The NKRA is grateful for the support provided in the 4th Street park by our park sponsors RUSSELL FISHER PROPERTIES and VISION TACTICAL SECURITY and the KILLARNEY MALL, and for the street cleaning services provided by RCS SECURITY SERVICES.

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NKRA Communique – August 2021

Hi everyone

The Covid-19 pandemic seems to be subsiding in Gauteng, although our overall vaccination levels are still very poor. It’s great that the restrictions are being relaxed slightly, but we all need to continue to observe social distancing, to wear masks in public and to sanitise our hands.

Security is always an issue, and we would always like to be more secure. However this comes at a price. Since a CAP patrol project for Killarney-Riviera is unaffordable, we have approached other security companies for a similar but more affordable service. What we need at a minimum are marked vehicles conducting “preventative patrols” to create visible deterrence, and to ensure very rapid response to actual incidences of crime so as to catch the criminals in the act.

We have recently received a proposal for a CAP-type service from National Security and Fire (previously Chubb). This project would provide us with:

  • A 24/7 patrol car dedicated to our area;
  • A dedicated contact cell-phone number for that dedicated vehicle;
  • A WhatsApp group monitored by their 24/7 Control Centre;
  • ER 24 medical assistance;
  • Access to their Tactical Response Force units.

The monthly cost of this project would be R86,250 (incl VAT). It is a lot cheaper than CAP, but probably still unaffordable. No other security company has responded.

On a parallel point, however, National Security charges R360 per month per building for their armed response service. This is actually quite cheap. In particular, they told me they have a “tactical patrol” service, which focuses on providing support to their guards at client buildings, but which also adds visibility in the entire vicinity. All extra visibility is obviously valuable, and the closer the vehicles are to us, the faster they can respond to our panic buttons. As we have seen with Vision Tactical, if enough buildings sign up with them, their vehicles will be highly present in the area around the clock.

Meanwhile, every building needs to take steps to protect its perimeter and gates as best they can, and every individual resident needs to take precautions when you go out. In particular, please be especially careful of your phones and handbags while you are outside on the pavements.

If you do notice anything that looks like a crime in progress, please call your security company, as well as the SAPS on 10111 (or 112 from your cell phone). You can also call the Killarney SAPS sector manager (Sergeant Mdlolo) on 082 355 5646.

RCS Security has sent us a few useful safety reminders:

  • As the weather warms up, we tend to leave open windows and balcony doors. Even if you are at home, and even if you live on a high floor, you should close and lock all windows and doors if possible, unless they have good burglar bars and gates. Cat burglars can climb to amazing heights to gain entry to our homes, and they are quite prepared to enter your apartment while you are home.
  • If you have a security gate on your front door, keep it closed and locked when you are at home – even if you live on a high floor.
  • When leaving your home, always make sure that everything is closed and locked properly even if you are only going out for a short while. The thieves keep an eye on who comes and goes, and they only need a few minutes to get in and get back out.
  • When driving, ensure your car doors are always locked, and always close your windows at stop streets and traffic lights. Don’t leave your window rolled down all the way when stopped in traffic, even out on the highway.
  • Store any valuables out of view of pedestrians. This includes cell-phones, handbags, laptop bags and even loose clothing. Desperate people will smash a window to grab anything of value, even just a warm coat or jacket.
  • Avoid wearing flashy jewellery on pavements, in shopping malls or at restaurants.
  • Should you be seated outside at a restaurant, never place your cell-phone, handbag or wallet on the table.
  • Try to avoid using your phone whilst standing and walking on the pavement or street, as this tends to attract a snatch and grab thief. Uber users are especially vulnerable to this.

With the lockdown restrictions over the last two years, a lot of shopping and banking has migrated onto electronic platforms – often using cell-phones. Nedbank has sent us some anti-fraud safety tips as well:

  • Read all security and approval messages carefully before you approve them. Don’t blindly confirm any security or approval message.
  • Never share your secret information with anyone, including your banking password, card number or PIN. The bank will never ask you for this information, and you should not give it out to anybody else either.
  • If you find that you suddenly cannot receive or make calls, contact your network provider urgently. Fraudsters might do a SIM-swap, or port your phone number to their account so that they can intercept and approve your security messages. Never ignore an SMS informing you of a SIM-swap request on your number.
  • If your cell-phone has been lost or stolen, report this to your bank as well. Criminals can get access to the banking information on your cell-phone and use it to commit fraud. You should then change your banking and other passwords straight away.
  • If you receive an SMS telling you “something is wrong” with your online banking, call the bank on their dedicated fraud line, and DO NOT use the number or email address provided on the message. Fraudsters send these messages trying to trick you into disclosing your card number and PIN or Online Banking login details.

The next round of municipal elections will be held on 1 November 2021. If you have changed your address since the previous elections, you should urgently check that you are properly registered. You can do this online, at https://www.elections.org.za/pw/. You can also update your registration details online at https://registertovote.elections.org.za/voter-online-registration/overview.

Alternately, you can also update your details by attending a physical voter registration session. The next voter registration weekend will be this weekend, 18 September. The voter registration session will be held at your voting station, so you would need to first check online to which voting station you have been allocated. If you live in Killarney south of the highway (i.e. up on the hill), then you are part of Ward 67,  and you are probably allocated to vote at the Education Campus of Wits University in St Andrews Road (the old Johannesburg College of Education). If you live in Killarney north of the highway, then you are part of Ward 73, and you are probably allocated to vote at the tennis courts of the Killarney Country Club. However there may be exceptions, so please check your details online first.

32 buildings out of the 55 sectional title buildings in Killarney-Riviera are now paid-up members of the NKRA – about 58% of the total. Many thanks indeed to all these buildings for your on-going support. The current list of the members for 2021 is as follows:

  1. Beverly Heights
  2. Biarritz
  3. Brenthurst Court
  4. Bretton Woods
  5. Canterbury Close
  6. Chartwell
  7. Chelston Hall
  8. Christina Court
  9. Cranwell Hall
  10. Daventry Court
  11. Devon Place
  12. Dumbarton Oaks
  13. Gleneagles
  14. Glenhof Gardens
  15. Hampshire Mews
  16. Hatherley Hall
  17. Hyde Court
  18. Interlaken
  19. Killarney Court & Gardens
  20. Killarney Hills
  21. Killarney Park
  22. Killarney Village
  23. Kingsborough
  24. La Camargue
  25. Mentone Court
  26. Monviso
  27. Portofino
  28. Rapallo
  29. Riviera Mansions
  30. Santa Margherita
  31. Sevenoaks
  32. The Rivieras

If your building does make a membership contribution, please ask your managing agent to include the reference number as well, so as to facilitate the allocation of the payment on our side.

Please would NKRA members give us feedback on the issues described above? We also welcome all suggestions from all residents, on all issues.

Keep well, and keep safe.

Wayne Ford