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VPNHW awards evening

District Mail and Helderberg Gazette

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14 May 2025

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Victoria Park Neighbourhood Watch (VPNHW) held its prestigious Awards Gala Evening at the Somerset West Town Hall on Saturday (10 May). Several dedicated patrollers, including Juan Fouche, Kirodh Boodhraj and Edward Baartman, were among the recipients honoured at the event, which celebrated the contributions of members and security partners alike. Fouche was named Patroller of the Year, while Boodhraj was named Neighbourhood Watch Member of the Year. Baartman was recognised with the Bicycle Patrol Award. Photos: Jamey Gordon

The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: JGawards15_18090.jpg — Victoria Park Neighbourhood Watch (VPNHW) held its prestigious Awards Gala Evening at the Somerset West Town Hall on Saturday (10 May). Several dedicated patrollers, including Juan Fouche, Kirodh Boodhraj and Edward Baartman, were among the recipients honoured at the event, which celebrated the contributions of members and security partners alike. Fouche was named Patroller of the Year, while Boodhraj was named Neighbourhood Watch Member of the Year. Baartman was recognised with the Bicycle Patrol Award. Photos: Jamey Gordon

ong-Standing Member Awards were presented in appreciation to veteran volunteers Leon Willscott, Darryl Kasner, Christina Walbrugh, John Fortuin, and Theo Beukes in recognition of their exceptional commitment and years of dedicated service to community safety.

Community members Alvonzo van Gesselen, Lee le Roux, Donovan Carelse and Rhelton Jooste were among those honored with special recognition for their invaluable and consistent support of various community initiatives and events.

Somerset West Police Station Commander, Colonel Jacolize Fleischmann (second from left), attended the prestigious awards ceremony alongside her dedicated colleagues, Warrant Officer Rico van Deventer, Sergeant Donovan Carelse and Captain Charles Riffel.

Patrick Lucky Njozela (Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety; Khayelitsha Sub-District) and Kurt Nefdt (acting media liaison officer to Minister Anroux Marais).

JP Smith (Mayoral Committee member for Safety and Security), who was among the special guests attending, honoured VPNHW chairperson Ben Venter as “a remarkable leader working in collaboration with all resources and partners to improve the community”. Pictured with them is Anroux Marais, provincial Minister of Community Safety.

Talented songbird Andrea For- tuin captivated the audience with her live performances. The proud Victoria Park resident took to the stage with a powerful rendition of “I’m Every Woman” as her opening number, delivering a heartfelt tribute to the mothers attending. Suffice to say, the songstress had the crowd completely enthralled from start to finish.

VPNHW members who received certificates of completion for the specialised Online Intelligence training programme included Ben Venter, Christo Wolfaardt, Glenville Neethling, Darryl Kasner, Kevin Perrins, Natalie le Roux, Kirodh Boodhraj, John Fortuin, Amy van Rooyen, Theo Beukes and Branton Amon.

Proudly displaying their firearm training certificates are dedicated VPNHW members Branton Amon, Amy van Rooyen, Bindhu Singh, Param Singh, Kirodh Boodhraj, Kevin Perrins, Natalie le Roux, Theo Beukes, Juan Fouche, Charlton Christians and Ben Venter.

Crime-scene training certificate recipients: Juan Fouche, Branton Amon, Glenville Neethling, Darryl Kasner, Kevin Perrins, Leon Willscott, Theo Beukes, Christo Wolfaardt, Amy van Rooyen, Natalie le Roux, Edwin Williams and Ben Venter.

Secure Rite Security representative Herman Ras (kneeling in front) proudly presented certificates of completion in comprehensive self-defence training to Christina Walbrugh, Mark Townsend, Edward Baartman, Natalie le Roux, Juan Fouche, Branton Amon, Denise Beukes, Darryl Kasner, Christo Wolfaardt and Ben Venter.

Certificates were awarded to the patrollers of the month Juan Fouche (June), Natalie le Roux (July), Glenville Neethling (September), Edwin Williams (October), Kevin Perrins (December), John Fortuin (February) and Kirodh Boodhraj (March). Not photographed; Johannes Pick (August), Ben Venter (November) and Edward Baartman (January).

Provincial Minister for Community Safety Anroux Marais and Alderman JP Smith (City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee member for Safety and Security) formally congratulated the security partners who received prestigious awards for their exceptional and ongoing community support. The recipients pictured (back, from left) are John Philander (Fidelity ADT), Eugene Thomas (Vetus Schola), Craig Nieuwoudt (Fidelity ADT), and Helen Hattingh (AM Security); (front) Blackie Swart (Gordon’s Bay Security) and Herman Ras (Secure Rite Security).

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Categorised:Galleries, News

Tagged:Community Highlights, Crime, Featured

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