Neighbourhood watches are in the fast lane thanks to a new system. The system, that comprises base radios and applications like WhatsApp, Telegram and Link, allows 79 city neighbourhood watches (including those in Melkbosstrand, Atlantis and Parklands) to relay incidents, post warnings or request emergency assistance. The neighbourhood watch radio system is monitored 24 hours.

According to Alderman JP Smith, who demonstrated the system in Goodwood yesterday, ‘We are currently using the City’s Tetra radio network to communicate with 14 cluster radio base sets across the city. The cluster base sets are strategically placed and surrounding neighbourhood watches have contact with the base set control centre.

The centre is able to evaluate an incident reported and can call upon the Safety and Security Radio Communications Centre to assist with the emergency services needed, such as Metro Police, Traffic or Law Enforcement. Even the Metro EMS service is located there and now readily available to the neighbourhood watches.’

Smith added, “A key priority of the City’s Organisational Development and Transformation Plan is the use of technology to optimise service delivery. We want to ensure that our neighbourhood watches have access to technology that will make their jobs easier, which in turn helps to ensure the safety of their communities.

Neighbourhood watch organisations that have access to the system include those based in Melkbosstrand, Parklands, Atlantis, Bellville, Durbanville, Bergvliet, Strand/Somerset West, Blue Downs, Mitchells Plain, Hout Bay, the Cape Town CBD.