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Vumacam highlights concerns with proposed Johannesburg CCTV by-laws

Vumacam has raised objections to critical provisions of the by-laws governing privately owned CCTV cameras with a view of public spaces in the city, which were promulgated on Friday, 28 February 2025.

As a supporter of lawful, fair, and reasonable regulation, Vumacam notes with concern that it sought to provide the city with legally founded insight regarding key aspects of the by-law prior to its approval and promulgation. However, the final version has not considered this input, and raises concerns about its impact on private CCTV users and security operations.

In its capacity as a technology partner to the City of Johannesburg, public law enforcement and private security operators, Vumacam is part of an initiative which has seen surveillance technologies used to great effect in the fight against crime across the city. The success of this partnership demonstrates what is possible when advanced technology and public safety initiatives come together.

CCTV technology also plays a significant role in combating insurance fraud, verifying insurance claims, protecting and recovering assets, and enforcing by-laws. These benefits of the technology, in conjunction with its crime-fighting capabilities, contribute to an environment that fosters greater economic growth and social stability.

However, having considered the promulgated by-laws, Vumacam believes that the legislation in its current form places significant, unlawful restrictions on privately owned CCTV cameras, which are onerous and overly restrictive to commercial, private, and residential camera owners.

The by-laws have created significant uncertainty for operators like Vumacam. The challenges introduced to operating its services will make them economically unviable in the current economic climate. By prohibiting the existing use of CCTV by businesses, the by-laws will have a detrimental effect on many industries across the city and may limit the technology’s efficacy and further growth.

The new by-laws also appear to limit how the private security industry can use CCTV to protect the communities they serve. Vumacam believes this is a step backwards in the critical fight to protect all citizens and grow the economy, as many private security operators have used surveillance technologies to great effect in the last few years.

Vumacam supports the implementation of by-laws that encourage the private use of surveillance technologies and aid the growth of CCTV-based security systems by providing greater certainty to residents, law enforcement, and users. This growth is key to supporting enhanced living standards for communities across the city and continuing the significant success of the crime-fighting collaboration between law enforcement, the city and private security.

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