Unchain Our Children Partners with Lynnwood Gardens Estate to Strengthen Community Safety in Pretoria

In a significant step toward collaborative crime prevention, Unchain Our Children (UOC) and US Department of Homeland Security Senior Criminal Investigator Johan Claassen were invited by Andrew van der Berg, Chairman of Lynnwood Gardens Estate (LGE) and Communities Against Crime (CAC), to address the LGE Board at their weekly gathering.

The meeting introduced UOC’s vital work in Pretoria communities and established a strategic partnership focused on protecting vulnerable groups, particularly children, through shared expertise and awareness initiatives.

“Unchain Our Children is extremely grateful for the important partnership formed with Lynnwood Gardens Estate and their extended networks,” said Wayne van Onselen, Founder and Executive Director of UOC. “Impact on communities requires teaming up with significant role players like LGE.”

Van der Berg, who leads CAC representing 123 additional closed-off communities in Pretoria, highlighted the value of the engagement: “UOC’s presentation alerted us to the heinous crimes of child exploitation and trafficking and the importance for communities to be aware of the dangers. We have decided to forward their cause and create platforms across our network so that parents, children, and the elderly can be equipped with knowledge to prevent and address incidents.”

Communities: Trends and Resident Benefits in Pretoria

Closed-off, gated, and secure “village” communities have become a defining feature of Pretoria’s residential landscape, especially in the eastern suburbs. Recent data indicates that around 25% of Pretoria’s residential properties are located in gated areas, part of a national surge in estate living driven by security needs. In Tshwane, estate properties represent over 20% of residential sales and a disproportionate share of transaction value, with capital appreciation often reaching 20-30% over five years in premium estates.

Residents benefit from layered security measures that deliver measurable advantages. Controlled access, 24-hour guarding, extensive CCTV surveillance, and perimeter fencing significantly reduce opportunistic crime and enhance response times. These environments foster a stronger sense of community, improve property values through perceived and actual safety, and provide family-friendly amenities. For vulnerable groups—children, the elderly, and families—these features offer peace of mind, lower exposure to external threats, and spaces where daily life can proceed with greater freedom and confidence.

Lynnwood Gardens Estate exemplifies best practice with six guarded entrances, 168 monitored cameras, palisade and electric fencing across open fields, and a dedicated emergency number (081 133 3361). These measures not only deter crime but enable rapid, effective intervention.

The Value UOC Brings to Partnerships

For over a decade, Unchain Our Children has delivered hands-on community service across Pretoria through direct interventions in child abuse, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and gender-based violence. The organization, staffed by specialist operatives and a statutory social worker, and further supported by law enforcement officers, social workers, and counsellors, provides 24-hour victim support, missing persons recovery, counselling, and prevention programmes. It also trains government officials on anti-trafficking legislation and victim-centered approaches.

Community projects such as Junior Battle Angels (youth-led service initiatives) and I Matter (upliftment for those in crisis) build resilience from the ground up. In partnerships like the one with LGE and CAC’s network, UOC adds critical depth: specialized knowledge of hidden crimes like cyber-enabled exploitation (bolstered by international collaboration with DHS), proactive awareness campaigns, and rapid-response capabilities that complement physical security infrastructure.

“Like Unchain Our Children, the safety of our communities is a priority. Joining forces with UOC will add momentum to our success in combatting crime”, van der Berg noted.

This alliance signals a maturing model of private-public and community collaboration. By combining robust physical security with targeted education and intervention expertise, Pretoria’s gated communities are evolving from defensive enclaves into proactive guardians of resident wellbeing. As crime threats grow more sophisticated, such partnerships offer a scalable blueprint for safer, more cohesive urban living.

Discover & Connect:

https://lynnwoodgardensestate.co.za

Report Child Exploitation: Call UOC National Crisis Centre: 067 323 7116