Cape Town extends support to Neighbourhood Watches
Following on from the more than R3 million investment in Neighbourhood Watches over the past year, the City has committed an additional R3.5 million in the year ahead to equip, train and support these community safety structures. Read more below:
The City of Cape Town is further cementing its relationship with Neighbourhood Watches through a R3,5 million investment in the 2020/21 financial year for training and equipment.
The continued support is channelled through the Neighbourhood Watch Support Programme, which was established in 2008.
The programme – a joint initiative between the City and the Western Cape Department of Community Safety – aims to formalise and strengthen Neighbourhood Watches (NWs), which are crucial in assisting enforcement services across all levels of government in building safer communities.
It provides guidance on how NWs can obtain accreditation, which in turn gives them access to training in various facets of community policing, social crime prevention, and equipment for their patrols.
This includes two-way radios, torches, reflective jackets, bicycles, spotlights, dash cams, first aid kits, fire extinguishers and more.
‘Many Neighbourhood Watches are well organised and disciplined and bolster existing policing efforts. Members are from the community, act for the community and are well positioned to monitor illegal activities and anti-social behaviour. They are also a source of intelligence and information, which is relayed to enforcement agencies. These organisations also contribute to a sense of ownership and pride in the community,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
Neighbourhood Watches were initially prevented from operating during the national COVID-19 lockdown.
However, many showed their versatility when they joined the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre’s volunteer corps. Among their functions were ensuring social distancing at shopping malls and social grant pay points, as well as assisting with education and awareness efforts as part of the City’s COVID-19 response.
‘This was such a natural fit, because apart from helping to increase visibility against crime, Neighbourhood Watches also play an important role in educating communities about how to engage with the criminal justice system and how residents can improve security in and around their homes. Their time with the DRM volunteers showed us the potential of future collaboration in times of crisis, and was a worthwhile exercise,’ added Alderman Smith.
Neighbourhood Watches were allowed back on patrol when Alert level 3 of the lockdown regulations came into effect.
‘The Neighbourhood Watch concept is an important crime prevention programme and we will keep on supporting these dedicated members as they patrol the streets in their communities. It shows that we should take responsibility for our own lives and the safety of our communities – especially assisting each other to protect the vulnerable groups, our senior citizens, women and children. Shared responsibility and working together as a team is a win-win situation in creating a safer environment,’ added Alderman Smith.
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