Uniform look for Western Cape NHWs

Western Cape minister of community safety Albert Fritz last week launched the new neighbourhood watch brand in George, encompassing every neighbourhood watch structure in the Western Cape.

The brand launch formed part of the Department of Community Safety’s efforts to professionalise neighbourhood watches so as to increase community participation, create safer neighbourhoods, and increase perceptions of safety in communities. The professionalisation of Neighbourhood Watches started in 2013 through the Western Cape Community Safety Act (WCCSA).

Section 6 of the Western Cape Community Safety Act, which deals with the accreditation and support of neighbourhood watches, gives recognition to the efforts of these structures and acknowledges the value of their presence in communities.

“Over the past few years, the neighbourhood watch project has evolved rapidly. On 1 October 2016, the Act was promulgated, allowing the Department to formally begin accrediting neighbourhood watches in the Western Cape. In 2017, training for neighbourhood watches was reviewed and a new training manual was developed. In 2018, funding for accredited neighbourhood watches was approved and implemented. This brings us to 2019 where we are launching the new neighbourhood watch brand,” said Fritz, who added, “The introduction of our new brand shows our commitment to changing the old positioning and stigmas of the neighbourhood watch.”