The woman at the head of Ballito Neighbourhood Watch

Candice Henderson never saw herself getting involved in something like the Ballito Neighbourhood Watch, but when her house was burgled about six years ago, she took the leap.

“It was curiosity more than anything,” she said. “I wanted to know how things worked in Ballito.”

She was on the committee for five years, and when the last chairperson resigned, they asked her to take up the baton. She is also currently the acting chair of the CPF.

Candice says juggling her job, family life and civic life was not an issue. She reckons her community roles take up just a couple of hours of her time per week, but there is a lot to it – she is on the WhatsApp groups for 13 streets in Ballito, corresponds with the local councillor and the KwaDukuza municipality, and does a lot of communicating with the committee and Ballito residents.

“I think I am a doer and I see so much need. The little time and effort I put in, I can see how it makes a difference,” she said.

In a committee of 14, Candice is one of only four women.

“It is a male-dominated industry,” she said. “Some people might think it is not a space for women, maybe that it’s too dangerous.”

Their next big project is to launch an app, which is now in the testing phase. The purpose of it is to better manage what is discussed in the WhatsApp groups and to make the discussion more purposeful, said Henderson.

“Crime goes through cycles and you try to manage it proactively with what you have,” she said.

“I never saw myself in this role but I love it and I have learned so much.”