Neighbourhood Watch on mission to keep community safe
Mvoti Neighbourhood watch intends to assert their presence in the community by installing CCTV cameras this year.
THE spate of violent murders in Westville last year that galvanised the community in defiance and anger against crime, has spurred on Mvoti Nieghbourhood Watch’s efforts to keep their neighbourhood safe.
“We don’t want to be lulled into a false sense of security”, Grant Cockburn, chairman of Mvoti Neighbourhood Watch told Northglen News.
The chairman of the group had urged members in an email sent out at the end of January, to remember to pay their yearly subs. In the email to north Durban residents, Cockburn told locals, “Your money will go a long way toward our security projects” – which includes installing more CCTV cameras in the area. This is all a part of the watch’s strategy to provide a strong visible presence in the area.
Talking to the Northglen News, Cockburn said that there had been a good response by people to the reminder.
The neighbourhood watch, which patrols 340 homes in the area, worked throughout December to ensure residential safety. However Cockburn felt disappointed that despite their year-round committment, there had been more reported incidents over this festive season. “It was a disappointing December because we put a lot more effort into making sure that we were a lot more visible, but unfortunately we were not the only ones. A lot of the other areas were also hit very hard,” said the chairman.
Working closely with security services and local police, Mvoti Neighbourhood Watch have a committed group of 20 residents who patrol the area and provide the authorities with information relating to suspicious behaviour and incidents. “The objective is to look and see what is happening in the area. To observe and contact the relevant authorities,” Cockburn said. “If the community are generally aware and looking out and looking after each other, we have a responsibility to report it.”
Cockburn also mentioned there were a couple of other neighbourhood watches they had assisted to get started up.
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