Saxonwold and Parkwood Residents Association increased to 12 members

Saxonwold and Parkwood Residents Association (Sapra) held its annual general meeting based on the chairman’s report for 2024 on November 14 at Saxonwold Primary.

Read more: Chairman of Sapra encourages young people to join the association

Chairman of Sapra Bill Haslam said the committee had increased from 10 to 12 people. He added the constitution was amended and read, ‘The Committee shall consist of not less than four and not more than fifteen members.’

Haslam said, “In terms of paragraph 7.2 of Sapra’s constitution, all committee members shall hold office until the termination of the subsequent annual general meeting.”

The following nominees remained available for nomination:

• Victoria Andrews
• Robyn Arnott
• Paul Barron
• Ronald Ennik
• Danie Griffith
• Michael Gristwood
• Mark Hansen
• Bill Haslam
• Fran Haslam
• Alison Levesley
• Anisa Mathura
• Kathy Scharrer
• David Taylor

Sapra’s security portfolio member, Paul Barron explained that the Committee’s mission was to promote or initiate any unlawful measures designed to enhance the safety and security of our residents, to facilitate adherence to and enforcement of appropriate laws, regulations, and by-laws in liaison with the City Council, South African Police Services, and other law enforcement agencies.

Also read: Sapra encourages more community participation

Barron added that Sapra strived to ensure that any proposed developments, businesses, and events were appropriate to and in character with the heritage, environment, and existing nature of Saxonwold and Parkwood.

Sapra’s achievements in 2024 include:

• Electricity- A memorandum of understanding of the infrastructure in the area was signed and allowed mini-substations to be locked and keys are made available to technicians to do their jobs if need be.
• Streetlights – Sapra has been working with City Power to connect the streetlights and get them to work.
• Stop signs -70 stop signs, humps, pedestrian crossings, and yellow lines were painted in Saxonwold and Parkwood at a total cost of R42 000.

Sapra’s focus in 2025:

• Engaging and understanding with the community
• Seek out any opportunity for collaboration

Raise awareness of initiatives such as:

• Road closures
• Security initiatives

Sapra’s external links:

• The committee needs to communicate with other organisations
• Growth of civil society organisations

Water supply and infrastructure

• Illegal water disconnections
• Accountability at the city

  

Sapra’s finance portfolio member Andrews added that as much as community events were fun, they were critical from a safety perspective because a connected society meant the community could alert one another of suspicious activity in the community.

The following events took place this year:

• An Easter picnic was hosted where 120 children had an egg hunt and families came together and enjoyed an afternoon.
• A Halloween party was held where 1 000 children and their families filled Parkwood and Saxonwold for trick and treats.
• Two blood drives were held which resulted in 68 lives being saved.

Andrews said Sapra would focus on the following in 2025:

• Factors that drive the Sapra committee is membership. There is a tiny percentage who pay for this membership which means only a few residents are shouldering the burden.
• The committee embarked on a social media strategy to communicate with residents and encourage them about membership.
• When Sapra finds out someone new has moved into the area, the committee drops off a welcome pack to help new residents plug into community news.

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Read more:SAPRA seeks to advance residents interests