Q: What is a Neighbourhood Watch?
A: It is our opportunity, as residents of Oranjezicht/ Higgovale to get actively involved in improving the quality of life in our own neighbourhood. By establishing a neighbourhood watch and working in partnership with the South African Police Service (SAPS), private security companies, City Improvement Districts (CIDS) and other role-players, we get to achieve a neighbourhood that feels secure and where we feel confident that:
• SAPS understand and are dealing with the issues that matter to us;
• We can influence decisions and, where appropriate, participate
in addressing the issues.
Through your neighbourhood watch you can help decide what happens in your neighbourhood, by working closely with the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the Community Police Forum (CPF). It will mean that you will know who your SAPS Sector Commanders are, and you will know how to contact them.
An additional focus of neighbourhood policing is to bring together SAPS, local service providers, like ADT, CBAR, and residents, to provide an effective problem solving approach in response to neighbourhood concerns.
By getting involved you will have an opportunity to play a pro-active role in improving your quality of life. You will be able to contribute by helping to establish local safety priorities where you live. We all think that it is far better than sitting on the sidelines and moaning, don’t you?
Q: What is OH Watch?
A: Oranjezicht Higgovale Neighbourhood Watch (OH Watch) is a voluntary association that was established by residents at an inaugural meeting of OHWatch held at St Cyprians School on 14th January 2009. OH Watch complies with the provisions contained in the Western Cape Provincial Constitution and Code of Conduct for Neighbourhood Watch Structures (WCNWS).
Membership of OH Watch is open to anyone living, working or owning property in Oranjezicht and Higgovale; Membership is for people who wish to participate in the objectives of OH Watch and is by registration on the OH Watch database, www.ohwatch.co.za. Only those who have registered as members shall be entitled to vote at General Meetings of OH Watch.
Q: What is the structure of OH Watch?
A: An Executive Committee of nine members (“Exco”), who meet at least once a month, direct the affairs of OH Watch. The members of Exco are those that signed the OH Watch Constitution at the inaugural meeting held on 14th January 2009. These Exco members will continue in office until the Annual General Meeting of OH Watch to be held in February 2010.
OH Watch is subdivided into 6 blocks (see map on www.ohwatch.co.za). OH Watch Block Leaders have been identified and they too serve on Exco. Each Block Leader will soon put together a Management Committee (MANCO) that will help to run the affairs of the Block.
Your Exco is currently as follows:
Sheryl Ozinsky - Chair
David Stone - Vice Chair
Floh Thiele - Founder
Arthur Muller - Marketing/SAPS Liaison
Neville van den Berg - Marketing
Nino Marchese - Webmaster
Tania Miglietta - Treasurer and Constitutional Officer
Peter Stenslunde - SAPS Liaison
Mary Casson - Administrator
Block Leaders
Block 1 Orange - Amanda Kottler
Block 2 Rugby - Anat Yakuel
Block 3 Waal - Jonny Levin
Block 4 Quarry - Christin Kothoff
Block 5 Leeuwen - Richard Schafer
Block 6 Union - TBC
Q: How can I help contribute to the Oranjezicht Higgovale Neighbourhood Watch (OH Watch)?
A: Help is more than welcome. There are a number of ways in which you can get involved. Anyone can help:
• Patrolling by day or at night
• Donations to support expenses and projects to prevent crime
• Being part of your sector management committee (ManCo) that manages
relationships with SAPS, the council and organizes special projects
• Recruitment - getting your neighbours in your street and in your sector on board
• Helping to organize OH Watch Public Meetings
• Helping with PR, writing newsletters, blogs, graphic design, website
• Organising thank you functions for the members of SAPS who work our area
Q: What are the benefits of joining OH Watch and what does that involve?
A: Being a member of OH Watch enables you to join a community of like-minded people who have the interests of a safe, secure and clean neighborhood at heart. It also provides you with a forum to air and share your views and suggestions on improving your neighborhood.
Being a member of OH Watch results in you being in touch with developments in the neighbourhood. You will also receive regular updates about crime and crime prevention. You will have a contact list of people and phone numbers who you can call upon for any type of emergency. This includes fellow OH Watch members who live close to you.
Being a member of OH Watch does not require any obligations on your part. You may choose to only receive information or you may choose to play a more pro-active role. We hope that you choose the latter. You may even choose to become a patroller, which involves a commitment of three hours per month.
Q: We already pay the CID and a private security company so why do we need OH Watch?
A: OH Watch is an initiative where we, the residents, are integrally involved in the safety of our own streets?
Security is not about paying someone to look after our well-being. Safety is about taking control of our streets, walking around, being visible, knowing what is going on and supporting SAPS to “track”, “catch” and “prosecute” criminals.
We need to be involved, and have a good sense of what is happening in our area; otherwise we will never make a real dent into the crime stats. Good communication with emergency services means swift effective reaction not only to crime but to other emergencies such as fire, accidents, etc. Plus we get to meet the people who live close by and make new friends.
The power of neighbourhood watches around the world is well documented.
Q: Is it necessary to buy a radio?
A: The answer is that it is not necessary, but highly recommended.
The OH Watch 2-Way radio system is the glue that keeps the Neighbourhood Watch together. Communication on our dedicated OH Watch frequency is an invaluable tool in the prevention of crime and apprehension of criminals, as has been proven with the Tamboerskloof and Camps Bay Neighbourhood Watches.
The radios use a dedicated, ICASA assigned, frequency to communicate with all OH Watch members, SAPS vehicles patrolling the area and our very own SAPS Sector Managers, Captain Joggie Jansen and Constable Gerida Knight. The radios are an invaluable tool when doing patrols, as this is a direct line to SAPS.
We conduct twice daily radio checks at 7am and 7pm, although have been doing it slightly later on weekends and misty days.
Members are asked to consider purchasing a radio for R1700. This includes the license fee.
Crime Report
Sheryl's OH WATCH Blog
