CCTV bylaw controversy: Joburg’s plan to control footage sparks backlash

CCTV

Johanensburg — The City of Johannesburg’s proposed bylaw requiring private CCTV cameras capturing public spaces to be registered has raised concerns among residents.

While city officials argue it will aid law enforcement, critics fear it may hinder crime-fighting efforts.

The bylaw mandates that footage can only be shared with SAPS or JMPD.

Beagle Watch CEO Andre Aiton warned that restricting access to surveillance footage could weaken crime prevention, as law enforcement relies on CCTV to track criminals amid already limited resources.

“It’s going to have a huge impact – not just from a business perspective, but in terms of crime prevention. These systems help us track flagged vehicles, prevent repeat crimes and ultimately save lives. Home invasions are rampant. If we lose that ability, what’s the alternative?” he asked, accoring to The Citizen.

Mike Bolhuis, a specialist investigator and cybercrime expert, highlighted the risks of linking private security camera networks to government oversight, saying it could lead to the misuse of information.

Speaking to eNCA, he said the danger is that criminals could gain access to sensitive data that could be used for financial gain, such as extortion, fraud or blackmail.

According to TimesLIVE, crime experts have said the City of Johannesburg should have consulted ordinary citizens before imposing the bylaws on the CCTV cameras. The bylaw states that residents may not.

Crime expert at the Institute for Security Studies, Johan Burger, said the municipality should have consulted the public over the decision, even though the use of CCTV footage use at risk of being abused.

“I just feel ordinary citizens have not had an opportunity to properly express their views on the advantages and disadvantages of the system. I came to know about this (bylaw) through media reports, and I was never consulted. I think this is something that needs to be done. You can’t just go ahead and do something without proper process consultations,” the report quoted Burger as saying.

According to the City’s Public Safety Committee Chairperson, Sahar Wissler, the bylaw was not intended to interfere with residents’ private spaces, but it was about their privacy.

“Imagine there is a bank robbery. The robbers flee in a vehicle, and they go through a suburb. A young mother and her baby are out with a stroller, and they get hit. If there is footage of this incident, the bylaw will allow it to be shared with law enforcement but prevent people from sharing it on the internet. Imagine it was your wife and your child and people you don’t know are watching the footage of their deaths on the internet,” Wissler said.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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