Residents and community safety organisations joined forces in Sinoville during a visibility campaign aimed at raising awareness around crime and encouraging greater community involvement in keeping Ward 50 safe.

The campaign brought together AfriForum Noord van die Berg, Proshield Security, Prosec CITR, Plot Watch, and Wolverine Protection Solutions, alongside Ward 50 councillor Lenise Breytenbach.

According to AfriForum’s Ruan Janse van Vuuren, the campaign was prompted by growing concerns about crime and the safety of residents, particularly women, children, elderly people, and those who walk or exercise in the community.

Organisations target vulnerable areas

The participating organisations visited areas identified as vulnerable to criminal activity, with the campaign aimed at increasing visibility and highlighting locations requiring greater attention.

Janse van Vuuren said the message was that residents should be able to move through public spaces safely at any time of the day or night.

“The purpose of the campaign was to identify these hotspots, increase visibility and send a clear message that our community will not simply accept crime as part of everyday life,” he said.

Breytenbach said the visibility drive also highlighted the need for regular patrols, improved communication, and a co-ordinated response between security companies, community structures, and residents.

She said several areas requiring greater attention were identified during the drive-through, particularly those that were isolated, poorly monitored, or vulnerable to criminal activity.

“Visibility itself is an important deterrent, and these campaigns also help us better understand where additional interventions may be required,” she said.

Multi-role safety network needed

Breytenbach said community involvement remained critical because no single organisation could address crime on its own.

She said residents, private security companies, neighbourhood watch structures, SAPS, community organisations, and the metro all had different roles to play in creating a stronger safety network.

According to Breytenbach, residents are often the first to notice suspicious activity because of their familiarity with their neighbourhoods, while security and law enforcement structures can provide the appropriate response.

She encouraged residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activity immediately, and make use of established community safety networks.

Residents were also urged to look out for vulnerable members of the community while avoiding direct confrontation with suspected criminals.

“Residents should also look out for one another, particularly vulnerable members of our community,” said Breytenbach.

Janse van Vuuren said the campaign formed part of a broader effort to encourage active communities, where residents share information and work together with security structures.

Ongoing drives planned

Breytenbach said the visibility campaign would not be a once-off exercise.

She said further engagements with security organisations, community structures, and residents would continue to identify problem areas and determine where increased visibility or other interventions were required.

The councillor also called for stronger communication between the various role-players and encouraged residents to continue reporting safety concerns.

“The information received from the community is extremely valuable in helping us identify trends and areas requiring attention,” she said.

She said the ultimate goal was to build a safer and more connected Ward 50 through greater visibility, co-operation, responsible reporting, and continued engagement.

“We cannot allow fear and crime to dictate how our residents live their lives,” said Breytenbach.

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