Lilianton

Testimonials

MARCO

Good Afternoon Road Closure Community, mine is gonna be short. I contribute as I don’t see why I should benefit at the expense of others. Thank you.

RICKUS

I stay in Heather street and we have had our house broken into 5 times. We had all the security measures in place but still got robbed. Since the closure nothing.

MARISHKA

I grew up in Lorant Road, Lilianton, with my granny since 1992 (she has been living here since 1960 with her parents). Over the years, we have witnessed the area deteriorate due to increasing small and big crimes. Our own household was affected numerous times. We were too scared to go out of our house, to drive in the street, never mind just being in our own garden. We all started to live in fear.

When the idea of the neighborhood closure first came up, we saw an opportunity for a safer, more livable area. My entire household was very enthusiastic about this project from the start as we saw the potential benefits it could bring. Now that we are part of this project, we couldn’t be happier.We feel safer; we can walk in our own garden, and even go out in the street to greet our neighbors. The sense of community has improved, and we no longer live in constant fear. It’s a wonderful feeling to enjoy our home and neighborhood again. We are truly blessed to be living where we are now, feeling safer and more secure.

I encourage others to consider joining this initiative. The transformation in our lives has been remarkable, and the peace of mind it brings is invaluable. Being able to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, like walking in your own garden or chatting with neighbors, is something everyone deserves. This project has made a significant positive impact on our lives, and it can do the same for you and your family.

Love Marishca ❤

LITA

Good morning . I was thinking of selling my house as I did not feel safe when arriving or leaving home as there was lots of foot traffic crossing the open field across from my house . In previous years I had intruders in my and my neighbours garden,a few years ago my three German Shepherds were poisoned. I personally know there were some hijackings in Calla Ave. Now I feel safe to walk in the streets alone. The enclosure is definitely a much safer and happier place to live in. House and car insurance has been reduced. All thanks to Charlene’s perseverance and nagging.

ANNEMARIE

Good morning
I stay in Ismene. The closure make Lilianton a safe place. The kids got their parks back, they walk in the streets, they are happy. The parks and streets looks neat and clean. Awesome site when you drive in. You very seldom see people wandering in streets late night as in the past. Less bins go missing, less crime activities ever since the closure.

I encourage all to join. This community have awesome people, lets all get aboard and enjoy this initiative and be one good Lilianton community.

JULIE

We live in Calla Avenue. Before the closure we had patio furniture stolen and just before the closure our dustbin was stolen. Now we have no problems, no fears for our own safety, our possessions are safe and so are we. I am not afraid any longer when I am alone at home and have no fears about walking in the street. This project is a blessing to all of us and due to the hard work of Charmaine, Willie and some others. The least we can do is pay our part, whatever we can afford is greatly appreciated and for the benefit of all. Don’t rely solely on others, step up and do what you can to help.

GLORIA

2014 we bought a house at Lilianton so that we can be close to work as me and my Husband were working for Macsteel. Little did we know that the crime is bad here. 31 October 2014 they stole our car. October 2015 house breaking. We moved to Witbank due to retrenchment and I got a post there. Our tenants were always complaining about things stolen and their car was stolen too. We came back 2022 June..still in fear of crime but since there is road closure we are at peace. So this works, even though I am the only one working…we contribute what we can.

KIM

We built our house in Heather Ave in 1984, and all the kids in the neighbourhood played in the streets. There were no walls, we spoke to our neighbours. Then, the informal settlement arrived. This was supposed to be temporary, but it grew and grew. Kids were robbed of their possessions, walls went up then electric fencing and the amount of traffic in the streets were horrendous, but since the area has been closed off it is great to see the parks being used children playing ball and riding their bikes in the street again. I thank all involved in taking action and making our homes safe again. Let’s stand together and make a difference for our children.

VALERIE

We built our house 52 years ago, we were one of the first houses in Calla Ave. We had a break in, and stuff stolen out of premise. My children could walk to school, my eldest daughter went with her bike to EG Jansen, they played in the street, and were safe.

Then we started to get problems from Squatters.

Since they started the road closure, we are feeling safe. Please people who are not sharing, please think how safe and quiet, not all the traffic speeding down Calla Ave without stopping. 👏🏻

MADELEIN

I grew up in Witfield and when I got married we also bought a house here to stay were our roots were. Slowly but surely we also experienced crime. 3 Time they and broke in. Now after the closure less people is walking in our street and it is a pleasure to stay in this area again.

Hearing and seeing how much abuse Charlene takes from some members, makes me so sad. Please stop making excuses to not be part of this closure.

BRAAM

Staying in Ismene Ave. I use to do a lot of patrols back then. Lately. Always casing criminal and stolen cables. Lately chased or caught no suspects except speeders and non stoppers in Lilian Ave. Since closure my main gate went open at 8.15 afternoon. We only realize the next morning the times on our security cameras. My big gas cylinder and various items where n the yard and all were fine. A few more legal speed humps in Lilian Ave will be peace on mind. Lilianton is definitely now a completely different area. Thanks Charlene and Willie and all others for making this come true. 🙏🙏

WANDRE

I agree fully. Now able to take a walk, etc, with my son in the street due to much less traffic(including pedestrians).

The road closure definitely adds more value than the payment we make each month. We are still very lucky to have the small payment versus other closures payment amounts that I am aware of.

Thank you, Charlene and others, for being involved in making our community safer and better for all.

MARIETTE

I love reading the positive feedback since the closure happened. We stay in Simon road and had the full impact of people from the squatter camp passing past our property to spar / main road. Was also in attempted hijacking. We could not even leave our front door open during hot summer days as passerby’s would constantly look into our house not even to talk about all the beggars pestering us on a daily basis. Even our dogs was under distress as they would be teased through the palisade fencing. They would also leave their rubbish on our sidewalk and use the trees and our wall as a toilet.

We are so THANKFUL for this closure, especially not having any foot traffic past our house. This was a huge problem for us. But now, it is an absolute pleasure coming home and not being scared that a passerby might have some bad attentions of robbing or hijacking you.

I take my hat off to Charlene and the team for persevering through the negative and by making this a huge success. Please people do you bit and pay your dues, we are all reaping the rewards of this closure not only the once that contribute.

PETRO

I am in Eric Road. Bought here 32 years ago. No crime. But things got bad. By son and neighbour’s son bikes got stolen. Garden furniture stolen. Gate motors and batteries and more. Now it is quiet, clean and safe. Really it is worth the amount we must pay for our safety. Please do the right thing for your and the community’s safety too. We all can sleep better and feel less stressed. ❤

ANEBELA

Apologies for the long message, but if I can just get through to 1 person, I would have accomplished my mission 🙏🏻. My late grandparents bought this home in this suburb in 1974. My grandparents, parents, and siblings have stayed here since. With the exception of 2011 to 2019, for work purposes, I have lived here all my life 🥳. I went to Wit Deep Primary, which is now Balmoral College. My late brother, sister, and I used to walk to school and back, carefree, no worries. During that time, there was no informal settlement where it is now📚🖊🧮🖍📝. We played in Gail Road Park until forever in the evenings. 🚲🛴⚽🛹 We were a huge bunch of kids in this area who were always playing either in the park or in the streets.

There used to be a dairy farm at the end of Bird Road on the industrial side, we used to bicycle to the dairy farm to go get Fresh Farm Milk 🐄. We had a small wall/fence and no security rails on our windows and doors back then 🏡. Yes, there was the odd petty crime, but nothing that you would see or read about in the Boksburg Advertiser. Then things started to change, informal settlements went up like mushrooms all around us, and crime started picking up, and became so rife that, so much so that we had to reinforce security at home.

The wall/fence was lifted and made sturdier, and burglar bars were put on every single window and door in our house. It felt like we were criminals in our own home. A Fortress. No more walking to the nearest amenities or having a pleasant and quiet walk in our area 😔😔. Even us as young adults now, stopped coming out of homes to chat about life, good or bad, as the volume of foot and vehicle traffic increased 10 fold. Our children could no longer enjoy what we enjoyed when we were their age back then 😭.

There have been numerous attempts to get the area closed, but the projects kept failing. Then, our current directors and former members came along in 2020ish, with their “wish”, but this one was different. Research, hard work, perseverance, dedication, persistence, blood, sweat, tears, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, patience, love, support, encouragement, commitment and so much more was the difference. I was ALL in this time around. And in record time, this enclosure has happened. So much so that the area that my sister is staying in now, are also looking at closing their area off too.

I feel safe and carefree now, just as I did in my younger years, because of this project.The value of my home has almost trippled. Neighbors are more friendlier and open to great conversations, unlike before when we were all grumpy 😠, stressed, afraid, angry, felt helpless and hopeless, and maybe thinking of selling the property and leaving the area. This enclosure has given ME a reason to stay. I feel safe, I sleep more peacefully, and I am more calm and relaxed. The area is so clean, no more foot traffic up and down our road, and the number of vehicles has also reduced. I can now hear the airplanes flying above us, unlike before. It’s so peaceful and quiet. I really want to encourage those who have not yet signed up for this enclosure to really look and think deeply into yourselves and realize that the right thing to do is sign up. You are NOT going to get anything better than this. I have a number of friends throughout Gauteng staying in similar enclosures and what they are paying range from R750 to close on R1800 per month. R450 is a drop in the ocean. Yes, financial circumstances are amongst us, but even an amount as little as R50 per month will go a long way until things get better.

In closing, I want to say that if this formidable lady Charlene had not been in our midst, this project would not have come to fruition. The amount of work, research, commitment, love, passion, patience, and care that she has put into this project has blown me away. Not to mention the amount of verbal, mental and emotional abuse that she has had to endure, is beyond my comprehension. SHE IS A SUPERWOMAN, CHARLENE, I APPLAUD YOU AND CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT YOU ARE REALLY SPECIAL AND ONE OF A KIND❤❤❤

PETRO

I want to add something. This is a great community. Standing together, helping, caring and watching!! My neighbour received a package on my behalf when I was not at home. It is so nice when we can rely on each other. Small things that make our lives easier and better. And I want to thank Charlene and her team who make our safety a priority and possible. But I also want to thank each and every one that contributes to make it work. Contributing financially and by caring. Lets do our part for this is not only for now but also the future. Thank you🙏❤

WILLIE

If I can add something. I was against the closure. Me and Charlene had a lot of arguments. Today we are working together as I saw the impact of the closure. There was no crime reported here for a very long time. If everyone can just see the impact of the closure and start with a small payment it can help us with 24 hrs security at both gates. Yes as Braam was saying my gate went open during the evening a lot of times. But tomorrow morning everything in my yard is in tack. Before closure I had 4 break-ins where with one the emptied my house totally. Now I go to town with no worries .Lets all support Charlene and stop fighting. Please enjoy the safety she was fighting for. The project not easy. There is a lot of things that had to be done like arrangement for work to be done try to get sponsors for small things. Is it not nice to all to come into the gate and there is plants, a nice guard house, friendly guards. Please think about everything that make a positive impact on the enclosure and pay what you can to make a bigger and better improvement in the community please.

MICHELLE

We live on the worst corner, Duncan and Lorant, a stones throw from the squatters. The foot traffic was unreal past my house my dogs constantly barking at people and being tormented by kids is a thing of the past. I am a runner and stopped running because it was unsafe, now I can run freely. Theft of lights, bins, wall jumpers. Always scared of being hijacked driving in and out. Its all a thing of the past and its worth every cent. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻