Parktown North Residents Association chairperson Lee-Ann Louverdis said she was aware of residents who felt that they needn’t join Parksec, the suburb’s security scheme, as they were association members, and vice versa.
Louverdis said she felt the confusion among residents might ultimately have an adverse effect on security.
Parktown North and Parkhurst residents have the option to join Parksec, a security initiative separate to the suburbs’ residents associations, contracted to security company Core Tactical.
Parksec board member James Bowling said it was vital that residents belonged to their residents associations and joined the security initiative.
“Parksec’s concern is security. This is good, but it doesn’t address the other issues and concerns faced by residents, which would be best dealt with by a residents association,” he said.
Craigpark Residents Association chairperson Ryan Roseveare said he knew a minority of residents were also confused about the residents association and its security initiative, run by CSS Tactical.
Roseveare said the association focused on increasing its membership, while the security company had been tasked with recruiting security initiative members. He added that the association was in regular contact with residents through its newsletter, Facebook page and SMS alerts.
Speaking on behalf of the Saxonwold and Parkwood Residents Association, Penny Davidoff said the association had not included security in its mandate.
“The association was formed to protect the suburbs from development and to maintain their ambience. However, we do pass on information to security companies,” she said.
Davidoff said the main security provider in Saxonwold was CAP, while Parkwood had ADT.
“There are bicycle patrols and guard huts placed around the suburb, which resulted in smaller street associations,” she said.
Davidoff said the association’s website had pages for security companies, and that the companies operated separately.
“The association gives voice to security issues in monthly newsletters,” she said, and added that residents may be reluctant to join both associations and security initiatives due to financial reasons.
Parkview Residents Association’s security initiative, SafeParkview, is serviced by security company 24/7.
“All full fee paying SafeParkview members automatically contribute R30 of their monthly fee towards the association, making them association members. Many of these residents pay their annual association fees on top of that,” said the association’s Theresa Gibbon.
Details: www.parktownnorth.org.za; www.parkhurstvillage.com; www.cra.org.za; www.sapra.org.za; www.parkview.org.za
