The Wavecrest Neighbourhood Watch recently began providing self-defence workshops to promote safety in the area and to build confidence among people in the community to encourage them to protect themselves.
Natashja Ellis, chairperson of the Wavecrest Neighbourhood Watch said, since they previously experienced multiple business and home invasions and noticed an increase in crime on the streets of their neighbourhood, they recently began offering self-defence workshops to boost the safety of people staying in the area.
She said the area was previously a hot spot for crime, but fortunately in recent months the crime stats have dropped.
“Even though we have had fewer business and home invasions, we have still seen crime on the streets. We have also noticed quite a few girls and young women walking alone during curfew time and we needed to find a way to help them protect themselves,” said Ellis.
The Wavecrest Watch hosted their first self-defence workshop in September in Wavecrest.
Since then, the group visited C-Place earlier this month and plan to offer workshops every two to three months in various communities throughout Jeffreys Bay.
Ellis said the self-defence workshops were not only for women and encouraged all members of the community to join.
The self–defence workshop hosted in C-Place was presented by James Moorcroft, a Shotokan Karate Do of United Nations (SKUDN) instructor who taught community members to defend themselves and how to escape dangerous situations to find help.
Ellis said during each workshop they planned to use a different dojo instructor to facilitate the self-defence training.
She said it was important for all people to know how to defend themselves if they were ever attacked.
“Self-defence training gives you the confidence you need to defend yourself and encourages you to always be vigilant,” said Ellis.
“Attending self-defence workshops gives people the assurance that they can get away from danger and seek the help they need. Sometimes just using your voice to scream for help can assist in an unsafe situation.”
Ellis said with the success of the workshop earlier this month, many people were looking forward to the next self-defence training session.
She further said the 30 people who were in attendance had all their questions related to self-defence answered by Moorcroft and each person received a one-on-one practice session.
To further add to their training, Moorcroft explained the importance of each move and how it could help them if they were to encounter a dangerous situation.
“The workshops could help save a life and help those in trouble,” said Ellis.
She said she hoped each member of the community would attend the workshops which would encourage them to feel empowered instead of feeling helpless about the crime in the area.
“The safety of the community is close to our hearts, and we will continue with these workshops and try to reach as many community members as possible,” said Ellis.
“You can never say it will never happen to you; that is why it is so important for us to have these self-defence workshops for everyone in the community.
“Each community member out there can benefit from this, young and old.”
The multiple companies and organisations involved in the initiative included the Community Policing Forum (CPF), SAPS Jeffreys Bay, ADT Fidelity, Smhart Security, Gardmed Ambulance Services and C-Place Neighbourhood Watch.
The organisation also plans to host various other workshops which include basic first aid, basic fire drills and gender–based violence informative sessions.
Ellis said Wavecrest Watch had a great relationship with the local SAPS as well as the Community Policing Forum.
“We are a great machine that stands together to combat crime and to keep our community safe,” said Ellis.
“To us as Wavecrest Watch, the safety of the community is our priority.”
