Across the metro, there are more than 50 000 watch members who are an important crime prevention resource to communities. Cape Town Executive Mayor Dan Plato and Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith yesterday began a series of community neighbourhood watch support visits across the metro. The first visit kicked off in Wards 67 and 68, with local ward councillors which includes Lavender Hill and parts of Seawinds, to recruit more members.
Over the past decade, neighbourhood watch (NWH) groups have grown steadily and have become a key part of crime prevention in communities across Cape Town.
‘These 50 000 city-wide neighbourhood watch members realise the significance of being active members in their communities, dedicating their time to help make neighbourhoods safer. Preventing crime requires a whole-of-society approach and these residents are aware of the contribution they can make in uplifting their surroundings. Visibility is so important and we wanted to give added support to NHW groups to emphasise the work they do in their communities. We appreciate their efforts,’ said Executive Mayor Dan Plato.
‘The visits are also intended as a way to directly engage residents on any service delivery issues that they are facing and need assistance with. During the patrol, residents are encouraged to highlight any issues which need our urgent attention,’ added Mayor Plato.
Yesterday evening, Mayor Plato and Alderman Smith joined Southern Eye watch group as they walked through hotspots in Lavender Hill and Seawinds. They also handed over twelve LED torches and 80 reflective bibs to Southern Eye to bolster their patrolling efforts.
The patrol activities centred on engaging with residents around crime prevention and to underscore the importance of wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as per the national disaster regulations. The walk was also to encourage further growth of NHW groups. Many expressed an interest in becoming members of the neighbourhood watch community.
During the patrol with the Southern Eye NHW, Law Enforcement Officers confiscated four weapons, including two makeshift knives. No arrests were made.
‘The NHWs are an invaluable resource and have grown tremendously over the last ten years. Without them, crime would be more distinctively felt in hotspot areas. The NHWs are our eyes and ears by helping the City’s drug task team and SAPS’ Anti-Gang Unit take more effective action by knowing where to target interventions. There’s a great deal of training and development that we are doing with our NHWs; we provide them with the necessary equipment and also recruit them into the Auxiliary Services in Law Enforcement,’ said Alderman JP Smith, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.
Neighbourhood watch members can also become members of the Volunteer Law Enforcement Auxiliary Service (LEAS). In 2013, the Safety and Security Directorate launched LEAS, with prospective volunteers encouraged to first join their local neighbourhood watch before being recruited as a LEAS volunteer.
Although the Law Enforcement department’s primary role is by-law enforcement and addressing traffic violations, they are playing an increasingly larger role in joining the local communities to prevent crime.
‘Ward councillors have also invested in CCTV cameras from their ward allocation budgets, while the City equips members of the respective neighbourhood watch groups with the necessary tools to more effectively prevent crime. These groups are an integral part of crime prevention in communities. As evidence of the value of their contribution, each year the top-performing groups, as well as individual members are acknowledged at the Neighbourhood Watch Awards in recognition of their sterling work,’ added Alderman JP Smith.
While the City’s awards are specifically aimed at accredited NHWs, we acknowledge the work done by those NHWs who are in the process of receiving accreditation from the Department of Community Safety.
The public can anonymously report any suspicious activity to the Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone, or 107 from a landline. Complaints of non-compliance with COVID-19 regulations can be directed to the City’s compliance hotline on 021 444 3582.