorated. It now has an active executive committee of about 14 members, as well as additional help from other members of the committee.
To become a member, register on their website www.rrra.co.za for more information or write to committee@rrra.co.za
