WSI aim a year ago was to set up the cluster formally to maximize security enhancements to make this area one the safest in the country. Thanks to the community’s support we are well on our way in achieving that goal.
Why a security cluster?
It is a fact that criminals are more reluctant to target an area that has an active farm watch, active CPF and private security companies. Security infrastructure, visible joint safety operations and a good network of committed people provides for early warning systems, quick responses to incidents and producing real results to reducing crime in an area. WSI is part of a whole network that connects and collaborates to enhance security and safety. These include the SIGs, CPF, Waterberg Rangers, Rooiberg Bewaria Cluster, Greater Marakele Security Cluster, TOOG Support Group and our Local Police. When WSI was set up a year ago we appointed the service provider – Secret Eye for security patrolling and armed response vehicles (ARV) so that we were legally compliant and fully covered under PSIRA guidelines.
Security Patrolling
The ARV’s are fully equipped and legal response vehicles that can respond to incidents. But they are much more than that and have become the eyes and ears for our area to enhance security and safety. We have had many cases where the vehicle guards inform members and non-members of gates that are open, fences that have been cut, illegal structures that are erected, animals that have escaped, stolen goods that have been found along the road, and suspicious cars and persons – just to mention a few. The ARV’s also regularly accompanied the police with road blocks, and patrols. WSI collaborators are farm watch volunteers, the CPF volunteers; the SIGs; security companies and Dorset SAPS members. Collaborative operations that have been carried out include roadblocks, vehicle check points, blue light patrols, farm visits, rural community visits. In particular this collaborative effort during the past year resulted in fewer than normal crime incidents. WSI is actively involved in community policing in the Dorset area. Community Policing is a strategy aimed at achieving more effective crime control, reducing fears of crime, improving quality of life, and improving police service and legitimacy. These goals are achieved through a proactive reliance on community resources, seeking to improve crime causing conditions. The police and the community are encouraged to work closely together to solve problems of crime, physical and social disorder, and neighborhood decay.
Appointed PSIRA registered security provider (Secret Eye Surveillance).
Dedicated PSIRA registered operations cluster manager. Thanks to your support, it is possible for WSI to make the cluster one of the safest areas in the country. WSI is part of a whole network that connects and collaborates to enhance security and safety. These include the SIGs, CPF, Rural Safety, Waterberg Rangers, Rooiberg Bewaria Cluster, Greater Marakele Security Cluster, TOOG Support Group and our Local Police.
2 armed response vehicles that patrol the area constantly. Each armed vehicle has a trained bushman tracker
WSI deployed an extra ARV in the area in 2019 financial year. WSI actively patrols our cluster now with two armed reaction teams each consisting of an experienced reaction driver as well as an experienced bush tracker, through this patrolling risk is mitigated immensely by something called presence patrol (old school visual policing) this conveys a very strong message to would be criminals that there is a force active in the area not to be messed with. By having vehicles on the road, it shows would be criminals that our reaction force is ready to react in a heartbeat, this is what separates us from a “ plaas wag” or CPF our reaction teams are always on the road and ready to respond cutting our response time dramatically.
WSI ARVs have been doing a tremendous job policing our area.
Each ARV averages a distance of 170km per shift per vehicle, their routes vary from day to day and pass any specific area at least 3 – 4 times per week. The ARVs log all information on Cmore (see basic report attached) they log everything from gate inspections, joint operations, open gates, suspicious vehicles and or persons and much more.
Safety & Protection
In July 2018 WSI has through a procurement process selected a service provider based on merit and ability. Secret Eye Surveillance (SES) was re-elected based on their Industry-specific experience and footprint throughout Limpopo province.
In August 2018 WSI also welcomed a Secret Eye Services dedicated Cluster operational manager. The manager is fully qualified and registered with PSIRA.
This gives WSI access to proven professional risk management services, with this there are many added benefits to WSI which translates into a value-added service to the entire community. Through WSI’s partnership with SES we have accesses to many professional services which are all legal and certified. These services include visual tracking, K9 tracking, complex dynamic data collection applications, investigative capabilities, proactive visual patrolling, first aid on medical emergencies and experience in policing a large area such as ours.
Security – Cameras
In November 2019, just in time for the peak crime season, WSI implemented 8 Cameras. We would like to thank STWR for their immense sponsorship for the cameras. WSI implemented a further four cameras early in July 2019. Thank you to Lapalala who donated three cameras and to The Waterberg Trust who donated the fourth camera. A great thank you to Welgevonden and STWR who donated another 3 cameras. In total WSI have now 15 cameras to monitor all the main access routes to the area.
We can report to you as the community that since WSI started 2 years ago, the crime has remarkably diminished in our area. Implementing the cameras makes an enormous difference. So much so that Business Insider and News24 have both reported that the Dorset and surrounding area is one of the four safest places in South Africa, due to SAPS and community working together.
Crime is on a record low in our area! The areas around the cluster are worryingly harassed by crime Brigadier Annelie Steyn who is our SAPS cluster commander told us at a recent meeting: “Thank you for all the cameras that came up. This makes police work so much easier and crime in the areas where there are cameras, is remarkedly down. “Some of the recent arrests was the direct result of information gathered from the camera systems.
Community Policing
WSI is actively involved in community policing in the Dorset area. Community Policing is a strategy aimed at achieving more effective crime control, improving quality of life and improving police service and legitimacy. These goals are achieved through a proactive reliance on community resources, seeking to improve crime causing conditions. The police, WSI and the community work closely together to solve problems of crime, physical & social disorder and neighborhood decay.
WSI ARV’s regularly accompanies the police. Collaborative operations that have been carried out include roadblocks, vehicle check points, blue light patrols, farm visits, rural community visits. In particular this collaborative effort during the past year resulted in fewer than normal crime incidents.