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The BUZZard chats to Kingswood trustee and chairman of the Security subcommittee, Fielies Nieuwoudt, for an update on the estate’s ongoing protection plan.
When arriving on a bright Friday morning, a queue of bakkies and bigger trucks loaded with equipment and staff – its number increased by construction operations at the new clubhouse site – stretches from the turnoff to the service gate, where vehicles and individuals await their turn to be processed before entering.
This serves as a reminder of the massive task it is to control access and monitor the movements of everyone living and working at Kingswood Golf Estate.
There are plenty of decision-makers, security operators, and on-the-ground personnel to ensure that this remains the case. Interviewing Security subcommittee chairman Fielies Nieuwoudt regarding security at Kingswood, it is clear that the sound constitution of body and mind is essential for the task at hand.
Just the previous day, on Thursday 21 November, the Security subcommittee deliberated for half a day with consultants and contractors involved in current processes that keep Kingswood’s five-year security plan on track; as has been the case in previous reports on the subject, deadlines are being met within the set budget.
As 2024 concludes …
‘We have reached our target with all facets planned for completion before the end of the year,’ says Fielies. He reminds that the third phase of Kingswood’s five-tiered security project focused mostly on fortifying all fencing and streamlining the access-control process. The latter was the subject of a spread in the previous edition, and it’s good to hear that the process is running smoothly as the festive season influx dawns.
‘We thank our residents for the fact that they have been cooperating and responding so positively to the renewal and upgrading of this comprehensive process. Making such a big change requires planning, patience, and cooperation from everyone involved.’
Much has been written on these pages about the friendly but no-nonsense efficiency of Caron Manchest – Kingswood’s security coordinator in charge of access control, which includes processes such as residents’ cellphone registration and facial recognition enrollments. Caron continues doing a sterling job at her service-gate station.
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Fielies also thanks Willem Scholtz of Scholtz Consulting for his ongoing advice and professional implementation as the final phases of the security plan are being rolled out. He adds that on-site security manager for Fidelity, Pieter van der Walt, has been finding his feet during the past quarter and can be contacted on 071 321 0774 for any on-site assistance.
Contracts and control room functions
‘Our arrangement with Fidelity Security Services currently runs on a two-monthly basis as we thrash out final points on the contract, going into 2025,’ explains Fielies. On the table are issues such as drone surveillance, and the ongoing matter of guard training to attain the objective of a security control room that is operational 24/7.
The intricacies of drone surveillance are summarised on page 17, but fitting in with the flight scene, Fielies says the control room’s interior ‘resembles the cockpit of a Boeing!’ Of course, all those lights and buttons serve the purpose of detecting movement in every corner of the estate – a function aided by OmniVision site monitoring.
Another non-human component connected to the control room is the Smurf monitoring system. ‘This mobile surveillance bot has optic and thermal photography capabilities, and is powered by batteries that last for up to four days, but it’s dependent on a solid signal – and this is where fibre steps in,’ says Fielies.
South African drone rules
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) provides several guidelines to guarantee the safe and responsible operation of drones for private use, including:
- Operators must keep their drones within sight at all times and should not fly drones over 120m above the ground.
- Operators must stay clear of obstacles such as buildings, trees, and power lines.
- Drones must be kept at least 50m away from people, vehicles and animals, and should not be flown over populated areas, national parks or sensitive infrastructure.
‘Commercial drone operations’ refer to the use of drones for economic gain, such as aerial photography, surveying, or providing inspection services, so commercial operators need to register their drones under Part 101 of the Civil Aviation Regulations and acquire a Remote Pilot Licence.
Civil aviation regulations state that no unmanned aircraft shall be flown in South Africa unless the Director of the SACAA has given it a registration certificate.
On top of registering the drone, operators need these documents:
- Air Service Licence
- RPAS Operator Certificate • RPA Letter of Approval
- Remote Pilot Licence
Drone operators who fail to adhere to these regulations may face severe penalties, such as a prison sentence of up to 10 years, a R50,000 fine, or both. Any drone flight must obtain the following approvals beyond the SACAA:
- Permission from individuals: Approval must be obtained from any people being flown over or near.
- Landowner consent: Permission must be granted by the landowner where the flight is happening.
- Neighbouring sites approval: Authorisation must be acquired from neighbouring sites that may be impacted by the drone operation.
