Media Alert: Minister Plato establishes safety initiatives in Saldanha Bay

Tonight and tomorrow, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety, Dan Plato, will establish and equip essential safety structures in Saldanha Bay.

Tonight, Tuesday 13 March 2018, Minister Plato will accredit two new Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) structures in Saldanha Bay - Diazville and Middelpos. This brings the total number of Neighbourhood Watches accredit in this financial year to 161 and sees the Department of Community Safety reach the 200^th Neighbourhood Watch accredited since accreditation started in 2016.

Minister Plato will also use the accreditation opportunity this evening to meet with Neighbourhood Watches from the broader Saldanha Bay area, including Hopefield, St Helena bay, Paternoster, Vredenburg, Laaiplek and Langebaan.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 14 March 2018, Minister Plato will be launching a new Walking Bus initiative in Saldanha Bay. The Walking Bus initiative was launched in May 2016 and aims to help mobilise community volunteers around scholar safety, safeguarding learners on their walk to and from school every day, through the commitment and partnership between schools, neighbourhood watches, parents and law enforcers in aid of a proactive, safety-orientated community.

The Saldanha Bay Walking Bus marks the 75^th area of operation for Walking Busses in the Western Cape. The participation of Saldanha Bay Primary School, St Andrews Primary School, Diazville Primary School, Diazville Senior Secondary School and Middelpos Primary school brings the total number of schools benefiting from Walking Bus formations in the province to 217.

Minister Plato will on both occasions celebrate our safety volunteers, in any capacity, which has the potential to unite an entire community behind a common cause and take back ownership of a community from the criminal few hell-bent on institutionalising fear in our communities.

There will be an opportunity for photographs and interviews.

ALL MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND

Date:              Tuesday, 13 March 2018

Time:              18:00 – 21:00

Venue:           Diazville Community Centre, Saldanha Bay

Details:          Saldanha Walking Bus launch

Date:              Wednesday, 14 March 2018

Time:              07:00 – 10:00

Venue:           Diazville Senior Secondary School, Vraagom Street, Diazville, Saldanha