Neighbourhood watches and local security companies were recently given a tour of the joint control room in Lakeside.
Ward councillor Aimee Kuhl used funds from the ward allocation budget to get the control centre up and running and install hardware.
About 80 safety and security roleplayers were joined by JP Smith, Mayco member for safety, security and social development.
He spoke on how crime and the costs of crime affect the City of Cape Town. He also reported on the power of neighbourhood watches and how they are the focus of the City’s new safety initiatives.
Representatives of local fire, traffic and police departments also attended the tour.
The wide attendence “shows how everyone is committed to making the Muizenberg community safety initiative a resounding success”, says Kuhl.
“Neighbourhood watches and other community organisations are encouraged to raise funds for cameras that can feed into this control room which will be jointly monitored by both official City and police agents, private security and chosen neighbourhood watch administrators. This will allow everyone – despite their limited resources – to more effectively work together,” she says.
Auxiliary Law Enforcement volunteer Eckhardt Winks demonstrated the messaging app called Telegram that the City uses, Kuhl adds. “This is a single communication platform for all safety and security-related matters which is patched through to the City’s new control room directly, handling all emergency dispatching.”
