Big Brother watches over vibrant Company’s Garden in Cape Town

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.