Despite Neighbourhood Watches playing an important role in the fight against crime, the large group of volunteers which make up their memberships, lack recognition and support from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
To deal with this lack of support, during the recent Safety and Security Committee meeting, Gustav Rautenbach, DA spokesperson for safety and security for the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, tabled a motion for a Neighbourhood Watch Support Policy which was unanimously adopted by the committee.
He said police have lost the fight against crime, and that they need all the help that they can get.
Rautenbach further said that the Neighbourhood Watches want to help, but need support from the municipality.
“Neighbourhood Watches want to save our metro from the claws of crime,” said Rautenbach.
For this reason he said that he had tabled a motion for a Neighbourhood Watch Support Policy, which would be of benefit to Neighbourhood Watches and “street committees”, based mostly in townships.
“As part of the policy, all areas with existing groups of volunteers who seek to safeguard their neighbourhoods, by doing regular patrols, have been included. This includes all areas within the metro,” said Rautenbach.
He said that since the policy had been accepted by all committee members, they were headed in the right direction.
Despite the policy being accepted, Rautenbach said that they were now focused on getting the policy implemented, and he has therefore provided a “blueprint” document which he believes will contribute to the success of the policy.
While addressing the committee on October 31, he said that it is a necessity that the services rendered by Neighbourhood Watches be recognised as part of a fundamental safety and security requirement, considering the present state in South Africa regarding criminal activity.
He further said that one of the challenges faced by Neighbourhood Watches is the absence of a municipal strategic and police directive to support such structures.
“Over many years there has been a plea from Neighbourhood Watches for municipal support, which has been rare and ad hoc, as no formal system exists to render such support,” said Rautenbach.
“The fight against crime is not about an individual, and success depends on the collective collaboration and commitment from those tasked with the responsibility of safety and security in the metro.”
Willie Bosch, chairperson of Kabega Rural Safety Forum and Kabega Park Community Policing Forum (CPF), said that the Kabega Rural Safety Forum has 10 affiliated Neighbourhood Watches.
He further said that the Neighbourhood Watches in the metro have always fallen under the South African Police Services, and it was important that it remained that way. However, it was also vital for them to receive the necessary support from the municipality.
“The Neighbourhood Watches do a lot to support the municipality, especially regarding cable theft. It was therefore time for the municipality to support our volunteers by offering the necessary equipment needed to fulfil their patrolling duties,” said Bosch.
Referring to the good work that the Neighbourhood Watches do within the community they serve, he said that on November 5 volunteers from Afriforum Neighbourhood Watch successfully apprehended two suspects after they allegedly robbed and murdered a man in his Kabega Park home.
Further elaborating on the apprehension of the two suspects, Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Major General Vuyisile Ncata, commended the Neighbourhood Watch for their excellent work.
“When communities start working together towards a common cause protecting their neighbourhoods, criminals will have no chance to conduct their activities,” said Ncata.
“The role of CPF, Neighbourhood Watches and private security as force multipliers on the ground plays a critical role in ensuring that their respective neighbourhoods are safe from criminals,” said police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu.
Peter Graham, chairperson of the Eastern Cape Association of Neighbourhood Watches, said that even though many of their volunteers have years of experience patrolling their respective neighbourhoods, he would love to see their members receiving training, and certification on completion.
He further said that it is important for the volunteers to receive support and recognition from the municipality for the work that they do “out of the goodness of their hearts”.
“There are hundreds of vehicles on the road doing regular patrols in the various neighbourhoods, with petrol purchased with money from their own pockets. These patrollers deserve to be recognised and rewarded, not in the form of money, but by offering training and the necessary equipment,” said Graham.
He said that the Neighbourhood Watch Support Policy is a vital document that needs to be put in place which the metro must abide by, and volunteers can use as a point of reference when they need training or equipment.
Sean Tappan, director of the Summerstrand Neighbourhood Watch and member of the Humewood CPF, worked with Graham to provide the information for the Support Policy. He said the policy would be of great benefit to Neighbourhood Watches.
He said there was a policy document issued about two years ago by the Department of Community Safety; however, since then nothing has happened and this document, which was accepted by council, will then assist with the implementation thereof.
Tappan said that the implementation of the policy by July 2024 will only strengthen the relationship between Neighbourhood Watches and the Metro Police, which will further intensify the fight against crime.
He said that there are about 2 000 to 3 000 Neighbourhood Watch members in the Eastern Cape, and as a result there are many patrollers working at night.
“The policy will offer guidance and understanding of the law through training, and it will ensure that they have the necessary equipment. It will also strengthen our relationship with the SAPS and Metro Police, and solidify the purpose of the Neighbourhood Watch,” said Tappan.
