AfriForum neighbourhood watch sharpens skills to protect Mpumalanga farms
Farm safety is a key priority for AfriForum’s 178 neighbourhood and farm watch structures. This is why a neighbourhood watch in Mpumalanga simulated a farm attack during the organisation’s third nationwide mass patrol of the year to ensure they are prepared to protect farms across the province.
The coordinated nationwide mass patrol aimed to increase visible patrolling, strengthen cooperation with various security role players and test the operational readiness of AfriForum’s safety structures.
A total of 12 members of AfriForum’s Nelspruit neighbourhood watch simulated a farm attack and practised how members should respond to such a scenario. The simulation tested, among other things, the neighbourhood watch members’ response, the effectiveness of their radio communication, their coordination of drone operations and their use of night-vision equipment.
Two neighbourhood watch members played the role of attackers, one acted as the victim, two were the first responders on the scene, one operated the drone, and six members formed part of the backup team that was called in later.
To make the scenario more realistic, neighbourhood watch members were not allowed to use their mobile phones and had to rely solely on radio communication and night-vision equipment. The scenario was also designed so that the alleged attackers remained in the area, requiring neighbourhood watch members to navigate a dam and a wooded area to track them down.
Arlo van Heerden, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Lowveld, says the neighbourhood watch members’ coordination with the drone operator and their use of night-vision equipment enabled them to apprehend one of the suspects.
“This exercise taught neighbourhood watch members valuable lessons about how to approach a scene when they are the first to arrive, as well as how to locate suspects from a distance using night-vision equipment. Members also learned how to conduct a quick map assessment of the area to identify possible escape routes the suspects might use,” says Van Heerden.
“AfriForum’s Nelspruit neighbourhood watch used this opportunity to test its response capabilities and assess how effectively members could apply the resources and training they have received. Exercises of this nature enable our neighbourhood watches to respond effectively. AfriForum will therefore continue supporting its members by providing them with the appropriate training, equipment and assistance.”
Thousands of kilometres patrolled
Neighbourhood watches that did not practise contingency plans or conduct simulations, focused on safeguarding their communities through visible patrols during the mass patrol. A total of 60 members from seven neighbourhood watches in the Highveld patrolled parts of Mpumalanga throughout the night in 22 vehicles. Collectively, these neighbourhood watch members covered 1 945 km during the weekend’s patrols.
Hennie Bekker, AfriForum’s Regional Head for Limpopo and Mpumalanga, says these visible patrols helped ensure that no serious incidents occurred. In Piet Retief, however, the neighbourhood watch was called out after a person was reported missing. Working alongside other private security structures, the neighbourhood watch successfully located the missing person within 30 minutes.
“Community safety starts with the volunteers who help safeguard their immediate surroundings every day. This national patrol provides an opportunity to demonstrate the impact of neighbourhood watches and organised communities across the country,” says Bekker.
Click here to get involved with one of AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches.
