Wierdabrug Sector 2 CPF is pushing ahead with plans to install a street-viewing camera network in Rooihuiskraal and The Reeds to combat ongoing property intrusions and theft.

Wierdabrug Police Station recorded a 21% increase in common assault cases and a 26% rise in theft from motor vehicles between April and June this year compared to the same quarter in 2025. Property-related crime also increased by 3%, highlighting the need for additional measures.

Sector 2 CPF chairperson Thinus Marais said patrollers continued to encounter incidents involving ‘wall jumpers’, who enter properties to commit crimes, mostly during the early hours of the morning.

Wierdabrug CPF chairperson Daniël van Rooyen, who oversees all three sectors, said the camera initiative aimed to strengthen community policing efforts by providing surveillance at identified crime hotspots.

He noted that physical patrols alone could not effectively monitor the entire area.

“Poor street lighting creates dark spaces where criminals can operate undetected, while the headlights of patrol vehicles can alert suspects to volunteers’ presence, giving them time to hide or leave before patrollers arrive.”

Surveillance to boost crime prevention

Van Rooyen said the proposed cameras would provide continuous surveillance at selected locations, allowing suspicious activity and vehicle movements to be monitored even when patrol vehicles or security officers were absent.

Footage could help patrollers and law enforcement identify vehicles potentially linked to criminal activity, co-ordinate responses and gather evidence for investigations.

The initiative would also complement existing security services while benefiting residents unable to afford private camera-monitoring subscriptions.

Marais said the initiative was particularly important given the practical challenges facing volunteer patrollers, who must cover the area while managing the cost of keeping their vehicles on the road.

“Light is always a deterrent, but so is the cost of petrol,” Marais said.

He added that the time and distance volunteers spent patrolling did not always deliver the results they hoped for, reinforcing the need for additional technology.

“The longer-term plan is to establish a monitoring station where access would be restricted to security companies and police,” he said. “This would allow relevant role-players to use the footage to support crime prevention and investigations.”

Community funding needed for installation

However, the project still needs community support before cameras can be installed.

Marais said the CPF had received positive feedback, although donations had been slow amid the current economic climate.

The organisation has raised about R15 000 through its BackaBuddy account towards its initial target of R200 000. Each camera is budgeted at about R10 000, although the number planned for the first phase has not yet been confirmed.

“As a registered non-profit organisation, the CPF can issue donation certificates to businesses for qualifying contributions that may be claimed as tax deductions,” Marais said. “Residents, businesses and community organisations can contribute through BackaBuddy.”

The CPF is appealing for contributions of any size to help establish the network and strengthen community safety through technology, volunteer patrols and co-operation with law enforcement and private security companies.

Residents wishing to contribute can donate online through the CPF’s BackaBuddy campaign page.

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