To keep crime off the streets of Cape Town, various law enforcement agencies from the Muizenberg and Steenberg policing areas joined forces for a collaborative safety operation on 26 August.
Neighbourhood watch groups, the Community in Blue initiative, Metro Police, Traffic Services, law enforcement personnel and the police gathered outside the Muizenberg Civic Centre where they commenced their patrol.
‘We will no longer be held hostage by crime, ‘ said Muizenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF) deputy chair Ashwin Abrahams.
Abrahams explained the primary objective of the patrol was to enhance visibility and reduce criminal activity.
He added, ‘It was our first big joint patrol, which consisted of more than 40 vehicles in convoy. We are serious about minimising crime in our areas and making it safer for our kids.’
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As reported by People’s Post, The areas covered were the high-crime zones in Vrygrond, Seawinds, Costa Da Gama, Lavender Hill, Steenberg, Hillview, and Coniston Park.
Derrick Muller, the chair of the CPF, pointed out a change in the pattern of criminal activity. He said, ‘Crime has shifted to areas where there are no neighbourhood watches.
‘In Muizenberg, for example, there are no neighbourhood watches, so the crime has moved to Muizenberg village and the marina. My job is to establish a new neighbourhood watch in those areas.
‘Our precinct also goes all the way to Kalk Bay, so we need to set up a neighbourhood watch because visibility deters crime and we need more people to get involved.’
Muller further commented that the collaborative operation achieved remarkable results – ‘We want to show criminals our force of power when we walk together so that they can see what they are up against. On Saturday night we covered volatile areas because we are trying to take back our streets.’
Berenice Naidoo, who is part of the Community in Blue and holds the position of chair for the Seawinds Neighbourhood Watch, mentioned that patrolling volunteers also provided help to a distressed local resident.
‘Our patrollers from Seawinds stayed in our area and we patrolled from 20:00 where we made our way to Lavender Hill and other areas.
‘We pulled off Military Road in two police vehicles when we saw a vehicle driving suspiciously.
‘The car suddenly stopped and the driver and passenger doors flung open. A woman jumped out and shouted that the driver was having an asthma attack, ‘ Naidoo said.
Fortunately, a patrolling team member, who also happened to have asthma, was available to offer assistance with an inhaler.
Naidoo added it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. The individual was in a highly distressed state.
The patrollers were met with minor offences like the theft of dirt bins in the Seawinds and Lavender Hill regions. Naidoo notes the most common incidents in Seawinds and Lavender Hill are home invasions, vehicle break-ins and illegal dumping.
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Picture: Lukas Stoermer / Unsplash
