MINUTES OF THE HGC AGM HELD ON WEDNESDAY 25TH MAY 2016 AT THE MARION ON NICOL BOUTIQUE HOTEL, STIRLING AVENUE, HURLINGHAM AT 7PM
1. WELCOME (STUART LEE - Communications)
Stuart Lee welcomed all present and thanked them for attending. He introduced the Committee to all and gave special thanks to two generous - Carmen Mohapi for providing the free beers and Brutal Fruit from SAB and Duncan Todd for supplying all the sound and projection equipment. His company is Shilling Fox if you ever have such requirments.
2. WELCOME BY THE MARION ON NICOL GENERAL MANAGER (AURET MOROLO)
Auret Morolo, the acting General Manager of ‘The Marion’ welcomed all present and gave a small introduction to this beautiful Boutique Hotel on our doorstep. He invited the community to pop in and introduce themselves to him and that he may be able to offer a special ‘neighbourly” rate. They pride themselves on the personal touch and have much to offer including a Spa.
3. “THE YEAR THAT WAS” - A REMINDER OF WHAT WE ARE ABOUT AND WHAT IS TO COME (VERONICA VURGARELLIS - Chairperson)
Veronica ran through the role of the HGC and reminded us that it was a non-profit organisation aimed at improving community living – and that it was run purely by residents of a on a voluntary basis. It was a combination of: CONSOLIDATION of the community’s resources, skills and funds; COMMUNICATION of relevant and pertinent information and CO-OPERATION with one another to achieve common benefits.
A PROJECTS ACHIEVED over the last year:
i) PBO Status - The HGC is now officially a Public Benefit Organisation. There was now a Tax benefit and money that could flow back into residents’ pockets.
ii) Communication levels had increased dramatically through the formation of very interactive Whatsapp street groups, regular newsletters and a very informative and up-to-date website.
iii) Fibre - the fastest available internet. The security cameras had already started the live feed and a demonstration was screened just before the meeting commenced. As the installation of fibre to specific segments of the neighbourhood was completed, so the relevant cameras were being connected. There was however a need for additional cameras plus more modern cameras and lighting where the cameras operate.
iv) Clever Cameras - we would not be able to have these without the installation of fibre and they would become more financially viable now that the HGC had achieved PBO status.
John Currie from Parkmore gave an overview further on about what residents could do now that they had Fibre.
B ONGOING PROJECTS
i) Continue security monitoring which included communication and co-operation with SAPS, CPF (Community Policing Forum) and CSS. One could not make the neighbourhood perfectly safe but Veronica emphasised that we could all share resources and get to know to the community - and that each of us is responsible for this. A community is required to look after a community.
ii) Communication - Veronica asked the audience if they were getting monthly newsletters or if whether they had checked the website lately?
The sharing of information was important from the community to the SAPS and to CSS (our nominated private security contractor) via the camera monitoring - in addition to sharing information with the other security operators and there was still work to be done to improve communication levels between all these parties.
iii) Taking care of the Spruit - there had been enormous developments on the Spruit. Committee member Gerrit Fourie (Environment Portfolio) was painstakingly gaining traction in the clean-up operations as homeless people were on the increase. This was a difficult situation that needed to be managed holistically and sympathetically.
iv) The last of the on-going projects was to monitor, assist and ensure compliance with zoning and by-law transgressions.
C ENVISAGED NEW INITIATIVES
i) Improve Corporate Governance as a direct result of getting PBO status. We ensure the proper structures are established and legitimate.
ii) Improve and facilitate greater co operation between all security providers.
iii) Improve membership levels. As a percentage of the previous number of properties in the HGC area, membership levels had remained static BUT the number of homes had increased due to sub-divisions. Further, contributions had now sadly dropped to less than 50%. The HGC wanted to look at leveraging-off the CSS sales force and wanted to get permission from residents to make available – for this specific purpose only - our residents’ details. Veronica asked the audience if they would be prepared to have CSS talk to them?
iv) Improve ageing infrastructure. New cameras and related equipment needed to be purchased and the HGC wanted to look at the possibility of consolidating home camera solutions with the CSS-monitored systems.
v) Maintaining a by-law transgression register.
vi) Extend the Social Media presence. The HGC wanted to look at the possibility of a Facebook page and free community advertising.
4. SAPS UPDATE - SECTOR 1 (CONSTABLE VINCENT HLONGWANE)
Constable Hlongwane from Randburg SAPS introduced his two colleagues namely Colonel Mudau and Constable “Kappa”.
He emphasised the need for the Community to work together. He reinforced the need for neighbours to ‘Meet and Greet’ each other and to look out for each other as an integral part of buiding our spirit of community.
He applauded the amazing community turnout but stressed that the Domestic Watch programme was very poorly attended and that this was of enormous benefit to our domestics as it was the forum where the SAPS taught domestics the latest trends and tricks used by criminals. He referred to the very recent armed robbery in neighbouring Braemar Avenueas a typical example of an incident which could easily have been avoided. He explained that the gates and front door of the property were open and the domestic worker ran away from the security guards, allowing the perpetrators to walk free as the private security firm did not know who was responsible.
He appealed to the community to keep their gates closed and to lock your doors when practical. Criminals will seize an easy opportunity.
Constable Hlongwane stated that most of us had ALL the necessary security measures in place - but that we did not use them and that if we did use them properly, the number of incidents would drop.
Constable Hlongwane thanked Chris Thomas (Chairperson of CPF) Sue Attridge (Lovat Road Volunteer) and Gerrit Fourie (Environmental Portfolio) for their positive and very helpful contributions made to assist our community and Randburg police. He also told us that his commitment to the HGC was be “HE LOVED US!”
5. INTRODUCTION OF CHRIS THOMAS - COMMUNITY POLICING FORUM
Chris Thomas (CPF Chairman) stated that of all the suburbs in Sector 1 the HGC always had the best attendance and thanked Isobel (Security Portfolio) and Sue Attridge. In this forum all crime information was shared by SAPS including all suburb concerns. Chris attended further meetings with Sector 2 and 3 where further information was shared.
JMPD also attended to discuss by-law transgressions. He stated that they got excellent service and feedback from Randburg Police and that Randburg also had a Trauma Centre which was funded by the CPF. CPF would raise funds and get sponsorships from various large organisations and in turn provide necessary computers and cell phones that could assist the SAPS in doing their work.
CPF had also worked very well with Gerrit Fourie (Environment) on the Spruit to try and improve the area.
Chris thanked Constable Vincent Hlongwane for all his efforts.
6. CSS - JOSHUA NEL (REGIONAL TACTICAL MANAGER) LIVE CAMERA FEED AND INTRODUCTION TO WAYNE LAMPRECHT (NEW AREA MANAGER)
Josh Nel introduced the HGC new Area Manager Wayne Lamprecht. Josh also stated that Constable Hlongwane was passionate about what he did and congratulated the HGC for its participation.
Josh confirmed that Vuma was putting in the last backbone of fibre and that the area solution had to be an holistic one. Once the fibre installation was complete the cameras would stream live back to the CSS control room. He emphasised hoever that NEW cameras were a must.
Josh showed a series of graphs depicting the crime stats in SA and the HGC incidents in comparison, to show perspective. Follow-homes and house invasions had increased. He stated that there were “spotters’ sitting around shopping centres looking at the jewellery and that they knew exactly what a fake and a real Rolex watch looked like. Their MO was to identify you, and then activate the group of people who followed you home and then robbed you. There had been 4 such incidents in the HGC area over the last year. The perpetrators wanted to get in and out in the shortest possible time and in many instances there was no time for alarm activations. House robberies were also on the increase and that many follow-homes led to homeinvasions.
He emphasised the need for residents to please check the working order of their external beams and electric fences. In many cases ants got into the wiring, creating nests, and home owners were often unaware that their beams were not working. PLEASE TEST YOUR EQUIPMENT MONTHLY.
Josh stressed the importance of being able to trust our domestic workers. Some terrible incidents had occurred, even with long-standing staff (one case was an example 14 years’ employment). Some tips were to not ask your gardener to work outside your property with the remote control on him. Rather to use a pedestrian gate or the intercom for access (gardeners with remote controls are targeted by would be perps).
Josh reminded residents that, if they felt they were being followed, to take a few left turns and keep driving if you have ANY suspicion that you are being followed. DO NOT GO HOME but rather call CSS control room – or your own armed response company - and await back up vehicle assistance.
He also reminded residents not to turn into their driveway until their gate had fully opened – and then check again that you are alone – before driving in
When compared with the stats in the Randburg area (our policing sector) the HGC stats were impressive. He closed off stating that currently CSS had 155 clients in the HGC zone.
7. FINANCE (LLEWELLYN WATSON)
‘Welly’ ran through the financial statements and mentioned there was a very small amount of revenue coming in from an advertising board on the corner of St Andrews and William Nicol but otherwise all revenue came from contributors. The primary cost is to pay CSS for public space security (PSS)
Where bad debts used to be collected, the books had now been cleaned up and bad debts written-off as they were no longer relevant.
Since the cameras had not been working, this portion of the expenses had not been paid to CSS so there was money in the bank. However due to the very worrying lack of contributions, the HGC was actually running at a loss and this meant that although there are funds in the bank, these need to be utilised to cover operating costs and cannot be used for capital expenditure.
He stated that sales efforts have been placed on hold the past year as it was obviously an un-compelling offer (with cameras not working). However that position had now changed - with fibre – and the cameras were well on the way to being fully operational – and our new PBO status offered a financial bonus.
It was now vital for current non-contributers and new residents - to step up and contribute.
Whilst the HGC did not want to advertise the fact that contributions had fallen to below 50%, it is in fact sitting at 44%). If we do not get new contributors on board – and soon - the HGC and our all-important enviable good security status would fall apart. It was no longer a fair proposition to get the current contributing members to pay more.
The HGC was also currently in a handover phase after changing accountants and auditors (in order to cut costs) and has also moved the Secretary Registered Office to a new P O Box address. All the changesTare part of the streamlining process.
Unfortunately the HGC had received deplorable service from Standard Bank with the switchover – and it had been “an horrific experience dealing with them”. Consequently, no debits runs have happened due to the bank’s apparent incompetence. It is hoped this will be rectified shortly.
The HGC had achieved the IT Exemption (Section 18A). Although this process had taken 2 years, it was finally completed. Because the HGC was now a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) , normal tax rules no longer applied. HGC was now considered a net VAT receiver and they could claim VAT back.
Receipts would be issued each month and at the end of the Financial Year, residents would receive a section 18(A) certificate which would entitle them to recover a portion of their contributions to the HGC from SARS.
In order to maintain this PBO status, an appeal was made to the residents to assist in this Portfolio and form a small subcommittee to get the Corporate Governance in order. Volunteers were needed. We are delighted to say that another resident has stepped up to assist.
8. ENVIRONMENT (GERRIT FOURIE)
Gerrit thanked Lois Evans for setting-up the Environmental Portfolioand getting it off the ground. He explained that they were basically covering the work that the Municipality used to do in terms of trimming the verges, maintaining servitudes and cleaning-up the Spruit area.