ABOUT THE NKRA

The NKRA is a voluntary association of about half of the residential buildings in the suburbs of Killarney and Riviera, which provides a forum for the sharing of information, and enables our community to speak to municipal departments with a unified voice in order to safeguard the interests of our residents.

The NKRA works to protect and enhance the suburb as a whole, in order to preserve our quality of life and our property values. We focus primarily on trying to get the government to do its job in Killarney, as well as serving as the Killarney Sector of the Hillbrow Community Policing Forum. We are continually in communication with the ward councillors, and with the various municipal departments and the SAPS, to maintain and improve infrastructure and to improve security and the enforcement of the by-laws. We also undertake occasional small projects to uplift the area, to the extent that our limited finances permit.

“Membership” of the Association is voluntary, but it requires an annual membership “subscription” of R50 per each unit in the building (with a maximum of R4000 per building). In the case of businesses, we request a flat amount of R4000 per annum. However all property owners, residents and employees of businesses in the suburbs of Killarney and Riviera are welcome to attend and participate in public meetings. You can contact us at wdford@global.co.za to be added to our mailing list.

We strongly support setting up various Safe Zone projects around the area, to improve security and quality of life. These are funded by the buildings adjacent to each Safe Zone.

Out biggest project has been the regular repair of unsafe surfaces on various pavements with the heaviest pedestrian traffic, and patching of serious potholes. Our main focus at present is the improvement of security generally, and in particular the illegal taxi rank in 1st Street. We are trying to relocate the taxi rank to a location inside the Killarney Mall.

Our other current projects include a gardener in the park – sponsored by Russel Fisher Properties, and a Park Ambassador who ensures safety and peace of mind in the park – sponsored by Vision Tactical Security. We also have a street-sweeper who is sponsored by RCS Security, who cleans the main pedestrian routes in the area five days a week.

Other significant projects at present are the regular cleaning projects, the growing of food in the park, and the community street patrols.

Our other significant successes over the past 12 years include:

• the purchase and installation of a high-spec CCTV camera at Daventry Court, to record the illegal activities taking place at the western end of 1st Street;
• the creation in 2016 of a children’s playground in the 4th Street Park, incorporating a jungle-gym, a large sand-pit, and a netball post, which has subsequently been supplemented by residents with swings and gym apparatus sponsored by the Killarney Mall;
• the creation of a drinking fountain in the park, with a basin for dogs as well, sponsored by Nomsa Nene Properties, which was clad in an artwork by the late Johannesburg artist Drew Lindsay;
• organising and managing a well-attended and very successful Killarney-Riviera Centenary Celebration in September 2013 included the unveiling of two heritage plaques – one at the top of 2nd Ave to commemorate the old Transvaal Automobile Club (which lives on as the Killarney Country Club) and one in the Park in 4th Street commemorating the founding of the suburb, which was accompanied by the planting of a Symbolic Centenary Tree;
• lobbying the Gautrain organisation to amend their bus route, partly to reduce traffic congestion at tight intersections and partly to make the bus accessible to people higher up on the hill;
• acquiring speed-humps in 4th Avenue and in 3rd Street, to provide a degree of safety to the many people who live along these high-traffic roads;
• acquiring a traffic circle and an additional traffic island at the corner of 7th Street and 4th Avenue, to prevent the taxis from taking short-cuts down the on-coming lane during rush hour;
• the implementation of a three-way stop at the corner of 3rd Street and Killarney Road, together with a raised pedestrian crossing across Killarney Road outside Pick ‘n Pay and another outside Clicks, to encourage motorists to slow down and to drive a bit more carefully;
• the regular painting of street names on kerb stones at all intersections in the area;
• the removal of the squatter camp at the corner of 7th Street and 4th Avenue;
• the fencing of the affected area, with funds donated by residents and businesses, to assist the JMPD to prevent the squatters taking up residence again;
• the construction by the Council of a security fence along the southern embankment of the M1 for the length of 7th St, to hinder muggers and further inconvenience squatters;
• the fencing of The Wilds on the Killarney side of Houghton Drive, and its later reinforcement with razor wire;
  getting new trees planted on pavements and in the park;
• getting existing trees pruned and maintained;
• the implementation of a traffic light at the motorway off-ramp into Riviera Rd;
• the repair of various water leaks in various roads and pavements in the area from time to time;
• installing additional fencing on the bridges over the motorway, to prevent vagrants climbing over onto the embankments;
• representing the area at the Community Policing Forum of the Hillbrow Police Station;
• working with JMPD to police the stop streets and parking restrictions in Killarney Road, and the by-laws generally;
• working with the SAPS to break car-theft syndicates active in our area, and to improve police visibility generally.

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