GQEBERHA – Nelson Mandela Bay’s long-dormant mobile surveillance vehicle, has officially been launched back into service, nearly five years after it was parked at a municipal depot.

Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe delivered the keynote address at the launch of the Safety and Security Mobile Surveillance Vehicle (MSV) at Walmer Town Hall on Thursday, 8 October.

The MSV — a R6-million custom-built surveillance unit purchased in 2010 ahead of the FIFA World Cup — has been out of operation for years while undergoing extensive repairs.

The vehicle was sent to Pretoria for refurbishment, receiving new lithium batteries, interior upgrades and a replacement thermal network multi-spectral pan-and-tilt camera to replace its faulty Zeiss unit, which had to be sourced from Germany.

Luyanda Lawu, Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Safety and Security, confirmed in July that the vehicle was “functional”, with only a handful of outstanding components still awaited at that stage.

Part of a wider technology push

The MSV forms part of the metro’s broader, integrated approach to safety and security, bringing together the municipality, Metro Police, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and community structures such as Community Policing Forums (CPFs).

She said: “Our expanding safety technology network, including high-speed fibre infrastructure, surveillance drones and high-tech CCTV cameras in identified crime hotspots, is strengthening our ability to monitor, respond and act in real time.”

In July, the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) launched a R27-million security network expansion, deploying 360 new CCTV cameras equipped with number plate recognition, thermal imaging and infrared night vision, alongside seven surveillance drones and more than 40 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure across the metro.

The municipality has also invested R16.1 million in a new safety and emergency fleet, unveiled in April.

The 20-vehicle fleet has been deployed across Metro Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Traffic and Licensing, Security Services and Disaster Management, as part of a broader capital investment exceeding R43 million.

Challenges remain

Despite the launch, the metro’s safety directorate has faced criticism for slow spending. By the end of February, the department had spent just 18% of its R72-million capital budget.

The city’s ShotSpotter gunshot detection system in Helenvale — a vital tool for real-time gunshot alerts — has been offline since December 2023 due to contractual disputes, with no timeline for its return.

Lobishe called on law enforcement officers and joint security teams to make full use of the technology now at their disposal.

Lobishe said: “Our responsibility is to protect our communities, municipal infrastructure and to create the conditions necessary for investment, tourism and development. A safer Nelson Mandela Bay requires technology, collaboration and decisive action.”

ALSO READ: New facility gives Bethelsdorp Comprehensive School a fresh start