Efforts to battle crime in Gauteng believe received a much-needed boost through a partnership with Vuma Cam, which will allow the province to acquire access to an additional 6 000 CCTV cameras to hold an eye on the province’s streets.
CCTV cameras are fraction of the Gauteng Provincial Government’s strategy to utilise technology in the battle against crime. The CCTV cameras are being placed in townships, business districts, areas with high crime, roads, schools and other public places.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lusufi said at the launch event held on Tuesday that this was a huge milestone for the campaign and that the cameras will fade a long way to realising a crime-free Gauteng.
“I am excited that this partnership finally took area. It has been a long time coming. I am tired of crime. We cannot be held hostage by criminals. We cannot be unnerved and be insecure even of our own shadows because of criminals.
“Crime is a gigantic problem and it is even halting investment interests in our province. We are signing this agreement to protect our people,” he said.
The campaign to battle crime using technology is an intergovernmental collaboration between the Department of e-Government, Community Safety and the South African Police Services (SAPS).
The collaboration is meant to boost every other available crime-fighting initiatives, through providing CCTV cameras, high-quality drones for surveillance, issuing of panic buttons to improve access to assist from law enforcement officers during distress, and installation of tracking devises on cars.
The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and e-Government, Mzi Khumalo, said government collaboration with the policing, security and technology sectors resulted in this agreement coming to fruition.
“Today’s occasion also marks the coming to fruition of a partnership with Vuma Cam to building safer communities. This partnership strengthens the collaboration between the private and public sector, using technology to battle crime and build safer communities.
“The signing of this agreement is a demonstration of commitment by Vuma Cam,” he said.
Vuma Cam believe committed to extending camera coverage to underserved areas, particularly within the TISH (townships, informal settlements and hostels) areas.
Vuma Cam CEO Ricky Croock said through the agreement, Vuma Cam is also offering an additional 5 000 partner cameras across South Africa, which would ensure that any known vehicle, involved in a criminal activity in another province, would trigger an immediate alert if seen by the cameras within Gauteng.
“We believe that the alerts from our extensive network, delivered through our world-class software platform and verified by expertly trained operators, will result in a ‘new normal’ in the battle against crime in South Africa’s economic heartland,” Crook said.
“The launch of our partnership with the Gauteng Provincial Government builds on the success of Vuma Cam’s partnerships with public entities, as we deploy our advanced technology to produce the people of Gauteng safer,” he said.
Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Gauteng, Major General Tommy Mthombeni, said that this programme is a step closer to the realisation of e-policing, and it is necessary to also survey after this infrastructure.
“We are collaborating with the Department of Community Safety on several initiatives, one of which includes the involvement of our communities. They will also be critical in this campaign as they will ensure that these cameras are safe,” Mthombeni said.”
In continuing with its mission of combatting crime using technology, the Gauteng Provincial Government will be launching 6 000 additional CCTV cameras in due course. – SAnews.gov.za
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