AfriForum’s Eastern Cape neighbourhood watches cover nearly 3 300 km during national patrol
AfriForum’s Eastern Cape neighbourhood watches joined forces with AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches in every corner of the country during this civil rights organisation’s national patrol. AfriForum’s national patrols are undertaken several times a year to increase the visibility of neighbourhood watches on a national level, to test communication networks and practice synchronisation between the respective neighbourhood watches. Eastern Cape’s neighbourhood watches, including 149 AfriForum neighbourhood watch members and 95 members from other security agencies, undertook this joint security action and covered nearly 3 300 km within 13 hours and dealt with two specific incidents.
AfriForum’s Elliot, Kirkwood, Uitenhage, Jeffreys Bay, Colchester and Port Elizabeth neighbourhood watches took part in this patrol. During the patrol AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches joined forces with the local South African Police Service (SAPS). The patrol started at around 18:00 on Friday 19 April and lasted until 07:00 on Saturday. During this time, 141 vehicles travelled a total of 3 254 km.
AfriForum’s national radio network enables the Eastern Cape’s neighbourhood watches to keep in touch with the district coordinator in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and report any incidents.
“We thank every member who participated in the national patrol. It is clear that AfriForum can mobilise a large group of people who still care about their community’s safety. If we act within the framework of the law, we can take ownership of our own safety in our community,” explains Wikus van der Walt, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Eastern Cape.
