How safe is your ‘safe house’ really?

As South Africans, we are no longer satisfied with our high walls and ferocious guard dogs.

Most of us, when given the choice, would opt to live in one of the many high security estates which are being built almost overnight in every city of our crime-stricken country.

These estates with their picture perfect surroundings offer us more: more security guards, tighter security measures and ultimately the promise of a higher quality of living for our families. They come with a price tag which we are happy to pay, because you cannot put a price on safety, right?

But how safe are these security estates really?

Following the unfortunate events and the death of an innocent man at the prestigious Woodhill Golf Estate in the early hours of Friday 6 March, these are the questions on everyone’s lips: how did the intruders get in, why did security let them slip through unnoticed and what does this mean for security estates across the country? And are they really as secure as they claim to be? Unfortunately the estate has yet to comment regarding this incident, and no arrests have been made.

“The true meaning of the age-old saying ‘safe as houses’ no longer applies to our current situation, and it hasn’t for a very long time,” said Pierre Spies, famous sportsman and brand ambassador of iLiveSafe – a comprehensive identification, safety and rapid response solution.

“People move mountains to ensure that they are safe, but I fear that many South Africans have been lured into a false sense of security. You can never let your guard down – regardless of where you live. And you always need to have a tight security game plan intact.”

Over the same weekend that the Woodhill robbery and murder took place, popular journalism television programme Carte Blanche aired an insert on the 8th March that sent shockwaves across the country. They uncovered – by means of exclusive footage – that security guards of a prominent security company were robbing unsuspecting clients blindly. What this shocking footage revealed is that we are trusting security companies with our lives, but in reality we are simply paying someone in a uniform to have full access to our assets as well as our entire lives.

“All that the Carte Blanche insert reiterated, is in how much trouble we really are,” comments Pierre.

“We entrust ‘professionals’ with our hard-earned money to ensure the safety and well-being of our families, but now it would appear that this very action is leaving us even more vulnerable than ever before. Who is there left that we can trust? Where do we turn to now?”

For this very reason, Pierre strongly recommends, endorses and calls upon the name of iLiveSafe. This complete identification, safety and rapid response solution was designed to bridge the security gap that is so evidently growing daily in South Africa. The iLiveSafe concept is divided into four packages, namely the Bronze Option, the Silver Option, the Gold Option and thePlatinum Option.

“The four comprehensive packages that iLIveSafe has on offer, will ensure that you and your family are safe at all times and during any emergency situation. It is your trump card against these criminals and their wicked ways,” concludes Pierre.

“From My Identification, My 24/7 Rescue and My Assurance in the Bronze Option, to a list of 17 different emergency services in the Platinum Option, iLiveSafe will give you and your family what we’re all so desperately seeking: a safe house, and ultimately a place where you can return to with confidence. Your home.”

For more information on the iLiveSafe range of service offerings, please visit www.ilivesafe.co.za. You can also follow the company on Facebook and Twitter where you will stay up to date and informed on everything from family to personal safety.