Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) officers had their hands full during the 2025 festive season, successfully assisting in 11 separate arrests spanning everything from drug possession to armed robbery and illegal marine harvesting.
The arrests, which took place between 6 and 27 December 2025, highlight the effectiveness of the collaborative approach between HPP and the South African Police in maintaining community safety during one of the busiest periods of the year.
Three separate drug-related incidents resulted in multiple arrests throughout December. The first occurred on 9 December when an HPP foot patroller spotted suspicious activity near a CBD pub. “A HPP foot patroller was conducting his normal patrol in the CBD when he noticed a male selling something suspicious to a group of people near a pub in town,” said Marius Boshoff, Hermanus Branch Manager for Fidelity ADT, which supports and manages the HPP.
The officer called for back-up and, on confirmation that drugs were being sold, the police were notified and the suspect arrested.
CCTV technology proves crucial
The CCTV monitoring system operated by HPP played a pivotal role in multiple arrests. On 20 December a control room operator spotted two males robbing a couple in Still Street in real-time. “The HPP field officers were immediately dispatched,” Boshoff related. “On arrival they managed to detain one suspect immediately and then managed to find and detain the second suspect shortly afterwards.”
While the victims chose not to press charges for the robbery, both suspects were arrested after drugs were found during their search.
Perhaps the most serious incident occurred on 6 December when HPP’s rapid-response capabilities were put to the test. Following a knife-point robbery report to the police HPP CCTV controllers quickly located the suspect. “HPP directed SAPS to the exact location of the suspect, and he was detained and searched,” related Boshoff. “The wallet, knife and drugs were found in his possession.”
The string of arrests demonstrates the effectiveness of the partnership between HPP and the police, the former’s street presence and surveillance capabilities complementing law-enforcement authority. “We are incredibly proud of all our HPP members, and I would like to thank them for their hard work and efforts over this period,” Boshoff concluded.
