24Sep
Why Estates Feel Safe – But Aren’t
In South Africa many people believe that moving into a residential estate, wildlife estate or lifestyle estate will keep them safe. They see the high walls, the electric fencing, the guards at the gate, cameras on poles and access control. It all looks very professional. The problem is that these things only create the feeling of safety. They do not make you truly safe.
Residents Are Not Vetted
The first big issue is that the people who move into estates are not vetted. There is no system that checks their background or criminal history. That means that criminals can and often do live inside these estates. In fact, living there makes their job easier because their neighbours feel relaxed and stop worrying about crime.
Carelessness is a Common Risk
This false sense of safety shows in how people behave. You see residents walking their dogs late at night without pepper spray or even a torch. Families leave doors unlocked while they watch TV. Windows are left open because “we live in an estate, nothing will happen.” Children ride bicycles far from their homes with no adult nearby. Cars are left standing outside with valuables inside. All of this would never happen if they lived in a normal suburb, but because they believe they are in a safe space, they let their guard down.
Strangers in the Estate
Another serious risk comes from the flow of non-residents who enter estates every day. Landscapers, garden services, pool cleaners, building contractors, delivery drivers and domestic workers come and go. At best the guards at the gate scan their ID or driver’s licence to record that they were there. But there is no real background check to see if the person has a criminal record or past history of violence. This means that estates are open doors for strangers, and residents never stop to think about how much trust they place in people they actually know nothing about.
The Limits of Security Guards
Then we get to the security guards themselves. The reality is that the standard of training for security officers in South Africa is very low. Most guards are not armed. Many have no proper training in how to defend themselves, let alone protect residents. Their job is often reduced to writing down number plates, waving cars through and doing casual patrols. If a serious incident takes place, most guards can only radio for backup and wait.
Even Armed Response and Police Can’t Always Help
The backup usually means armed response or the police. But here again we find another problem. The training of armed response officers and even the police is not at the level needed to deal with determined and violent criminals. Too often their presence is reactive. They arrive after the damage is already done.
Your Responsibility: Awareness and Action
The hard truth is that cameras, access control and guards create an illusion. Estates are not crime free zones. They are simply another place where criminals operate, sometimes with more ease because residents feel too comfortable.So what is the answer? The answer is personal responsibility. Every person must take charge of their own safety and that of their family. Lock your doors. Do not assume that your neighbour is trustworthy just because you both pay levies. Do not relax simply because you live behind a gate. Stay alert. Teach your children to be cautious. Have a plan for what you would do in a real emergency.
Learn to Protect Yourself
Most importantly, invest in learning self defense. No matter how fast you hope security or the police will arrive, there will always be a gap in time where you are on your own. Knowing how to protect yourself and your loved ones in those first few critical minutes can make the difference between survival and becoming another statistic. Self defense gives you the confidence and skills to act until help arrives.Living in an estate may give you comfort, but comfort is not safety. Real safety comes from awareness, preparation and the choices you make every day.
Take Action Today
If you are serious about protecting yourself and your family, start by learning proven self defense skills that work in the real world.
At C.O.B.R.A.™ Self-Defense South Africa we specialise in practical training that gives ordinary people the ability to survive violent situations. Whether you live in an estate or not, your safety is your responsibility.
Contact us at info@cobradefense.co.za to find out how you can get started today.
Comments