HERMANUS PUBLIC PROTECTION
NEWSLETTER
Keeping our community safe and clean, together
AUGUST 2026
In this edition:
- Save the Date | HPP Annual General Meeting – 8 October 2026
- Annual Satisfaction Survey | Tell Us How We Are Doing
- Good News Stories | HPP CCTV Helps SAPS Make Five Arrests
- Meet the HPP Board | Meet Vice Chairperson and Governance Portfolio: Stephen Grundlingh
Save the Date: HPP Annual General Meeting – 8 October 2026
HPP’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Thursday, 8 October 2026 at 16:00 at the Windsor Hotel, Hermanus.
All members of the community are welcome to attend.
If you are a property owner within the Hermanus Special Rating Area and would like to become a member of HPP, please complete the membership application form available on the HPP website:
Further information regarding the AGM and meeting documentation will be made available in due course.
How Are We Doing?
We value your feedback. If you are a HSRA property owner, resident, business operator or visitor, please take a few minutes to complete our Annual Satisfaction Survey.
Your feedback on HPP’s services over the past financial year helps us understand what we are doing well and where we can improve.
The survey takes approximately five minutes to complete and will close on 16 September 2026.
Working Together to Keep Hermanus Safe
1 AUGUST to 31 AUGUST 2026
Reports Received
421
Arrests
5
Waste Collected (KGs)
1220
HPP CCTV Helps SAPS Make Five Arrests
August saw several successful interventions by the HPP CCTV and response teams, demonstrating the value of constant monitoring and rapid coordination with SAPS.
In the early hours of 1 August, HPP CCTV operators observed two men carrying heavy bags into Swartdam Road from Zwelihle. An HPP response officer was dispatched to investigate and found a 5kg gas bottle and tools in their possession. The men were unable to provide a reasonable explanation for the items, and SAPS was contacted. Both were arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property.
A few days later, HPP CCTV identified a person who had recently been linked to a burglary and was reportedly being sought by SAPS. The individual was monitored as he moved towards an area between the Cliff Path and surrounding bushes. HPP officers responded and detained him until SAPS arrived, resulting in an arrest for housebreaking.
On 8 August, another HPP CCTV intervention led to the identification and detention of a person previously arrested in connection with a burglary in the area. He was observed carrying a bottle of brandy. Shortly afterwards, a resident contacted HPP to report that their home had been burgled and that brandy had been stolen. The suspect was handed over to SAPS and arrested for housebreaking and theft.
Later that same morning, HPP CCTV operators observed a group of men at the Gateway Shopping Centre ATMs apparently examining multiple bank cards and attempting to withdraw money. SAPS was immediately alerted and attended the scene. Six individuals were stopped and searched, with suspected stolen bank cards found in the possession of two of them. The two suspects were arrested.
These incidents highlight the important role played by HPP’s CCTV network, which allows suspicious activity to be identified and monitored in real time, enabling HPP response teams and SAPS to intervene quickly.
They also highlight a concerning pattern: some individuals repeatedly come to the attention of public safety and law-enforcement agencies. However, where incidents are not formally reported and cases are not opened with SAPS, there is limited official record of the criminal activity associated with those individuals. Without cases being opened, it becomes more difficult to establish patterns, support investigations and ensure that appropriate law-enforcement resources are directed towards the area.
Please Report Crime
We strongly encourage residents, businesses and visitors to report all criminal incidents to SAPS and to open a case, regardless of how minor the crime may seem.
Every case contributes to an accurate picture of crime in our area. Reporting ensures that incidents are formally recorded and helps SAPS identify repeat offenders, establish crime patterns and allocate resources appropriately.
HPP will continue to monitor, respond and work closely with SAPS and other safety stakeholders to keep the Hermanus community safe.
Online Fraud and Scams Remain a Major Concern
Online fraud and scams continue to be among the most frequently reported crimes to Hermanus SAPS.
These scams are becoming increasingly convincing, often using messages that appear to come from official companies or other trusted organisations.
Please take a moment to read our Fraud Awareness & Action Guide for practical do’s and don’ts. If you believe you have been scammed, act immediately.
Do not be embarrassed to report a scam. Reporting promptly can help limit financial losses, protect your identity and ensure that these crimes are accurately recorded.
Meet the Team | HPP Board Vice Chairperson and Governance - Stephen Grundlingh
If one director encompasses the strength and depth of HPP’s board, it is Stephen Grundlingh. Currently Deputy Chairman, Stephen brings a wealth of international experience to his role, providing leadership, incisive thinking and clear-minded judgement.
He was elected and appointed to the HPP Board in 2024, initially taking on the key role of overseeing operations within the Hermanus Special Rating Area. It is a significant assignment, balancing manpower and finances while managing interaction with the municipality and law enforcement agencies.
But Stephen is no stranger to employing diplomacy as a skill set. After graduating from Stellenbosch University, he represented South Africa in various diplomatic roles with the Department of Foreign Affairs, both domestically and abroad, including postings in London and New York.
“This was the dawn of political change in South Africa, which led to extensive engagement with American companies looking to invest in South Africa,” he explains. His career had, by then, led Stephen into a key area of interest: international finance.
This resulted in him joining a leading US-based global financial services firm, beginning a 25-year career that included extensive assignments based in Singapore and San Francisco.
But at heart, Stephen considers himself a Hermanus-ite. “It’s totally unique and there’s no other place like it” – a sentiment shared by so many. Having holidayed here since his younger days, there was little competition when it came to choosing a permanent home base.
He now lives in Fernkloof Village and enjoys the outdoors – travelling, golfing, hiking, biking and wine (“not necessarily in that order”). He and his wife have two sons who are based in the USA.
“It may sound trite, but I feel that I am now living the real life that I had always envisaged!” And both HPP and Hermanus are fortunate that he is not going anywhere.
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
Stay Connected. Stay Safe with HPP.
Stay informed and connected by joining the HPP WhatsApp group. This is where we share our monthly newsletter, practical safety tips, and occasional important public safety updates. It’s a simple way to stay aware of what’s happening in the area and how you can play a part in keeping our community safe.
This is an information-only group. No emergency reporting or general chat.
For emergencies, contact HPP Control Room: 087 550 5295.