A Gauteng Provincial Government crime-fighting initiative received a much-needed boost through a partnership with Vuma Cam which will allow the province to have access to an additional 6 000 CCTV cameras to keep an eye on our streets, including the West Rand.
CCTV cameras are part of the Gauteng Provincial Government’s strategy to utilise technology in the fight against crime. The cameras are being placed in townships, business districts, areas with high crime spots, roads, schools, and other public places.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said at the launch event held on February 13 that this was a big milestone for the campaign and that these cameras will go a long way in realising a crime-free Gauteng.
“I am excited that this partnership finally took place. It has been a long time coming. I am tired of crime. We cannot be held hostage by criminals, we cannot be scared and be scared even in our shadows because of criminals. Crime is a big problem and it is even halting investment interests in our province. We are signing this agreement to protect our people,” Lesufi said.
The campaign to fight crime using technology is an intergovernmental collaboration between the Department of e-Government, Community Safety and the SAPS. It is meant to boost all other available crime-fighting initiatives, through providing CCTV cameras, high-quality drones for surveillance, issuing of panic buttons to improve access to help from law-enforcement officers and during distress and installation of tracking devices on cars.
MEC for the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and e-Government, Mzi Khumalo (also a former mayor of Rand West City on the West Rand) said government collaboration with the policing, security, and technology sectors resulted in this agreement coming into realisation.
“Today’s occasion also marks the coming to fruition of a partnership with Vuma Cam to build safer communities. This partnership strengthens the collaboration between the private and public sectors, using technology to fight crime and build safer communities. The signing of these agreements is a demonstration of commitment as corporate citizenship by Vuma Cam,” Khumalo said.
Vuma Cam has committed to extending camera coverage to underserved areas, particularly within the Townships, Informal Settlements and Hostels (TISH) 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 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 fight against crime in South Africa’s economic heartland. 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 make the people of Gauteng safer,” Croock said.
Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Gauteng Police, Major General Tommy Mthombeni said that this programme was a step closer to the realisation of e-policing and it was important to also look 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.
