TASNEEM HASSAN
The Monte Vista Neighbourhood Watch, Monte Vista Ratepayers’ Association and District Watch are calling on residents in Platte-kloof Glen and Monte Vista to donate funds for security cameras, which will be installed at the areas’ seven entrance and exit points (“LPR camera for Monte Vista”, Northern News, Wednesday March 30.)
William Verschoor, District Watch general manager, said if each household donated R300, they would raise the R700 000 needed to install 10 license plate recognition (LPR) cameras and three overview cameras and the money to maintain them.
There are about 2 400 homes in Monte Vista and 1 500 homes in Plattekloof Glen.
Mr Verschoor said once the cameras were installed, District Watch would monitor them and host the servers at their control room in Montague Drive.
He said the ratepayers would be taking care of the fundraising.
Pierre Gouws, chairman of the Monte Vista Ratepayers’ Association (MVRA), said the installation of similar cameras had been successful in the southern suburbs.
“In the northern suburbs we are behind. Crime will not go away. We need to be more organised than crime itself. It is our obligation to ensure our areas are safe,” said Mr Gouws.
Lee Jepson, chairwoman of the Monte Vista Neighbourhood Watch, said the cameras would be an important security measure for the area.
“These cameras will play a big role in fighting crime. Now, we need to raise awareness and get everyone on board,” said Ms Jepson.
Mr Verschoor said that as soon as money was available they would start installing the cameras.
Mr Verschoor said as technology was ever-changing, communities needed to be one step ahead of criminals.
Ward 1 councillor Sakkie Pretorius has already donated one LPR camera to Monte Vista, which will be installed as soon as funds are raised to pay for the set-up.
Mr Pretorius said he had donated a camera to Monte Vista and Plattekloof Glen as well as other areas in his ward, as part of his ward allocation.
Mark Horstman, District Watch operations manager, said once the cameras were up and running, there would be maintenance costs of between R160 and R200 a month, as the cameras had to be cleaned.
In the meantime, they had approached a few business which had already donated funds towards the project.
“We hope residents willassist with funds, to help make the areas safer,” said Mr Horstman.
* To find out more about the project or make a donation, call Riana de Wet at 021 559 2024 or email secretary@mvratepayers. co.za or visit the MVRA Facebook page.