Huge turnout for latest Neighbourhood Watch mass information session
06 April 2025
The City’s Safety and Security Directorate engaged Neighbourhood Watch (NW) members on a number of pertinent topics during the latest mass information session at the Cape Town Civic Centre on Saturday, 5 April 2025. The sessions are held every few months to keep NWs up to speed on important developments in the community safety environment. More than 250 NW members attended, representing 114 NWs throughout the metropole.
The City has developed close ties with Neighbourhood Watches over the past 16 years, through its NW Support Programme.
The mass information sessions have become part and parcel of the relationship in recent years, in addition to training, capacitation and collaboration with the sector.
Among the topics discussed at the latest session were:
• A presentation on the Trusted Partner App, a digital tool designed to improve communication and coordination between safety stakeholders. Representatives from Online Intelligence demonstrated how this app enhances incident reporting and real-time response efforts.
• An in-depth discussion on the Community Safety Act, led by Thomas Walters, Chairperson for the Western Cape Provincial Standing Committee on Police Oversight, Community Safety outlining how legislative frameworks support community policing structures and improve accountability within safety initiatives.
• An overview of the Safety and Security Directorate’s Civil Security Initiative (CSI) which is aimed at providing neighbourhood watch structures with a virtual presence in the City’s Joint Operations Centre during incidents of civil unrest, disasters or terror. The initiative aims to ensure effective collaboration, sharing of information and joint decision-making during such incidents.
The Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith delivered an address emphasising the importance of active community participation and the role of Neighbourhood Watches in fostering safer communities and assisting the City’s enforcement agencies.
He also unpacked EPIC technological investments and the Directorate’s draft budget that is currently out for public comment, talking attendees through some of the key priorities to enhance public safety.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, allowing stakeholders to engage with City officials and safety experts on pressing security concerns.
‘This initiative provided an excellent platform to share information and augment a stronger partnership for safer communities. Neighbourhood Watches are extremely important in preventing crime, but also to increase awareness that we all have a role to play in making our communities safer. The City will continue to support these community organisations and would like to thank each and every neighbourhood watch member for giving up their valuable time for such a good cause – to serve and to protect,’ said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
For more information on NWs, including how to start a watch, please visit: https://www.capetown.gov.za/local%20and%20communities/community-health-and-safety/community-policing/neighbourhood-watch
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
