In a major drive to provide communities across Johannesburg with additional safety and to close the gaps in previously unprotected areas, Vumacam, in partnership with Fidelity ADT and other security providers across the region,  this month rolled out its innovative SafeCity Guarding  initiative in 14 suburbs across the province.

Suburbs covered include Bryanston, Morningside, Wilro Park, Helderkruin, Sandton, Fourways, Florida, Rosebank, Roodepoort, Kengsington, Magaliesig, Blairgowrie, Glenvista and Meyersdal.

Vumacam has invested R60 million into the SafeCity Initiative by installing and activating 1 850 cameras across the city, of which 350 new cameras will be installed in previously unprotected areas. As a SafeCity partner, Fidelity ADT and other providers  will now have access to the full network of over 7000 of Vumacam’s cameras to gain city-wide situational awareness critical to understanding criminal patterns and to assist with crime prevention and investigations – all intended to create safer, more protected communities.

Wahl Bartmann, CEO of Fidelity Services Group says Fidelity officers will be  moving around the suburbs and patrolling public spaces. “Aided by the CCTV alerts, they are there to observe the areas and provide visibility, as well as to respond to alerts  of any unusual behaviour picked up by the Safe City systems,” he says.

The public space alerts will all go through to the Safe City Control room, but the response will come from our Fidelity ADT vehicles who will be identifiable by their bright orange and yellow SafeCity/Fidelity vests.

Bartmann says along with Fidelity’s Specialist Intervention Unit, Fidelity ADT officers and the Airwing division will be carrying out operations across JHB based on  the LPR intelligence gathered. “They will be deployed along known routes where we have intel that wanted vehicles travel. This will provide us with additional eyes to report any suspicious sightings.”

Bartmann says most of the activity will be focused around suburbs where Fidelity has a strong presence and in those areas specifically which have a high incidence of crime.

“Greater city-wide access to camera networks outside of our standard areas of operation will assist with crime prevention and investigations and allow us the opportunity to monitor more areas and stop criminals before they get to our neighbourhoods with the aid of more advanced surveillance software, including AI technology,” says Bartmann.

“Public spaces are often a challenge but with SafeCity we can now be alerted to any incidents of vandalism, illegal dumping and theft in public spaces so we can quickly contact the necessary authorities to ensure the perpetrators are swiftly dealt with,” he concludes.