13 April 2023
Stellenbosch Municipality has launched a short-term programme to ensure a safer town for residents and visitors.
Our Protection Services have employed 47 Safety Monitors that will conduct daily patrols in the CBD areas of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. These extra boots on the ground will act as the eyes and ears of Law Enforcement by reporting incidents immediately, as and when they see them, to the Municipal Control Room. Residents will be able to identify these accredited Safety Monitors with their yellow reflective vests. Plans are also already in place to increase the number of Safety Monitors.
All the men and women who form part of the Safety Monitor Initiative are members from accredited Neighbourhood Watches within the Stellenbosch Municipality (WC024). It is foreseen that the heightened visibility of the monitors will deter unlawful actions and prevent criminal activity.
A further 11 persons have been assigned to the Community Services Department to specifically patrol Nature Reserves and Nature Areas as Field Rangers. The Field Rangers will combat illegal entry, illegal dumping, the illegal poaching of wood and any other suspicious or illegal activity. The Field Rangers will be in constant radio contact with the Municipal Control Room to report illegal activity when detected.
In addition, 12 persons have been deployed to the Municipal Control Room where they will assist with the monitoring of CCTV Cameras. The monitoring of CCTV cameras is one of many functions of our existing Control Room Operators. The additional staff will assist greatly in ensuring effective monitoring of all screens, making it easier for staff to identify any suspicious activity and alert Law Enforcement, SAPS and other security agencies timeously.
Although crime prevention and policing are not municipal functions, Stellenbosch Municipality is continuously making resources available for safety initiatives such as these to ensure that we create an environment that is safer for all who live and visit here.
