Vision
To have complete access control for vehicles and pedestrians at all 3 entrances (Jupiter, Regulus, and Grus) to the JRG residents association security initiative area (see picture) by means of guarded and non-guarded gates with cctv and numberplate reading cameras equipped with artificial intelligence for off site monitoring. Effective armed response and back up support both on and off site. All in all resulting in a safe and sought after closed area for current and future home owners that functions effectively year in and year out without being dependent on any specific current residents.
Background
Crime trends in SA has lead to a culture of forever increasing private security measures and Jupiter, Regulus, Grus streets (JRG residents security section) is no different. Incidents relating to break-ins and robberies has over the years lead to the residents coming together and resulted in the birth of the different JRG residents security initiatives.
Jupiter and Regulus streets started with guard operated booms which were later replaced with automatic booms plus cctv and at present the 2 entrances have automatic booms, with artificial intelligence equipped cctv and numberplate reading cameras with off site monitoring backed up by armed response for both incoming and outgoing booms. Grus street has manual booms with 24/7 guards and cctv at both entrances. All measures thus far has been effective in reducing criminal activity in the boomed areas.
More and more areas and neighbourhoods around us are formally closing down and becoming gated communities with complete access control. Most recently the SAFEWATERKLOOF closure initiative started with construction of their gates and guard houses and has resulted in the residents of the JRG streets area to also want more formal/permanent closure of our 3 entrances with gates (Grus, Jupiter on Rigel str and Regulus on Eridanus str) with enhanced and more strict access control. The main reasons being the real possibility of crime displacement from the very large adjacent safeWaterkloof initiative and also an increase in house breaking tendencies in the neighbourhoods.
Previous attempts at formal full closure with strict access control has been abandoned due to high costs, poor resident response/participation and lack of absolute need and motivation. The very large SafeWaterkloof closure along with many other areas in our part of Pretoria closed or in the process of closure have definitely changed our situation.
House buyers sentiment has also more than ever shown a preference for property in closed off areas compared to traditional neighbourhoods and this is clearly reflected in price changes and number of houses in the market in newly closed areas like Groenkloof.
A resident’s meeting was held on 4 November 2021 where the unanimous consensus was to re-visit the application for formal closure of our 3 entrances with the aim of full gated entrances and strict access control measures.
The plan
Phase 1 (Support and Application…submission asap in 1st quarter of 2022)
- Get required support
- Collect deposit 1
- Complete and submit application (various application elements include – consultant procurement, traffic study, wayleave application, formal proposal etc.)
STREETSAFE is a consulting company that assist resident associations with closure and access control proposals, traffic impact studies, the application and dealings with city of Tshwane and afterwards with wayleave application and supervision for gate installations and street signs etc.
STREETSAFE quotation came back at R113,500.00 necessitating a resident deposit of R2000 (Deposit 1) by 70% of our 81 residents.
The applicant for residential closure must be a not for profit company. Fortunately we already had the JRG residents association NPC that was registered in 2017 with a prior attempt at a closure initiative, and this whole initiative will be run through and managed by this NPC and it’s FNB bank account. See company registration and conformation of FNB account below.
Phase 1 progress:
STREETSAFE was appointed and kicked the initiative off with a traffic count for a traffic impact study on 24 November 2021. Because the area is already boomed off and without any schools, shops or main through routes the traffic numbers came back very low with the impact report able to support closure of all 3 entrances at the minimum distance from Rigel and Eridanus streets and depending on residents needs and preferences the impact report for the application can support 1x service gate (permanently closed), 1x 12 hour gate and 1x 24 hour gate OR 3x 24 hour gates or almost any combination in between. This study also allows for inclusion of ALL residents in the section that currently falls outside the current booms. See report/drawings below.
STREETSAFE also supplied us with a sign-up agreement/consent with power of attorney and proxy forms that needs to be completed and signed by 67% of the house owners in the proposed JRG closure area. This is not negotiable, it is required and prescribed by city bylaws.
That means we need 55 signed agreements with consent/proxy forms as support for the initiative before STREETSAFE can formalise the proposal and submit the application to the City of Tswane.
Phase 2 (Approvals and construction planning….2nd half of 2022)
- Collect deposit 2
- Collect deposit 2
- Procure contractors
Phase 2 will start with another community meeting to discuss closure and construction of new gates and infrastructure. Contractor procurement and quotations will follow to determine the required deposit 2 amount. The average cost for similar initiative infrastructure was close to R13,000 from 67% of the residents.
Collecting deposit 2 will form the most important part of phase 2. No contractor procurements or contracts can or will be signed before sufficient funds from deposit 2 is not received.
Collection of deposit 2 will commence in second half of 2022 and hopefully all funds received by end of 2022.
Phase 3 (Construction and operation… 2023)
- Start building
- Plan and start operation
- Determine and initiate monthly dues
During the community meeting for phase 3 we will discuss the construction options, logistics, and plan for future operational management after agreeing as a collective on the exact level of onsite security and type of access control for the controlled area. Responsibility for who will do the day to day running and management of the initiative once operational also needs to be finalised.
Security company and/or third party tenders will form the basis for determining the monthly levy required by residents. Levy’s have to cover all operating and maintenance costs. Monthly levy’s from similar initiatives range from R600 to R1200.
Signing of debit order mandates for monthly levy’s will we precede initiation of full operation.
Phase 1 (Support and Application…submission asap in 1st quarter of 2022)
- Get required support
- Collect deposit 1
- Complete and submit application (various application elements include – consultant procurement, traffic study, wayleave application, formal proposal etc.)
STREETSAFE is a consulting company that assist resident associations with closure and access control proposals, traffic impact studies, the application and dealings with city of Tshwane and afterwards with wayleave application and supervision for gate installations and street signs etc.
STREETSAFE quotation came back at R113,500.00 necessitating a resident deposit of R2000 (Deposit 1) by 70% of our 81 residents.
The applicant for residential closure must be a not for profit company. Fortunately we already had the JRG residents association NPC that was registered in 2017 with a prior attempt at a closure initiative, and this whole initiative will be run through and managed by this NPC and it’s FNB bank account. See company registration and conformation of FNB account below.
Phase 1 progress:
STREETSAFE was appointed and kicked the initiative off with a traffic count for a traffic impact study on 24 November 2021. Because the area is already boomed off and without any schools, shops or main through routes the traffic numbers came back very low with the impact report able to support closure of all 3 entrances at the minimum distance from Rigel and Eridanus streets and depending on residents needs and preferences the impact report for the application can support 1x service gate (permanently closed), 1x 12 hour gate and 1x 24 hour gate OR 3x 24 hour gates or almost any combination in between. This study also allows for inclusion of ALL residents in the section that currently falls outside the current booms. See report/drawings below.
STREETSAFE also supplied us with a sign-up agreement/consent with power of attorney and proxy forms that needs to be completed and signed by 67% of the house owners in the proposed JRG closure area. This is not negotiable, it is required and prescribed by city bylaws.
That means we need 55 signed agreements with consent/proxy forms as support for the initiative before STREETSAFE can formalise the proposal and submit the application to the City of Tswane.
Phase 2 (Approvals and construction planning….2nd half of 2022)
- Collect deposit 2
- Collect deposit 2
- Procure contractors
Phase 2 will start with another community meeting to discuss closure and construction of new gates and infrastructure. Contractor procurement and quotations will follow to determine the required deposit 2 amount. The average cost for similar initiative infrastructure was close to R13,000 from 67% of the residents.
Collecting deposit 2 will form the most important part of phase 2. No contractor procurements or contracts can or will be signed before sufficient funds from deposit 2 is not received.
Collection of deposit 2 will commence in second half of 2022 and hopefully all funds received by end of 2022.
Phase 3 (Construction and operation… 2023)
- Start building
- Plan and start operation
- Determine and initiate monthly dues
During the community meeting for phase 3 we will discuss the construction options, logistics, and plan for future operational management after agreeing as a collective on the exact level of onsite security and type of access control for the controlled area. Responsibility for who will do the day to day running and management of the initiative once operational also needs to be finalised.
Security company and/or third party tenders will form the basis for determining the monthly levy required by residents. Levy’s have to cover all operating and maintenance costs. Monthly levy’s from similar initiatives range from R600 to R1200.
Signing of debit order mandates for monthly levy’s will we precede initiation of full operation.
What you need to know
Crime will decrease
It’s a fact that closed areas with access control have less crime (break-ins and armed robberies) compared to open neighbourhoods
Your property value will increase
Property values have increased upward from 10% in properly managed closed off, access controlled areas. Ease of selling and time in the market is also much improved. Groenkloof and Lynnwood are good examples.
It’s a community project
JRG residents association security initiative is entirely driven by volunteers who want a safer community. It’s a community project by the community, for the community and would not be possible without community support physically, conceptually and financially.
Helpful info
Absolutely, we understand that times can be tuff and the deposits as a once of payment can be difficult. Feel free to arrange any payment plan that fits within your budget.
Email us at jrgresidents@gmail.com and we will happily assist.
This will be negotiated by residents with security companies and third parties and will all depend on the level of access control, security guards present on site, maintenance, and third party management fees.
For example: 1x gate fully guarded with controlled access 24/7 and 2x resident only gates will cost R800pm is we have 67% residents contributing. Other similar closed areas have monthly levy’s ranging between R600 and R1200 depending on their level of security, control, armed response, patrols, and number of residents contributing.
Many closed areas get much reduced armed response monthly rates after negotiations with security companies who tender to manage the access control, provide guards and armed response. Until the initiative is complete and operational you should continue with your current armed response. You can always consider new discounted options as they get negotiated and become available to contributing residents.
This security initiative is a voluntary scheme, but if you don’t contribute financially to this security initiative you directly increase the financial burden on all the residents that do pay for benefits you also reap. The reason for the closure and enhanced security measures is to increase safety of our neighbourhood area to the benefit of all residents in the area without breaking the bank and the only way to achieve this is if everybody contributes. The reality of security is criminals will target the easier targets, the neighbourhood with no community initiative, the area with no or poorer access control, the house in the street with less security barriers, etc. Improving security of our area benefits every resident in the area and in the long run everyone saves money by not needing to continuously enhance their own security to more and more ridiculous levels.
If all 81 houses in our JRG residents association security area contributes, the deposits and monthly levy’s will be very small and costs to your own private security can be kept at the basics.
If you don’t pay we can’t force you, but you will miss out on opportunities like better armed response rates for your house alarm, easy access through the street gates, sharing of cctv material in the event of an incident, feeling and being part of the community.
Not everyone has the same financial means, please get in contact to discuss and negotiate your supporting and contributing abilities.
What should I do next?
Insure we have all your current information!
Knowing exactly who lives in our area, what their street address is, and how to contact them via phone and email is a crucial part of community safety. We will never share your information with any third party without your consent. We will keep communication to the absolute minimum and always keep it related to the initiative: jrgresidents@gmail.com
Please pay your R2000 (deposit 1) ASAP!
STREETSAFE has been appointed and already received payments according to progress through the application process. We need your deposit 1 urgently to keep up with application expenses.
Also start budgeting for deposit 2 and be on the lookout for it’s collection in the second half of 2022.
Our Bank Details
Bank: First National Bank (FNB)
Account name: JRG Residents Association NPC
Account: 62854798124 (Business cheque acc)
Reference: use your street address and surname please
Proof of payment: jrgresidents@gmail.com
Sign the JRG residents security initiative agreement consent and power of attorney form!
Without 67% support the application for closure cannot be submitted and the security initiative cannot proceed. Please download the form from the website or contact us for email pdf or printed forms.
Send your completed forms to: jrgresidents@gmail.com
Download Power of Att - Road Closure 2 Form
Sign the JRG residents security initiative agreement consent and power of attorney form!
Without 67% support the application for closure cannot be submitted and the security initiative cannot proceed. Please download the form from the website or contact us for email pdf or printed forms.
Send your completed forms to: jrgresidents@gmail.com
© Copyright 2022 JRG Resident Association
