RIETONDALE HOME OWNERS & RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION SECURITY PROJECT

WHAT IS RHOARA?:

The Rietondale Home Owners and Residents Association (RHOARA) and security project was launched in July 2002.

At that stage at least 13 motorcars per month were being stolen as well as around the same number of residential burglaries were taking place.

The aim of the Association is to promote a safe and secure environment for all residents.

The Rietondale Home Owners & Residents Association (RHOARA) has a constitution (see rietondale.net) and holds an Annual General Meeting each year in November. An independent auditor audits the books every year before the general meeting. The audit report is available for inspection by members at any time. Currently there are 301 members.

The committee members are chosen by the residents and are all voluntary members who stay in the area.

HOW DOES ARS FIT INTO THE PICTURE?:

An agreement was entered into with All Inclusive Residential Security (ARS) with approval from the community.

The chairperson communicates with ARS, each day for an update on crime and any other problems.

The committee meet with ARS management at least once a month. The committee, on behalf of the community, has a say in the day to day running of all aspects of the initiative.

ARS has an office in the area (Brian Street) and the ARS supervisor also stays in the area. The Operations Room is at Brian Street.

The latest crime stats, security and community related information is sent to members by SMS, email or newsletter.

ARS follows up on all incidents of crime, cooperate with the SAPS (Moot) and attend a security/crime briefing every Thursday at the Moot Police Station. RHOARA attends the Police Forum Meeting (South Sector) on behalf of the residents every month.

There are three patrol guards on foot and one reaction officer that patrols in the response vehicle. The area supervisor does random patrols in a second vehicle throughout the day and especially at night.

The service is 24 hour / 7 day a week. (There is a 3 minute response time)

A tuck-in service is provided at no extra cost.

Special monitoring of your home when you are away at no extra cost.

RHOARA also attends the community meetings of RRRDG (Rietondale, Riviera, Rietfontein, Deerness, and Gezina) on behalf of the residents once a month. This is a platform where community issues (for example the DFA Construction, council issues etc.) can be discussed.

WHICH AREA IS COVERED BY ARS PATROLS?:

The car and guards patrol the area bounded by Tom Jenkins Road in the east, Russell Street in the south, Eben Roux Street to the north and Klaradyn and Belrene Streets in the west. 18th Avenue up to Chamberlain Street, and Chamberlain Street up to Frates Road, Deerness are also included.

WHAT WILL IT COST YOU TO JOIN THE SECURITY INITIATIVE:

The cost of the foot patrol / response car service is R275, 00 per home per month.

You may also switch your alarm monitoring system to ARS for an additional R175, 00 (Total R450, 00) per month (this then includes the foot patrol).

Alarm installations: ARS will give a quote for an alarm and assess security of your property at no cost. The installation fee for the initial connection of the alarm is paid directly to ARS on completion thereof.

Residents with existing alarm monitoring systems may like to review their contracts with a view to switching to ARS as it may bring you savings, a guaranteed response time of three minutes, and ensure the continuation of the patrolling. You can also get an alarm quote/installation from any other company and still make use of the ARS monthly alarm monitoring.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FEES MEMBERS PAY?:

Salaries for the guards, petrol for and service of the 2 vehicles, monitoring by the operations room. Any additional funds are used for giving rewards to the guards when they make an arrest, employing additional guards over holiday periods, buying raincoats that are not part of the standard uniforms issued etc.

If you would like to join the initiative, so we can be in a position to pool our resources to the benefit of the whole area, kindly contact the chairperson or treasurer.