Kirstenhof Crime Watch Team of the Year won the top organisational award at the City of Cape Town’s annual Neighbourhood Watch Awards on Saturday 22 November. Chairman Kyle Clark also earned the title of Neighbourhood Watch Member of the Year.
The ceremony at the Council Chamber in the Civic Centre celebrated excellence, perseverance and commitment among Watches working closely with the City’s enforcement agencies. The City recognised individual members and organisations across several categories, including two new awards for Disaster Relief Contributor of the Year and Best Utilisation of Technology.
Chairman reflects on the team’s achievement
Clark described the moment as surreal.
“I did not realise how big this prize is at first,” he said. “Roughly R400 000 came from regular community contributions. Without that support, we could not have done everything we do.”
Clark has served in the Watch for ten years and now leads the organisation in his fourth term. He said community awareness has grown significantly.
“We put ourselves out there and help wherever we can. We have a great team, and everyone pushes the mission forward,” he said.
A personal journey into community policing
Clark joined the Watch after a friend encouraged him to get involved.
“I studied law but had to drop out because of life’s challenges. This work excited me from day one. Some days, I prefer being on patrol to doing my actual job,” he said.
He added that the volunteer commitment requires discipline.
“You look out for everyone in your area. That responsibility makes the work rewarding.”
Teamwork with SAPS and the City drives success
Clark emphasised the strong partnership between the Watch, SAPS and the City.
“Our success comes from teamwork. Everyone plays a part in keeping Kirstenhof safe,” he said.
He noted that the community has responded positively to the team’s increased visibility and regular patrols.
“Residents support our efforts, and that keeps us going.”
Challenges and goals for the year ahead
Despite the recent recognition, resourcing remains a challenge.
“Our police station is understaffed and under-resourced. We rely on SAPS, and without enough officers, it becomes difficult because we can only do so much,” Clark said.
Looking ahead, he plans to expand the Watch’s footprint and strengthen its capability.
“We need more funding to grow. There is a lot more we want to do,” he said.
