As I wrote this, I reflected on how the CID team responded a little over a week ago, which saw gale force winds, torrential rain, and thunderstorms across the Cape Town metropole.
On the Friday evening, as the weather was rolling in, we received a message about Bear, a doggie who’d possibly been hit by a vehicle and had run away from his owners in the fourth beach vicinity. Our officers and surveillance centre kept an eye out and later located him hiding between the rocks on the beach and alerted the owner to his whereabouts. Thankfully, he was uninjured – just very frightened.
Throughout the days and nights that followed, our public safety officers were out in the weather, responding to alerts, advising residents of damaged fencing, and clearing fallen branches from roads. Our surveillance centre kept a close watch on all our cameras, looking for people who might need assistance as well as those who might be up to no good, also watching for storm damage.
Our work is showing impact in the CID precinct, and we’ll continue doing our best for Clifton.
Look what we’ve achieved to date!
What next for the CID?
But we won’t be hibernating! We’re planning a range of projects for activation in the months to come. Some of these are:
Building our offices
Building our offices, ensuring that the space suits the needs of the CID whilst facilitating use by other community organisations and partners when needed.
Extending the CID boundary
Exploring the feasibility of extending the CID boundary to include First Beach and the sea side apartment blocks on Victoria Road. We’ve had expressions of interest in joining the CID from several property owners in this area because of our hard work to date.
Road Infrastructure Maintenance
Entering into a Memorandum of Agreement with the City of Cape Town related to Road Infrastructure Maintenance – which will allow us to plan projects around the steps and staircases in Clifton, maintain road markings and signs as well as fences.
Street furniture and refuse bins
Exploring street furniture and refuse bin options – always being mindful of practicality and suitability to the environment.
The CID team is grateful for the positive feedback and words of support from the community. Our relationships are key to our success, as is our ability to listen and respond to different situations as needed. Each one of the CID team is committed to the work and to enjoying what we do. Persistence, consistency, creativity, and continual learning underpin the work of the CID.
I look forward to sharing the successes and impact of our first full year in operation at the AGM that’ll be held later this year.
As always, please feel free to get in touch with suggestions, comments, and questions.
AMANDA KIRK
CID MANAGER.