- Community leaders in Cape Town are urging the City to install more CCTV cameras in informal settlements and hotspot areas to combat rising crime.
- They criticize the current operation of cameras from Goodwood, citing difficulties in accessing footage and inadequate coverage, particularly in Nyanga, Gugulethu, and Khayelitsha.
- Despite the City’s reported 45% increase in CCTV-related arrests and 63% increase in detected incidents, community leaders insist more cameras and local operation centers are needed to effectively fight crime.
Community leaders are calling for the City of Cape Town to install more CCTV cameras in their communities to assist the officers to fight crime.
They say that there are cameras in their areas but are not enough as some areas have grown in recent years.
The growth has been fuelled by informal settlements, leading to an increase in crime.
Last week, the City announced that the cameras played a significant role in fighting crime in many areas.
In a media statement, the City’s Safety and Security portfolio committee chair Mzwakhe Nqavashe said the CCTV cameras have long been a staple in the City’s basket of crime prevention tools.
These cameras serve as a force multiplier, but also provide useful guidance on staff deployments etc.
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“The Metro Police Strategic Surveillance Unit (SSU) recorded 454 CCTV-related arrests during the previous financial year, compared to 312 arrests in the previous year, a 45% increase.
The number of incidents detected via CCTV increased from 22 498 to 43 457 – a 63% increase.
He said during this period, the SSU also facilitated the installation of 138 new cameras in various parts of the metropole.
“The Safety and Security Portfolio Committee would like to commend the sterling work done by our officers.
“The success of using CCTV footage in crime prevention and specifically successful arrests is a significant achievement in our ongoing efforts to enhance public safety and security across the city.
“It is also a testament to the dedication of our enforcement officers and the effectiveness of technology in making Cape Town a safer place. We remain committed to supporting investments in advanced technologies and strategies that support the safety and well-being of all our residents,” said Nqavashe.
He added that other notable achievements in the Directorate performance report were, that officers conducted 860 enforcement roadblocks, compliance inspections at scrap metal dealers amounted to 2 117 and officers visited 3 681 liquor premises to ensure compliance with relevant by-laws.
He said in addition to the above, officers issued 14 571 fines for illegal littering and dumping across the metropole. “This is a serious offence and residents are requested to assist officers and report such incidents.”
However, according to the community leaders, the cameras are operated in Goodwood, which makes it hard to obtain footage of crimes committed in their areas.
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Nyanga Community Policing Forum (CPF) secretary Dumisani Qwebe said they have eight cameras in his area and the last time he checked all were functioning.
“Cameras will never be enough in our areas where there are a lot of informal areas. Most criminal incidents occur in informal areas or people commit crimes and run into the informal settlement because they know that officers don’t have access to those areas,” said Qwebe.
He claimed that the cameras are useless because they are operated in Goodwood.
Qwebe called for the City to find a neutral venue for all the areas to view the footage.
Gugulethu Development Forum (GDF) secretary Vincent Domingo said didn’t hear anything regarding the installation or repair of cameras in the area. He said there are only two cameras in Gugulethu. He said they need more, especially in the hotspot areas like NY1, NY78 and other areas where there’s always chaos. “Gugulethu is too big to have only two cameras. We need more of them. At least if we can have more it can be easy to identify the criminals,” he stated.
Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF) secretary Khayalethu Nethi stated that he is not aware of any installation of the new cameras in Khayelitsha. He said there are CCTV cameras in the area but he is not sure how many of them. He reiterated Domingo’s sentiments that they want the cameras to be operated in Khayelitsha. “I don’t know why the City doesn’t use one of the City facilities here in Khayelitsha where they will be based. We have facilities like Khayelitsha Training Centre where they can be stationed,” said Nethi.
He stated that even if there is a crime incident they never heard that the officers had enquired about the footage in Goodwood. “I don’t think they are still functioning or even serviced those cameras,” said Nethi.
