Domestic Watch

REPORT FROM THE EGSA

DOMESTIC FORUM

 

Purpose: Working Together, Creating Awareness And  

                 Aiming Towards asafer community         

 

Date:         25 November 2009

                  

Emmarentia Greenside Domestic workers teaparty was held at the Emmarentia Sailing Club for the third and last meeting ofthe year pertaining for the discussion associated with the security welfaresaround the area. We gathered to follow up on the previous meeting, reinforceunity and co-operation between the domestic workers, Fidelity Reaction Servicesand the South African Police Services at Emmarentia and Greenside. We had thesame 20 members in the group as in the previous meetings. They had some tea andbiscuits as they came.

 

FidelitySecurity Services: Priscilla Madondo

 

Priscilla gave a warm welcome to thegroup and appreciated their unfailing presence and commitment to the gesture.She commented about the owners going out on holidays during the festive seasonand the importance of the domestics to be more alert and vigilant, in order tosafe guard their life’s and the houses they are employed to look after.Information sharing and taking relevant actions towards combating crime was stillthe topic of the day, so it was important that people share their concerns andexperiences in terms of crime related issues. We did a recap onthe previous matters and requested feedback from the SAPS if any action hasbeen taken regarding those incidents.

 

SAPS: Supt Magudulela

 

She warned the group that it is that time of the yearwhen everybody has to take precautions in whatever they do because criminalsare really at work.  She explained thenature of crimes they are dealing with, that is house robberies, motor vehicletheft and shoplifting during this period. They are engaged in the special operations,whereby they work together with the security companies to raid the houses insearch of illegal immigrants. She requested that the residents and thedomestics should bear with them and give full support because this is the onlysolution in underpinning syndicates that emanate within the houses and causes problemsfor the entire community. Strangers should be reported at all times so thatthey can be approached to identify themselves.

 

Feedback

 

  • Botanical Gardens Robberies – Arrest has been made and the suspect is linked to other houses robberies.

 

 

 

Concerns

 

  • Green Venture – 3 males travelling along Mayfield road
  • White Chico - 2 Adult males and 4 Young males targeting Umtata. Car registration always changing but the car and occupants always the same.
  • White woman selling vegetables in an attempt to get inside the property.
  •  Black woman with baby pretending to ask for food and water, after gaining access the accomplice will surface and rob the house.
  • The scam of giving R2000.00 for investment in return of R5000.00 and a trip to China.
  • A call form person pretending to be an employee at the Dept of Labour, back checking whether the employee was registered for UIF and asks for the domestic details and traces their movements during that time. They later phone the employer with the information, giving the impression that they are family of the domestic and claims that the particular domestic has died on her way to where she was going and asks for the money for the funeral from the employer.

 

 

Suggestions and Recommendations

 

  1. People need to be aware of their surroundings, more especially at the banks and Atm’s because the festive season is approaching and crime is always rife at this time of the year.
  2. Speak to the Car guards at Checkers to be on a lookout of the White Chico because the 2 Adults wait there while the 4 young ones explore the area to find their targets.
  3. Never disclose personal any other information to strangers that may lead to you being defrauded. Ask questions to confirm if the person or the caller is legitimate.
  4. During the holidays make sure that there is someone in the house to keep the lights on at night, open and close the windows to discourage criminals from noticing that the house is vacant.
  5. Report suspicious vehicle or individual wandering around aimlessly in the area to the police.
  6. Panic buttons should be given to domestics.
  7. The anonymous tip off telephone number and the emergency number to be made available to the residents and domestics so that they will be able to report incidents to security via the phone.

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

The meeting progressedperfectly, and Anne Askews wrapped it up and wished everyone well for thefestive season and safe trips home and we dispersed. The next meeting will be heldat the Emmarentia Sailing Club on the 27th January 2010 at 10h00.

 

Written by Priscilla Madondo

 

 

 

 

 

Please Note: These telephone numbers have to be available in allthe homes.

 

Emergency No.: 10111  

 

SAPS Parkview:  011 486 5000          

 

Tip-offs Anonymous: 080 000 2222 or 302211

 

Fidelity ReactionServices:  086 11 11 999