The recent crime statistics that were released by Stats South Africa revealed a grim picture of the country’s current state. The North-West University (NWU) is not only concerned about keeping its staff and students safe on campus, but also outside its premises.
The NWU, the Cachet Park City Improvement District (CID) and JB Marks Local Municipality are on a quest to improve the living, entertainment and socialisation experience of NWU students, business owners, residents and visitors of Potchefstroom’s greater Bult area.
More than 210 state-of-the-art CCTV cameras have been installed in the Bult area. According to Prof Daryl Balia, deputy vice-chancellor on the campus in Potchefstroom and chairperson of the Board of Directors of Cachet Park CID, the criminal elements that were targeting students, staff and the community members no longer have a place to hide.
Prof Fika Janse van Rensburg, CEO of Cachet Park CID, adds that about 17% of the cameras are capable of number plate recognition, and another 17% has facial recognition capabilities.
“Since the inception of the initiative there has been a number of success stories,” he says. “For example, recently a young lady’s cell phone was snatched from her hands in the Bult area, and the alleged culprit was caught within less than an hour after the incident. The Mooirivier Beskerming CCTV monitoring team spotted the individual acting suspiciously, changing his clothes in a street close to where the incident took place. When the suspect was apprehended, a knife and four other stolen cell phones was found.”
“Any place that is dilapidated invites criminality,” adds Prof Balia. “This initiative does not only focus on weeding out criminals, but also on landscaping, refuse removal and place-making.”
Over the next few months the perimeter of this initiative will be extended to other sections of the greater Bult area.
Moreover, discussions are currently underway to implement similar initiatives at the NWU’s campuses in Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark.
“The NWU is proud of this initiative and looks forward to having it extended to the greater Bult area and adjacent neighbourhoods. Several other towns and cities have also visited Cachet Park CID to establish similar initiatives in their areas,” says Prof Balia.
