Vumacam partners with Gauteng to boost surveillance
As part of the state’s push to have more digitalised services, the Gauteng provincial government has partnered with Vumacam to boost its surveillance capabilities by granting access to the company’s extensive surveillance camera network and advanced crime fighting technologies.
There is a growing use of surveillance cameras worldwide to improve safety, deter criminal activity and protect critical infrastructure.
With integration of technologies like artificial intelligence, governments and private players are increasingly making use of camera systems, not only to track items and people but to analyse trends and as decisionmaking tools.
The partnership will give the provincial government immediate access to a network of more than 6,000 cameras in Gauteng and to 5,000 partner cameras nationally.
This would ensure that a vehicle involved in criminal activity in another province would trigger an immediate alert if seen by the cameras within Gauteng.
Vumacam, a unit of Remgro ’ s fibre network operator, Vumatel, runs SA’s largest private CCTV network. It supports the Eyes and Ears Initiative (E2) — an official, co-ordinated joint crime fighting initiative between the SA Police Service (SAPS), Business Against Crime SA and the private security industry.
CRIME
The Gauteng department of egovernment is mandated to ensure that “technology strengthens the immediate fight against crime, corruption, vandalism, and lawlessness”.
The department will provide integrated CCTV cameras as a service to increase and improve service delivery through greater efficiency. The government and Vumacam have also committed to extending camera coverage to underserved areas, particularly townships, informal settlements and hostels.
“The launch of our partnership with the Gauteng provincial government builds on the success of Vumacam’s partnerships with public entities as we deploy our advanced technology to make the people of Gauteng safer,” said Vumacam CEO Ricky Croock.
Vumacam says its network will enhance a range of services by deploying its cameras that will provide evidence to relevant enforcement agencies; maintaining public order; preventing antisocial behaviour and nuisance; providing reassurance; and promoting economic wellbeing.
A further layer of security is added by escalating verified alerts.
“As we continue to foster collaboration to fight crime between the private and public sector through technology, we continue to invest in and grow our infrastructure and platform. This provides life-saving and actionable intelligence in real time to those that put their lives on the line every day.
“In this way we can all help create safer, smarter cities where people, businesses and tourism can thrive.
“We believe we can help SA become a safer place through the power of video and technology, delivered by a centralised platform that connects disparate operators, and that will become the de facto standard in all control rooms.”
Vuma is not the only player in this space. Axis Communications, a network technology company specialising in the manufacture of network cameras, access control and audio devices for surveillance, also competes.
Steven Kenny, manager for architecture and engineering at Axis, advocates that surveillance technology has evolved beyond mere physical security and has become a critical enabler for intelligent decision-making, operational efficiency and risk mitigation within the business landscape.