FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE CAMERA PROJECT ABOUT?
Installing security cameras at strategic points along our two streets, has strong potential to deter and reduce criminal activity. The project aims to install cameras covering vulnerable access points in our neighbourhood and leverage existing cameras too. Strategic cameras will be actively monitored by an external security company
HOW WILL THE CAMERA SET UP WORK?
To begin with we will install nine 80-meter range, network-based cameras. Five refurbished donated by Garreth Keevy and four to be purchased. Additional privately-owned cameras at strategic points will also be added to this network and actively monitored. Cameras will monitor mainly pedestrian activity from the park into the two roads.
WHO WILL MONITOR THE CAMERAS?
For maximum effectiveness, cameras need to have high-resolution and artificial intelligence capabilities (learn faces, license plate numbers etc.), detect and notify when unusual or irregular ones appear. Community members will have access to camera's for monitoring, but more importantly an external company will be contractually onboarded to actively monitor the camera network.
WHAT ARE THE UPFRONT AND ONGOING COSTS?
In addition to the donated cameras, installation of the other cameras in phase 1 is budgeted at R22,500. The monitoring cost for the first 12 months of the project has been quoted at R550 per camera. The best way forward, from a cost, benefit and risk point of view, is to collect all installation and set-up costs and some monitoring costs, in an upfront contribution and to require a reduced monthly contribution to cover the shortfall in the monitoring charges. The total budget for the first 12 months is R95,100.
CAN RESIDENTIAL CAMERAS BE LINKED TO THE NETWORK?
Residential cameras can be added for street monitoring. These will need to be High resolution Hikvision cameras. UPS or backup power would be needed to maintain cameras during loadshedding. A minimum 50MG up and down is also required to ensure community and Beagle are able to monitor cameras. To the extend that these cameras provide community-wide value because they cover vulnerable or strategic areas, the monitoring costs will be paid for by the NPC. However, if a resident wishes their cameras to also be monitored by the security company at their own cost (R550 per month) they can also be connected to this network.
WHAT PAYMENT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?
For this initiative to be successful collective community support and contributions are imperative. To this end we have made contributing easy with a variety of payment methods.
The cheapest for the NPC, would be for all households to set up a recurring EFT directly into our bank account. The details are here. We will also have the ability shortly to receive debit order instructions as well as a credit card payment gateway on this website. Both of the latter two options cost more in terms of bank charges, leaving less of your contribution for the NPC to use. We therefore encourage recurring EFTs.
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WHAT IS THE EXPECTED FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION PER HOUSEHOLD?
Participation is voluntary and not at all mandated. The more households that sign up to contribute financially, the smaller each contribution will be. We know different folks have different means and place different priority on security. To become a voting member of the Non-Profit Company (see our Memorandum of Incorporation), the minimum upfront contribution is R1,970 and the ongoing monthly contribution is R65 per household.
However, we will gratefully accept any contributions. Whatever amounts we do receive, we will put to work. And we will only take the project as far as our financial means allow.
FUND MANAGEMENT
The Non-Profit Company is required to maintain books of account, which can be reviewed on request by members. There will always be between three and five directors who oversee the NPC's activities. Two of the three founding Directors are Chartered Accountants, as is the accounting officer of the company. As new residents move into the community, they will be invited to join the camera project too, at the same upfront and monthly contributions as everybody else. For people moving out of the community, they will stop contributing monthly but not be entitled to any costs refunded.