OUR STORY

Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) was established in 2002 under the Community Improvement District (CID) By-law with the objective of combating escalating crime rates.

Due to municipal regulatory changes in 2017, the HPP transitioned to operate under the Overstrand Municipality Special Rating Area By-law and Policy. In March 2020, the Hermanus SRA was approved and the HPP NPC was appointed as the management body.  

The residents in this area contribute – by means of a monthly additional rate levied on their property taxes – towards the supplementary services, ensuring a safer, healthier and cleaner environment for the community as a whole.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

The HSRA business plan outlines the public safety and cleansing services HPP will provide, these include:

Monitoring and patrolling response vehicles (24/7); foot patrols in the CBD, along the Cliff Path and Hoy’s Koppie; and an advanced monitoring system of CCTV cameras at strategic points and supplementary cleansing services.

In addition, the HPP collaborates closely with all relevant institutions (e.g. SAPS, municipal law enforcement) to design and implement crime prevention strategies, and to monitor the effectiveness of same.

HPP is not responsible for security on private property.  This is the responsibility of the owner.

HPP's Main Objectives

  • Maintain a visible presence in public open space throughout the HSRA area. This includes our iconic cliff path, Hoy’s Koppie and the CBD.
  • Patrol suburban streets (day and night).
  • Act as a responder to assist members of the public in distress.
  • Use CCTV technology to identify and follow-up on suspicious or dangerous activities.
  • Collaborate closely with security companies, law enforcement agencies, neighbourhood watch groups and emergency services.
  • Monitor incident rates and crime statistics and apply the information as the basis for deployment of resources.

 

  • Collaborate closely as with SAPS so that HPP activities dovetail with the Police Services’ crime prevention strategies.
  • Identify and execute projects in collaboration with the Overstrand Municipality and other community organisations to reduce the potential for crime in public open space.
  • Actively encourage and support community-driven crime prevention initiatives in neighbouring suburbs.
  • Have regular contact with other SRAs to keep abreast of best practices, improved technology and innovative practices in the management of public open space.
  • Communicate effectively with stakeholders.

HPP NPC BOARD

Jerry Van Niekerk

Chairperson

Jerry and his wife Cheryl bought their Hermanus holiday home some eighteen years ago and permanently moved here in December 2021. His involvement in Hermanus over this time includes helping establish and chair Hermanus Siyakha, of which he currently is a director. Hermanus Siyakha is a registered Non-Profit Company with the purpose to grow township based small and medium enterprises.

Jerry’s corporate career was spent at Old Mutual where, in the last ten years of his career, he held executive positions in the human resources, customer service and the retail mass market divisions. In addition, he performed roles as Director and Trustee of various Old Mutual owned entities.

After retiring early from Old Mutual, he founded and managed the Ilima Trust, an Old Mutual initiated non- profit organisation. The trust was created to build the capacity of key leaders in Local Government and the Overstrand Municipality happened to be one of its beneficiaries. The Trust also assisted previously disadvantaged women in building their small business enterprises.

Having completed a M.Phil. degree in Managing Coaching at the Stellenbosch Business School, he now runs a coaching practice with a special interest in entrepreneurial coaching.

Jerry hopes to contribute towards the excellent leadership platform created by the current Chairman and Board. He aims to create a strong relationship with the Overstrand Municipality to ensure a safe, healthy, clean, and caring environment for Hermanus residents and visitors.

Leon Rauch

FINANCE

Leon’s dad, who visited Hermanus as a child with his family, bought a house in Fernkloof in 1985 which was used as a family holiday home. Leon, his wife Elsabe and two children spent almost all of their December holidays in Hermanus and grew very attached to both the house and Hermanus itself.

Leon retired in 2015 after a career in merchant banking and financial management having previously qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

Leon and Elsabe acquired the family home in 2015 and decided to relocate to Hermanus from Pretoria in August 2016. He regularly plays golf and Elsabe joined the botanical society. As an experienced business valuator he still engages in business valuation projects from time to time.

He hopes to contribute his financial skill and experience to ensure that the HPP remains sound from a financial and administrative perspective.

Fransien Koegelenberg

CBD

After completing her tertiary studies and joining the Hermanus Factory Shop in 1992, Fransien Koegelenberg took ownership of the enterprise in 2012. The shop is in one of the busiest parts of Hermanus’ CBD.

Fransien’s active interest in CBD matters, as well as her strong relationships with local business owners, makes her ideal to take responsibility for the Central Business District Portfolio on our board. She is a resident of Fernkloof.

Ann Wright

CLEANSING

Ann spent 30 years in education, school marketing and outreach work to support students in poorer communities.

Ann and husband Dave relocated from Johannesburg to Hermanus in 2014. Upon arrival she immediately became involved in the community, managing a programme for children identified as having substance abuse problems. She has immersed herself in community service and is a past President of Rotary Hermanus. She is currently an Assistant Governor in Rotary District 9350. She is passionate about keeping Hermanus clean and safe for both residents and visitors.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

HPP is managed by a Board of Directors elected by the owners of the properties in the SRA.  Each Member of the HPP NPC is entitled to vote at the Annual General Meetings and any Special General Meetings to conduct any business provided for in the Companies Act.

The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that the mandate received from HPP Members is professionally and efficiently executed and that the company complies in every respect with the relevant provisions of the Companies Act.  The Directors receive no remuneration for their services to HPP.

SPECIAL RATING AREA

Established under the Overstrand Municipality SRA By-law and Policy, the Hermanus Special Rating Area is a geographically defined mapped area, in which property owners contribute additional rates to enhance and supplement municipal services.

Visit the Hermanus SRA website to find out more.

LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

SRAs are governed by the SA Constitution; Section 22 of the Municipal Property Rates Act (MPRA); the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA); the Companies Act (Non-Profit Company -NPC); and the Overstrand Municipality Special Rating Area By-Law of 2016; and the Overstrand Municipality Special Rating Area Policy of 2019. 

Emergency Numbers

Emergency Services 
HPP Control Centre087 550 5295
SAPS (Police)028 313 5300
Fire Department028 312 2400
Overstrand Law Enforcement028 313 8000 OR 028 313 8111
National Sea Rescue (NSRI)112 or 087 094 9774
Medical Services 
Ambulance10177
Provincial Ambulances028 492 0032
St John’s Ambulance076 585 0899
CMC066 222 7219