eThekwini Municipality lays down the law after employee sabotages CCTV feed

AN eThekwini municipality CCTV camera operator was recently arrested for tampering with newly upgraded cables that link servers and feeds to the CCTV security cameras.

The 30-year-old municipal employee was arrested on Tuesday, February 20, at the Municipal Disaster Management Centre in Durban in a multi-disciplinary operation after he was allegedly caught on surveillance footage vandalising and stealing CCTV infrastructure.

The suspect was arrested following an investigation by the City’s Disaster Management Unit, Metro Police, the City Integrity and Investigation Unit (CIIU) and the South African Police Service.

According to a statement released by the eThekwini Municipality on Tuesday, the arrest comes after the suspect was, last week, caught damaging the newly upgraded cables that link servers and feeds to the CCTV cameras. “These cameras are linked to the City’s Emergency Service Control Room. The Control Room monitors and detects crime while ensuring law and order,” said the municipality in their statement.

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The municipality has opened a criminal case against the suspect for theft, sabotage and vandalism of municipal infrastructure. “The employee, who is one of the City’s CCTV camera operators, was also served with a notice of immediate suspension.”

In a bid to win the war against crime, the municipality, late last year, embarked on a project to repair and upgrade CCTV cameras in the city centre. This was one of the City’s concerted efforts to ensure the safety of residents and holidaymakers during the festive season and beyond.

eThekwini mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda commended the law enforcement agencies, the Disaster Management Unit and the CIIU for their swift response.

“We are committed to rooting out any form of criminality within the municipality and have adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards lawlessness. This city has no room for criminals and will not allow anyone who will compromise the safety of our residents, visitors and businesses,” said Mayor Kaunda.

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Head of the Disaster Management and Emergency Services Unit Vincent Ngubane said the City will not hesitate to arrest anyone who tampers with and sabotages municipal infrastructure, such as CCTV cameras, even if it’s one of their own.

Repairing damaged cameras, he said, is extremely costly and was a major setback in the fight against crime.

“Residents are urged to report any suspicious and fraudulent activities which compromise service delivery to the CIIU on 0800 202020. All services rendered by CIIU are free, and the identity of the whistle-blowers is protected,” said the municipality.

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