Nerissa Neighbourhood Watch bagged two awards at the annual neighbourhood watch awards, presented at the Cape Town Civic Centre.
The City’s safety and security directorate holds the awards to acknowledge the role of the watches in the community.
On Saturday November 12, the watch’s secretary, Celeste Maclons, received the award for organisational excellence in neighbourhood watch management while the watch’s founder, Zuhair Moosa, won the “crime fighter of the year” award. There were six individual awards and four group awards.
Ms Maclons said: “I’m feeling really blessed to have received the award. I wasn’t really expecting an award for anything really. I’m really grateful for the award. We currently have 54 members, and 28 patrollers. Our numbers are still growing every day.”
Mr Moosa said he had started the watch, which covers Nerissa Estate, in June last year to prevent crime in the area. Women and children needed someone to stand up for them and the police service was under-resourced so there was a need for watches, he said.
“I’m ecstatic about the award. This is really a group effort, the award belongs to all of them. We are heading into the festive season, also known as the silly season, and we will definitely have more work cut out for us,” he added.
Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said neighbourhood watches often proved to be the first line of defence in their communities, and he praised those who worked all day and then still went out at night to patrol their streets.
“The battle against crime can be won. There is a great deal that we need to be grateful to you for, not just for the ones we catch but everything you do to prevent crime. You are a source of hope for many. Don’t stop, keep doing what you’re doing,” he said.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the City appreciated the efforts of every neighbourhood watch member, and watches had a big impact on preventing crime.
“In a caring society, we look out for each other, and the bond of trust that these groups build with their respective communities is incredibly valuable. The City of Cape Town is doing everything it can within its resources and ability to make our City safer for all residents, and you are supporting our efforts,” he said.