OH WATCH

Dear Good Resident of Oranjezicht and Higgovale

Happy New Year. May 2012 bring joy, justice, and healing to us and the world.

We hope that you had a restful break and that you are easing back into work and home life. Crime was relatively low during the December holidays – we applaud the OH Watch voluntary patrollers who maintained their commitment right through the holidays when most people were on leave with their families.

Please join OH Watch for Patrol Training: Thursday 26 January 2012

OH Watch desperately needs more dedicated patrollers who can learn from those who are already experienced and enable the handful of patrollers who do the bulk of the patrolling day in and day out to relax a little. All we ask is one two-hour slot a month, and that you join us for a once off training session. Our next patrol training session is on Tuesday 24th January 2012 from 18h00 – 20h00. All are welcome to attend, including our current patrollers should they be happy to share their experiences with new patrollers. We are also pleased to announce that Tony Schreiber, SAPS reservist and co-founder of the successful Bergvliet Meadowridge Neighbourhood Watch (BKM) will be our guest speaker. Tony is a great speaker – he tells it the way it is - and is passionate about reducing crime. And just so that you know how serious OH Watch is about the need for more patrollers to join our ranks, if you bring 5 people with you to the training session, and they then become active patrollers, you will receive a complimentary OH Watch two way radio. Please RSVP: patrols@ohwatch.co.za

High alert for fires on the mountain

Summer is here and we’re on high alert for fires on the slopes – if you see smoke please use your OH Watch radio or call the city emergency line 107 (landline), or the Fire Department on 021 535 1100. With much of our area bordering on the Table Mountain National Park, members are please to be on the lookout for persons throwing cigarette buts out of cars and on pavements. The City of Cape Town has a Stompie Hotline. The 24-hour complaint line, which also receives tip-offs about air and water polluters, has received 1684 complaints since it was set up in 2007. The stompie hotline control centre number is 021 424 7715. We also have to be on the lookout for vagrants starting small fires in the areas of Van Riebeeck Park, De Waal Park, the lower reservoir, the Quarry, and Deer Park.

Watching Out for Each Other

Last week, OH Watch volunteer patroller, Anthony Rees was on a routine vehicle patrol when he heard a call for help on his radio from DPV Watch, our neighbouring neighbourhood watch in Devils Peak and Vredehoek. They were looking for a black man wearing a red cap, white t-shirt and carrying an orange jacket, who had just been seen breaking into a residential garage and on the run. At the time, Anthony was heading in the direction of the reported incident (Upper Buitenkant St / Highlands Ave interchange) and lo and behold caught the same suspect looking into a silver vehicle with the intention to break in, 4 blocks away. He attempted to run away when he spotted OH Watch approaching, but Anthony managed to apprehend him in a small park 30 meters away. DPV Watch members arrived shortly thereafter in full force, followed by ADT, City Bowl Armed Response and later the police. The suspect was identified by the home owner as the would-be thief and promptly arrested and charged for attempted house breaking.

Training as a volunteer trauma counsellor

If you are interested in training as a volunteer trauma counsellor, the Victim Support Room at SAPS Central is in dire need of volunteers from the City Bowl community to assist with the counselling of victims of crime. SAPS will be doing a training session for volunteers in the coming weeks – no dates set yet. It likely that the training will be held at Cape Town Central Police Station for five days. Victim Support Councillors work on a voluntary shift basis. The shifts run for a week and you can opt to be on call during the day or evening for that week. If there is a victim in need, then you would be asked to go to the Victim Support Room at SAPS Central. The councillor’s role is to offer support to victims and assist them in dealing with their immediate trauma. Please email OH Watch (info@ohwatch.co.za) if you are interested in becoming a victim support councillor and if you would be able to attend training.

Currently there are no volunteers living in the City Bowl which is why it is essential that the neighbourhood watches take up this opportunity.

Drug Bust

On Wednesday afternoon, OH Watch patrollers Rees and Ashwell were on patrol in Myrtle Street behind the Gardens Centre and came across a new character attempting to set himself up as a car guard in the area. When they approached him to ask him to leave the area he became belligerent, aggressive and refused to leave. They called in SAPS for assistance and Constable Samai arrived to interview him and issue a warning not to return. He became argumentative and uncooperative with SAPS. This resulted in him being arrested for failing to follow the instructions of a police officer. He was then duly searched on the spot. TIK and drug paraphernalia was found on his person.

He was duly arrested and appeared in court on Thursday morning on drug charges. He left custody on bail at 1pm on Thursday.

On Thursday afternoon (the next day) when on patrol again, the patrollers came across the same suspect, operating in exactly the same spot where he had been arrested the previous day. He then made death threats claiming that he will continue to return. The patrollers once again summonsed SAPS to deal with the suspect, however there was no vehicle which could attend to our complaint, as the one and only vehicle in the area was attending to another complaint it the police station. The suspect then begun leaving the area, while continuing to taunt us and threaten the patrollers. They followed him to the Company Gardens, while keeping in radio contact with SAPS who dispatched a city CID vehicle to pick him up. He was arrested by CID and a City Law Enforcement Officer in the Company Gardens and taken to SAPS Central.

OH Watch patrollers opened cases of intimidation against the suspect and they subsequently learned that this suspect has previously spent 17 years jail time, and has been arrested on various occasions for theft and business break-ins. OH Watch hopes that SAPS request the public prosecutor to oppose bail for this suspect, taking into account his long criminal record and re-arrest the same day of his bail release.

Loiterer issued banning order by Gardens Centre

Over the last two months, two OH Watch patrollers have been issuing many warnings to a 17 year old youth who has been sitting on the steps leading from Hiddingh Street into the Gardens Centre (Woolworths side). He has become a nuisance to shoppers and people living in the area and OH Watch received numerous complaints from the community about his arrogant manner and persistence in begging. Last week, OH Watch patrollers summoned the Centre Security, who took him to their security office and issued him with an official banning order from the Centre. He signed an acknowledgment that he would stop begging / loitering on the premises. Should we or the Centre security find him begging in the area, SAPS will be called in and he will be promptly arrested.

Repainting of Lamp Poles and Reporting of Street Light Faults

OH Watch has been in touch with the City regarding the repainting of lamp posts that are in need of derusting/re-spraying/painting. About 350 out of a total of approx 898 poles. A start was made last year in the Upper Orange area, but there is still along way to go. The City has promised to complete the job.

The following streetlights were not working in Oranjezicht and were reported to the City.

Sidmouth Ave
Lincoln Rd
Serpentine Rd
Beulah Terrace
Montreal Ave
Grovesnor Ave
They have been repaired and are now working.

OH Watch Annual Subs now due for 2012

Many thanks to those of you who have paid your R200 annual membership fee during 2011. 2012 subs are now due, and if you haven’t paid your 2011 subscription, its not too late.

Our banking details are:

Bank: First National Bank
Branch: Gardens
Branch code: 201511
Account number: 62212483680
Name of account: OH Watch
Ref: Surname and Subs

As always, we welcome constructive criticism. Contact us with any suggestions you might have for the new year.

Check the OH Watch website www.ohwatch.co.za for safety tips to keep your mind at rest and others at bay.