Chris Tworeck, who works at the front desk at the Urban Oasis Aparthotel in Plein Street, was the recipient of the Cape Town Central community police forum (CPF) certificate of merit at the monthly meeting, which took place on Thursday September 1.
CPF chairperson, Marc Truss, said the certificate of merit, which is handed out to a nominated community member every quarter, was a small thank you from the CPF to members of the public who go over and above for their communities.
A shy Mr Tworeck, who is a trained medic, has been volunteering his time as a first responder to the Central City Improvement District (CCID), as well as patrolling with the Devil’s Peak Neighbourhood watch, and the Van Der Stel Somerset Park Neighbourhood watch in Somerset West.
He also volunteers at the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) as a shore controller.
Mr Tworeck said he was excited to receive the award, but it was unexpected, and he prefers to just “get on with the job”.
Asked where he gets the time and energy for all the voluntary work as well as his day job, Mr Tworeck said: “Lots and lots of coffee.”
Mr Truss said Mr Tworeck has been a shining light to many in the community, and always goes out of his way to assist, even while he is on duty at the hotel. “He is there to help and safeguard the community.”
He said anyone can bee nominated for the award – be it the granny sitting on the veranda watching the neighbourhood and relaying information or anyone that helped someone who tripped and fell, or even helped someone with shopping bags or to cross the street – “just someone who made a difference in someone’s life”.
Nominations can be sent to contact@capetowncpf.co.za
- Now that the weather is warming up and summer is approaching, police and the CPF are warning the public to be more vigilant.
At the CPF meeting this month, Mr Truss said there are a lot more tourists and visitors to the city bowl this year compared to last year, now that the lockdown restrictions have been lifted completely.
He said events are starting to pick up. “We should work together to make the city centre a safe one for all our visitors who come to the city daily.”
Mr Truss raised concern about theft and break-ins at Lions Head and Signal Hill, where motorists start parking from as early as 5am, especially on the weekend, and where people will start staying later as the nights get warmer.
The City of Cape Town Law Enforcement reported that they were engaging with South African National Parks to erect warning signage along the mountain routes.
Mr Truss said that teams and visitors have started arriving for the Rugby Sevens World Cup, which will take place next weekend at the Cape Town Stadium from Friday September 9 to Sunday September 11.
“The city bowl is going to be busy, whether it’s Sea Point or the CBD, so we have to be out there to keep people safe.”
Ward councillor for the CBD, Ian MacMohan, added that conferencing was in full swing at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, with the International Nuclear Physics Conference being held from Sunday September 11 to Friday September 16.
He requested that security authorities increase patrols in the area around the CTICC, as this was “not the easiest place to walk around in town at night because there is little to no foot traffic”.
Cape Town Central station commander Brigadier Marius Stander said police and detectives were working hard to make drug arrests, with the help of the city’s Law Enforcement and the CCID.
He said it was a huge effort, however, the number of people arrested and booked into the cells had increased over the past weekend, as the cells were filled to capacity.
He said detectives are also working on tracing operations to get wanted suspects off the streets.
CCID security manager Muneeb Hendricks said Cape Town was now booming again, and with the increased footfall, the CCID was looking at doing daily awareness campaigns and pamphlet drives to alert people of theft out of motor vehicles, robberies and ATM fraud, which were three major concerns for security authorities.
Mr Truss urged the community to extend hospitality to those walking in the streets of the CBD where they see that people could potentially become a victim of crime.
“When you see someone on their phone, tell them to put it away, or inform someone to check their alarm in their car after they walk away. You may well prevent a crime.”
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