Participants from Ward 83 neighbourhood watches, security companies including Gordon’s Bay Security, Secure Rite Security, ADT Fidelity, AfriForum branches, and law enforcement agencies joined a coordinated safety initiative on Friday 12 September, organised by Victoria Park Neighbourhood Watch.
Members of Victoria Park Neighbourhood Watch (VPNHW), along with various representatives of Ward 83 accredited neighbourhood watches, security companies, and law enforcement agencies, took to the streets as part of a coordinated area safety initiative on Friday 12 September.
VPNHW chairperson Ben Venter organised the safety initiative, which culminated in a successful mass patrol. Altogether 60 participating members gathered at Greyville Park in Victoria Park, where they were engaged in a briefing before the mass patrol through the residential area, as well as the neighbouring communities of Lourensia Park, Paardevlei and Helderzicht.
A coordinated safety initiative on Friday 12 September brought together 100 participants from Ward 83 neighbourhood watches, security companies, AfriForum branches, and law enforcement, organised by Victoria Park Neighbourhood Watch chairperson Ben Venter.
The patrollers walking the beat were led by two Secure Rite motorbikes, followed by law enforcement, security, and neighbourhood watch vehicles.
After completing the walking portion, all members departed Victoria Park in vehicles and proceeded to Goede Hoop KwikSPAR in Strand, where Strand police Sector 3 commander Gerhard van Deventer took charge.
Strand Neighbourhood Watch chairperson Carl Gersbach briefed participants on the driving route, whereafter Van Deventer led 35 vehicles through the Strand area, including Beach Road. The entire operation lasted three hours, from the Victoria Park walk to the vehicle patrol in Strand. A total of 100 people participated and were served refreshments by Victoria Park and Paardevlei Neighbourhood Watch.
The event concluded with a debriefing at the Strand meeting point, where Gersbach thanked all in attendance and expressed hope for future initiatives. Special recognition was given to Venter for organising the event.
Safety partners who joined in the safety initiative were AfriForum Helderberg, AfriForum Strand, Paardevlei Neighbourhood Watch, Strand Neighbourhood Watch, Lourensia Park Neighbourhood Watch, Victoria Park Neighbourhood Watch, Helderzicht Neighbourhood Watch, Gordon’s Bay Security (GBSec), Secure Rite Security, ADT Fidelity, and law enforcement.
The VPNHW held its final members’ meeting of 2025 on Friday 12 September. The two-hour meeting took place at the council offices in Somerset West and preceded the evening’s mass patrol. Members gave insight into reports from all office bearers covering the past three months and outlined plans for the remaining months of 2025. VPNHW chairperson Ben Venter announced he will not be available for re-election when the annual general meeting takes place in the new year. A new committee will be elected in 2026 to serve a two-year term. The meeting was well-attended. Pictured (back, from left) are Theo Booysen, Leon Wilscott, Donval Jones, Branton Amon, Christo Wolfaardt, Kevin Hartzenberg, Darrel Kasner, Corneluis Piedt, Mark Townsend, Juan Fouché, Edward Baartman, Kiroth Boodhraj, Brent Fenton; (front, standing) Michelle du Preez, Amy van Rooyen, Paramlall Singh, Glenville Neethling, Collin Baartman, Garth Carstens; (seated) Natalie le Roux, Bindu Singh, Kevin Perrins and Ben Venter.Victoria Park Neighbourhood Watch (VPNHW) received a generous donation of a branded gazebo from Fidelity ADT for outdoor events. After months of design discussions, the gazebo was delivered last Tuesday (9 September), with members pleased with both the design and quality. VPNHW thanked former branch manager Craig Nieuwoudt for facilitating the donation and previously providing branded decals for patrol vehicles, wishing him well in his future endeavors. They look forward to working with new manager Douglas Theron and continuing their relationship with John Philander, who has been a reliable organiser for years. The neighbourhood watch encourages the community to follow their social media platforms for updates on future events where the new gazebo will be used. Pictured (from left) are John Philander, Juan Fouche, Leon Wilscott, Edward Baartman, Christo Wolfaardt, Jaco Norman, Douglas Theron, Reginald Mphaga and Ben Venter.Following the VPNHW’s successful Friday mass patrol, the organisation held its sixth Kids Training event on Saturday (13 September). The calendar highlight was held in collaboration with the Friends of the Park, featuring a spring theme focused on tree planting and gardening. The initiative saw more than 40 avid young participants planting five new trees (cabbage tree, camphor bush tree, coastal silver oak, and two limoneria lemon trees) with guidance from the City of Cape Town’s parks and recreation department. Children learned about gardening tools, soil types, and proper planting techniques. Each child received a terracotta pot, soil, and spinach seeds to take home, teaching them about food security and self-sustaining practices. Organisers emphasised raising a generation that “respects the earth and learns to give more back to nature than they take”. Local businesses supported the event: Stodels provided discounted pots and free trees, Food Lover’s Market contributed to the fruit salad served afterward, and Crazy Plastics supplied discounted reusable cups.
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