Robberies, break-ins, shootings and sexual violence are among the crimes which have gone down significantly since the establishment of the latest neighbourhood watch in Bonteheuwel.

So says the chairperson of the Untouchables Neighbourhood Watch, Salaama Abrahams.

This watch operates within the L-block (the seven street names starting with the letter L).

Ms Abrahams said that with the community’s support, they had turned their once gang-riddled area into a safer space.

“We started because of all the vandalism that occurred during load shedding early last year. We first operated as street committees, and then we decided we could do more. Then we formed our structured neighbourhood watch, and with the help of the police, we have already shut down eight ‘pella possies’ (houses used to do drugs),” Ms Abrahams said.

On Saturday November 9, the neighbourhood watch was officially launched.

She said the community had been good at following the “rules” they had set out.

“We asked that their children not be on the road after 8pm. We have also asked the spaza shops not to serve the children if they come there after 8pm.

“We have also found that it is usually people from outside our community who cause trouble, and for this reason, we have also asked the residents for their visitors to leave at a reasonable time.

“We still have minor vandalism, but robberies, gang violence and gender-based violence went down a lot. We are quite chuffed. We also hardly have break-ins now. And all of these positive changes are because of the community’s support, for which we are so grateful. It means a lot to us.

“We do this because we want a safe community for our future generation. Apart from our immediate area, we also do joint patrols with neighbourhood watches from other parts of Bonteheuwel. We have 17 blocks in Bonteheuwel - imagine the difference we can make if every block has a neighbourhood watch. That is our vision.”

Ward councillor Angus Mckenzie said that during Covid he had put out a call for the community to join his street WhatsApp groups.

“This was done to give people direct access to me and to ensure information was freely and widely available. As Covid slipped away, the idea was placed on how we continue to keep our streets safe. And so it started, from the S-block to the KIC-block to the B-block and now the L-block. What we have noticed over the last few years, is a safer Bonteheuwel - not just in word and statistics, but in feeling as well,” he said.

Mr Mckenzie added that in most cases, neighbourhood watch members were the first responders to a crime scene or an emergency, and often they knew the perpetrator or the victim.

“This is a critical step in addressing criminality. And this is why all our neighbourhood watches are annually supported by my office - whether it is bicycles, torches, jackets, first aid kits or even fire extinguishers that are provided.

“The success of the expanded neighbourhood watches allowed us now to financially support those volunteers with the launch of the community ambassadors programme. This is where we bring unemployed members from various neighbourhood watches into a programme where they work together across the area to maintain a safer community. The power of an active neighbourhood watch cannot be disregarded. Bonteheuwel remains the example of making the impossible possible when people not only believe, but are supported in believing.”

Graham Lindhorst, the Bishop Lavis Community Police Forum chairperson, agreed with Mr Mckenzie, saying that neighbourhood watches played a “big role in keeping communities safe”.

“The neighbourhood watches are the eyes and ears of the police. Having an active neighbourhood watch has always had good results, as it increases visibility when they do patrols with the police. The SAPS depend on them,” Mr Lindhorst said.