A new CCTV camera was installed in Beacon Valley last month. The installation, behind the grounds of Oval North High School, brings to 32 the number of cameras installed by the City in Beacon Valley and Town Centre, said Solomon Philander, the Sub-council 12 chair and councillor for Ward 116, which includes Beacon Valley.
Philander said the area where the camera had been put up, which is on a small hill and overlooks a long stretch of field behind a row of houses, was a “hotspot”. The camera cost R300 000, and was part of a bigger budget of R440 000 which had been allocated to safety, he said.
“This is planned according to the hotshots and requests from the community,” he said.
Philander added that the feed from the CCTV cameras is monitored from a central point in Goodwood.
“However, all local cameras in Mitchell’s Plain are monitored 24 hours in a Mitchell’s Plain control room,” he said.
When TygerBurger visited the area last week it was quiet but several residents tentatively approached and warned the reporter to be careful, saying that the area was notorious for gang activity.
Philander could not confirm whether the cameras had been helpful in catching the perpetrators in the recent deadly gang violence, in which Beacon Valley had had the most reported incidents, and referred the TygerBurger to police.
Western Cape police’s media office said that available CCTV footage is used in their investigations.
“All leads are being pursued in an effort to bring perpetrators to book.” said Captain FC Van Wyk.
“These leads include available CCTV footage which will be analysed. It will be premature to divulge such information as it might potentially jeopardise ongoing investigations.”
