PHOTOS: MNW celebrates 10th anniversary
"The lead-up to the first meeting was due to the rise in crime in the Cotham Road and Mongomery Road. I had my vehicle stolen in broad daylight, my family traumatised and around the same period a gentleman was shot and killed opposite Northdene Preparatory School and his Tazz was taken," explained Gavin du Plessis.
MOSELEY Neighbourhood Watch (MNW) celebrated its 10th anniversary on Monday evening, 18 April at the Firwood Sports Club. More than 120 people, including members, residents and neighbours, gathered for the public meeting.
Founding member, Gavin du Plessis, told the gathering of the events leading to the start of the watch. “The lead-up to the first meeting was due to the rise in crime in the Cotham Road and Mongomery Road. I had my vehicle stolen in broad daylight, my family traumatised and around the same period a gentleman was shot and killed opposite Northdene Preparatory School and his Tazz was taken,” he explained.
Soon Du Plessis and a few neighbours gathered and discussed the formation of a neighbourhood watch. “We decided to do a watch for Cotham Road and Mongomery Road. We put fliers in the letterboxes in the roads and we were to have a meeting at Errol’s house, but we soon realised that, as residents from other roads wanted to be part of the watch, we had to change the venue to Firwood,” he explained. The meeting was attended by more than 75 people and according to Du Plessis, they were fortunate to meet withsome of the most committed people in the area.
Communications Officer of the watch, Mark Swan, conveyed his thanks to those the watch had partnered with to reach its success. We wish to thank the Malvern SAPS for always responding timeously and the strong partnership, Firwood Sports Club for hosting us since day once, the local newspapers and everybody who is in partnership with us. Part of the watch’s success is due to the commitment in working closely and maintaining communication with our partners,” he said. Swan said they hope to dramatically increase their membership in the next 10 years. “There will always be crime and if the community does not stand up, crime will get out of control. We hope more houses will subscribe to the watch and appeal to the residents to attend CPF meetings as we take a stand together in actively fighting crime,” Swan said.
MNW also used the platform to honour its founding members and retiring councillor, André Mitchell, as well as the Malvern SAPS for their strong partnerships. Special guest, East Coast Radio’s ‘Traffic Guy’, Johann von Bargen, gave a hilarious presentation about hijacking and how residents could better equip themselves if they could not avoid it.
