AfriForum launched a national project on 30 October 2019 to increase the visibility of its neighbourhood watches ahead of the festive season. During the next month, approximately 140 AfriForum neighbourhood watches will be increasingly visible in communities, with the objective of deterring criminals.
Crime is expected to increase with the festive season that’s approaching. High visibility operations by neighbourhood watches can make a significant difference in local communities by offering a certain degree of protection and reassurance.
“A national visibility initiative such as this one assists communities in curbing crime. The key to success is for communities to stand together and involve the SAPS and other security roleplayers. Communities should take ownership of their own safety,” says Hillel Coetzer, AfriForum’s Head of Community Safety for the Northern region.
“When community members get involved with security structures, it creates trust and increases watchfulness and awareness about local crime. Good cooperation between neighbourhood watches, the SAPS and local security companies enables AfriForum to launch more successful operations and to assist the community in times of need,” says Joseph Renaud, AfriForum’s Head of Community Safety for the central region.
“Proactive initiatives like the visibility patrols bring hope to communities. It is imperative that we continually have similar projects where we involve local safety and security roleplayers,” concludes Johandré van Zyl, AfriForum’s Head of Community Safety for the Southern region.
Get involved with your local AfriForum neighbourhood watch: SMS your name to 45353 (R1).