Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch an example of community custodianship
Community watchdog adds fire truck to their already impressive weaponry
The shortcomings of authorities require innovative ways to plug the holes left in service delivery.
Tired of waiting on forces they could not control, Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch (RNW) have led the way in creating community solutions to larger South African problems. The well-documented struggles of municipal entities and government branches have forced the community conglomerate to fill potholes, secure accident scenes and now, even fight fires.
Refusing to twiddle their thumbs and complain, RNW take a proactive approach to protecting their community, whether affiliated or not. The newest addition to their guerilla arsenal is a custom-built one kilolitre, high-pressure, multi-hose firefighting trojan. The trailer, which can be hitched to any 4×4, has been used to extinguish veld fires, douse burning lapas and most recently, assisted in limiting fire damage at a nearby retirement village.
Designed and constructed by Jean Coetzee, the fire truck uses emergency responder-grade fire hoses that attach to the high volume pump, giving it the capacity to kill the energy of a fire while they wait for extra assistance. The trailer is usually strapped to the back of their Absolut Security-sponsored emergency vehicle, EV1, which carries a host of emergency equipment for any eventuality. The pump even has a suction feature, putting flooded areas on their list of solvable problems.
RNW specialise in getting to any incident first, and through their always alert control room, are able to react with unrivalled speed. With a management team cognisant of maintaining a corporate image separate from individual interests, the community’s well-being supersedes all internal politics. Propelled by trained responders and dedicated volunteers, RNW have fingers in multiple pies, keeping residents informed, safe and secure.
