The CCTV cameras are to be placed between Edgardale and the Ormonde area surrounding the Gold Reef City Casino, will be the first batch of a project that will see a total of 47 cameras installed in the area in the coming months.
A media briefing was held at Penmore Towers, Johannesburg CBD on September 18, where attendees were given a tour of the monitoring base by Omega Security representative Walter Haldane, which has been fully equipped with spot monitors, database security and a JMPD radio base station. The monitors are able to detect number plate recognition enabling JMPD officers to track and trace criminals and other lawbreakers.
The cost of this investment is reported to go just under R2 million rand for the infrastructure, cameras and reaction vehicles.
“Trends in how the CCTV has impacted on reducing crime in the city speak for themselves. For instance we have seen a significant decrease in serious crimes and drop in criminal activity,” said JMPD Chief Superintendent, Wayne Minnaar.
Control of the centre will be manned by a team of 150 operators whose sole responsibility is to monitor activity in the CBD and alert JMPD and SAPS of any crimes underway in the focus areas.
The project is expected to help increase police visibility and serve as a deterrent for crime. Response vehicles and teams who will be dispatched in and around the area are going to be using marked vehicles donated to the City by Edcon and Gold Reef City to better effective policing. It is reported that currently the fastest time by officers has been 14 seconds.
Edcon’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr Urin Ferndale emphasized that safety is a responsibility of every South African. “This initiative is aimed at providing the JMPD with the tools to perform their duties to the best of their abilities. Preventative policing has been proven, many times over, to discourage criminal activity which in the long run ensures the safety of not only our customers, employees and neighbouring businesses but of our immediate community as a whole.”
Residents and businesses alike can expect to see more police officers patrolling, which some say is a development that is welcomed by the community.
“It’s heartening that as a people centred business we will be able to provide assurance to our customers that their safety is uppermost with his initiative,” said Mike Page of Gold Reef City.
Omega Security Representative Faan du Toit joined by MMC for Safety, Councillor Sello Lemao presented donated Tablets to Chief of JMPD. The Tablet looked like a laptop and has 24 hour portable camera access to the control room. Tablets will also be fitted into reaction vehicles.
Edcon will be carrying additional operational costs such as petrol, maintenance, and consoles which extend from FNB Stadium all the way to the Crownwood interchange (Chinese Plaza on the freeway).
“We provide hardware and JMPD provides manpower but it doesn’t mean that if something should happen elsewhere that police officers would not be able to attend to those alert calls,” responded Mr Ferndale to a question on whether these two powerhouse companies are not just buying into the City of Johannessburg. “It’s a partnership.”
Chief of Police Brigadier Zwelibanzi Nyanda said that security forces depend on citizens, businesses as well as other concerned parties to assist in “rolling out” this technology and in bringing normality and safety to the streets. High risk areas of focus named were Johannesburg Park Station, Noord taxi rank, abandoned buildings in and around the city centre, hawkers, taxi’s and traffic congestion in the Noord area.
