Advertisement
Regular readers of The BUZZard will remember the interview published in March of this year with KGE trustee Gerrit ‘Fielies’ Nieuwoudt – chairman of the estate’s subcommittee for risk and security. At the time, he elucidated the upgrades worth in excess of R20 million that would be attained over the next five years.
These security upgrades are now in full swing, so Fielies was roped in once more for an update. We were fortunate to also catch Willem Scholtz, security specialist from Scholtz Consulting, in between his multitude of hands-on tasks and actions to ensure the safety of Kingswood residents.
To recap…
During a KGE trustees’ meeting in March last year, Phase 1 of the five-tiered security project was approved, its main objectives including an upgrade of the perimeter fence, off-site monitoring of security cameras, and tighter access control at all gates, with unique criteria for homeowners, contractors, delivery companies and guest golfers.
Fielies and Willem concur that the process to secure the estate’s 10km perimeter fence is totally on track, and were excited to share the progress of upgrades at access gates and other points of entry.
Let’s start at the very beginning: Phase 1
The timeframe of planned security upgrades has been expertly plotted, and Fielies says as soon as budgets were balanced, Phase 1 – revolving mainly around fortification of possible vulnerable parts of the perimeter fence – was prioritised, and remains the area of focus.
Advertisement
‘We are satisfied that the 10km perimeter fence will meet all official national electrical fencing regulations, after starting this process back in June. With relevant certificates of compliance (COCs) in hand, we are now able to thrash out final minor adjustments.’
Among the factors that contribute to making the perimeter project particularly challenging are several adjacent streets and river crossings, and the fact that KGE borders are shared with George Golf Course, Outeniqua Research Farm, and the new Mediclinic development now under construction.
Consequently, 12 security cameras have been distributed to cater for these possible hotspots: eight on the estate’s river crossings, three on the southeastern border, and one in the vicinity of George Golf Course. Some of these cameras are fibre-connected and as effective at night as they are during the day.
A quick demo on Willem’s cellphone proves the effectiveness of footage collected during the day, and the different picture displayed at night, when movement is detected through thermal imaging.
‘The electric fence has now also been divided into several sectors, and this zoning facilitates quick pinpointing of the exact area where a possible breach may occur,’ Willem explains
Off/on-site monitoring
Fielies reminds that the off-site monitoring of all perimeter video footage is now operational, so in conjunction with on-site monitoring, it results in 24/7 surveillance. For those not in the know: the control room is located in a temporary office within the complex, just past the service/contractors’ gate, and is the hub of all cameras for on-site monitoring.
Which brings us to a quick introduction of Kingswood’s latest team member (read the full story elsewhere in this edition): Caron Manchest has recently been appointed as Security Coordinator, and is stationed at the access control office outside Gate 1 – the main contractors’ gate.
‘Security needs administration,’ says Fielies, and adds that Caron reports directly to KGE financial manager Marina Flear, who reports directly to CEO Willem Jacobs, so there is an open corridor to top management from this new HOA post created to enhance the smooth entry of contractors to the estate.
Access strictly controlled
After serious research into the best technology for the purpose, Scholtz Consulting and members of the KGE risk and security subcommittee decided on a user-friendly system that simply requires residents to download and register an app on their mobile phones.
‘Management of change’ is now the operative phrase, as switching to a new system invariably presents challenges. ‘A dual system will apply until all glitches have been sorted out,’ says Fielies, adding that residents should familiarise themselves with all correspondence disseminated by management in this regard.
Said information includes instructions to residents to register and enroll on the new access control platform. Guests will work through the existing My Estate Life system, while staff and pedestrians will use the turnstiles with the designated access-control system installed there.
The programme works in conjunction with the My Estate Life app to enable easy access for those authorised accordingly, while ensuring that any unwanted traffic is denied entry.
‘When considering the diversity of visitors arriving and leaving the estate – from staff to guests to Mr Delivery – this new system is of the essence. We realise that people are set in their ways and that it’s harder for some to kick old habits, but this all works towards our common goal of optimum security.’
He emphasises that a dual system will operate during the holiday season to accommodate those not yet on track with the app, but urges readers to register at their earliest convenience, since the old windscreen- sticker system will have been phased out completely by the end of January.
We’ve got the power!
On the subject of loadshedding and its impact on these hi-tech security systems, Willem confirms that inverters have been installed at all entry gates. Most exciting, too, is that around the time you read it here, the new solar system at the gatehouse will have been switched on.
But rather than dwelling on the scourge of loadshedding, Fielies and Willem opted to talk about the bright future of security at Kingswood – notably the onset of Phase 2 of the project which, pending budget constraints, will be tackled early next year.
‘When it comes to surveillance, the plan is to finally have about 140 cameras in place on the estate’s perimeter. But our priority next year will be the infrastructure required for this purpose, starting with trenches to be dug along the perimeter for laying of fibre optic and power cables,’ says Willem.
The trenching exercise is an expensive one, running into millions of rands, but this is why their budget planning is as important as any work being done on the ground. And Fielies is proud of the fact that, thus far, all works have been effected within the framework of available funds – ‘with 10 cents to spare!’
Fielies reminds once more that ‘security is a moving target’, but, with this motto in mind, all involved are working towards ensuring that Kingswood Golf Estate is being monitored for 24 hours each day, seven days a week, every day of the year.
Keep in mind, however, that security is every homeowner’s responsibility. Report any suspicious behaviour to Dan Buys on 078 159 4079 or Mornay Stoop on 084 523 7739, and call Caron Manchest on 087 537 9725 if you need assistance with your access- control registration.
