Women dominate in safety and security awards

Two Mitchell’s Plain women were recognised for courageously fighting crime in their community and inspiring others to do the same.

The City of Cape Town recognised and awarded neighbourhood watches in the metro for their exceptional performance and dedication in the line of duty to promote safety and protect their communities, at the annual event held at the Cape Town Civic Centre on Saturday October 23.

Valerie Moses, from Rocklands Neighbourhood Watch, received the “Crime Fighter of the Year” award – for exceptional, selfless, professional and committed service in the fight against crime; and the “Courage in Action Award” for sustained neighbourhood operations in the face of a challenging community safety environment by combating gangsterism, drug and crime-related incidents.

Deidré Petersen, from the Eastridge Neighbourhood Watch, received the “Inspiration of the Year” award for being an inspirational public leader across several neighbourhood watch areas.

In August this year, the City called for nominations from members of the public to nominate accredited individual neighbourhood watch members or groups who have shown exceptional performance and dedication in community safety and upliftment.

The awards ceremony created an opportunity to pause and to acknowledge the perseverance and dedication to service excellence as well as the positive contribution that neighbourhood watches make to public safety.

Mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, said he was proud to be part of this event, to support neighbourhood watches, to say thank you for the important role they fulfil in the community and in supporting enforcement agencies in integrated efforts to build safer communities and to assist those in need.

“The members who received awards today, not only excelled in their communities, but they are also a motivation to other members to work as a team and also to individually contribute to a safer, caring environment,” he said.

This year, the field for nominations was more open with a double winner in the individual category.

Three groups and six individual winners were identified.

This year, female neighbourhood watch members dominated the spotlight, scooping up five of the six individual awards.