The City of Cape Town’s safety and security directorate announced this year’s Neighbourhood Watch Awards winners during a ceremony in the council chamber in the civic centre yesterday.
The annual awards celebrate excellence, perseverance, and commitment by neighbourhood watches, which work in communities and closely with the City’s enforcement agencies. This year the awards drew more than 200 nominations for individuals and neighbourhood watches across the metropole in a number of categories.
Deen Solomon of the KIC Neighbourhood Watch in Bonteheuwel received the nod for Crime Fighter of the Year.
He has shown exceptional bravery and quick thinking in numerous operations that have led to successful arrests and the prevention of major crimes, according to a media release issued by the City.
Deen’s nomination noted that “his situational awareness and decisive action — often in high-risk situations — have kept residents safe and strengthened community confidence”.
Other winners in the individual categories were:
- Mobiliser of the Year: Mvano Magula, Qhubekani Neighbourhood Watch, Mfuleni;
- Inspiration of the Year: Sandra de Wet Van den Berg, De La Haye Neighbourhood Watch, Bellville;
- Courage in Action: Yaseerah Nelson, Klip Neighbourhood Watch, Lotus River.
Group category
In the group category, the Situational Crime Prevention Award went to Khuseleka Neighbourhood Watch in Khayelitsha, and the Courage in Action Award to the Boundaries Neighbourhood Watch in Retreat.
“It is heartwarming to see how communities appreciate the work done by these volunteers who dedicate their time and skill to keeping their areas safe. While they’re all tops, a panel selected the winners who went above and beyond what was required of them. Congratulations to everyone for a year in which they heeded the call to action and made a difference in their communities,” said JP Smith, Mayco member for security and safety.
New categories
This year, two new categories have been added. The Disaster Relief Contributor of the Year for assistance rendered in preventing and mitigating disasters went to Mfuleni Extension 6 Neighbourhood Watch for demonstrating exceptional compassion, resilience, and commitment, and for actions that meaningfully supported the City’s Disaster Management efforts.
Watch members have undergone firefighting training to serve as the community’s first line of defence, and during the most recent outbreak, their swift action limited the destruction to just two shacks, a remarkable outcome credited entirely to the team’s rapid response, courage, and coordination.
Beyond firefighting, Mfuleni Extension 6 Neighbourhood Watch plays a vital role in supporting City officials and emergency services during disaster situations — helping with crowd control, clearing access routes for fire and rescue teams, and assisting affected families on the ground. Their proactive stance has earned them the trust of both residents and authorities, proving that empowered communities are key partners in disaster management.
Technology award
The Best Utilisation of Technology Award went to Melkbosstrand Neighbourhood Watch for their innovative and effective use of technology to enhance safety. They were noted to have “set the benchmark for digital excellence in community safety through its outstanding use of the Trusted Partner App”.
The Melkbosstrand Neighbourhood Watch has transformed technology into a force multiplier, enhancing patrol coordination, reporting accuracy, and accountability across every shift, according to the media release.
Their consistent, disciplined use of the app has resulted in 177 logged incidents and 1 021 on/off-related bookings, clearly demonstrating that the watch is not only active but strategic in leveraging digital tools to improve community safety outcomes.
The app enables seamless coordination between patrollers and partners, allowing the team to monitor trends, report suspicious activity instantly, and support the police and City’s law enforcement department with verified, time-stamped information. This digital discipline has made their patrols more visible, their responses faster, and their reporting more credible, according to the media release.
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