Nominations for the City of Cape Town’s annual Neighbourhood Watch (NW) awards have opened. Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith urges residents to recognise the volunteers who devote themselves to making the city safer.

Nominations close on Wednesday 30 September, and the awards ceremony is scheduled for 21 November. Both individual members and organisations can be nominated, provided they are accredited with the Provincial Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety, or have formal accreditation applications pending.

The awards recognise service excellence, commitment, hard work and perseverance across the city’s NW sector.

The role of neighbourhood watches

Neighbourhood watches work closely with local law enforcement agencies, including Metro Police, the police (SAPS) and City Improvement Districts, acting as the eyes and ears of their communities. Residents take ownership of the programme at every stage, from planning and implementation to evaluation and maintenance.

NWs assist law enforcement by alerting them to suspicious activity, identifying stolen property, conducting home security surveys and implementing local security precautions. In return, residents learn when and how to report suspicious activity and how to implement effective home security measures.

While law enforcement agencies provide the guiding force, the programme gives people a sense of ownership over their own security and that of their communities. The programme addresses everyday crime concerns such as domestic violence, abandoned cars, vacant plots filled with trash, and drug and gang activity.

Award categories

This year’s categories are:

• NW Member of the Year, for individual excellence in safeguarding community members and property
• Crime Fighter of the Year, for exceptional service in the fight against crime
• NW of the Year, for organisations that excel in protecting their communities
• Organisational Excellence, for excellence in NW management
• Mobiliser of the Year, for exceptional efforts to mobilise communities in support of safety
• Inspiration of the Year, for a leader who has shown inspirational public leadership across several NWs in support of community safety and the greater public good
• Courage in Action, for sustained operations in the face of highly compromised community safety, such as drug activity or gang violence
• Situational Crime Prevention Award, for exceptional efforts towards a clean, healthy and safe environment in which communities can lead dignified lives
• Social Responsibility Award, for a deep commitment to addressing, mitigating and healing social ills towards healthier, inclusive and united communities
• Disaster Relief Contributor of the Year, for a NW that has gone above and beyond in building community resilience and safety through proactive risk reduction, emergency preparedness and rapid-response support to residents
• Best Utilisation of Technology Award, for innovative and effective use of technology to enhance safety
  

“We have so many different people and groups who devote their lives to a safer city, some in uniform, others in reflective vests, patrolling their streets night after night. This annual recognition of their efforts, by their peers and their communities, no less, is a small token of our appreciation,” said Smith.

“I spend many hours patrolling alongside these organisations, and the devotion and dedication I witness is truly inspiring. As we open the nominations process for this year, I want to encourage the public to get involved and show their gratitude by nominating persons in the Neighbourhood Watch sector who are making a difference.”

Nomination forms are available on the City of Cape Town’s website.

Queries about the process can be e-mailed to nw.awards@capetown.gov.za.

ALSO READ: Bonteheuwel resident scoops ‘crime fighter of the year’ award