The AfriForum neighbourhood watches in Limpopo held several visibility projects during the long weekend. Easter weekend always brings an added risk for road users and holidaymakers due to higher traffic volumes as well as an increase in crime.
The AfriForum neighbourhood watches in Naboomspruit, Potgietersrus and Messina assisted their local communities and law enforcement in various ways during the weekend.
In Naboomspruit and Potgietersrus the neighbourhood watches helped to regulate traffic that moved through the towns on the R101. The neighbourhood watch in Potgietersrus also checked all registration numbers of vehicles on the R101 through town using a mobile system on the evening of 1 April.
The neighbourhood watches assisted during cases of emergency. The neighbourhood watch in Potgietersrus received an urgent call for help during a shooting incident. They immediately assisted in securing the scene and alerting medical services. The victim had however already succumbed to gunshot wounds to the head. The neighbourhood watch handed the scene over to the SAPS.
Philip Bower, neighbourhood watch leader of AfriForum’s Potgietersrus branch, thanked all the neighbourhood watch members and SAPS members who participated. “Members sacrificed their long weekend in service to their community. It is regular citizens who stand together to safeguard Potgietersrus. On a weekend when we celebrate the most important Sacrifice of all time, it is a privilege to sacrifice and serve. We invite everyone who is interested to join the neighbourhood watch in order for us to look out for each other.”
“During this weekend the value of a network of neighbourhood watches working together once again became evident. AfriForum’s national network of neighbourhood watches is unique when it comes to coordination, discipline and standardised training and they operate within the framework of the law. Criminals don not operate within prescribed rules – it is therefore very important that we build channels to communicate and synchronise with each other. These neighbourhood watches once again illustrated the important role the community can play in supporting law enforcement, by enhancing safety in the towns and surrounding areas through visibility and cooperation,” says Andries Opperman, AfriForum’s Provincial Safety Coordinator for Limpopo.
To get involved with AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches in Limpopo, download the Telegram app and search for @AfriForumBuurtBot (https://t.me/AfriForumBuurtBot).