In Chartwell, the safety of our families, staff, animals, and homes is something we all care deeply about. We live in a beautiful and unique community and keeping it secure is a shared responsibility.

While our estate security teams are here to help, it’s important to remember that each resident is ultimately responsible for securing their own property.

Here are some key steps that we encourage all residents to take to keep their homes and loved ones safe:

• Alarm System: Install and regularly service a reliable alarm system connected to a registered security company.
• Perimeter Security: Use electric fencing, motion beams, and/or panic buttons—ideally all linked to your security company.
• Access Control: Install a coded keypad at your main gate for emergency access by your security provider.
• CCTV Cameras: Consider installing surveillance cameras, especially if your property layout warrants additional coverage.
• Clear House Numbers: Display reflective, clearly visible street numbers outside your gate. This helps emergency services locate your home quickly—plus, it’s a City of Johannesburg requirement.
• Outdoor Lighting: Use security lights at your gate, along boundary walls, and throughout your property. (Need help? CCE is happy to advise.)
• Burglar Proofing: Ensure that all external doors and windows have adequate burglar bars, as typically required by insurers.
• Create a Safe Zone: Secure a section of the house—like the bedrooms—as a ‘safe space’ in case of emergency. Also, plan a fire escape route.
• Fire Detection: Install a smoke/fire detector—either stand-alone or linked to your alarm. (We’ve sadly seen two fires in recent years—it’s a real risk.)
• Emergency Contacts: Keep your security provider, the CCE Admin Office, and nearby neighbours updated with your current contact info—and have theirs saved, too.
• Join the Security WhatsApp Group/s: Stay informed and connected with your neighbours and CCE updates.
• Everyday Vigilance: Lock gates and garages, arm alarms when leaving, and always report suspicious activity.
• Report All Incidents: Any break-in (attempted or actual) or breach of your boundary fencing should be reported immediately to SAPS Douglasdale, your security provider, and CCE. SAPS uses this data to allocate resources—so reporting really helps.
• Staff Awareness: Only hire staff or casual workers after doing proper reference checks. Keep copies of IDs and take photos of those working on your property.
• Avoid employing undocumented individuals: This protects both you and the community.
• Going Away? Let your security provider and a trusted neighbour know, so they can keep an eye on your home.

Working Together Keeps Chartwell Safer

As Chartwell is classified as an Open Estate, maintaining strong home security is even more essential. Our collective efforts can make it much harder for criminals to operate in our area.

Even small actions like leaving a gate open or letting unknown individuals onto your property can unintentionally put the entire community at risk. Please ensure that your domestic workers, contractors, and guests are aware of and follow estate security guidelines.

A Note on Security Measures

It’s important to understand that all security features – fences, cameras, alarms – are deterrents, not guarantees. They significantly reduce risk but can’t prevent every threat.

Please note that CCE, its Board of Directors, and employees cannot be held liable for any injury, loss, or damage to persons or property. This includes (but isn’t limited to) any failure of security measures, negligence of third-party providers, or criminal acts.

If you have any questions or need advice about your property’s security, the CCE team is happy to help. Let’s continue working together to keep Chartwell safe and secure for everyone.

CCE Entrances & Access Control Points

The Estate is accessed at four locations throughout Chartwell, namely:

• the top and bottom of Third Road;
• the top of Blenheim Road, located at the back of the Broadacres Shopping Centre;
• at Spencer Road, on the corner of Cedar Road.

Security Street Lighting

As part of its Vision 2020 mandate, CCE embarked upon a project to light up Chartwell to ensure everyone’s safety.   The Precinct Plan of 2024/25 is moving over to solar powered lighting and these will be installed at various intervals as required.  Residents wishing to join with us on the lighting project are welcome to contact jenni@chartwell.co.za

CCE WhatsApp Security Group Forums

CCE currently has 19 WhatsApp groups for residents to participate in, depending on the specific area of Chartwell within which they live.

River Watchmen

The River Watchmen project is a private initiative run by certain residents living along the Klein Jukskei River in Chartwell. This has been running since around 2020 and has proven to be a successful deterrent to criminal activity along that stretch of river. Housed and managed by Frank Johnson, the three guards work on a rotation basis. They are tracked by a log-in system at various points along the river. Should anyone be interested in joining this project, please contact Jenni at jenni@chartwell.co.za