The Walmer Renewal Association was applauded by Nelson Mandela Bay’s corporate services committee on Tuesday for its plan to secure a community hall.
The association wants to install four security cameras at the Walmer Town Hall to prevent vandalism.
Like many municipal buildings in the metro, the hall has been plagued by break-ins, vandalism and vagrants sleeping on the premises, prompting the association to step in.
The association’s chair, Ross Dakin, wrote to the municipality on May 3, requesting permission to install cameras on the property at no cost to the city.
“I have approached Atlas Security for a solution to protect the Walmer Town Hall from vandalism.
“They have agreed to sponsor two CCTV systems (four cameras each) to cover the hall, library and kiddies park.
“This forms part of a community initiative.
“Furthermore, the cameras will be monitored during high-risk times and a vehicle dispatched should an incident occur,” Dakin said.
The request was received positively by councillors and given the green light, but some raised concern about whether the city’s safety and security department would have access to the footage if required.
The proposal will now go to the council for a final decision.
Corporate services political head Yolisa Pali said the initiative was something officials had been praying for.
“Now we’re led by the community.
“It’s high time we set money aside and roll out the installation of cameras in most of our facilities because this vandalism issue is not unique to Walmer.
“This will help us save money instead of spending on fixing or replacing vandalised or stolen items.
“The association made a good example of what we’re supposed to do as an institution.”
ANC councillor Lungile Langbooi said though it was a good gesture, he was concerned about how officials would access the footage.
“While this won’t cost us anything as we are told, the cameras will be monitored [by Atlas],” he said.
“Are they linked to the city’s safety unit so that if we require footage it’s easy to access it, considering that we are working with the police to fight crime?”
Responding to Langbooi, Pali said a memorandum of understanding should be drafted in respect of access to the footage.
DA councillor Rene Meyer said libraries across the city were being vandalised regularly.
“If private security is willing to do what we’re supposed to do at no cost it should be a no-brainer that we support this initiative and encourage other similar organisations to do the same because we don’t have the financial muscle to do so now.”
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