South Africans Live in a Dangerous Gated World (Home Security in S.A.)

Recently I have begun looking at home security concepts as they are applied in South Africa.

Lauren Southern has a short YouTube video, "South Africans Live in a Dangerous Gated World" where she introduces some of the realities of home security in South Africa.

I found it interesting to see the steps that residents of South Africa take to secure their homes and compare that to the crime prevention measures that are common in other countries.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) provides a list of home security recommendations on their web-page.  Some of the SAPS security precautions include:

• Ensure that all doors are locked at all times, and that windows are closed when you are not at home.
• Large dogs serve as a deterrent. At least one dog should be trained to sleep inside the house.
• If you leave your residence, inform your family/ neighbours of your intended destination, time you expect to return and the route you will be driving, especially if you reside in a rural area.
• Ensure that tools such as axes, spades, picks, ladders, etc. that can be used in an attack, are locked away when you do not use them.
• Vary your daily routine.
• Get into the habit of not immediately falling asleep after switching off the lights. - Remain awake for a while.
• You should not be visible in the bedroom from the outside when you are asleep.
• Always keep a torch nearby at night and when you use it, ensure that you do not give away your position.
• If you are unsure about the security status of your home after returning from work/a visit, e.g. your dogs do not come to the gate, do not enter your home.
• Contact your neighbour to assist you in securing your home.
• Identify relatively safe places of refuge, i.e.: bathroom, toilet or storeroom.
• The fewer windows and doors these rooms have, the better.
• Involve employees as they are part of the family/team.
• Employees must be involved in maintaining security on an equal footing.
• Report suspicious behaviour and information to the South African Police Service.
• Clear the areas around the gates of bushes and other hiding places.
• Take photographs of all employees. - It could be to your advantage to identify them, if required.
• Remunerate your employees when useful information is provided that contribute to the prevention of crime.
• Do not employ casual workers without a reference.
• Keep copies of all your employees - Identity Documents (ID's).
• Ensure that you have a good relationship with your neighbours so that you will be in a good position to support and help each other.

An on-line article "How to Make Your House Super-Secure in South Africa" recommends the following steps as part of your home security plan:

• CCTV on the perimeter of your home
• Using an electric fence to deter intruders
• Have a good-quality driveway gate
• Have another layer of perimeter security
• Burglar-proof windows
• Strong doors with good locks
• An intercom system
• A CCTV system in the home
• Use smart elements
• A smart alarm system
• Smoke and gas detectors
• Using a reputable security company

The [South African] Residential Estate Security Handbook (2017) is available on-line here.

Do you need all of this to make your home secure? Maybe not (or maybe you do if you live in South Africa or South Philadelphia).