Chairman’s Report at AGM held on 14 September 2010, at Lux Mundi Church, Floris Street.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all for coming tonight.
The crime stats released by police last year indicated a massive increase in household burglary and this year indicated a further increase. The stats released by the Beeld for the Garsfontein area are equally alarming. South Africans have every right to feel afraid because crime is on the increase. Yet we in GSP feel relatively safe in our homes because systems are kept in place that keeps our security intact.
This year we have managed to accomplish the following:
· Upgrade our gate motors
· Improve the lighting in Werd Street
· Installed an inverter at the guard house at Adela Street in case of power failures. Assisted several residents in Camille Street and Jacqueline Street to improve their own security which in turn improves the security in GSP.
· Through consultations with City Council the exit at Adela Street has been simplified with the construction of the traffic circle.
· The verge from the security gate in Adela Street to the front of the GSP office has been paved.
· Re-condition one of the golf carts.
I am sure you would have noticed the two new traffic signs that have been erected in the GSP. The one restricts speed in our area to 40kmph and the other sign that was erected is called a R403 sign. This sign is very significant because it restricts vehicles with a gross mass of more than 3500kgs from entering our area, except for local delivery, it gives right of way to pedestrians and children who may be in the roadway and it prevents our area from being used as a thoroughfare.
We conducted a survey amongst our residents to ascertain how we were performing and how residents felt about the systems in place and received a positive response.
Every two years we are required by law, to re-apply to City council to keep our enclosure intact. These re-application costs have escalated from an initial R5,700 to R60,000. Fortunately we have been able to get together with other enclosed areas and have challenged the city council on this increase. This unfortunately comes at a price as each court application costs R200, 000. We certainly would not be able to absorb huge costs like this and can only challenge this collectively.
On top of this, general expenses have increased and we now find that we can no longer meet our monthly requirements. Our aim last year was to achieve 100% membership but we have not been able to convince the remaining 17% of our residents to become members and are now forced to increase the monthly contribution from R210 to R250. What we propose is to increase the fee from R210 to R230 for the period October 2010 to February 2011 and then increase the fee from R230 to R250 from March 2011.
I would like to see every resident make a commitment to GSP and assist in making our area work. Take the time to appreciate what we have, appreciate what the guards do for us. Tell them that they do a good job. Pop in at the GSP office. Feel free to chat with Polla Swartz, who has replaced Steve Barry as our Estate Manager. Let us know how you feel and if there is something we can improve on.
The freedom and safety that we experience in GSP is due in no small measure to the huge amount of effort put in by each board member. We go about our daily lives and take a lot for granted. In the background, on a daily basis, meetings take place, guards are positioned, systems are checked, so that we can have the safety that we have come to expect in our area. At this point I would like to thank each board member for the countless hours they put in to keep GSP operational.
The crime situation in South Africa is certainly not improving. We need to be vigilant now more than ever. Check and recheck your own security. Commit to GSP, not just financially, be prepared to get involved. Let's make this work together.
Thank you once again for attending this evening Hope to see you all at our GSP fund day on the 24th September.
Ray Lamprecht
Chairman’s Report at AGM held on 14 September 2010, at Lux Mundi Church, Floris Street.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all for coming tonight.
The crime stats released by police last year indicated a massive increase in household burglary and this year indicated a further increase. The stats released by the Beeld for the Garsfontein area are equally alarming. South Africans have every right to feel afraid because crime is on the increase. Yet we in GSP feel relatively safe in our homes because systems are kept in place that keeps our security intact.
This year we have managed to accomplish the following:
· Upgrade our gate motors
· Improve the lighting in Werd Street
· Installed an inverter at the guard house at Adela Street in case of power failures. Assisted several residents in Camille Street and Jacqueline Street to improve their own security which in turn improves the security in GSP.
· Through consultations with City Council the exit at Adela Street has been simplified with the construction of the traffic circle.
· The verge from the security gate in Adela Street to the front of the GSP office has been paved.
· Re-condition one of the golf carts.
I am sure you would have noticed the two new traffic signs that have been erected in the GSP. The one restricts speed in our area to 40kmph and the other sign that was erected is called a R403 sign. This sign is very significant because it restricts vehicles with a gross mass of more than 3500kgs from entering our area, except for local delivery, it gives right of way to pedestrians and children who may be in the roadway and it prevents our area from being used as a thoroughfare.
We conducted a survey amongst our residents to ascertain how we were performing and how residents felt about the systems in place and received a positive response.
Every two years we are required by law, to re-apply to City council to keep our enclosure intact. These re-application costs have escalated from an initial R5,700 to R60,000. Fortunately we have been able to get together with other enclosed areas and have challenged the city council on this increase. This unfortunately comes at a price as each court application costs R200, 000. We certainly would not be able to absorb huge costs like this and can only challenge this collectively.
On top of this, general expenses have increased and we now find that we can no longer meet our monthly requirements. Our aim last year was to achieve 100% membership but we have not been able to convince the remaining 17% of our residents to become members and are now forced to increase the monthly contribution from R210 to R250. What we propose is to increase the fee from R210 to R230 for the period October 2010 to February 2011 and then increase the fee from R230 to R250 from March 2011.
I would like to see every resident make a commitment to GSP and assist in making our area work. Take the time to appreciate what we have, appreciate what the guards do for us. Tell them that they do a good job. Pop in at the GSP office. Feel free to chat with Polla Swartz, who has replaced Steve Barry as our Estate Manager. Let us know how you feel and if there is something we can improve on.
The freedom and safety that we experience in GSP is due in no small measure to the huge amount of effort put in by each board member. We go about our daily lives and take a lot for granted. In the background, on a daily basis, meetings take place, guards are positioned, systems are checked, so that we can have the safety that we have come to expect in our area. At this point I would like to thank each board member for the countless hours they put in to keep GSP operational.
The crime situation in South Africa is certainly not improving. We need to be vigilant now more than ever. Check and recheck your own security. Commit to GSP, not just financially, be prepared to get involved. Let's make this work together.
Thank you once again for attending this evening Hope to see you all at our GSP fund day on the 24th September.
Ray Lamprecht