- Several Neighbourhood Watches (NWs) and other civil society safety partners took part in a virtual dry run last weekend to test the newly formed Civil Security Collaboration Initiative that seeks to branch out in areas like Hout Bay.
- The dry run-on Saturday 11 May was the first opportunity to test the system.
Several Neighbourhood Watches (NWs) and other civil society safety partners took part in a virtual dry run last weekend to test the newly formed Civil Security Collaboration Initiative that seeks to branch out in areas like Hout Bay.
The dry run-on Saturday 11 May was the first opportunity to test the system.
Coordinated from a Joint Operations Centre in Goodwood, there were scenarios in five areas – protest action in Hout Bay, Costa Da Gama (Muizenberg) and Sir Lowry’s Pass Village; as well as the escorting of food trucks in Strand, and a missing person in the Milnerton area.
In a media statement, the City of Cape Town stated its hopes to better integrate NWs and other community safety structures into its intelligence-sharing and gathering activities in times of crisis.
The City added that their partnership with Neighbourhood Watches is well-documented, through the NW Support Programme.
Over time, the role of NWs is said to have morphed from basic patrols and a visible presence in communities to working more closely with enforcement services, and even monitoring CCTV cameras in different areas.
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith credited community structures like neighbourhood watches as often being first responders that “also have an ear to the ground in their communities – making them valuable partners in the intelligence sharing space during times of crisis.
Other benefits Smith promotes are that they can cut through the noise far more easily, “and more importantly, we are able to direct resources appropriately, and speedily”.
The City is now testing an initiative that seeks to tap into the unique position that NWs and other community safety structures hold and to help strengthen information sharing and verification, as well as support from these organisations, particularly during times of crisis or disaster.
The City has established a dedicated WhatsApp line where a maximum of two representatives per NW can join and be part of the collaboration initiative.
In the event of a crisis, these representatives would use the platform to communicate information to the City as part of its response planning and execution.
However, Smith responded to People’s Post saying thus far, no neighbourhood watches in Hout Bay have signed up and that it was the Western Cape Civil Defence involved in the dry run on Saturday.
“This concept is very simple but potentially incredibly valuable. The more credible information is available, the easier it is to plan, or respond, and who better to be involved than our safety partners at the community level. This dry run will go a long way in helping to formalise this practice, and building it into our standard operating procedures going forward,” he added.
- Any NW or civil society grouping that wishes to collaborate with the City on this initiative can send the names and contact details of a maximum of two of their members to Rhelton Jooste on 081 463 9974, along with an indication of which area of the city the organisation is situated in.
