More support needed for neighbourhood watch
The aim of the event was to raise funds for the installation of CCTV cameras in the community to help safeguard the area and support the work done by the volunteers who patrol Escombe.
ESCOMBE Neighbourhood Watch held its fund-raiser at the Delmein MOTH Hall on Saturday, 17 November to raise funds for the installation of CCTV cameras in the community to help safeguard the area and support the work done by the volunteers who patrol Escombe.
According to the organiser, Joe Bhogal about 400 people joined in the fun.
The fund-raiser held to raise cash for patrollers and took place at the Delmein Shellhole which kindly donated the space for the event in the interests of community crime prevention.
“The fund-raiser was a success in terms of the programme arranged. We had a lot of fun. Entertainment was fantastic. We created a lot of awareness of the presence of the watch in the area and the work we do,” said Bhogal.
“In terms of cash raised a few thousand rands was achieved through stall-holder fees, donations and the raffle held,” he said, “but more support and participation from residents would have been better.”
“More events are being planned for February,” said Bhogal. “We want more people to participate in the area. There is all the necessary information on our Facebook page how they can join. “
Bhogal said the support needed to be more widespread throughout the community. “We want to break the apathy shown by people. They must take an active stand in the community. It’s not just for a few people to carry a lot of passengers. It is also a great way of building cohesion in the community,” he argued saying that unfortunately there are too many people who are not contributing financially to the hard work being done by and paid for, by the few active members. “We at ENW would like to thank all our donors and volunteers for a job well done.”
Bhogal said patrolling is voluntary and not a pre-requisite to becoming a member. “Support can simply be by joining and reporting suspicious activity. Also, people can become patrollers.”
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