The Long Version

In June 2020, after yet another mugging/attack, a call-to-action was initiated to gather like-minded people in order to tackle this problem as a community.

For too long have we "given way" to criminals, not only in our country but also in George.. in our most prized and coveted areas of nature, that George is absolutely famous for!

From this call to action, two groups were born.

Reaction Group

One group consists of volunteers that are willing to physically respond after attacks are reported, to show up in force and to try and apprehend the criminals, and "push back" against this unwanted element. If you wish to offer your services as a volunteer, please get in contact with us.

Discussion/Reporting Group

The 2nd group became the "eyes and ears" group. This group is used to report any sightings/physical incidents and doubles as a discussion platform regarding these issues. This group grew rapidly, and within days, the group had to be moved to Telegram to accommodate all the new members.

Since June 2020, the Reaction Group was activated 13 times (over 15 incidents). Culprits have been spotted and pursued multiple times, and we've recently had a good "win!"

In January 2021, the topic was revisited with all the stakeholders and leaders that represent groups of people that make use of the areas. All the major groups and MTB shops were invited. Please ask them for feedback on the subject within your own structures. We try to keep the community up to date, but it is easier to use your existing group/channel to get updates on the initiative. The KOFS initiative continuously updates these groups on our efforts.

It was agreed, in this meeting, that a different approach should be followed, as the reaction team on its own, is not effective enough due to late reporting of incidents, the vast area to be covered, availability of volunteers etc.

It was decided that:

• A committee is to be established.
• Funds to be raised from within the community.
• To fight the problem with the help of paid-for security services to help patrol the area.

This initiative has now reached the point where we need to ask for donations.

Our goal for 2021, is to buy private security services for 15 months as well as 5 x CCTV cameras to be installed on the perimeter of the plantation towards the Montagu pass.

We have already entered into an agreement with Greystorm Tactical to run a preliminary 3 month period of security services. After this 3-month period, discussions will be revised between KOFS and Greystorm Tactical with the aim to extend this service for another 12 months.

What we will buy as a service, is the following:

• 2 x Random Patrols per day through the Witfontein Plantation Area.
• A control room number to call to report an incident, which will be handled like any armed response call.
• This security company will also provide assistance when unsavory characters are reported.

This service will be provided to us at R7500/month.

It has been mentioned that 2 x patrols per day are not enough. We like to offer the viewpoint of not 2 patrols per day, but 60 patrols per month! That is 60 more patrols than what there currently are...

Volunteer Patrols

We will probably add volunteer patrols to supplement the patrol amounts per day/week. Once we have all our permits in place, we will finalise this decision.

CCTV Cameras

For this year, we would like to try and achieve a goal of installing at least 5 x PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) security cameras, probably on the edges of the plantation to keep an eye on traffic in and out of the plantation, but also to be used as a tracing tool to trace culprits that may have entered/exited the area pre and post-attack.

Decent, good quality PTZ cameras are quite expensive, and no quotations have been finalized yet. We are working on a rough estimate of about R20,000.00 per camera.

As the KOFS committee, we would like to see this initiative become a permanent arrangement. Funded, managed and maintained, by the community making use of the area.

Budget Requirements

Our initial budget shown here includes 15 months of security services (900 patrols), as well as the purchase and installation of the 5 PTZ cameras. A budget for 2022 will be calculated closer to the time, but we foresee a much lower 2nd-year cost, due to the fact that the purchasing of the cameras is a once-off expense. This budget also includes the back-a-buddy commission fee for making use of their platform.

We may, at some point, change tactics and use money in different ways that are proposed here. We run an "open-book", and any and all implementations are at all times shared with the community.

Committee

The current committee consists of 3 members:

• Louis van Tonder (Chairman)
• Attie Bedeker
• Heinz Reinstorf

Minutes to all meetings are available upon written request. Please feel free to contact any of the committee members if you would like to discuss something specific.

Please note that all recommendations and ideas are welcomed, and they are to be submitted via email to louisvantonder@gmail.com.

Permission and Progress

We are in the final stages of obtaining our legal permit, for the KOFS community group, to enter and patrol the Witfontein Plantation. This permit is issued by D.E.F.F. We are currently waiting on our DEFF permit.

Greystrorm Tactical has been involved with our planning for the last month and is standing by for the go-ahead to start once we can appoint them as our service provider, to patrol the grounds on our behalf.

Our Platforms

Telegram:

Find us on Telegram. We don't provide a join link here, as that will just invite unwanted guests. Ask around, someone will add you ;-)

WhatsApp Reaction Group:

Ask around... If you get in touch with the right people, you can be added to this group. We run a lean and mean operation in the Reaction Group, and we don't just add people on a whim due to how serious we regard this group.

Facebook PAGE:

Please hit like on our Facebook page, to receive updates when we post them.
Facebook Page

Facebook GROUP:

This is a Facebook GROUP where you can post and discuss questions and ideas.
Join our group to participate.
Facebook Discussion Group

Donations

Funding is progressing well. Please have a look at our donations page to see updated information.

If you have not made a contribution yet, please understand that other normal people have already contributed, for you, who are reading this, to have a safer experience in our forested areas.

Please consider this fact, and realize that if you want a safer area, you will have to help us to achieve this by making a donation!

We are more than 1000 citizens that can directly be counted making use of the area. There are also lots more people that are not part of any groups or organizations, which we cannot count.

Please support this cause. We are more than enough people to make this work if everyone contributes something! Let's take back our forested areas, and push back against criminal elements that have for far too long been "welcomed" into the area to attack us!

Thank you for your time.

Louis van Tonder
Chairman, Keep Our Forest Safe