Neighbourhood watches were honoured for their courage and crime prevention efforts at the City of Cape Town’s annual Neighbourhood Watch Awards.
The nomination process, which started in August and closed on Thursday 6 October, afforded communities an opportunity to acknowledge work done by watches in their areas.
Speaking at the award ceremony that was held at the council chamber last week, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said neighbourhood watches demonstrated the highest ideal of active citizenry.
“The City is deeply appreciative of the community service spirit and volunteerism of every neighbourhood watch member across Cape Town.
“In a caring society, we look out for each other and the bond of trust that these groups build with their respective communities is incredibly valuable,” says Hill-Lewis
Among those honoured on Saturday 12 November were sister and brother Shannon and Dylan Pike. In the Individual Awards category, the Wynberg East Neighbourhood Watch (WENHW) patrollers were named NW Member of the Year. This award is given to members who uphold, with outstanding achievement, the purpose of safeguarding its members and property.
Vaughn Steenveld, a WENHW patroller, was the one who originally nominated the duo for this award.
“I had the honour of meeting these two about a year ago. At this time, they were delivering food to the less fortunate while volunteering at an organisation within our community. Our present chairperson, Salwa Beukes, approached them to join our watch and after the vetting process they became members.”
Steenveld says that whenever there is a call to do any project or assignment, they are the first to put up their hands. So far this year, Shannon has done 174 patrols with Dylan short on her heels with a total of 155 patrols. He adds the majority of these patrols took place in the evening between 22:00 and 03:00 the next morning.
“They have reminded not only me but many others on patrol that what we do is solely for the safety of the community. They are reliable and dependable and do not fear to go into situations where others would fear to tread.”
Their commitment to community safety is even more inspiring when considering the many hardships they have been faced with already in their young lives.
Steenveld says, at the age of 22 and 23, respectively, Shannon and Dylan have endured challenges and hardships that many would not experience in a lifetime.
“Their dad passed on about 20 years ago. A single mom had the responsibility of raising three young children. Fate landed them in Cape Town and they began the journey of many obstacles. Financial constraints landed them without a stable living place and they had moved from one rented home to another. They finally found accommodation at The Haven Shelter in Wynberg.”
He says, despite their personal challenges, they took to the watch like a duck to water.
“Their knowledge of our sector and the persons living on the street is invaluable. The problem areas and persons were easily identified and we could notify the relevant authorities about all wrong doings and criminal activities.”
Shannon says her decision to join WENHW stemmed from her prior involvement as a volunteer at the South African Red Cross Society.
“We did a lot of community work. So I said to myself, let me rather work in my own community before I work in someone else’s community.”
For Dylan, his decision to join the neighbourhood watch was an extension of his first-aid medical training.
“I did first aid training so I was going to join as a medic on another neighbourhood watch. And then I ended up patrolling. Ever since, I’ve been patrolling,” he says.
Shannon sees being part of a neighbourhood watch as an investment in Wynberg East’s future and that of the children growing up there. She encourages other residents to join the watch.
“Their kids are going to grow up in the area and maybe the area will not be safe for the kids to grow up, especially with the drug use and the crimes and the gangsters in Wynberg.”
Beukes says Shannon and Dylan have had a huge impact on the safety and security in the neighbourhood. She says currently they have three patrollers in their twenties – with Shannon and Dylan being two of them – in their watch. She says she hopes that other youngsters who see these young people out there, patrolling their own streets, will be inspired to follow in their footsteps and join the watch.
“They are ready for anything, come rain, wind or storm. Personally, they motivate me. Some days I don’t feel like going out, but when I see them go out, I feel compelled to join them.”
