Memeza security alarms receive praises

The handover of house alarm system devices called Memeza Community Policing Alarms to the community of Ekurhuleni West was a success.

The handover took place at the Germiston Police Station hall on Thursday, December 1.

Nkukeng Legodi of CPF explained that rolling out devices is going to help defeat crime, although the community still needs to work together with the police.

“People need to report to the police all crime they are aware of.

“The aim of this gathering is to hand over the alarm devices to the beneficiaries of Memeza Community Policing Alarms. Our main aim is to make the community safe. But this will still need us to work together as the community.

“We have to dedicate this handover to the two patrollers who lost their lives in two separate incidents that took place recently.

“The two incidents took place at Thokoza and Zonkizizwe. Both volunteers lost their lives while saving lives,” said Legodi.

Thami Molefe, the Memeza project manager, explained how the alarm system works and said it is preferable to install the alarm system in the sitting room where your most expensive items are kept.

“The security system will be linked with the cellphone.

“When you leave your house you only press one button to put the alarm on. It will sense if someone is in the house. Then you will receive the message, warning you that something is happening in your house.

“It is not only the house owner who will receive the message. The community patrollers and South African Police Services (SAPS) will too. Even your neighbours, if you link them, are going to receive the same message. Then it is up to them how quickly they are going to respond to the call.

“Police, patrollers and neighbours will be alerted via message where the break-in is taking place because each alarm will have a unique security code,” said Molefe.

Molefe added that the beauty of the alarm is that if you forget to arm or disarm it, you can still do so using your cellphone, even if you are far away from home.

Lloyd Phiri, who represented the director of Safe Schools Management and Security Services, said schools are going to be safe.

“Computers and feeding schemes are the ones who are targeted the most by criminals. I think from now going forward there will be an improvement in terms of safety,” said Phiri.

Phiri concluded by urging the patrollers to use the security system wisely and not to talk to anyone about it as the criminals will be quick to adjust.

According to Sandile Ndulula, who spoke on behalf of the sponsors SAB, they are going to roll out the project until the end of the financial year.

“All Information Technology Centre schools in the province are going to receive these alarm systems. This is our way of keeping the public safe as most of the crimes are committed by people who are under the influence of liquor,” said Ndulula.