Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning:
1. (a) What policies and ethics documents guide the operation of surveillance apparatus, such as CCTV cameras and drones, in the City of Cape Town and (b) what is the total number of CCTV cameras that are operated by the government in the City of Cape Town;
2. whether all of the cameras are connected to the City’s central control room; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
(1) The City of Cape Town has the attached policy: Regulation of External and Privately-Owned CCTV Cameras on City Property in place. Their drones are not yet in operation, as they are in the process of applying for their Operators Certificate from the South African Civil Aviation Authority.
Responsible Entity | Number of Cameras | Operated by City |
City of Cape Town Metropolitan Police CCTV | 713 | Yes |
City of Cape Town Transport (MyCiti) | 773 | Yes |
Freeway Management Services (SANRAL) | 237 | No, but monitoring staff are located in our building (Transport Management Centre) and we can view these cameras at any time. |
3(2) All City of Cape Town cameras are connected to the City’s CCTV Centre within the City of Cape Town; however, the Grassy Park & Retreat cameras are connected to the control room at Grassy Park Civic centre, the efforts to get the connectivity to the City’s central control room is in progress. Management of the control room remains within the ambit of Metropolitan Police CCTV Department and all functions are controlled within the same structures.
Freeway Management Services is situated within the CCTV Centre where they monitor the cameras, mutual agreements are in place, should the City of Cape Town require access to their network.
