The Voortrekker Road Corridor Improvement District (VRCID) will focus on improving security as well as cleaning and social-development work over the next financial year.
This was the message of board of directors’ chairman, Hardus Zevenster, at the VRCID’s annual general meeting on Tuesday November 28.
In about three months, he said, the VRCID would install about R1 million worth of security cameras — 67 in all, including 14 with licence-plate recognition capabilities — in the Bellville and Parow CBDs.
The cameras would be monitored 24/7 from a control room that would cost another R500 000 to set up. The footage would be fed to City law enforcement and SAPS.
Highlights of the year, said Mr Zevenster, included the award the VRCID won at the International Downtown Association’s annual conference in Canada, the opening of the Safe Space Project in Bellville and the VRCID’s Safe 2 Park concept.
“The streets of Bellville and Parow had not been a pretty sight a few years ago, but if you drive through the corridor today you will see a different picture,” said Mr Zevenster. “We wanted to bring about change immediately but soon had to realise that it took time and consistency.”
The VRCID would work closely with the Greater Tygerberg Partnership to attract investors to Bellville, he said. “We can only do so much; we need to take hands with others in the area,” he said.
Sub-council 6 chairwoman Rose Rau presented the VRCID with a certificate of appreciation from the City for its work in the community.
“We want to acknowledge your efforts, you are out there every day,” she said.