SAPRA is made up of a group of local residents who represent the interests of the residents in Saxonwold and Parkwood.   Our primary function is to assist and deal with local problems experienced, which generally is the adherence and enforcement of by-laws - examples include ensuring that building regulations (by-laws and heritage) are adhered to, or that advertisers comply with council requirements when they advertise.   However, this is not where our role ends and SAPRA has a long tradition of adopting a pro-active approach and will tackle challenges of all sizes – from street cleaning right up to participating and influencing the layout of the proposed Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) in our suburbs.  SAPRA is effective because of the dedicated efforts of the committee members, the network it has built over the years which allows it to address issues with the relevant party and access to the local councillor who sits on the committee.   

SAPRA is also represented in the following committees:

• ZLUC (Zoo Lake Users Committee),
• Zoo Lake Steering Committee,
• RAG (Rosebank Action Group),
• RHA (Rosebank Homeless Association),
• Ward 73 (under the watchful eye of Councillor Marcelle Ravid),
• Rosebank CPF (Community Police Forum),
• RCLF (Rosebank Community Liaison Forum),
• Contact with all the neighbouring resident associations, and
• The continued support of the DWW (Domestic Workers Watch) which has grown very large and has moved into many other areas.

Unfortunately only one in four households pays the annual subscription of R500.   The committee is often asked by residents who are reluctant to pay the fees what it is that the association actually does.  Following up on complaints or issues with residents or council, is administratively intensive – both time and effort, so the committee appointed a full time secretary from inception of SAPRA in 1996.   Many residents do not appreciate the impact and influence SAPRA has had in maintaining the two suburbs so we thought that we would list all the BIG things as well as the daily little things we do:
Historic achievements

• Cantina Tequila – SAPRA successfully managed to withhold any signing of a lease and the Bar/Club moved from the site;
• Jazz on the Lake – Instrumental in containing noise and perimeter of parking around Zoo Lake;
• Successfully opposed potential petrol station, corner 11th and Oxford;
• Monitoring of rezoning applications, particularly higher density and unauthorised businesses which will cause unnecessary inconvenience to neighbours, e.g. swimming school in Cotswold;
• SAPRA has always attempted to deal with the continuing problem of street children and vagrants and has had contact with relevant agencies, for example SAPRA action ended vagrants living in Fearnhead Park, Blandford Road, Parkwood and gates were locked at night;
• Action was taken to deal with plans to commercialise the Zoo.    Shops, a restaurant on top of tower on the Zoo grounds came under close scrutiny and SAPRA held many public meetings to deal with the proposals;
• SAPRA was involved, as much as was possible, in the planning of the Gautrain, through the RCLF (Rosebank Community Liaison Forum);
• SAPRA was instrumental in the growth of the DWW (Domestic Workers Watch) and sponsored the initiative financially at the start;
• The most important project assumed by SAPRA on behalf of the Saxonwold and Parkwood community was the employment at great expense of Urban Terrain (Town Planning), to create a Town Planning Policy to present to Council to be incorporated into the RSDF (Regional Spatial Development Framework).   This process took several years and SAPRA managed to hold back Council’s plans for unreasonable development in our suburbs.    Cotswold was supposed to be categorised as a major mobility route which would have effectively halved the suburb.   SAPRA successfully managed to stop this plan.    Public Meetings, petitions, and many meetings resulted in a very acceptable Precinct Plan; 
• The BRT in its proposed or preferred format was challenged.   SAPRA brought the Resident Associations together and presented a united front.  The council was forced to review its plans and is on hold on the Oxford Road route until acceptable solutions can be found. 

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Current:

• SAPRA’s new portfolio for Illegal Outdoor Signage tackles all advertisers – large and small;
• Illegal building and Illegal activities are monitored.   By-laws are investigated and enforced;
• SAPRA sourced a new recycling vendor when Resolution Recycling went bankrupt; 
• The SAPRA website has been re-launched and offers useful information to residents; 
• When possible SAPRA sends emails to residents giving updates about water and power cuts;
• SAPRA has started a programme to repaint the street names.  The following street names have been re-painted:  Wells/Blandford, Wells Rutland, Wells/Worcester as well as the Saxonwold Circle at Englewold/Saxonwold/Lystanwold;
• SAPRA’s ‘Green Team’:  The 4-man team don the green shirt and cap with the SAPRA logo and clean our streets every week.   The members are homeless youths from the Immaculata Shelter in Rosebank.   The Green Team now will also clean Fearnhead Park;
• SAPRA has taken action to keep trucks and illegal buses off our suburban streets.    Pictures and details are sent to the various Metro and Putco agencies.
• 2010 saw the successful publishing of a glossy SAPRA magazine which was dropped across the suburbs.    Another is planned for September 2010.