Ward 46 Councillor Aslam Cassiem has announced the imminent installation of licence plate recognition (LPR) cameras to bolster community safety. Manenberg, Rylands and Belgravia have been earmarked for the initial rollout of the LPR cameras.
Councillor Cassiem disclosed that R150 000 has been allocated as capital for neighbourhood watches, along with an additional R50 000 for operational costs.
People’s Post reports that, when discussing potential investments for community safety, the consensus among local neighbourhood watch groups was clear: the area would benefit from a camera security system.
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According to Cassiem, ‘I called the neighbourhood watches together and asked them how we could use this money. It is not a lot, but how can we best utilise what we have available? The overwhelming majority of them said we needed to invest in cameras.’
Initial plans considered the installation of CCTV cameras, but the City of Cape Town advised against it due to the cost. Instead, they suggested that a minimum of three licence plate recognition cameras would be a more feasible solution.
The exact number of cameras to be installed will be influenced by several factors, including their placement and location.
The cost and number of cameras could vary depending on whether they are mounted on private property or require installation on public sidewalks.
Cassiem queried, ‘Should all three be planted on private properties? This number could increase to four or five cameras.’
To determine optimal placements, Cassiem conducted site visits alongside law enforcement officers.
‘We wanted to see who we could speak to about planting the cameras and places where they could be placed with advice from residents,’ he said.
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Three areas have been identified for the initial rollout of the LPR cameras:
- At the entrance to Manenberg
- Rylands’ entry/exit at Golden Dish
- The Belgravia area
These locations were chosen due to their strategic importance to community safety, as they serve as primary entry and exit points in the region.
This initiative, fuelled by both community input and city guidance, aims to enhance safety in Ward 46. While the budget may not be expansive, the investment in licence plate recognition cameras will hopefully be a step towards a more secure environment for residents.
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