CSO and CAP go their separate ways

ANT KATZ

The Jewish Community Security Organisation (CSO) and CAP, Community Active Protection, have finally now separated their activities and call centres. This has resulted in certain logistic changes of telephone numbers. The intention of the parties is that only better service will result in the new dispensation.

The original Glenhazel Active Protection (GAP) organisation concept was started in 2005 in response to a surge in crime “by deeply committed residents”, said Mark van Jaarsveld, CAP CEO. It became very successful and then moved into other areas of Johannesburg and rebranded itself as CAP (although the GAP brand still exists). 

It was originally decided to use a joint control room for CAP and CSO which used CSO’s telephone number 086-18-000-18. This was an easy number to remember as the number 18 represents the Hebrew word for life: “Chai.” In other words, the number to remember is 086-Chai-000-Chai.  

Fast-forward 10 years and the mandate of CAP has changed significantly while that of CSO has remained the same. CAP has grown into a large communal security organisation with a professionally run staff overseen by a board of volunteers and is currently operational in 19 zones over 40 suburbs throughout Johannesburg. CSO is focused on the security and medical needs of the Jewish community, communal facilities and the orderly and safe continuation of Jewish life.

“CAP has grown into a multi-faceted organisation,” said a CSO spokesman, and CSO felt they needed to control their communications internally. Ezra is the CSO division that supports the medical needs of the community.

The separation came about by mutual agreement with both organisations agreeing that it would be operationally better for each of them, explained the CSO spokesman.

“We believe that both communal organizations have important roles to play in protecting and ensuring the respective communities and residents we serve remain safe,” said CAP’s van Jaarsveld.

CSO has kept its 086-18-000-18 although last week the North Eastern Tribune erroneously reported that the old number was no longer in use.

And over the past two months CAP has run a very effective campaign to market their new control room number, 0861-227-227 (or 0861-CAP-CAP).  Both numbers will redirect calls to the other.
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EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Community Security Organisation (CSO)

Focuses on security and medical needs of the Jewish community, communal facilities and the orderly and safe continuation of Jewish life. Ezra is the CSO division that supports the medical needs of the community.

Telephone number: 086-18-000-18

CAP – Community Active Protection

Has evolved from the original GAP – Glenhazel Active Protection – started in 2005 as reaction to surge of crime. Moving into other areas GAP rebranded itself as CAP, which has grown into a large communal security organisation focusing on criminal activities.

Telephone number: 0861-227-227

Hatzolah Medical Emergency

Hatzolah is a Johannesburg-based medical emergency service launched in 1998, to assist existing medical services in the area. It is staffed by Torah-observant Jewish volunteers.

Telephone number: 083-222-1818