Public Safety Department and Vumacam sign a memorandum of understanding in Melrose Boulevard
The memorandum of understanding is for the deployment of smart city infrastructure, including cctv cameras and electronic signage.
The Public Safety Department and Vumacam Proprietary Limited are determined to crack the whip on criminals in their latest security partnership.
The two parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Melrose Boulevard on March 14 in an effort to tackle the high crime statistics in Johannesburg.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said various technologies would be put in place to ensure the partnership’s success. “The MOU is for the deployment of smart city infrastructure such as cctv cameras, interactive panic buttons, and electronic signage. This will be used to improve road traffic policing, law and by-law enforcement, detection, prevention and investigation of crime and for services relating to medical and fire emergencies.”
The MMC for Public Safety Dr Mgcini Tshwaku said the department was serious about the partnership in terms of ensuring that JMPD has access to the 7 000 cameras. His duty was to fight crime with the help of technology.
Vumacam’s CEO Ricky Croock explained the existing cameras would go live next month.
“The cameras will be live on April 1. There are already 6 000 cameras and in terms of load-shedding it won’t affect our cameras. All the cameras have infrared technology to operate in low-light applications. The cameras cover 70% of the City of Johannesburg and, as we identify more hotspots, we then densify the network.”
Croock added that the partnership with the public sector was necessary because they had resources to help in the fight against crime – and the evolution of this fight included technology.
Public Safety’s acting HOD, Tebogo Modiba said Vumacam approached the department two years ago. “After many engagements with Vumacam, we thought forming a partnership would be beneficial. As it stands, the City of Johannesburg has 540 cameras and only 45% are online. Our mandate for the partnership includes having a reaction team which will be in the form of officers.”
Modiba added that the department would be using a scientific approach in dealing with crime, especially because they were now in partnership with Vumacam and were aware of crime hotspots.
Tshwaku explained, “We want to be able to get weekly reports and conduct an analysis based on the information received from the Vuma cameras. We want to see tangible results. Crime statistics decline practically so this partnership will help in that regard.”
Croock concluded that the private sector was the first responder in most cases because it had a local presence in certain areas. This is where the coordinated effort and resources on the ground would make an impact against crime.
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