Sundowner Residents' Association

At present, the Residents in Sundowner are enjoying a relatively crime free existence despite the rising of crime in neighboring areas. This is largely as a result of the efforts of the Sundowner Residents Association (SRA) funded by paying members. To achieve this success, the SRA contracts the services of an effective security company, Piranha Security, who provides both proactive and reactive security in the suburb. As the SRA operates completely as a non-profit organization with committee members serving on a voluntary basis, it is the paying members that form the basis of our financial support. Obviously then, the more paying members the more effective the service can be. To this end, voluntary members will be visiting non-paying residents on a recruitment drive for the association to boost the income of the SRA.

Activities and benefits of the SRA include:

• 24 hour access control, booms manned by trained security officers at all access points into the Sundowner area at Apollo, Denne, Taurus and Roan streets. Each boom has fully equipped guard huts complete with emergency communications, toilets, electricity and water.
• 24 hour dedicated monitoring and reaction vehicle, including backup vehicles.
• Proactive and reactive security service.
• Radio alarm link to your alarm system with armed reaction and monitoring incl. in the SRA fee.Excl installation fee of radio and annual license fee payable to Piranha.
• 24 hour cell phone contact to the Piranha reaction vehicle.
• Proactive monitoring prevented a number of crimes taking place.
• Reactive instances resulted in a number of crimes being foiled.

What successes has the SRA had?

• The SRA has been instrumental in dramatically and effectively reducing crime in the Sundowner area.
• In 2009, there were only 10 incidents of crime (This is against a backdrop of ever increasing traffic flow and 300 new residents moving into new complexes in the area as well as crime increase in neighboring areas).
• Crime statistics show that nearby neighboring suburbs have upwards of 20 incidents per month.

The following table indicates the reduction in crime over the past few years:

• 1996 – 101
• 1997 -  128
• 1998 – 159
• 1999 – 160
• 2000 – 109
• 2001 – 59
• 2002 – 41
• 2003 – 30
• 2004 – 16
• 2005 – 11
• 2006 – 10
• 2007 – 8
• 2008 – 9
• 2009 - 10

• We CANNOT afford  to become complacent about crime and need ensure that continued success of the SRA.
• Our aim is to be a “ZERO CRIME” area.

How is the SRA funded?

• Obviously, these benefits do come at a financial cost.
• We rely on the support of the residents to ensure the success and sustainability of the SRA.
• In order to ensure that premiums remain affordable we are dependent on the contribution of ALL residents. 
• Currently 65% of residents are paying members of the SRA! 

What will it cost the member?

• The monthly cost is currently R480 per freestanding household (The rates for townhouse complexes are dependant on the size of the complex, and whether or not they request a drive through service.)
• In order to keep the fee affordable, we need to ensure that more residents join the SRA.
• Dependant on new members signing up, we may even be able to reduce this fee in future.

How does a resident sign up?

• The preferred method of payment is by debit order.
• Please contact Anne Koppenaal or the Piranha Patrol Vehicle.

• If you are selling your property, or aware of new neighbours moving into the area we kindly request that you inform the buyer about the SRA and the costs and benefits associated therewith.

How do we control this situation in our suburb without the necessary funds and the financial support of all residents in Sundowner?? In short we cannot. We need more membership support Everything we do, costs money except for the time which the SRA committee devotes to the suburb free of charge. Crime does not keep office hours, security has to be 24 hours both proactive and reactive. Do not compare reactive only services to the SRA.
Just imagine the scenario if all of the Sundowner booms, guards, reaction vehicle plus fencing and road closures were to be removed. Where would our crime stats be?? The answer can be seen by just observing other suburbs that do not have these facilities.

Crime in the surrounding suburbs is on the increase and this could easily be the case in Sundowner. The Honeydew police are seriously understaffed. The police alone are under resourced we the community, therefore, have to take responsibility for our own security. Just a few minutes can make the difference between a life and death circumstance.

By the way, we also maintain the park in Taurus, the area around the post boxes at the Sundowner Shopping Centre, the koppie , park where the ducks and geese live, Drysdale on the right towards the Spar, garden and cutting of grass in Apollo Road, cutting of grass at the back of the houses along Northumberland, garden in Denne. This and much more is all accomplished with SRA staff and equipment and managed by the SRA Office.

Estate agents operating in Sundowner are quick to mention the SRA benefits and the security provided in the suburb which adds additional value to all the properties including yours.

If you are already a paying member, please inform those who are not members about what we are achieving in our area and encourage them to join. Remember the more members on board the lower the levy or the more that can be achieved.

Contact Anne Koppenaal at the SRA office 795-2103 or 083-293-1202 or

Landscaping at Sundowner Entrances