Community Safety
With regard to neighbourhood watches (NHWs) in Mitchells Plain:
(1) (a) How many neighbourhood watches does his Department work with in the area, and (b) what are the relevant details of the neighbourhood watches;
(2) whether his Department provide any support, financial or otherwise, to these neighbourhood watches; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) what (a) training and (b) equipment does his Department provide to neighbourhood watches in the area?
1) (a) Currently the Department accredited 3 Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) structures in the Mitchell’s Plain area.
(b) Please see latest list attached hereto. (See Attached Annexure A)
(2) As part of the NHW Accreditation and Support Programme, the Department offers various types of training. The training is provided within communities throughout the Western Cape at a community hall within the area. Training is free of charge and all logistics pertaining to the training is provided by the Department.
In terms of the funding provided, the Department has developed a funding model which is aligned to Section 6 of the Western Cape Community Safety Act of 2013, where funds are made available in support of accredited NHW structures. A maximum amount of R10 000.00 is made available for a period of twelve months and is dependent on availability of funds. The funding may be utilised to cover bank charges, administration costs and or operational support (ie. purchasing of additional equipment) of the NHW structure. The money cannot be utilised for stipends as contained in the Transfer Payment Agreement.
(3)(a) Currently the Department offers the following training to accredited Neighbourhood Watches:
- Basic Neighbourhood Watch Training;
- First Aid Level 1;
- Basic Fire Fighting;
- Meeting Skills;
- Finance for Non-financial managers, and
- Conflict Management and Mediation.
(b) Each accredited NHW structure is entitled to a Starter Kit which consists the following items:
- Reflective Vests;
- Torches;
- First Aid Kit;
- Fire Extinguisher;
- Strobe lights;
- Magnetic decals;
- Safety Whistles, and
- A Storage box.
It should be noted that the Starter Kit is not meant to “equip” NHW structures, it is meant to enable them to start their patrols. This is due to the fact that the Department has to provide for the entire province with limited funds. The additional funding provided to accredited NHW structures makes provision for the procurement of additional resources.
