Sandton Guardians appoints two new co-chairs

The Sandton Guardians Programme, which is a community-driven neighbourhood watch group, recently appointed two new co-chairs.

The programme, which originally began in Kelvin, has seen significant growth and support from the community in recent years. Kelvin Guardians was started by Luewellyn Pillay in 2016, however, he tragically passed away earlier this year.

Prem Byjnal, one of the new co-chairs, said that their goal is to get to 200 volunteers by the end of the year and see guardians in suburbs across Johannesburg. He said that they have already been in discussions with people from Paulshof, Douglasdale and Edenvale who are interested in adopting the Sandton Guardians model. He said that they don’t necessarily want to expand the Sandton Guardians but rather mentor people from other neighbourhoods, offer insight as well as gain knowledge from others experiences.

While the model is like a neighbourhood watch, it offers more ways for residents to get involved in keeping their community safe.

The Guardians programme links the community and law enforcement in real-time, builds trust between the police and the community and helps to create a safer environment. Partnerships with residents associations are encouraged to build networks of individuals that can assist one other and provide strong support to the police. The Guardians programme is sanctioned by the Gauteng Department of Community Safety. Some of the ways community members can get involved are through the patroller initiative and the patrol support initiative.

The patroller initiative sees participants actively go out on patrol, working on a roster and buddy system. Every patroller requires police clearance, and they must report when going on patrol and when standing down. Their objective is to observe, monitor and report. Patrollers undergo basic training, which is provided by the Sandton Guardians, and several security companies have also made themselves available to provide training and knowledge to prospective patrollers.

Those who aren’t able to participate in patrols but would like to be involved with the Sandton Guardians can help through patrol support. This is particularly suitable for those who are based at home during the day such as retired people, home-based offices and parents who stay at home to look after their children.

All it takes is conscious observation, an additional drive around the suburb on the way out or back home, and reporting suspicious persons or vehicles to their Guardians group. There is no engagement or danger to residents as security companies in the area and police will pick up the information and respond. Patrol support participants do not require police clearance and observation of the suburb takes place during normal daily activities.

Sandton Guardians have achieved great success in the suburb of Kelvin (Sector 4), where over 40 residents participate in patrol and patrol support activities. Kelvin has also implemented a database of residents who can assist in an emergency, such as qualified first aiders and fire marshals.

Byjnal added that they are looking for sponsors to assist with equipment and uniforms for their guardians.

If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Sandton Guardians acting joint co-chairs N. Pillay on sector3chair@sandtoncpf.co.za or Prem Byjnal on sector4chair@sandtoncpf.co.za or 082 418 8475.

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Related articles:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/194235/sandton-guardians-serve-eyes-ears-community/

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/221569/sandton-guardians-founder-luewellyn-pillay-passed-away-following-a-long-battle-with-illness/