Community activists and crime fighters in Woodstock and Salt River were acknowledged for their sterling contributions to help curb crime, during an award ceremony held in Salt River Saturday 10 February.
Community activists and crime fighters in Woodstock and Salt River were acknowledged for their sterling contributions to help curb crime, during an award ceremony held in Salt River Saturday 10 February.
Certificates of recognition were handed over by the ward councillor to selected members from the local neighbourhood watches (NHW), community policing forums and police officials.
Yusuf Mohamed, Ward 57 councillor, said: “The aim was to recognise and appreciate members of our local neighbourhood watches, who have gone over and above what the community or anyone else could expect from someone towards their neighbours.
“I am truly grateful to work with such amazing people who do a thankless job for their community. The community will be a very different place without them and the awards are a small token of appreciation for what they do,” he said.
Gary Adams, U-watch Neighbourhood Watch chair, was one of the recipients.
He said this certificate served as a motivation for patrollers that their “labour of love” is not in vain.
“I think this was a wonderful gesture. It signifies the acknowledgement of those NHW members who sacrifice time away from their families and loved ones at their own expense to push back on crime and police members who go beyond the call of duty to protect and serve.
“We acknowledge the oversight of the station commander Col Matroos and Sgt Ontong (Sector Manager) who, together, harmonised a good working relationship and camaraderie between police, neighbourhood watches and the community-in-blue patrollers. Indeed the slogan rings true, ‘we are stronger together’.
Mohamed encouraged residents to join community safety structures.
“We are always calling on more residents to get involved in not only safety structures but the various community-based organisations.
“There are many challenges that government cannot tackle alone, and need communities to get involved in various sectors to assist and guide the direction they want their community to move towards,” concluded Mohamed
