INDUSTRY FOCUS all along the
INDUSTRY FOCUS all along the
WATCHTOWER
“ Crime and grime ” has become a catchphrase in the built environment community . Eliminating crime is now the top priority for everyone in the business of developing and selling real estate in South
Africa .
With more than 10 000 registered security companies , South Africa has one of the largest private security industries worldwide . The extent to which we rely on the private sector for our personal safety and security is exemplified by the fact that there are 2.5 security personnel for every police officer in the country – and this number is growing exponentially with our crime rate . Out of necessity , private security performs functions in the public sphere which used to be the sole domain of the South African Police Service .
However , most built environments , including residential estates , are private rather than public spaces , which have always been the domain of private security personnel . Homeowners and investors purchase property behind these walls with the expectation that their security needs will be taken care of . In today ’ s South Africa , one of the main reasons people opt for estate living is personal safety , as well as the peace of mind of knowing that their property ’ s value remains unaffected by crime .
Rob Anderson & Associates ( RA & A ) is a security consulting and electrical engineering company based in Westville near Durban . The firm has been involved in more than 500 electrical and security projects since Rob Anderson started his operation in 1997 .
The security side of the consulting business provides holistic solutions for office and residential estates , which have included Zimbali , Thesen Islands and Sibaya Coastal Precinct .
“ I act on behalf of developers to get them the best possible deal with service providers . The benefit of using us rather than directly approaching a security company is that we act as the client ’ s agent and minimise their risk , as well as ensuring an integrated solution is provided ” says Rob .
RA & A ’ s service includes consultation , professional guidance and security solution design . The final step in their process is to put the infrastructure installation out to tender .
“ We have zero vested financial interest in projects , apart from the system being fully operational .”
Any risk on the part of the client is negated by their professional indemnity insurance . Another plus for developers using their service is that contractors negotiate directly with Rob and his team , rather than the client or developer .
“ Our aim is ultimately to inform and advise the architects that our clients use , enabling