The Maitland Community Crime Control NW recently registered with the Western Cape Provincial Policing Oversight and Community Safety Department. The registration will now allow the City to assist and support the newly-formed structure.
On Tuesday, 11 February, Mayoral Committee Member, Alderman JP Smith met with the NW to outline the benefits of the City’s support programme, and the role of NWs in general public safety efforts. He also handed over equipment, including infrared night vision binoculars to improve the group’s patrols and ability to identify potential threats.
The Neighbourhood Watch Support Programme, now in its 18th year, started off with training in community policing concepts and the handover of equipment for patrols. The range of equipment, and training opportunities has increased over time, to match the change in crime patterns and demands on community safety structures.
In the last year, the Safety and Security Directorate provided training opportunities, which included preparedness for civil unrest situations, crime prevention and first aid.
The City provided training to 47 NWs during the period April 2024 to 8 February 2025
The NWs represented the following areas, but not limited to:
· Southfield
· Meadows
· Strand
· Somerset West
· Gordon’s Bay
· Dennemere
· Rosedale
· Sunbird Park
· Mountview
· Wesbank
· Harlyn
· Melkbosstrand
· Penhill
· Fisantekraal
· Malibu Village
· Matroosfontein
· Cafda
Training programmes included basic training, refresher training and NW control room training.
For the current financial year, ward allocation funding of just over R4,2 million has been made available to Safety and Security to assist NWs.
The Directorate also designed a user-friendly cellphone application that can help NWs to:
• Log patrol times
• Indicate response status to incidents
• Capture and report incident details
• Assist with administration and closer cooperation with the City’s enforcement agencies
The App will be made available to NWs in phases.
‘Over the years, we have seen the importance of supporting our Neighbourhood Watches in the important community safety work they do. They have proven to have immense value in assisting communities and work closely with our enforcement agencies as well as the South African Police Service. The dedication and perseverance of NW members who give up their free time to protect and serve is a motivation to all of us. The City will continue to support and assist as many of these structures as we are able to,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
More information on NWs, including how to start a watch, can be accessed here: https://www.capetown.gov.za/
