In the December 2023 edition of The BUZZard, we introduced readers to Kingswood’s new Security Coordinator, due to take up this permanent HOA position in January 2024. Below, Caron Manchest shares an update of her past seven months in the lion’s den … also known as the access control hub located adjacent to the KGE gatehouse.
For the past seven months, Caron Manchest has been in charge of all access control at Kingswood’s service gate; an immediate priority was the registration of residents on the new security system, as well as capturing data on contractors, gardeners, cleaning staff, and other service providers.
Caron Manchest
Caron has been instrumental in helping both residents and the thousands of others entering the estate daily to understand the access control process, as well as being on hand to walk homeowners and contractors through their responsibilities in this regard.
Safety in numbers
On the subject of stats on estate traffic so far this year, Caron has some interesting numbers to share: ‘Currently, I still register between 25 and 35 people daily who come to work on the estate. There are now more than 6,900 people who are registered as contractors or service providers.
‘Every weekday morning, around 1,200 workers already registered come through the turnstiles and are recorded by the facial recognition process at the gates before going on to perform some or other task on the estate.’ These workers, she explains, would arrive by taxi or company transport and walk through the turnstiles on foot.
When considering the visitors who enter with vehicles, be they contractors, deliveries, service providers or just guests visiting residents, the daily amount stands at around 925. And Caron says she sees between five and eight people per day who have changed or upgraded their phones. She then uploads new credentials so that the required app can be registered on the new phone.
Getting wise to the process
‘I would guess that 99,9% of people who live permanently on the estate have the Gallagher app on their mobile phones and can use it effectively. Kingswood residents are lovely people and I really enjoy helping them, and seeing how much they appreciate it when I lend a hand.
‘Sometimes it gets quiet, but then someone would walk in here – whether it’s a contractor or a resident – and break the silence with a quick chat while I sort them out. So the past seven months of being permanently employed have been nothing but a joy for me.
‘Especially the older people – or shall I say those who are wiser, with the most life experience – are simply a pleasure to help,’ she smiles. ‘They are always friendly and a great asset to our lovely estate. I’ve had a handful of difficult customers among both residents and contractors, but I am grateful to them for adding colour to my day … even if that colour is red!’ Caron says she’s confident that the vast majority of residents now know perfectly well how the Gallagher app works. ‘It is going much better than at the very beginning. We still have hiccups every now and then, but we’re working on streamlining those on a daily basis.’
Going through the motions: here’s how
Caron reminds about the process for those new owners or tenants not yet in the know. ‘After we have received the rental agreement or correspondence from the lawyers to confirm that a property has been transferred, we send a link via email to new residents. This is the Access Control Form, which they can then fill in electronically.
‘When I receive their completed form, it gives me the necessary information in order to register them on the Gallagher app. I then send them the credential email that indicates the steps on how to download Gallagher, and this enables them to register. We also send an email with all the other information they may need, such as steps to download the My Estate Life app, which is then used to give access to visitors.’ Finally, she says, residents are informed that they have to register their housekeepers and gardeners with the HOA.
‘I do the facial scanning of all staff to ensure that they can walk through the turnstiles on arrival and only need to submit to a quick facial recognition process. Name cards are also made for them, featuring their photo and the name and address of their employer. Every domestic worker and gardener must have such a name card before entering the estate on foot.’
The name card comes at a cost of R50 and is produced by Masadi le Roux at the HOA offices; after completion, it is sent to the relevant gates. Caron says that for these staff members to register, they should arrive at her office with a South African ID document, while non-SA citizens should bring along a passport and valid work permit.
‘But when it comes to residents, they have the choice of downloading and registering the Gallagher app themselves after I’d sent the credential email, or they can visit me – it’s their choice.’ Judging from the rave reviews about Caron’s excellent rapport with contractors, staff, management and residents alike, it seems a face- to-face at her office will be first prize, every time.