A group of residents eager to bring an end to crime in Observatory are aiming to follow the example of Glenhazel, Norwood, Linksfield, Highlands North, and a number of other north eastern suburbs, with the introduction of Cap, a non-profit security company that focuses on local knowledge and proactive safety initiatives to reduce crime by an average 85 percent across the 40 suburbs in which it operates.
In an attempt to bring Cap’s success to the attention of the community, residents brought neighbours together for a ‘picnic in the park’ at Sacred Heart College. The event’s focus was on promoting Cap’s services, but there was room for fun and games as families enjoyed a game of soccer, and children made the most of a water slide on the school field. Food stands offered popcorn, chips and candy floss, while the scent of braai smoke filled the air.
The group’s aim, explained representatives, was to provide a sense of neighbourly unity in a city where communities were often isolated by high walls and fear. The residents want to see Observatory restored to a neighbourhood in which children feel safe to play on the street, and they hope that Cap’s focus on community unity can help them.
The company is managed by volunteers, but run by paid professionals whose efforts are co-ordinated by a specialised Incident Command and Control Centre, where centralised information and analysis results in rapid, responsive and proactive security on the ground.
To fund the patrol car and guards that residents would like to install in Observatory for the safety of all, it is necessary for 350 households to sign up for Cap’s home security contract. About 115 households have committed so far, but volunteers are hopeful that number will rise as the community gathers for further events, starting with an organic market fair in February that is guaranteed to get residents into the neighbourly spirit.
Details: Noa 083 275 3319; Hugo 072 148 2817; www.capgroup.org.za
