She braves guns and knives to keep her community safe

Fowzia Veerasamy is a relentless walker – even on the days when it’s difficult. She has Friedreich ataxia, a disorder that impacts her nervous system and spine. “It’s a struggle to walk,” Veerasamy says. But this hasn’t held her back from protecting her community. Crime is an ongoing problem in Gatesville in the Western Cape. Veerasamy began patrolling the streets in 2015, keeping watch for her neighbours. She’s been held at gunpoint and threatened with knives. Still, she walks. 

Wheelchair-bound as a child, Veerasamy understood what it felt like to need help. After recovering, she committed to supporting people who were vulnerable. There is danger involved in guarding the area. But Veerasamy knows that if she doesn’t do it, little will change. “It’s up to me to keep my community safe,” she says. Veerasamy started surveying the streets with her sister and daughter, an effort that grew into the Gatesville Neighbourhood Watch. Her small team is now made up of mostly women who chase down criminals and ensure the area’s security. 

This year, they were recognised by the City of Cape Town for their crime-fighting. Veerasamy is also involved in local initiatives which include a women’s empowerment forum, clubs for the youth and the elderly, and an exercise programme. “Being able to serve my community lets me feel that I’m contributing to society,” she says. All it takes is one person to safeguard the welfare of others, even if it’s at their own risk. “I persevere,” Veerasamy says. “That is who I am.”