CRIME PREVENTION

In the Sandton Central Management District, a team of 70 Public Safety Ambassadors (PSA's), including armed offices in 7 response vehicles, and a night shift team are on the streets to ensure users of the area feel safe and at ease. The PSA's can be called on at any time to escort people within the management district and are used extensively by the hotels to make tourists feel at ease. All PSA's are in radio contact with the Sandton Central control room, thus ensuring quick and effective service. The PSA's have all been on an extensive training programme, which has equipped them to effectively carry out the following services:

Deter and prevent crime;

Ensure the safety of pedestrians in Sandton Central;

Assist tourists, visitors and locals with information and directions

Understand and enforce the City of Johannesburg by-laws;
Encourage people to walk the streets through their presence and assistance.

The uniforms worn by the Sandton Central personnel are branded and are highly visible resulting in both the PSA's and the cleaning and maintenance crew being referred to as the "Men in Red".

An added safety feature of the area is the panic alarm system, which has been installed in a number of properties in Sandton Central. This system is linked to the control room and allows for rapid response by the PSA officers to the property in question.

Communication and a reciprocal relationship between SAPS, and Sandton Central is essential, and inspectors from the Sandton Police Station sit on the Sandton Central management committee.

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE.

A cleaning and maintenance crew of 27, each equipped with Sandton Central branded mobile refuse bins and cleaning equipment continuously patrol the area, picking up litter, cleaning sidewalks, weeding, trimming grass and trees and generally ensuring that all refuse and other unsightly matter such as illegal posters are quickly removed.

The management district has also embarked on a landscaping initiative to beautify the entire area, concentrating on middle-islands of roads as well as pavements. This landscaping initiative has brought about a drastic improvement to the environment and will continue to do so as implementation continues.

SANDTON CENTRAL MARKETING

Through the adoption of the Sandton Central Management District name, the brand that goes along with it, and the pay-off line Feel The Energy, the management district has begun a marketing and place-making processes aimed at improving the Sandton Central offering and creating an 'enterprising global hub'.

This process aims to improve the overall image of the area through place marketing, collaborative promotional strategies, market research and working with the media.

The brand strategy adopted is based on the strengths and weakness of the area, which together have lead to the creation of key themes that will guide the brand. The strategy consists of five key focal points and that is to define, spruce, open-up, connect and interconnect.

By addressing each point, the Sandton Central Management District will become a node with:

An exceptional cleanliness and public safety programme;
A well defined hub with prominent brand presence;
An urban art programme that defines and demarcates the space, attracts visitors to the area thus enhancing the aesthetic of the public space, and draws people onto the streets;
Green lungs in the form of Mushroom Farm Park and Sandton Central Park that can be used with complete confidence and brings a new dimension to the environment;
A clearly defined and implemented urban design framework that addresses all Sandton Central's infrastructural needs;
A pedestrian-friendly environment with clear way-finding and tourism routes;
A well-managed informal trader sector that is used by locals and tourists alike;
Continual communication ensuring that all stakeholders are kept informed;
A well managed internal transport system that allows residents, tourists, employees and shoppers to move freely within the area;
Close relations with important organisations in the area, such at the Sandton Tourism Association;
A clear connection with the rest of Johannesburg ensuring that information on activities and events outside the management district is available for people within the area.

CONCLUSION

The Sandton Central Management District is a property owners' initiative and thus every committee, board or forum we have is made up of property owners dedicated to this process. Through the Sandton Central management team provided by Urban Genesis, the energies of the property owners, council and other stakeholders are pulled together.

Every aspect of our plan has a dedicated group of people who will drive the individual projects:

Metro council, region 3 and city parks;
Property developers, urban designers, and business leaders;
Tourism, the shopping centres and community leaders;

These are some of the stakeholder who will bring about the changes in Sandton Central.

With the advent of a number of high rise residential developments in the area, an all important mixed-use element is introduced, helping to set the platform for a truly lively experience.