Farm Community Safety & Surveillance Project

Who are we

We are a group of farmers in the Hartbeesfontein area, close to Klerksdorp. We operate under the Oorbietjiesfontein Plaas Patrolies(Farm Patrols) name. All the farmers belong to the Hartbeesfontein Landbou Vereniging(Agriculture Association).

More about the project

Everyone know the state of affairs regarding the situation of farm safety. We started a community watch group, with regular patrols in our immediate area. Yet, we are still marred by livestock theft and worried about farm attacks. Our farmers association put up a number of cameras and a control room that is operational 24/7. They cover a big area, and we have seen a decrease in criminal activity, but there are still blind spots. The funds for their project is basically finished, and the remaining funds is used, together with the monthly fee all the farmers pay, to keep the control room manned and operational. The picture attached is of our area, showing all the families living on farms. The area of the farmers union is much larger. The map also shows the intersections where we plan to put up cameras if our campaign can be very successful, but our first focus is on personal safety, a panic system will be purchased first.. Our patrols will still take place on regular intervals, as this system will not keep the criminals away, but it will give members the best and fastest way to get the message out that they are in danger.

The following link is to the website of the company selling the system we want to buy: http://www.repeater.co.za/prod...

The system allows for 99,999 members to be part of it. It is a unmanned system that gets the panic signal from the radio of the person that pressed the panic button, and then sends out a alarm signal on the radios and also sms messages to other member of the community. Further advantages of the system is that there is no monthly fee. It is a once off purchase, and the only cost anyone have to make use of the system is to buy their own 2-way radio, which most of the farmers already have.

Our milestones

The farmers association installed the cameras in our area, and now we want to install this system as an additional safety system in our area.

Our goal

To raise enough money to buy the system, and hopefully some more to assist some of the the farmers who will not be able to buy their own 2-way radio system. If we are fully successful, install cameras as well.

The panic system costs R80,000 fully installed.

The camera system setup is like this:

Each tower consists of the pole, solar panel, regulator, battery, WiFi antenna, cabinet to lock everything inside, screen for the control room and of course the CCTV kit, also the cement and fencing required to plant and secure each tower. The idea for each system is to consist of 4 cameras. 3 static cameras, 1 pointing straight down to see criminals who want to steal the equipment itself, and 2 pointing to the intersection to see the cars. And the fourth, a PTZ camera, so that the control room can follow suspicious activity. Each tower wil cost a minimum of R85000, our goal is to erect 8 towers.

Our first aim is to raise R80,000 for the panic system.