Lonehill Residents Association together with Fidelity Security share safety tips with domestic staff in the area

The Lonehill Residents Association hosted a security meeting for all Lonehill, Beverley and Pineslopes domestic staff on 31 October at Lonehill Village Church.

Lonehill Residents Association marketing manager Shelley Miller briefed the residents on closed-circuit television (CCTV) installed in the area and security services available to them.

General manager of the association Keith Rampton said, “Crime is on the increase due to unemployment and the Douglasdale police statistics state residential robberies have gone up by 23 per cent, hence the need to increase security in our area.

“If invasion of privacy is a concern, everyone needs to keep in mind that these cameras are for criminals and will not be used anything other than to detect and react on crime in the area as it happens.

“The con with CCTV is that crime will move to a different place. Other areas in Fourways have installed Vuma cams which means crime can easily move to Lonehill, so the more CCTV installations we get, the better.”

Currently, Lonehill has 58 cameras set in 20 different locations from all eight entry points.

After a full CCTV lesson by Rampton, by a show of hands from all domestic staff were in favour of future camera installations.

Lonehill residents are protected by the Fidelity Security and the company’s regional and area managers were there to talk all things security.

Security area manager Doctor Vilakazi said, “We are here because of the Domestic and Gardener Forum which has been created by the Lonehill Residents Association and Fidelity Security. This has been created because in most cases when crimes occur, you as domestic workers and gardens are the ones affected. As domestic workers, you are the managers of the house when the owners are away.”

Vilakazi cautioned the workers not to talk too much about their employer’s home to strangers. “You need to be careful when you have innocent conversations in taxis or streets because sometimes those are the same people that will break into the house because you unknowingly helped them with a ton of information you gave out.”

Fidelity Security regional manager Timothy Makondo said, “The festive season is around the corner, most domestic workers get arrested for being involved in house robberies because that’s when the owners are away on holiday.

“I ask that you love your employers because they are the ones that put bread on the table at home. Crime does not pay, in the end, you will be arrested. I further urge employers to know where their domestic staff lives and have a number for their next of kin in case they fall victim to crime.”

Makondo urged female domestic workers to always walk in a group, to and from work to avoid being victimised.

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