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Police the City of Joburg, not our CCTV cameras

Ricardo Teixeira — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:11:43 +0000

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) is going to court to challenge the legality of the City of Johannesburg (COJ) new by-law on privately owned closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV), which sets up convoluted rules requiring registration and City access to private data.

OUTA’s case is against the City of Johannesburg, and the City’s municipal manager and mayor, and was filed in the Johannesburg High Court on 18 June. Currently the acting municipal manager is Tshepo Makola (since 17 January 2025) and the mayor is Dada Morero (since 16 August 2024). The papers have been served, and OUTA is awaiting an indication of whether the City intends to oppose the action.

The notice of motion calls for the court to declare the City’s Privately-Owned Closed-Circuit Television Surveillance Camera By Law invalid and unconstitutional, and set it aside. It also calls for the City to provide the records relating to the public participation, adoption and promulgation of the by-law.

This by-law was passed by the City council on 21 February 2025, with the meeting minutes showing support from 15 parties (including the ANC, ActionSA, EFF and PA) and dissent by two parties (the DA and ACDP).

OUTA believes that the by-law is convoluted, irrational, places unreasonable burdens on private businesses and residents, raises privacy concerns, and is unworkable.

OUTA’s founding affidavit

OUTA’s founding affidavit is by Advocate Stefanie Fick, OUTA Executive Director for the Accountability Division.

Fick says that OUTA wants the by-law overturned due to:

Lack of public participation;
Conflict with section 156 of the Constitution regarding the powers of municipalities;
Lack of rationality;
Infringement of the constitutional rights to property (section 25 of the Constitution), privacy (s14), and freedom and security (s12).

Fick says the public participation process is essential, and calls for the by-law to be declared invalid “for want of sufficient public participation”.

“Given the extent and impact of the By-Law, it appears that limited public participation took place, alternatively, that there was insufficient community participation,” says Fick.

OUTA questions the legality of the by-law, arguing that the City’s powers are limited by the Constitution and the South African Police Services Act, and these do not appear to allow a municipality to exercise direct authority over private property such as privately owned CCTV cameras. “The COJ may regulate its own CCTV camera systems as it deems fit, but it exceeds its powers by directly interfering with private property rights,” says Fick.

“It would appear that the COJ is usurping policing functions by commandeering private CCTV camera systems aimed at ensuring the safety and security of individuals, communities and property within the City, which safety and security responsibility is primarily the function of National and Provincial Government. For this reason, the COJ is overstepping its executive and legislative authority.”

OUTA says the City’s registration process is irrational, cumbersome and unimplementable.

The by-law requires “prior written approval” from the City for installing, using or upgrading CCTV cameras which include coverage of public space, to provide the City with plans and motivations for such cameras, get sign-off from a registered engineer, reapply each year, and pay fees to the City. It also allows the City to simply confiscate without a court order any equipment it deems to have overstepped the by-law.

The by-law also requires that each CCTV camera must record and store data for a minimum period but this is incoherently stated and effectively outlaws cameras that provide only real-time monitoring.

The by-law blocks sharing of data with community policing forums or private security companies, restricting it to use by the SAPS and Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) only.

CCTV cameras must carry labels with owners’ names and contact details, which creates privacy issues.

There are additional restrictions for commercial applicants.

Fick calls the demand for fees “nothing more than a scheme to secure additional revenue for the COJ, which is financially crippled”, and a double tax for owners who have already paid VAT and probably import duties on their CCTV equipment.

OUTA believes this by-law will undermine community safety initiatives, which means the by-law will effectively have the opposite effect of what is intended.

The by-law appears to grant City officials the right to enter private property at any time to inspect the cameras, which is an invasion of privacy and open to abuse.

Threats to confiscate unregistered cameras or those of which the City does not approve would be arbitrary deprivation or expropriation without compensation, says OUTA.

The requirement that owners must simply hand over all data is unnecessary, as “far less intrusive alternatives” already exist in law, including the subpoena system for investigation and prosecution, or simply asking CCTV owners for help.

The registration requirements raise concerns over privacy, and the City’s handling of data and potential for misuse. If the City takes all footage with access to public space, it follows that much of that footage will also include images of private space. “What a person does within the boundaries of his property is private, and the COJ must not intrude on this privacy,” says Fick.

The by-law is unimplementable, and will not improve security.

“The exercise of public power must be rational and logically connected to the intended purpose,” says Fick. “It is contended that there is no rationality between the purpose and object of the act and the unreasonable burdens imposed on a CCTV owner. Placing an enormous administrative burden on a CCTV owner would discourage residents from installing CCTV camera systems. The net result would be a community increasingly exposed to crime, where the SAPS and JMPD are not equipped to effectively deal with the scourge of pervasive crime.”

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Aritech: Fifty years at the forefront of innovation in security technology

Nivashni Nair — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 11:39:18 +0000

Question: Aritech has a 50-year history as a security solutions provider. What have been the company’s great milestones, especially in recent years?

Answer: Aritech’s great milestones during these 50 years have been to be at the forefront of innovation in security technology, developing advanced security products and solutions to meet the changing needs of the market and our customers. We are especially proud of our Cybersecurity solutions, leading cloud service platforms with UltraSync and of course, the recent market launch of Axon, our new intrusion ecosystem.

Question: Electronic security, one of its business lines, is on the rise and experiencing many technological changes. How do you see this market currently?

Answer: Constant technological evolution, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing, is allowing the development of more advanced and effective security solutions.
In addition, this evolution also translates into an increase in security risks, both in the personal and business spheres, that our clients face, and this generates greater awareness about the importance of having reliable electronic security and cyber-secure systems.
There is a trend towards the integration of different electronic security systems, such as access control, intrusion detection, CCTV, and alarm management, into unified platforms for more efficient management and faster response to threats. Along with the remote management and maintenance of the facilities that optimizes the work of the installer and minimizes the disruption time for the end user and allows you to obtain the necessary information about your installation to have complete control of what is happening in your installation.

Question: In such a competitive market, what do you think the hallmarks and service model of a brand should be to stand out?

Answer: In a market as competitive as electronic security, there are several factors that require a strategic and differentiated approach:

Constant technological innovation: A brand that constantly introduces advanced and effective solutions to the market.
Quality and reliability, which allows us to gain the trust of installers and users
Customization and flexibility, which allows us to offer electronic security solutions that adapt to the specific needs of each client.
Systems integration, which allows us to integrate into a single platform for more efficient management.
Customer service, provide exceptional customer service
Cybersecurity and data privacy, both mandatory in any type of electronic security.
Corporate social responsibility, show commitment to ethical business practices, commitment to the environment and society.

Question: Aritech is one of the most prominent brands in electronic security. What are the main solutions that you currently market under this banner and what are their main characteristics?

Answer: Our portfolio includes intrusion, access control, video, and network solutions. Its main differentiating factor is the integration and interaction of the entire portfolio that allows us to provide different services to both the installer and the end user, as well as the cybersecurity that each of our solutions incorporate.
The innovative and cyber-secure Cloud UltraSync allows our clients through a single platform to manage and perform remote maintenance of Grade 2 and 3 installations. UltraSync provides added value for the installer since it has immediate access to information, allows to interact immediately with any device from your mobile and your customers know how use it. All of this allows the installer to provide responses 24/7 and offer services adapted to the needs of their clients.
Advisor Advanced and xGen Connect grade 3 and 2 intrusion panels already protect more than 1 million buildings in Europe and Axon, the new intrusion ecosystem, has recently arrived to lead innovative and secure intrusion solutions in Europe. To the intrusion central platforms, we incorporate an excellent range of wired and radio detectors Aritech and Guardall recognized for their quality and reliability against false alarms and now even more, thanks to the recently developed and patented neural algorithm included in some of the models, that cover all current market needs.
Our portfolio of Video Surveillance and network solutions is led by the Truvision and IFS brands, two benchmarks in the electronic security market. Both brands offer our clients alternatives for different types of installations and the recorders, connected to the Cloud UltraSync, the possibility of immediate connection with the recorder, allowing remote password reset or verification of connectivity at all times.
The integration of the Video and Intrusion solutions, through the Advisor Management platform, allows the installation to be managed from a common interface, providing flexibility and cost savings.

Question: What are the objectives that have been proposed for this brand and where is it at?

Answer: Our mission is to be the first option for our clients and to continue being a world leader in electronic security solutions.
Shape a safer world, with greater peace of mind and fewer security incidents, by constantly expanding our technology offering and acting as the most trusted partner to solve customers’ critical security challenges.
Be the ideal option to face our clients’ challenges and prevent security threats from becoming incidents. Our solutions drive the continuity and productivity of our clients’ companies.

Question: Cybersecurity is one of the main concerns of companies today. How do you work at Aritech to make the brand’s solutions as cyber-secure as possible?

Answer: Products and services manufactured and supported by Carrier are subject to robust process control and secure development requirements in accordance with commercially appropriate cybersecurity compliance standards. The Carrier Way is the internal policy that focuses on our commitment and high expectations of integrity, quality, and customer service. Specifically for product security it means a proactive approach, best practices, comprehensive assistance, and specialization in the sector in order to reinforce and guarantee the resilience and stability of our offers. In October of this year, the European NIS2 Directive comes into force and for us, it is now part of our standard product development process.
Our objective is to guarantee the following basic strategic results: Products and services that are “secure by design.”

Standards-based cybersecurity compliance and governance.
Continuous surveillance and continuous improvement.
Achievement of client objectives

Question: What aspects do you think need to be improved in relation to the electronic security market?

Answer: The dynamic environments and continuous challenges in which we currently live mean that the processes of improvement and adaptation to the needs and habits of our clients are continuous.
This is why aspects such as interoperability between security systems and third-party systems are continuous market demands. The adoption of standards and regulations that allow us to improve the quality and reliability of our products and services. It is crucial to improve and demand Cybersecure solutions to protect and guarantee the integrity of data against possible attacks.
At Aritech we work on continuous improvement and innovation processes that allow us to be at the forefront of market demands and demands.

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KZN police caution against sharing old voice note on Pietermaritzburg prison break

Nivashni Nair — Thu, 16 May 2024 04:45:14 +0000

Thirty-one prisoners did not escape from custody in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Colonel Robert Netshiunda said a voice note, claiming that 31 prisoners escaped from a hijacked truck during their trip from court to the Pietermaritzburg Prison, was “old.”

“Police would like to place it on record that such is an old voice note relating events, which happened in 2021. The recirculation of that old voice note is aimed at causing panic among residents and derail police’s operational plans at this critical time in the country’s calendar.”

“Residents are cautioned against sharing that voice note as it creates a false narrative.”

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