Bonteheuwel resident scoops ‘crime fighter of the year’ award
22 November 2025
Deen Solomons was one of the Neighbourhood Watch (NW) Awards recipients. The City’s Safety and Security Directorate announced this year’s winners during a ceremony in the Council Chamber, Civic Centre earlier today.
The annual awards drew more than 200 nominations for individuals and Neighbourhood Watches across the metropole, in a number of categories.
The awards celebrate excellence, perseverance and commitment by NWs who work in communities and closely with the City’s enforcement agencies.
The awards recognise both individual Watch members and organisations, across a number of categories.
Deen Solomon of the KIC Neighbourhood Watch in Bonteheuwel received the nod for Crime fighter of the Year.
He has shown exceptional bravery and quick thinking in numerous operations that have led to successful arrests and the prevention of major crimes.
Deen’s nomination noted that ‘his situational awareness and decisive action, often in high-risk situations, have kept residents safe and strengthened community confidence’.
Other winners in the individual categories were:
Mobiliser of the Year: Mvano Magula, Qhubekani Neigbourhood Watch, Mfuleni
Inspiration of the Year: Sandra De Wet Van Den Berg, De La Haye Neighbourhood Watch, Bellville
Courage in Action: Yaseerah Nelson, Klip Neighbourhood Watch, Lotus River
Organisational Excellence: Nomsa Klaas, Driftsands Neighbourhood Watch, Mfuleni
Group recipients were:
Situational Crime Prevention Award: Khuseleka Neighbourhood Watch, Khayelitsha
Courage in Action: Boundaries Neighbourhood Watch, Retreat
‘It is heartwarming to see how communities appreciate the work done by these volunteers who dedicate their time and skill to keeping their areas safe. While they’re all tops, a panel selected the winners who went above and beyond what was required of them. Congratulations to everyone for a year in which they heeded the call to action and made a difference in their communities,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
This year, two new categories have been added.
The Disaster Relief Contributor of the Year for assistance rendered in preventing and mitigating disasters went to Mfuleni Extension 6 Neighbourhood Watch for demonstrating exceptional compassion, resilience, and commitment and whose actions meaningfully supported the City’s Disaster Management efforts.
Watch members have undergone firefighting training to serve as the community’s first line of defence and during the most recent outbreak, their swift action limited the destruction to just two shacks, a remarkable outcome credited entirely to the team’s rapid response, courage, and coordination.
Beyond firefighting, Mfuleni Extension 6 Neighbourhood Watch plays a vital role in supporting City officials and emergency services during disaster situations — helping with crowd control, clearing access routes for fire and rescue teams, and assisting affected families on the ground. Their proactive stance has earned them the trust of both residents and authorities, proving that empowered communities are key partners in disaster management.
The Best Utilisation of Technology Award for the innovative and effective use of technology to enhance safety went to Melkbosstrand Neighbourhood Watch for their innovative and effective use of technology to enhance safety and they were noted to have ‘set the benchmark for digital excellence in community safety through its outstanding use of the Trusted Partner App’.
The Melkbosstrand NW has transformed technology into a force multiplier and enhancing patrol coordination, reporting accuracy, and accountability across every shift.
Their consistent, disciplined use of the app has resulted in 177 logged incidents and 1 021 On/Off-related bookings, clearly demonstrating that the Watch is not only active but strategic in leveraging digital tools to improve community safety outcomes.
The app enables seamless coordination between patrollers and partners, allowing the team to monitor trends, report suspicious activity instantly, and support SAPS and City Law Enforcement with verified, time-stamped information. This digital discipline has made their patrols more visible, their responses faster, and their reporting more credible.
Caption 1: Alderman Smith, Deen Solomon from Bonteheuwel and Rhelton Jooste from the City.
Caption 2: Alderman Smith, Mvano Magula of the Qhubekani Neigbourhood Watch in Mfuleni, and Rhelton Jooste from the City.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
