Click on the green ‘f’ in the header on every page to access the Florida Blockwatch Facebook page. ‘Watch’ means to keep guard, to be vigilant, alertly on the lookout, attentive to what is done or happens, to tend, and to oversee.
The vision of Florida Blockwatch (as registered NPO, Ref 324-384) is a progressive, well-maintained, safe, and diverse community/neighbourhood, which provides a home for residents; a stable working environment for responsible businesses; and striving towards sustainability. This community forum exercises its Constitutional right of freedom of association of members.
Florida Blockwatch (FBW) has been established in 2012, under the patronage of the South African Police Services (SAPS), as an independent sub-structure of a network called Florida Community Policing Forum, to assist the Community Policing Forum (CPF). However, FBW gradually transitioned, and is currently fulfilling additional roles that are not captured in the nine purpose statements in section 4 of the former (2016) constitution. It has therefore been deemed necessary to amend the constitution, as approved Tuesday 18 June 2024. The signed (2 July 2024 by the Executive Committee) version is available on request to chair@floridablockwatch.co.za.
As registered non-profit [residents/community] organisation (NPO), Ref: 324-384 NPO it is dependent on membership fees and donations.
The current ‘Executive’ Committee members, include Chairperson – John Kirsten, Vice Chairperson – Divan Snyman, Treasurer – Wim Schönfeldt, Secretary – Lavina Garnie, Community Liaison – Vacant
The purpose, general aims and objectives of Florida Blockwatch are:
- Initiatives to support the wellbeing and improve the area, from safety and security of streets to keeping our parks clean and tidy
- To represent the community in its relationship with the local authorities and to help facilitate engagement between the residents who resides in the community, owns, or rents property, or operates a business within the area, and local authorities
- Social media alerts, reporting, escalation of faults and updates pertaining municipal services, i.e. loadshedding and planned or unplanned power outages (City Power), refuse removal (Pikitup), water interruptions and leakages (Johannesburg Water), fallen trees and grass cutting (City Parks Department), etc.
- To co-operate and liaise with other organisations to further the objectives of FBW and its members
- Securing of electrical switching stations, sub-station, mini-subs, etc.
- Authorisation obtained from City Power to secure Switching Stations (SWS) with alarms and armed response. Members of FBW contributed to complete phase 1.
- Phase 2 entailed securing some 52 Mini Sub Stations (MSS) with a specialized locking device and weld down the top hat of the MSS, commenced 22 July 2023. Only those for which no funding has been received remain to be secured.
- Repairs of traffic lights, road maintenance, speed control where feasible, etc.
- Investigate (with the help of private security companies) suspicious vehicles, activities and loitering of individuals.
- To provide a platform through physical meetings and online to share information pertaining the community and solving problems in the community.
- To set up ad hoc committees and/or task teams as required to represent residents on specific issues, as required, or to achieve specific goals such as clean-up initiatives, such as Len Rutter Park, mowing and cleaning of pavements, and kerb skoffeling.