THE coast’s best kept secret, Umzumbe, is on track to become one of the safest villages in the south.
Concerned about the rise of crime, and wanting to ensure that residents and visitors are able to move freely and feel safe, the community has recently pooled their resources so a total of eight cameras can be erected in and around Umzumbe.
The Umzumbe Security Initiative has already had three cameras installed by Gladiator Security Services, which will be monitored 24/7 by the company.
The cameras, which are able to pan, zoom and tilt, will be able to monitor the railway line, bridge and beach at the river, main beach and monitor the car park and Stebel rocks.
Impressively, the cameras can zoom all the way down the beach towards the river, turn in a 360 degree angle, and can be programmed to perform a startling 130 moves.
Fourteen awareness signs with emergency contact numbers have been erected throughout Umzumbe, encouraging people to report any suspicious individuals or behaviour.
Residents are kept informed via a proactive whatsapp group, and there are further plans to have a dedicated patrol vehicle.
Grant Wood, vice chairman of the Umzumbe Beach Ratepayers’ Association (UBRA), said the initiative has received support from households and accommodation establishments which are paying a monthly levy for this security package.
“The plan is to make Umzumbe a sunny and safe village for both young and old,” he said.
Mr Wood said UBRA plans to also upgrade the roads, start a recycling initiative and support Rock Bottom The Music Bistro, which has recently just reopened.
