23rd September 2008

Due to the rising crime in the area and particularly pressure from the unprotected Lesotho border we have been obliged to extend our electric fence to include all the buildings and all the infrastructure at the Sandstone Heritage Trust. This electric fence, which will be nearly 3-kms in length, is currently being constructed. The attached photographs clearly show the progress that has been made.

Map showing the perimeter of the electric fence....

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Update 8th October 2008

Sandstone’s new perimeter security fence about to come on line.

It is unfortunate that farmers in South Africa should have to allocate so much money for security when these funds could be better spent producing commodities but they have no choice as state security services are being stretched to the limit and are unable to ensure the safety and security of all citizens especially in the rural areas. Sandstone is regularly targeted by criminal elements from within South Africa’s borders and by external elements from Lesotho and in order to protect its personnel and assets it has had to invest in more sophisticated security systems.

A recent article on the website advised that the electric fence that currently protects the complex needed to be expanded to ensure the safety of our personnel and to encompass assets that fell outside of the current fence, all this of course at great expense.

The contractors were urged to complete the fence in the shortest possible time and they have been up to the task as it is nearing completion and will be activated in the very near future. The new fence covers a much broader area and security personnel will now patrol inside the fence perimeter which will provide them with added personal security. Permanent guards will also be placed at all access points.

Other measures are in the pipeline to increase our defences.