The residents of Riebeeckstad have shown the rest of Welkom the meaning of civic pride.
Through hard work and sheer determination they are claiming back their suburb and restoring it to its former glory.
According to Dirk Kotze, community leader, residents need to take pride in their environment.
It is estimated that 15 000 people live in Riebeeckstad.
This suburb, which falls under Community Policing Forum (CPF) Sector 1, has been divided into 14 blocks and is monitored by an active neighbourhood watch.
“Our aim is to get residents to join the neighbourhood watch so that they can take ownership of their own area and make it a cleaner, safer place to live.”
According to Kotze, all donations are logged and paid into a dedicated bank account.
“Generous residents have not only given of their precious time, but also donated vehicles and gardening equipment, as well as tar and compactors to fix potholes.
WhatsApp groups, monitored by the CPF control room, control the safety, security and emergency assistance of the residents.
According to Kotze, Riebeeckstad has more residential burglaries and theft than any other suburb in Welkom.
He says good cooperation between the different blocks has led to a real sense of community in Riebeeckstad.
He says his vision for the future of Riebeeckstad is that the suburb will become self-sufficient.
“I want us to have our own fire brigade and ambulance services, funded by the community. This will be a splendid example for Welkom and other cities.”
- Interested parties can send a WhatsApp message with their name and address to 071-543-0658 to join the Riebeeckstad CPF group.
