The Westcliff Security Group (“WSG”)

WSG is a public space security initiative focused on discouraging crime in upper Westcliff. As one of Johannesburg’s oldest suburbs, Westcliff has a rich heritage that residents are committed to protecting.

We are a not-for-profit security initiative covering the portion of Westcliff bounded by Westcliff Dr, Pallinghurst, Jan Smuts and Loch, and as such includes the Parktown West areas of Pallinghurst, Garrett, and Escombe. We are independent of the Westcliff Residents Association which deals with matters not of a security nature (such as zoning issues) for all of Westcliff.

WSG was established in 2017 to address the concerningly high levels of contact crime in our suburb at the time, particularly home invasions, and driveway armed robberies / high jackings.

As such we are primarily focused on a public space initiative to detect and deter crime in public spaces, before it penetrates the personal perimeters of our homes, with most of our efforts orientated to violent and / or traumatic crime, rather than petty crime type incidents.

  • Westcliff has consistently experienced a lower crime rate in relation to other areas of comparable size and number of households;

  • in the last 5 years Westcliff has experienced an average crime rate ~63% lower than other areas of comparable size and number of households;

  • in the last three years since COVID, we have enjoyed 1,359 days free of violent crime in our suburb, an achievement that surpasses all surrounding suburbs.

Security

What we have in Place
  • A security enclosure which sees a combination of booms and / or gates at all entrances which operate at times other than peak commute traffic times.
  • Tactical vehicles, manned by trained and experienced CAP tactical officers, which attempt to detect and deter crime before it takes place.
  • A CCTV system which uses computer algorithms to detect pre-defined suspicious events in public space, which control operators evaluate and dispatch the vehicles to check if necessary.
  • A licence plate recognition CCTV system which continuously compares the registration of vehicles entering the suburb to CAP and SAPS watch lists.
  • A “spotter”, or a highly trained guard, at the main entrance (Jan Smuts / Valley Road) responsible for evaluating traffic entering the suburb and dispatching the vehicles to evaluate anything which he determines to be suspicious.

  • A sophisticated command centre which manages all the above, and to which residents and visitors can report any suspicious activity for further evaluation by calling 0861 227 227.

  • A residents committee staffed by volunteers which focuses on both improving / adapting the above as required and ensuring it works as designed.

Funding

  • Currently only 57 % of residents contribute to this initiative.
  • Our goal is to significantly raise this participation rate, in order to ensure more equitable participation for residents, and provide a broader financial base from which to develop our security solutions.

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