The Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) has donated it’s CCTV system to recently revived local neighborhood watch, the Muizenberg Community Safety Initiative (MCSI) which has more eyes and hands to monitor it in the MID area.
Research shows that CCTV surveillance is most effective when utilised as a preventative measure. The MID, due to its limited budget and resources, used the CCTV system reactively, providing footage to SAPS after an incident occurred.
This approach, has proven to be ineffective, as individuals are often unidentifiable on footage provided. It is with this in mind, that the MID board agreed to partner with a community safety organisation, with the resources to utilise the CCTV monitoring system as part of a neighbourhood watch crime prevention strategy.
MID Chair, Steven Frankal said:
The MID board would be acting irresponsibly if we continue to spend funds on a system that we are unable to use effectively.
The new City of Cape Town CCTV Policy that governs the monitoring/use/disbursement of CCTV footage also implies that it is best to utilise CCTV monitoring as part of an effective preventative measure in conjunction with neighbourhood watch initiatives. The MID is therefore pleased to partner with the Muizenberg Community Safety Initiative and has donated the CCTV network system to the organisation, where volunteers have offered to monitor activity.
MID’s donation was gratefully acknowledged by the MCSI chair, Trevor Snyders who said:
For too long, Muizenberg has been at the mercy of criminal elements, preying opportunistically on local residents by exploiting their inherent kindness and goodness. Because of the increase in crime, a number of residents are now joining the MCSI and starting to take back their community by actively patrolling. So our collaboration with the MID and their donation of CCTV camera system comes at an opportune time.
The MCSI plans to place the cameras at hot spots throughout Muizenberg and monitoring will be done on shift rotations by residents who are unable to patrol, but can volunteer their time. Residents who would like to play a role can email chair@mcsi.org.za
Currently the MID spends 49% of the budget on public safety & security which includes 24 hour patrolling of public space; an incident desk; and collaboration with SAPS, law enforcement, private security companies, and community safety organisations. The policy for Special Rated Areas (SRAs) dictates that in addition to public safety, the MID must also allocate funds towards cleaning, social development and environmental upliftment. These all link to combat decay and reduce vagrancy and criminal activity. The top up services provided by the MID and its community collaboration focus on creating safer public spaces for residents and visitors.
Issued by Lesley Schroeder, Stakeholder Engagement Director, MID