Cape Town's neighbourhood safety officers enhance community security
Five neighbourhood safety officers (NSOs) have been allocated to each ward in Subcouncil 16, including the areas of Pinelands, Mowbray, Sea Point, Bantry Bay, Clifton, Three Anchor Bay, Foreshore, District Six, Observatory, Woodstock, Bo-Kaap, Cape Town City Centre, Gardens, Tamboerskloof, Vredehoek, Green Point, and Salt River.
These NSOs were amongst the 700 new City of Cape Town metro police officers who graduated last month and were deployed across the city.
The constables, led by sergeants, were introduced to police, local security, districts, community police forums (CPF), and neighbourhood watches at Observatory Village Green on Tuesday, September 30.
The rollout included the deployment of neighbourhood policing for every ward, a dedicated unit for the N2/Airport precinct, and more protection escorts for frontline service delivery teams in crime hotspots.
The recruits completed an 18-month learnership programme which included: a year-long traffic officer course; three months of metro police officer training, which included firearm competency training; specialised training, including neighbourhood safety officer training and evidence-based policing, additional Tactical training; and EPIC (Ethical policing is Courageous) training.
They also received civic academy training.
Councillor for Ward 53 Riad Davids with neighbourhood safety officers, constables Turcia Priem, Zuko Mdoti, Simele Maphase, and Yatish Maarbeel, and Sergeant Conrad Stuurman.
Image: Fouzia van der Fort
Subcouncil 16 chairman Matthew Kempthorne welcomed the dedicated metro police to their neighbourhoods daily, to work closely with stakeholders and ward councillors, to keep residents and visitors safe.
Riad Davids, councillor for Ward 53, said that the NSOs were a game-changer in South Africa.
"This has not been done before. The strength is in the resources and numbers. Every neighbourhood is safer as there are five dedicated Metro police officers in their hood as well as five in every neighbouring hood," he said.
Pictured at the back, from left, are neighbourhood safety officers constables Ismail J Patel, Kaylynne Titus, Sergeant Donovan Kleinhans ad Nazeer Lottering. In front is Nicola Jowell, councillor for Ward 54.
Image: Fouzia Van Der Fort
Nicola Jowell, councillor for Ward 54, said that she met with the team deployed to her ward to discuss concerns such as homelessness, noisy and speeding vehicles, and bylaw infringements.
"They are extra visible policing and foot patrols in the area to address issues around crime and put in preventative measures," she said.
Pictured clockwise, from left, are councillor for ward 57 Yusuf Mohamed, Constables Revaun Ontong, Nazree Samuels, Dillon Griffiths, Igshaan Salie, Sergeant Conrad Stuurman and Constable Jody Meyer-Williams. Ward 57, includes parts of District Six, parts of Mowbray, parts of Observatory, parts of Rosebank, parts of Woodstock and parts of Salt River.
Image: Fouzia Van Der Fort
Yusuf Mohamed, councillor for Ward 57, said: “The original inception of this was to bring together a group of remarkable people, train them up and then send them directly into our communities, to improve response time and tackle things on a local level.
He said that the programme brought the officers and enforcement closer to the community and improved partnerships with the community.
“They are going to be really effective in Ward 57,” he said.
Pictured at the back, from left, are Constable Nqobile Xhishibana, Sergeant Jamie Adams, Constables Tyler Lamb and Zenande Sileva. In front is Francine Higham, councillor for Ward 77.
Image: Fouzia van der Fort
Francine Higham for Ward 77 said they were looking forward to having the officers in the ward, looking out for anti-social and criminal behaviour.
“Keeping eyes on the street to make sure that our communities are safer, in the next couple of weeks we will be introducing our NSOs to neighbourhood watches, CBOs (community based organisations, as well the CIDs (central improvement districts) in the area to get some input and insights into some safety concerns that they are well informed when they hit the ground,” she said
Pictured from left, are Constables Craig Cloete, Youghan Cornelius, Thandolethu Vintwembi, councillor for Ward 115 Ian McMahon, Sergeant Jamie Adams and Constable Nolwazi Mahlahla.
Image: Fouzia van der Fort
Ian McMahon, councillor for Ward 115, said that these officers would assist and bolster teams who are already on the ground and get to residential areas.
“Offering more boots on the ground so we can address the crime issues we already have,” he said