In the informal settlement of Skoonplaas, located in the City of Ekurhuleni, life is shaped by daily struggles and limited resources. However, a small but impactful group of individuals has emerged as champions of security and community well-being.
This group – the Safety and Security Team operating as one of the themes under the Social Employment Fund, was originally tasked with ensuring the safety of the residents within their patrol zone in the boundaries of Skoonplaas. However, recognising the greater safety and security needs of the wider community, they took it upon themselves to go beyond their official duties and protect a vital resource located in a nearby formal area: the last FNB ATM serving both formal and informal residents.
This FNB ATM is located at Eastvale Shopping Centre, in the formal area adjacent to Skoonplaas. Thousands of residents from both areas depend on this facility since the only other ATM was destroyed. Without nearby alternatives, the bank machine is a lifeline for those who depend on it to access cash for vital expenses such as groceries, transportation, and bills. Its significance is undeniable, and its loss would be devastating.
The safety teams’ proactive efforts involved organising patrols around the ATM, especially during times of high risk when residents from both the informal and formal areas withdraw cash. The presence of the teams served as a deterrent to potential threats and ensured that the ATM remained operational and accessible for the entire community.
The safety and security team in Skoonplaas is one of the 10 Safety and Security teams that Planact supports under the Social Employment Fund in Gauteng. Their primary role is to patrol and protect the informal settlement.
While their responsibilities lie within the bounds of Skoonplaas, they understand that the well-being of the residents extends beyond those boundaries. Without hesitation, they took the initiative to safeguard the ATM, even though it was in the formal area and outside their regular patrol zone.
They understand that true safety and security is more than just about physical protection within a designated area, but about preserving access to essential resources that people depend on. They also understand also the urgency of safeguarding this communal resource without needing to be prompted, aware that losing the ATM would affect everyone, from residents in the formal settlement to the vulnerable individuals in Skoonplaas.
Their commitment also cultivated a sense of unity between the formal and informal communities. Residents in the formal area recognised that the safety team from Skoonplaas was not simply motivated by self-interest; they were safeguarding the ATM as a collective benefit of everyone.
Their proactiveness bridged a gap between communities that are often separated by socio-economic differences, showing that security is a shared responsibility that transcends boundaries.
By going the extra mile, the SEF Safety and Security Team has showcased the significance of community-driven security through their actions. Their approach emphasizes not only the protection of individuals but also the importance of ensuring that essential resources, like the FNB ATM, are accessible to everyone.