A new initiative has been introduced to safeguard Camoens Park in Monte Vista, one which involves having a designated safety officer at he park during the day.
The “Park Buddy” initiative will see a safety officer on duty in the morning and afternoons when the park is most busy.
Casper Rossouw, chair of the Monte Vista Plattekloof Glen Neighbourhood Watch who came-up with the idea to employ someone to monitor the park, says it is a great initiative.
He says the individual will be paid by sponsors, both from the public and businesses.
A meeting was held last month between Amial Lubbe, junior councillor, Cheryl Visser, ward councillor, and Bronwen Williams, an official of the City of Cape Town’s recreation and parks department and the neighbourhood watch where Amial expressed her concerns of children not feeling safe playing in Camoens Park. As a possible solution, Visser and Williams introduced the Park Buddy concept.
As part of a pilot project, the neighbourhood watch, will place a person with police clearance and a member of the organisation in the park weekdays from 14:00 to 17:00, and during school holidays from 09:00 to 17:00. This person will monitor the park for any suspicious behaviour and will be in contact with and fully supported by the neighbourhood watch, private security companies, law enforcement and the police, the organisation says.
Park Buddy
Colin Maree, a former police reservist, has been appointed as the “Park Buddy” and says he is excited about the new challenge.
Colin served a reservist from 1997 to 2017 but was asked to step down because of his physical disability. “I am geared and will give this a chance,” he told the newspaper.
He says he remains active and that is why he was selected. “I am one of the members who walk the most and is one of their top achievers,” he says.
Brandon Morgan, a member of the neighbourhood watch, and the person who runs the reaction unit, says Colin will not be alone, that he has a two-way radio and that he will be always connected with the reaction unit. The armed response companies will also be in contact with the organisation and Colin via a WhatsApp group.
“He has his own radio, so if anything happens, he is not alone,” Morgan says.
The project is fully sponsored by Oakland Academy and Wesson Property Investment.
The options of cameras for the park are still being explored, but this will be a long process and will require substantial funding. The neighbourhood watch feels a person in the park will foster a safer environment and the roll out of the project can be expedited, the organisation says.
Julian Wesson, treasurer of the neighbourhood watch, was tasked with getting the project off the ground. “The mission of the Park Buddy is to look after the general good condition of the park and foster a safe environment in the park for children to play in,” he says.
The planned implementation date for the “Park Buddy” programme is Monday 3 June.
