By MAMELA GOWA and MIHLALI VELLEM
After months of testing new CCTV cameras installed in some parts of Buffalo City Metro including the Esplanade, mayor Xola Pakati officially launched the multimillion-rand project yesterday.
The cameras initially went live in March when BCM was still testing the equipment installed in the Esplanade, Duncan Village and Oxford Street intersections.
Pakati said BCM residents and visitors are “safer now than they were before”.
He said the metro was committed to meeting its obligations to the residents.
“Public safety is one of our priorities in terms of the 10 priorities that we have identified as the metro.
“So we want to ensure that we deal with the criminal element, particularly in public places,” said Pakati.
The installation of the Esplanade CCTV network cost BCM R1.8-million and R10-million was spent for the CBD connection.
In the city’s new camera control room at the Fleet Street fire station, plasma TVs clearly showed what was happening in the East London CBD and Esplanade yesterday.
The Mdantsane highway rank cameras were not working yesterday due to strong winds that had affected the system over the weekend, said public safety portfolio head Amanda Mnyute.
She said for now the cameras were live in the CBD, Esplanade and Mdantsane. However, the project will be rolled out in other areas including Southernwood and Leaches Bay.
In March the Daily Dispatch reported that the cameras were installed at the following intersections:
- Frere Hospital on Amalinda main road;
- Amalinda Main Road and Oxford Street;
- Lukin Road and Oxford Street;
- St George’s Road and Oxford Street;
- St Peter’s Road and Oxford Street;
- Kimberley Road and Oxford Street;
- Park Avenue and Oxford Street;
- Park Avenue and Buffalo Street;
- Park Avenue and Beaconsfield Road;
- Beaconsfield Road and St John’s Road;
- Douglas Smit Highway and Mdantsane Access Road;
- Douglas Smit Highway and Parkridge Road; and
- Duncan Village Community Hall.
The cameras operate on Wi-Fi and solar energy to save electricity and work when there is neither electricity nor a Wi-Fi connection, the Dispatch reported.
“Phase four of the CBD connection will be done by the end of June,” Mnyute said.
The East London Ratepayers’ Association said they were fully in support of the CCTV camera roll-out. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
Mayor launches BCM project for CCTV cameras
After months of testing new CCTV cameras installed in some parts of Buffalo City Metro including the Esplanade, mayor Xola Pakati officially launched the multimillion-rand project yesterday.
The cameras initially went live in March when BCM was still testing the equipment installed in the Esplanade, Duncan Village and Oxford Street intersections.
Pakati said BCM residents and visitors are “safer now than they were before”.
He said the metro was committed to meeting its obligations to the residents.
“Public safety is one of our priorities in terms of the 10 priorities that we have identified as the metro.
“So we want to ensure that we deal with the criminal element, particularly in public places,” said Pakati.
The installation of the Esplanade CCTV network cost BCM R1.8-million and R10-million was spent for the CBD connection.
In the city’s new camera control room at the Fleet Street fire station, plasma TVs clearly showed what was happening in the East London CBD and Esplanade yesterday.
The Mdantsane highway rank cameras were not working yesterday due to strong winds that had affected the system over the weekend, said public safety portfolio head Amanda Mnyute.
She said for now the cameras were live in the CBD, Esplanade and Mdantsane. However, the project will be rolled out in other areas including Southernwood and Leaches Bay.
In March the Daily Dispatch reported that the cameras were installed at the following intersections:
The cameras operate on Wi-Fi and solar energy to save electricity and work when there is neither electricity nor a Wi-Fi connection, the Dispatch reported.
“Phase four of the CBD connection will be done by the end of June,” Mnyute said.
The East London Ratepayers’ Association said they were fully in support of the CCTV camera roll-out. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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