Thank you for supporting our NHW through 2021 and 2022.
JULY 2022 PUBLIC MEETING
Disappointingly, we had a rather lower than expected turnout (25 residents signed the register). (There were probably 50 people at the session but many were husband/wife duos and so only one signed the register)
The meeting was attended by the NHW Committee, SAPS, Knysna CPF, Allsound Security and residents of the HRF area.
Our Chairman, Richard Thorpe, gave a brief overview of the history of the HRF NHW from 2013 until now, outlining how we gradually progressed from patrolling to CCTV cameras.
He also introduced our new website https://hrfra.co.za
Michael Simon gave an overview of the CCTV camera system, explaining capabilities, the extended network from PE to Cape Town and technical limitations and answering various questions from the floor.
Colonel de Wet (Knysna SAPS Station Commander) gave an overview of the crime situation in the Knysna area. He explained the situation in the HRF area compared to the bigger picture. He stated that it is essential that members of the community take an active part in crime prevention in their area by joining the NHW. SAPS cannot operate in isolation. He thanked HRF NHW and Allsound Security for their contribution to preventing crime.
CRIME STATISTICS
Our area’s crime statistics are still amongst the lowest in Knysna. This is in contrast to Greater Knysna’s overall high crime rate as highlighted in this link. https://crimecheck.news24.com/
Opportunist crime is the most common, so please make sure you lock your garage and storeroom doors and do not leave them open. If you have builders on your property, make sure their equipment is locked away securely.
CAMERAS
Our CCTV cameras continue to do their job. Allsound often investigate and remove suspicious individuals from our area in the early hours. The cameras are without question the primary reason why we have a low crime rate.
Do the cameras work during loadshedding? No they don’t. The cost of putting UPS onto our total of 30 cameras is prohibitive.
MEMBERSHIP
Our Membership is still disappointingly low, particularly in Fisherhaven. Consequently, most of our crime issues are in Fisherhaven.
We have a total of 150 individual households as Crimewatch members and with our partnership with the gated communities, Hunters Village, Hunters Retirement Centre, Forest Gardens, the Private Hospital and Doctors Rooms, we have another 175.
That total of 325 sounds impressive, but our area consists of around 600 properties. There are many households who take security in our area for granted. I will be generous and say that a number of those property owners have never heard of the NHW. However, I know of many other property owners who are quite happy to sit back and let their neighbours pay for their additional security of street CCTV cameras. If you are speaking with your neighbours, just ask them if they are members and if not why not. Ask them to go to our website https://hrfra.co.za
We have advertised on all Whatsapp Groups and have had a trickle of interest. If anyone has any ideas on how to increase membership then please forward your interest to Rob Jackson at robjackk@aol.com.
RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
After many years of hard work, the Hunters Home, Rexford and Fisherhaven Residents Association (HRFRA) is going ahead. Areas of interest will include Baboons, Garbage Collection, Street Cleanliness etc.
There was a public meeting on Thursday 28 July at Knysna Golf Club hosted by Mark Sasman and Richard Thorpe. There was a large turnout 61 in attendance and 52 proxy votes. The motion to form a Residents Association was carried with only one vote against. A full report on the meeting was posted on the HRF Members Crimewatch and Ward 9 Information Whatsapp Groups.
The Residents Association has a constitution, and a committee will be formed.
Our HRF Crimewatch (Neighbourhood Watch) will remain a separate entity, accredited by the Western Cape Department of Community Safety (DOCS). It will however sit under the umbrella of the Residents Association and all information regarding crime and NHW membership will be available on the HRFRA website https://hrfra.co.za.
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT YOUR CONTRUBUTIONS TO PAY FOR OUR CCTV CAMERAS?
The R695 paid by our Crimewatch (NHW) members for 2022 will be ring fenced and used only for NHW matters (the monitoring, maintenance, repair and eventual replacement of our CCTV cameras). Any additional cameras will also be funded by your contributions.
IN CONCLUSION, MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORT OUR NHW. WE ARE SURE THAT WE ARE A VICTIM OF OUR SUCCESS. THE DISAPPOINTING ATTENDANCE AT OUR NHW PUBLIC MEETING WAS SURELY DUE TO OUR LOW CRIME RATE AND THE EVERYDAY COMMUNICATION THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED WITH OUR MEMBERS, USING WHATSAPP, NEWSLETTERS AND NOW THE WEBSITE. https://hrfra.co.za
WE CANNOT REST ON OUR LAURELS AND ALL OUR RESIDENTS MUST REMAIN VIGILANT.
YOUR HRF NHW COMMITTEE