Seeking solutions to curb crime is often a complex challenge, but the Cachet Park City Improvement District Non-Profit Company (CID NPC) is up for the task.

Over the past few years there has been an escalation of criminal activities just outside the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom, better known as the Bult. The NWU, together with the JB Marks Municipality, came together to offer a solution to combat crime in the area.

The two parties formed the Cachet Park CID NPC – an organisation that is funded by its members, who are all property or businesses owners in the demarcated area.

According to Prof Fika Janse van Rensburg, chief executive officer of the organisation and former deputy vice-chancellor on the campus, the South African legislation makes provision for City Improvement Districts. This means that a non-profit company can get into a partnership with the municipality and provide top-up services.

The top-up services that will be provided for the Bult area include security services, lighting, CCTV, road service maintenance, landscaping and refuse removal (including recycling).

“On campus the scenery is not only beautiful but students and staff members also feel safe,” says Prof Janse van Rensburg. “We want to extend this situation to the greater Bult area.”

The Cachet Park CID organisation will not only make residents, NWU students and staff feel safe off-campus, but also improve the maintenance, landscaping and refuse removal services in the area.

The extensive use of sophisticated CCTV cameras that will be monitored 24 hours per day takes away any need to close off or fence in the demarcated area. 

Brig (rtd) Kiewiet van Zyl, chief operating officer of the non-profit company, says that it is hard for criminal elements to operate in an area that is well taken care of. “We want to create a space where criminals do not have the opportunity to commit crime,” says Brig Van Zyl.

The Cachet Park CID organisation has since organised removal of food waste from the 28 eateries on the Bult, and the cutting and sweeping of grass at Cachet Park with the help of the Potchefstroom Student Campus Council.

Prof Janse van Rensburg adds that all the services that will be rendered by the Cachet Park CID should be effective from 1 March 2019, and that the tender documents are presently being prepared. Installation of some of the CCTV cameras could be delayed due to technicalities.

 Members of the Potchefstroom Student Campus Council and the Cachet Park City Improvement District Non-Profit Company after cleaning Cachet Park.