Community leaders in Philippi have praised the installation of a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera in the neighbourhood and hope it will drastically reduce crime.
The installation of the camera at the Nzame Zabantu Clinic was completed on Friday 29 August and the leaders believe criminals will have to think twice before committing crime nearby.
The CCTV cameras have worked as a crime deterrent in many communities around Cape Town. They work 24 hours a day and are constantly monitored at the City of Cape Town’s control room in Goodwood.
In a case of emergency officers can be deployed to the crime scene immediately. They can also be used to collect evidence for criminal cases.
Anele Madondile, who is a South African National Civic Organisation’s (SANCO) Philippi Zonal chair, described the installation of the camera as a breath of fresh air. He said they’ve been crying out loud for the City to install the cameras.
“Crime is rife in the area. We have all sorts of crime here, including murder, carjacking, robberies, extortion, smash and grab everything.
“We believe now that there is a camera, it will make it easy for law enforcement to execute their job because they will look at the footage,” said Madondile.
He stated that they are expecting that the criminals will be arrested at any given time.
Madondile mentioned that there is a new trend in Philippi of criminals kicking down house doors at night robbing people.
“We are not safe here. But we are happy with the installation of cameras, hoping that there will be some changes. The crime will decrease,” he stated.
Ward 34 councillor Melikhaya Gadeni said the installation of a camera has been long overdue.
He said the Philippi community has been demanding it because of the number of crime incidents that are happening in the area.
“The camera is situated in my ward because it is one of the hotspots areas.
“People are getting robbed of their belongings in the daylight. And there is smash and grab particularly at Govan Mbeki Road near Junxion Mall and at the corners of
Sheffield and New Eisleben Roads,” said Gadeni.
He said they embrace the installation of the new technology as it will make the job of the officers easy.
He stated that the objective is to squeeze the space for the criminals.
