The Urban Renewal Programme (URP) in partnership with the Department of Community Safety (DOCS), South African Police Services (SAPS) and the Community Police Forums (CPFs) deployed Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) members at the Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain Public Viewing Areas (PVAs) during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The aim of the project was to increase the visibility of law enforcement agencies thus ensuring the safety of local soccer fans and visitors coming into Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain.

The City of Cape Town identified four PVAs where local communities could watch all the soccer games and be part of the World Cup. The identified areas included the Urban Renewal Nodes of Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain. It was envisaged that the PVAs would not only attract the residents of Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain but also visitors from outside the nodes, and it was therefore important that everyone’s safety was ensured.

The URP, through its Social Crime Prevention project, facilitated the deployment of NHW members to patrol in and around the PVAs. The objectives of the project were as follows: 

• To re-enforce police visibility and deter crime 
  
• To ensure that NHW members continue to participate actively in the prevention of crime in their areas and become part of the World Cup legacy as citizens of the country
  
  

The project deployed 150 NHW members, with special focus on the 13 matches played in Cape Town. URP managed the overall implementation of the project which was stakeholder engagement, resources, monitoring and evaluation. DOCS, CPFs and the NHW members took responsibility for the development of the criteria for recruitment and actual recruitment and appointment of NHW members in the two nodes. SAPS took responsibility for the provision of safety training in line with the FIFA regulations, the deployment schedule and transporting the NHW members back home after late night shifts.

The presence of NHW members increased the visibility of law enforcement and the event has strengthened the partnership between NHW and the police.

According to police reports, on the 11 June 2010, the first day of the World Cup match, both Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain PVAs were declared full by 17:30, 30 minutes after the match between Bafana Bafana and Mexico started. Swartklip Sports Complex in Mitchells Plain had more than 6 000 fans in the grounds, while OR Tambo Hall in Khayelitsha, was filled with more than 5 000 fans. These numbers increased during the quarter and semi finals.

The event has left a very positive legacy for Cape Town, which was declared as Africa’s top travel destination. This was in part due to both visitors and local fans feeling safe. No major crime incidents were reported over the period in either Khayelitsha or Mitchells Plain.

Stakeholder’s unanimously agreed that feelings of safety were attributed to the increased visibility of law enforcement and the presence of other City of Cape Town departments such as Social Development and Disaster Management. All departments worked together to make sure that PVAs operated smoothly.