The Johannesburg Roads Agency – much to Hurlingham North ResidentsAssociation’s disapproval – on 8 December removed boom gates, pedestrian gates and palisade fencing because of the ‘contravention of conditions within the association’s security access restriction application’.
Although some Joburg residents voiced their disagreement about the removal, others are thankful for the reminder and re-evaluated their security access restrictions that did not comply with the Security Access Restriction policy of 2014.
The City of Johannesburg’s Transport Department executive director, Lisa Seftel, said that most residents’ associations comply with the policy and that the roads agency and Metro police would continue the drive to ensure compliance with the access conditions. “We have to the balance the need for security with freedom of movement.”
Security Access Restriction is a temporary road closure for the purpose of safety and security, which is applied for by residents’ associations and other organisations to the City’s Transport Department.
Seftel said the structures in Hurlingham restricted access to the general public. “With the electronic access control points, only certain residents had access to certain areas. This was done to keep residents safer, but rather it jeopardises the security of others,” she said.
Seftel explained that a guarded electrical boom gate is allowed because a guard still allows all people access. Manual access that only allows certain people in is against the policy. The policy says that no discrimination can be applied when granting access to the security access restriction area and, therefore, access cannot be controlled by remotes or other electronic means. It also says that pedestrian gates must be unlocked at all times.
Dr Sean Phillips, managing director of the Johannesburg Roads Agency explained the conditions imposed had been contravened.
- Two pedestrian gates meant to be open 24 hours had permanent security access restriction
- Four remote-controlled electronic access control points and two illegal palisade gates were confiscated.
The association applied for and received approval for security access restrictions in February last year. This is an agreement that would need to be applied for again in two years.
What do you need to apply for security access restriction?
- A description of the public place and locality plan
A motivation for the application- A plan to manage the security access restriction
- Details of affected people
- Details of the consultation of and the views of at least two-thirds of the people who live and work in the area
- A traffic impact study or motivation of why one is not required
- Other additional requirements are if a control point is manned by a security company and if the applicant is a company or corporate body and the fees.
