The Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) public safety and cleaning functions are set to merge from 1 July 2017 and will both be managed by GRIT. The MID cleaning contract was due for review with the new MID financial year starting 1 July, and with the inclusion of the Wherry Road Triangle into the MID boundary it made sense to re-visit the wider strategy.
Marion Wagner, MID chair, says “There are many benefits to improvement district functions working more closely together, and in fact many improvement districts either merge their social development and cleaning functions, or alternatively implement cleaning services as part of their public safety strategy.”
In Muizenberg’s case, both the public safety officers and the cleaning teams are out on the streets daily, and collaboration between the two teams can increase efficiencies. Additional “eyes and ears” on the streets bolsters public safety capacity, and similarly public safety officers can quickly help report on and address cleaning issues. For example if illegal dumping has taken place on bin day then the patrollers can quickly notify the cleaning team. Alternatively, if the cleaning team notice suspicious / dangerous activities in public space they can directly request a response from the patrollers.
The staffing numbers for public safety and cleaning, and their respective prioritization strategies will remain unchanged – the principal difference is that both the public safety and cleaning teams will report to the GRIT Operations Manager, who will be able to ensure higher levels of collaboration between public safety and street cleaning. This new change will also enable on the ground information sharing (and motivation) for Joint Operations with various City Departments including Law Enforcement and SAPS.
MID is optimistic that the change will bring tangible benefits to the MID area and is looking forward to working with GRIT during the coming year to improve all aspects of public safety, especially when considering the Broken Window’s Theory. In addition, this strategic change also enables long term financial sustainability of social development initiatives (social work services that works closely with public safety), one of MID’s core mandate areas.
The cleaning team will now consist of 4 cleaners Monday to Friday (previously only 3). The operational schedule remains unchanged, with the exception of the Wherry Road Triangle being included for service delivery on a Friday. Any queries regarding service delivery may be directed via manager@mid.org.za.
The new cleaning team receiving on-the-job training and familiarising themsleves with the area this week, under the supervision and guidance of Noel Fradie – GRIT Operations Manager.
