Letter: SRA making difference in Richmond Hill

I WRITE in response to the letter from Sarah van Vuuren, “Newton Park our choice any day” (February 11).

First, Sarah, welcome to Richmond Hill and the first successful SRA in the Eastern Cape. Many thanks for your letter regarding local pubs, spaza shops and other problems.

Maintaining the historic value and the residential character of our suburb is one of our core values. We are well aware of the problems, and are in constant dialogue with the municipality and the land use enforcement monitors.

We rely on municipal officials to enforce the municipal bylaws, as we do not have the power to do so. More often than not, landlords skirt around the system and find loopholes to suit their cause.

We do not have the authority to fix broken sidewalks or fill potholes. This is a municipal function and we send complaints to our ward councillor (Morne Steyn) and the municipality, but the response is often dependent on what municipal funding is available.

The SRA offers a top-up cleaning service over and above the municipal collection days. I suggest you familiarise yourself with specific collection days and times for your street.

In addition, we attend to dumping hot spots, undertake blitz cleaning, and clear bush and trees where necessary.

We have a 24-hour visible patrolling service, but do not offer armed response. Our patrollers are in constant contact with the SA Police Service and the private security companies.

Beggars and car guards are a constant problem, but we have engaged with the retail stakeholders in the area and they have promised to regulate the car guards.

We enjoy a close relationship with the Humewood SAPS, and generally have good response from the municipal waste, parks and treasury departments.

Overall, the levy the residents pay for the SRA is miniscule compared to the benefits and services that we offer.

I encourage you to join our various social media pages, attend the bi-monthly residents’ meetings and get involved as a stakeholder so as to be kept informed of developments within The Hill.

A number of other suburbs have approached us wishing to duplicate the SRA concept in their areas. It must be understood that Rome wasn’t built in a day, but we are moving forward rapidly.

We take great pride in our suburb and in the success of the SRA!