GEORGE NEWS - Homeowners at the prestigious Kingswood Golf Estate in George say they are living in fear as the developer is not heeding their cries for help.
Families on the estate claim to be victims of a series of break-ins and burglaries not to be expected at an exclusive lifestyle estate.

At a homeowners meeting at the Kingswood club house on Monday evening, about 70 people vented their anger and frustration at the ‘lack of security’ at the estate.
Approximately 130 houses have been built at Kingswood with space for almost 350 more.

Several incidents have been reported in the last three weeks ranging from car break-ins to burglaries at night. The Maree family almost fell prey to intruders at the weekend. They woke up in the small hours of Saturday morning as burglars were attempting to break open a glass sliding door. The burglars escaped when confronted.

Residents allege they were promised an electric perimeter fence when Kingswood was being marketed more than four years ago. Homeowner Andries du Plessis says everybody bought because they thought the electric fence was coming. "Now the developer claims that we were never promised a security estate, but a lifestyle estate. Doesn’t a lifestyle estate imply security? I have to travel for my work and do not feel I can leave my wife and seven-year-old daughter safely behind."
Du Plessis says residents have the right to protect life and limb and that he will secure his house using electric fencing and barbed wire, even if this is in contravention of the architectural guidelines.
Mark Stuyck, one of the directors of the Kingswood development company, Asla Devco, says residents are allowed to install security doors or electric fences at their properties.

Stuyck maintains that the owners and other prospective buyers were never led to believe that an electric fence was part of the deal. "Our stands sell for between R500 000 and R1-million. This is very reasonable.
"Six years ago an electric fence surrounding an entire estate in George was not the norm. The Home Owners Association did put up electric fencing where the wall is low because of the lie of the land."
Stuyck says a few individuals are blowing the security situation out of all proportion. "As far as I am aware, there have been only six incidents until the beginning of July. Security is the responsibility of the homeowners association. We (the developers) provided the perimeter wall, the guard houses and the booms, but the security arrangements are managed and paid for by the residents. They have the power to resolve any issues."
However, Kingswood marketing pamphlets clearly state "enjoy country living and security second to none" and residents say many stands sold for well over R1-m.

One of the three homeowner trustees, Eric Henderson, who spent Monday in consultation with Asla, says he hopes a solution will soon be found. "I feel we are close to a workable solution - we have reached the tipping point and may well resolve the current impasse."

Security is not the only reason why Kingswood is making headlines. A forensic investigation into BEE non-compliance and the developer’s dealings with the George Municipality may well be on the cards. Acting municipal manager Gerhard Ras is expected to make an announcement regarding the matter today (Thursday) at the council meeting in George.

Article and photos: Ilse Schoonraad


Almost 70 concerned residents attended the emergency security meeting.