GARDEN ROUTE | HESSEQUA | KAROO NEWS - Accredited neighbourhood watches (NHWs) are allowed to operate during Level 3 of the lockdown. This was confirmed by the Western Cape Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, in a press statement earlier this week.
"During a meeting between officials of the Department of Community Safety (Docs) and the National Secretary of Police, it was confirmed that the restrictions placed on NHWs have been lifted under alert Level 3," he said.
The Community Police Forum (CPF) executive committee of George welcomed the decision. "The proactive crime prevention duties of the CPF and accredited NHW volunteers continue to serve as an integral part in ensuring a safer community for all," said George CPF chairman Rupert Pretorius. "As the eyes and ears in their communities they will once again be of great value providing extra assistance to the police, law enforcement and security company partners. It's time for all hands on deck as we work toward a safer town for all during Covid-19. We will engage with the police and Docs as to the way forward to ensure the safety of all volunteers once we commence with patrols."
Within the targeted Covid-19 hotspot areas, NHWs will be deployed to assist in:
Promoting adherence to regulations in terms of social distancing at places of gathering and queuing;
Sharing communications as prescribed by Docs, acting as a nodal point of information for Docs; and Patrolling in their community.
CPFs that have not yet held their electoral AGMs have been dissolved by the police.
However, Fritz said that his department will engage with the provincial commissioner to expedite the outstanding elections.
The Department of Community Safety will ensure that measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus among NHW members by providing cloth masks and hand sanitisers when operating; setting the number of those who are permitted to operate and encouraging self-distancing between volunteers; and by ensuring that those who show symptoms or who have been in contact with someone with Covid-19 are not permitted to operate.
Anyone with symptoms should quarantine at home for 14 days, and be guided by advice on the dedicated Covid-19 provincial hotline.
'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news'
