The crime fighting and prevention efforts of 46 neighbourhood watches within the Stellenbosch municipal boundaries were honoured at a special appreciation ceremony in the Stellenbosch Town Hall last Wednesday (31 August).
The event was organised by the municipality and the provincial Department of Community Safety and Police Oversight. Over the years the municipality has worked tirelessly to foster good relations with all accredited neighbourhood watches, as the selfless work these community members do is invaluable in the municipality’s pursuit of creating a safer municipality.
At the ceremony Councillor Rikus Badenhorst, Mayco member for protection services, thanked all neighbourhood watches for their contribution and for working closely alongside municipal law enforcement, the police and other Stellenbosch Safety Partnership stakeholders. “We all play an important part in keeping our communities safe,” he said, “and I encourage communities to fight crime in their neighbourhood by joining their NHW.”
Deputy Mayor Jeremy Fasser echoed these sentiments and vowed the municipality will always work to make training and resources available to as many neighbourhood watch members as possible.