With businesses, the local ward councillor and members of the community working together, a lot has been achieved in Brandwag, Bloemfontein, the past couple of months.
The Brandwag Neighbourhood Association (BNA) hosted a business networking event on 24 July that showcased the impressive strides the community has made in creating a safer, cleaner and more prosperous environment.
The event featured guest speakers of the Parkweg Community Policing Forum (CPF), Business Against Crime South Africa (Bacsa), the ward councillor, the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) and the Bloemfontein Neighbourhood Association Group (BNAG).
With limited funding, but boundless dedication, the BNA has managed to achieve significant improvements in the Brandwag area. From road maintenance and proactive crime prevention, to installing high-mast lighting in parks, the association’s efforts have proven that even modest resources can go a long way when combined with collaboration and persistent effort.
“Raubex helped us paint the road markings, streetlights are working again, and a power substation was repaired,” said Anneke Anker of the BNA.
She emphasised the crucial role of volunteers in these successes.
“Now we need dedicated staff to sustain and expand these efforts. Not just in Brandwag, but across all neighbourhoods.
“Very few neighbourhoods can afford their own staff. Even then, the focus should be on correct spending, saving money on things the municipality can do, and utilising the partnership to strengthen both the municipality and the association.”
One of the standout successes highlighted during the event was the partnership with Bacsa and the implementation of CCTV street surveillance.
Anker thanked Pro-Force Security Group for their support in financing the CCTV systems, and ITR Security for their ongoing role in maintaining safety with proactive patrols, clearing hotspots, and removing unwanted elements – all while working diligently in the background.
The Multi-Let Owners Association, an association for student house owners, plays a vital role by covering the monthly monitoring fees for the CCTV system.
Former DA councillor that is now a member of the provincial legislator, Werner Pretorius, said the lights that were installed, is thanks to insistent requests.
“After several years of requests through the Interspacial Development Plan (IDP), Centlec, has installed new medium-mast lights in several parks and open spaces in Brandwag and Universitas, and around the University of the Free State (UFS),” said Pretorius.
The event held last week also saw attendance of representatives of the UFS, the SAPS, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and various stakeholders such as Mimosa Mall and local guesthouse owners – demonstrating the initiative’s broad base of support and involvement.
All businesses and residents are invited to join the BNA in the continious efforts to create a safe and pleasant neighbourhood.
For information, contact the BNA or visit brandwag.online.
