The
City of Cape Town has increased security measures in the Company’s Garden with
additional lighting and CCTV cameras, and by working in collaboration with
other security agencies to ensure the safety of the diverse group of residents
and visitors to the city using the gardens
“The City of Cape Town’s Company’s
Garden in Queen Victoria Street can easily be dubbed the garden of many
facets,” mayoral committee member for community services and special projects
Belinda Walker said on Sunday.
“The gardens are popular as a venue
for picnics, exhibitions, hosting children’s parties, taking wedding
photographs, and even yoga classes, to mention but a few. A number of
residents, both young and old, make their way to the gardens on a daily basis,
either to relax and read or study, visit the restaurant, or simply to enjoy the
serene surroundings of this public space. With the free wi-fi in place, many
also come to the gardens to check their emails and hang out on social media.”
To ensure the safety of patrons, the
city parks department had, over the years, upgraded security measures in the
Company’s Garden and would continue to do so in future, she said.
“I firmly believe that working in
collaboration with all role-players will always make progress possible. The
city has enhanced security in the gardens in conjunction with many partners,
including the Central City Improvement District (CCID), and we have seen positive
results. We are pleased to note that the levels of crime have dropped
significantly in the Company’s Garden, making this a safe space for all to
enjoy,” Walker said.
CCTV cameras installed
CCTV cameras had been installed
within the precinct, with four situated inside the gardens and four situated
along Government Avenue, which was used as a popular pedestrian walkway until
late at night. These cameras were linked to the city’s own CCTV network via the
Cyclops control room.
This area was previously under-lit,
but with the installation of extra lighting it had become much safer at night.
Additional street lamps had been
installed in The Paddocks – the grassed area above the art gallery and opposite
the museum. This area was previously under-lit, but with the installation of
extra lighting it had become much safer at night. More lights had been
installed along Government Avenue, and the public lighting section within the
city’s electricity services department ensured the lamps were in good working
order.
This was in addition to the existing
lighting which had been welcomed, especially during the dark winter mornings
and evenings. Plans were currently in place to install even more lighting in
the gardens, as part of the ongoing efforts to create a safe and secure
environment for visitors.
Private security guards
The city parks department had
employed private security guards to patrol the Company’s Garden on a daily
basis, both during the day and at night.
The high presence of security staff
had helped to deter crime and the well-informed guards also helped tourists
find their way and with general information.
To beef up the number of security
guards on patrol, CCID security personnel also patrolled Government Avenue. The
high presence of security staff had helped to deter crime and the well-informed
guards also helped tourists find their way and with general information.
In addition to the already improved
security, the highly visible SA Police Service mounted unit patrolled through
the Company’s Garden, especially during the peak summer months.
“With all security role-players
working in collaboration as a cohesive unit, would-be criminals should think
twice about targeting people in the gardens. The security staff of the Iziko
Museum and the Jewish Community Centre co-operate with these security agencies
and the overall effect is a comprehensive monitoring and action system in the
Company’s Garden day and night,” Walker said.
Revitalisation of the restaurant area
The new restaurant is very popular
and many visitors enjoy this facility.
CCID safety and security manager
Muneeb Hendricks said the revitalisation of the restaurant area in the
Company’s Garden was also seeing increasing numbers of people visiting this
beautiful CBD asset.
“This results in the space being more
populated, increasingly eliminating the opportunity for would-be criminals to
commit crime. The new restaurant is very popular and many visitors enjoy this
facility. This has had a positive effect and there have been no reports of
crime in and around the area,” he said.
“The restaurant also employs two
security staff who keep a vigilant watch on the patrons. We find that when many
people use a space there tends to be less opportunistic crime. One such example
is the large number of visitors congregating to make use of the free wi-fi in
the Company’s Garden. This high presence of people has resulted in no reported
incidents among those using this facility,” Hendricks said.
With all the safety measures in place
in and around the Company’s Garden, the city hoped to maintain it as a safe and
inclusive recreational place for all residents and visitors, to enjoy the
delights the garden had to offer, Walker said.
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