HERMANUS PUBLIC PROTECTION
NEWSLETTER
Keeping our community safe and clean, together
MARCH 2026
In this edition:
- Easter Holiday Safety | Stay vigilant during this busy holiday
- Refuse Collection Days, Safety and Baboons | Simple Actions, Strong Impact
- Operational Highlights
- Meet the Team | On the Frontline: Andile Mphubane’s Daily Patrols Keep Hermanus Safe
- Councillor Representatives to the HPP Board | HPP welcomes Ald. Kari Brice and Cllr. Ronald Nutt
Easter Holiday Safety
The Easter period is a special time in Hermanus, with increased visitor numbers and a vibrant atmosphere across our town. While this is a welcome boost for the community, it does naturally bring a higher risk of opportunistic crime.
HPP, together with all the various public safety stakeholders, will be increasing visible patrols throughout the area to support a safe and secure environment for both residents and visitors.
We wish all residents and visitors a safe, peaceful, and happy Easter.
We encourage everyone to remain mindful of basic safety practices:
- Stay vigilant in public spaces, particularly in the CBD, on walking paths in Fernkloof Nature Reserve and in parking areas
- Do not leave valuables visible in vehicles
- Ensure your home is properly secured when unattended
- Do not drink and drive; arrange alternative transport where necessary and remain cautious of impaired drivers on the roads
- Report any suspicious behaviour promptly
Refuse Collection Days, Safety and Baboons
Refuse collection days remain an important focus area for both public safety and environmental management. Increased foot traffic during these times can create opportunities for opportunistic crime, while unsecured waste continues to attract baboons into residential areas.
Recent reports have included theft from yards and open garages or homes. These incidents highlight the importance of maintaining awareness and taking simple preventative measures.
Residents are encouraged to adopt the following practices:
- Place refuse out on the morning of collection only (not the night before)
- Ensure bins are properly secured and, where applicable, fitted with baboon-proof locking mechanisms
- Do not leave refuse bags on pavements, or outside/next to bins in baboon-affected areas
- Avoid disposing of documents or items containing personal information
- Ensure no valuables or loose items are left visible in yards
- Position bins so they cannot be used to gain access over walls or as concealment
- Avoid placing food waste in accessible bags
- Remove bins promptly after collection
Unsecured refuse and accessible food sources are a primary driver of baboon activity. Baboons are intelligent and highly adaptive; once they associate residential areas with food, this behaviour is quickly reinforced and spread within troops.
Consistent, community-wide action is therefore essential:
- Secure all refuse in line with municipal requirements
- Keep doors and windows closed when baboon activity is reported
- Feed pets indoors and avoid leaving food outside
- Do not feed wildlife
Property owners, including those letting homes, should ensure that tenants are aware of and adhere to correct waste management practices.
By securing refuse and maintaining good habits, residents contribute not only to reducing crime risks but also to limiting human-wildlife conflict. Small, consistent actions across the community have a meaningful and lasting impact on safety and environmental management.
Together, informed and responsible behaviour ensures a safer, cleaner, and more secure Hermanus.
Working Together to Keep Hermanus Safe
1 March to 31 March 2026
Reports Received
398
Arrests
1
Waste Collected (KGs)
1445
Meet the Team | Andile Mphubane’s Daily Patrols Keep Hermanus Safe
Each month, we introduce a member of the HPP team. This month, we feature HPP senior patrol supervisor Andile Mphubane.
Walking many kilometers daily in all elements is not easy work for anyone, but HPP foot patrollers and supervisors do it with smiles and very positive attitudes. One of these dedicated men is HPP senior patrol supervisor Andile Mphubane, who has been with the public safety organisation for five years.
“I love helping and working with members of the public,” Andile says. “HPP plays a big role in Hermanus, and without HPP, there would be much more crime, especially in areas like Westcliff. We are managing to stop many problems from robbery to vagrancy, assisted where possible by municipal Law Enforcement officers.”
Andile notes that the role has helped him become more confident and comfortable engaging with members of the public. He says this has come through on-the-job training, particularly learning how to approach and speak to strangers, and adds that this is a practical skill he now shares with fellow patrollers.
A recent highlight for Andile was helping to rescue a dog near Gearing’s Point that had become trapped under rocks on a rocky ledge and retrieving a cellphone stolen by two youngsters from a walker on the Cliff Path.
“Something we struggle with is getting dog owners to keep their pets on leashes on the Cliff Path. We ask them and while some listen, many of them give us a very bad attitude. It’s the same with public drinking along the Cliff Path. We approach them, but they don’t always listen,” Andile adds.
There are also many members of the public who show appreciation for HPP’s dedication, with local restaurants sometimes treating the staff to a meal.
While he loves his work, family is also important to him and after seven days in a row of shifts, he is happy to have a few days off to spend with his family.
Councillor Representatives to the HPP Board
In line with the Overstrand Municipality Special Rating Area By-Law, Council has confirmed the appointment of councillor representatives to the HPP Board.
The Hermanus SRA spans Ward 3 and part of Ward 4, and we are pleased to confirm that Alderman Kari Brice (Ward 3) and Councillor Ronald Nutt (Ward 4) have been appointed as Council’s representatives.
These representatives will attend and participate in Board meetings, providing important input and strengthening alignment between HPP and the Municipality. As set out in the by-law, they do not hold voting rights and do not assume director responsibilities under the Companies Act.
We look forward to a constructive working relationship with both representatives as we continue to work in the interests of the Hermanus community.
That is all for this edition. With your support, we will continue to protect what makes Hermanus such a special place to live and visit.
Leon Rauch
HPP Chair