1. PURPOSE

To brief the Adhoc committee on Public Works regarding the intervention strategies at the Parliamentary Villages to ensure the safety of all Members of Parliament and Sessional Officials.

2. DISCUSSION

1. The Department received various complaints regarding the crime situation in Acacia Park after which they analysed the situation, not only at Acacia Park but also the other Parks to enable it to devise intervention strategies to reduce the number of burglaries.
2. Current Status and Intervention Strategies

• Tenants not completing vacant house register when leaving houses overnight or weekends.
• Insufficient SAPS VIP Protection officials available
• No prior arrangements made for visitors entering the Parks
• A number of Illegal tenants that need to be evicted
• Burglar alarms not activated when tenants leave residences
• Original Master codes of alarms not personalised by tenants
• Lack of burglar bars
• Tenants do not adhere to the Park rules
• Tenants do not take responsibility for their own safety

2. Intervention Strategies:

• SAPS have increased the visibility of VIP Protection services from three policemen to five policemen per shift at Acacia Park. Two additional vehicles have also been provided for prompt response in cases of emergency.
• Ensure all tenants understand operating instructions of alarms. This is currently been facilitated by Chubb Alarms on a door to door basis and on appointment
• Chubb is currently ensuring that all alarms are operational
• Tenant’s responsibility to activate alarms to be added to the Parks rules.
• Project for the installation of a new perimeter fence and the upgrading of the perimeter lighting at Acacia Park commenced in February 2004 and was completed on 29 May 2004
• Razor wire has being fitted on top of vibracrete fence at Acacia Park
• For improved access control measures tenants must display existing Parliamentary access cards
• Access cards will be issued to dependants as soon as Parliament has provided the Department with the dependant’s list
• SAPS to ensure that visitors sign in and out when entering Parks
• Eviction notices has been issued to all known illegal tenants
• A minute has been issued to all owners notifying them that abandoned vehicles should be removed or will be towed away.
• The project for the installation of burglar bars at Acacia Park will commence on the 15^th June 04.
• All MPs to submit completed Parks application forms by 04 June 04. (Application forms was issued to Housing Whips during February 2004)

An audit was conducted from 15 April 2004 to 18 April 2004 respectively to verify as to whom is currently at the park during the recess period. Discrepancies have been identified in respect of the Members of Parliament and Sessional Officials.

The said discrepancies relate to extended families of Members of Parliament and Sessional Officials etc, which are identified as dependants. The definition of a dependant is quite broad. However, the Department has issued eviction notices to the dependants that do not appear on the list that was received from Parliament on 16 April 2004 (This list has not been updated yet and does not include the new members).

Persons residing at the domestic rooms whom are not entitled to accommodation at the domestic rooms have also been given fourteen days notice to vacate their respective units.

Failure to vacate will leave the Department with no alternative but to refer the matter to the Office of the State Attorney for possible evictions. (The matter was referred on 31^st May 2004)

The Department has developed a database for issuing access cards for all legitimate dependants residing with the legal tenants at the village. However, this will only be issued once Parliament has provided the Department with an updated list of dependants. The said access cards will be issued by the Parks Manager. Before the cards are issued, the Parks Manager will consult with the residents committee and verify the dependants’ names against Parliament’s dependant list.

It must also be mentioned that Members of Parliament and Sessional Officials will use their current Parliamentary access cards to gain access at the parks.

• At Acacia Park the installation of a razor wire on top of the perimeter fence has been completed.
• At Acacia Park installation of a new perimeter fence together with the upgrading of security lights along the perimeter fence has also been completed.
• The tender process of the installation of burglar bars has been finalised. The project will commence on 15 June 2004.

Seven CCTV cameras have been installed at the main gate of the village. Three of them are faced to control the big metal gate used by busses, three of them at the main gate, access to cars and pedestrians. The said cameras watch the incoming and outgoing entrances.

• It is indeed true that the Board and Residents Committee do not sit regularly as expected, reason being that the proposed dates and time do not coincide with the Members of the Board and Committee Members.
• A strategic plan has been drafted, to have these meetings after hours, when Parliament has adjourned and the Department will make the necessary arrangements to transport the Members back to their various Parks.

The Departments Regional Office staff is in continues discussion with all stakeholders to ensure a safe and pleasant environment in all the Parliamentary Villages.