Estate Living Magazine Estate Living Issue 29 May | Page 34

Community
Organisations
Making a world of difference to
property value
A residential community can boast
state-of-the-art security, stunning
green vistas, and great amenities, but
the most desirable communities are
those blessed with a tight-knit and
organised group of individuals who
are committed to maintaining high
standards in their neighbourhood.
Global and South African statistics show that the organised
approach to managing public areas, in partnership with the
municipality, results in property values and business vitality out-
performing those areas outside of managed areas.
individuals, and comprises 14 independent entities that include
the local shopping centres, office parks, Dainfern College,
Witkoppen School and the residential estates themselves. It
now also embraces Cedar Road, Broadacres and Fourways.
“We have aligned ourselves to the entire community, so as
soon as you’re on William Nicol highway in Fourways, you’re
looked after. We have a security and policing forum, and the
municipality is responding much quicker to issues like broken
traffic lights, and at a higher level,” says David Weyers, CEO of
Dainfern Estate and a member of the DCA board.
Projects the DCA is engaged in include infrastructure
maintenance, cleaning up litter, taking down old street signs,
getting broken streetlights fixed, and erecting fencing. Labour
is provided by a group of young entrepreneurs, while the
uniforms, equipment and maintenance are paid for by the DCA.
This is achieved by community associations or Urban
Improvement Districts (UIPs) that pull up their sleeves to
fight crime and grime, and keep their communal spaces well
maintained. “While it’s not actually our responsibility but that of the local
A great example is the Dainfern Community Association (DCA),
incorporating Dainfern Golf and Country Estate, which has
become virtually a parallel municipality in the three years since
its inception. The DCA is funded by private companies and The community efforts have had a significant impact on the
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municipality, we have decided to take matters into our own
hands and clean up our own community to provide a better
quality of life for all residents,” says Weyers.
value of property in the area, he adds, with Dainfern Valley
topping the list of estates with the highest rentals in South
Africa. “The high quality of lifestyle combined with safety and