For the first time in its history the Khuseleka Neighbourhood Watch in Ward 96, in Mkhaza, Khayelitsha, has been recognised by the City of Cape Town, having received a Neighbourhood Watch Service Excellence Group award.
The Awards were held at the Civic Centre in Cape Town on Saturday 22 November.
The Khuseleka NHW chair Lazola Somazembe said the award came as a surprise because its members had not expected to receive anything. But, he added, with hard work everything is possible.
“We are happy, I don’t want to lie. The certificate motivates us to do more now. The fact that there are people who see and recognise what we are doing makes us feel so special. We will keep going.”
Somazembe added the job the Watch is doing is not for the faint-hearted. He described the dangerous conditions it works in, and that members need more protective working equipment.
“We are just volunteers. We are getting no stipend from the City. We only have jackets, touches, bicycles and bibs. Even they are not enough. Some of our members don’t have them but they are working. If we have enough equipment we can be happy.” Somazembe said Khuseleka NHW had 22 members only.
Makhaza Police Station sector commander on Sector Two Sgt Thembinkosi Mapongwana, who works with Khuseleka, said the certificate meant a lot to crime fighters in the area.
“These are the people who are always on the ground fighting crime,” he said. “Sometimes they experience things first-hand. They are dedicated to their job. For them to be honoured is a great achievement on its own.”
Ward 96 councillor Lucky Mbiza urged community members to work with the NHW instead of disrespecting them.
“Some of the community members don’t take NHW members seriously. Others think that they are informants for the officers, which is wrong. The NHW is working closely with the officers. If people are experiencing any problem they can inform the members of NHW and they will contact the [patrolling] police van.”
He also congratulated Khuseleka on the receiving the award, seeing it as the start of many good things to come.
