Sergeant Mashile, from the Edenvale SAPS Social Crime Prevention division, and Renee Basson, the Edenvale Community Development Manager at Fidelity ADT, attended assembly at Edenglen High School on 11 March to talk to the Grade 8 and 9 pupils about safety. “In light of the recent criminal activity in and around Edenvale, and at some Edenvale Schools, we felt it was important to address the learners and make them aware of how to be safe, keep their homes safe and to report crime,” says Basson. “As Fidelity ADT, we are particularly passionate about the safety and lives of our children in the communities we serve.”
The speakers identified the different Sectors in the area making the learners aware of what Sector they fall into. They encouraged the learners to make sure their families are part of the Whatsapp group for their Sector. They then discussed Emergency numbers and the importance of keeping these visible and accessible.
“We also discussed at length safety tips for the learners which included staying safe when getting to and from school and while at home,” explains Basson. “We believe it is important for these young adults to know how to use the alarm system at home and to be able to activate the alarm when they leave the house, and to use the alarm in ‘Stay’ mode when at home. This deactivates certain zones inside the house which allows them to walk around the house without setting off the alarm. This is crucial for children who go home by themselves and are alone until a parent comes home.”
She adds that they encouraged the learners to know how to use the panic button, and to know where the buttons are. “The panic must be pressed for 3 seconds to activate.”
“The learners were very receptive to our talk and we hope it will raise their level of safety awareness going forward.”
“Fidelity ADT has a strong relationship with the Edenvale South African Police Service (SAPS), as well as the Edenvale Community Policing Forum (ECPF). Together with other private security companies in the area, we are all committed to working together every day to make Edenvale a safer suburb for all its residents,” concludes Basson.
ENDS