AfriForum’s Bloemfontein neighbourhood watches cover more than 2 100 km during mass patrol

AfriForum’s nine neighbourhood watches in Bloemfontein covered more than 2 100 km and completed 36 hours of patrol duty during the organisation’s mass patrol, undertaken Friday night and Saturday morning (24 and 25 July). A total of 74 participants and 40 vehicles took part in the large-scale security operation in the city, which was conducted in close cooperation with various security, emergency response, traffic and medical role-players.

The AfriForum mass patrol is a nationwide initiative undertaken this weekend by AfriForum neighbourhood watches across the country.

All nine of the organisation’s neighbourhood watches in and around Bloemfontein – namely Rayton-Heuwelsig, Bloemfontein North, Bloemfontein North Rural, Hospitaalpark, Pellissier, Fichardt Park, Uitsig, Langenhoven Park, and Wilgehof – participated in the security operation. The patrol was further supported by a network of security and emergency response role-players, including Fidelity SecureFire, Fidelity ADT, Mata Sec, SecuriForce, Bloemsec, Pro-Force, VR Med, the Free State traffic police, the Bayswater and Bainsvlei police stations, and the AfriForum 911 response unit.

In addition to the patrol, neighbourhood watches in Bloemfontein’s southern suburbs conducted a contingency planning exercise at a local school. The exercise successfully tested participants’ readiness, communication and ability to respond to potential emergencies in a coordinated manner.

“The value of this mass patrol lies not only in its visibility or the distance covered, but in the ability of all the participating role-players to function as an integrated safety network capable of responding swiftly and effectively during real emergencies,” says Christo Groenewald, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Bloemfontein.

According to Groenewald, AfriForum’s community safety strategy is built on regular patrols, practical training exercises and close cooperation between safety role-players.

“Safe communities do not happen by chance. They require committed volunteers, effective communication, thorough planning and sustained cooperation. We thank every neighbourhood watch member and every role player who contributed their time, vehicles, equipment and expertise to help strengthen the safety of Bloemfontein’s communities,”

Groenewald concludes.