Vumacam is excited to announce that the City of eThekwini will be rolling out Vumacam’s crime fighting CCTV technology across the region.

The rollout will eventually see surveillance infrastructure installed across all areas of eThekwini, with the first phase consisting of 115 poles going live at critical locations identified with the collaboration of the eThekwini Municipality, Disaster Management Centre, SAPS and the Metro Police.

Vumacam’s CCTV cameras and technology have been instrumental in assisting law enforcement and private security tackle crime in in the City of Joburg (COJ) and more recently in City of Ekurhuleni and City of Mogale.

CCTV feeds will be monitored in the eThekwini Disaster Management State-of-the-art Fusion Centre which brings the public and private sector together. Private Security Companies who apply and complete a vetting process, will have access to the camera feeds building a comprehensive security network.

The Fusion Centre was launched as part of the Safer Cities initiative which focused on creating an environment that enhances social and economic transformation in South Africa through the building of partnerships between communities and government in policing with the intention of preventing and decreasing crime rates in major cities in South Africa.

Vumacam provides high-definition video feeds that are managed via a centralised Platform from a secure datacentre.  Camera feeds provide support to SAPS and Private Security Control rooms by:

Alerting them to crimes in progress or potential crime situations to monitor and investigate

Using CCTV footage for formal investigations into criminal acts by safely storing incident footage for investigative purposes.

Providing situational awareness to better inform and protect on the ground response teams

Reducing response times through accurate deployment of resources

Collaboration and sharing of criminal activity to ensure enhanced apprehensions

All feeds and systems comply with privacy regulations.

Vumacam CEO Ricky Croock says “We hope to bring eThekwini the benefits that Gauteng communities have enjoyed, knowing that the support we offer to the police, security companies and private citizens, ensures safer cities for everyone. The more we expand the network, the larger the exponential impact on crime and the more support we can provide through collaboratively tackling crime over vast areas.

 “Crime in our country has reached epidemic proportions but the collaborative impact of technology and manpower will play a vital role in turning the tide and we look forward to engaging with municipalities across the country to assist their objectives to build safer, smarter, cities.” he says.

As a leading provider of video management-as-a-service , Vumacam deploys hi-tech Licence-Plate Recognition (LPR) and CCTV cameras strategically across entire suburbs on a solid fibre network. This ensures a consistent, reliable and quality feed into security control rooms, using intelligent video analytics – from licence plate recognition to the real-time detection of unusual behaviour.

eThekweni rolls out Vumacam Smart Camera Network as part of Safer Cities campaign

The combined efforts of the Fidelity ADT members from across Johannesburg, the Fidelity Airwing division, West Rand police’s K9 unit as well as Vumacam technology led to the apprehension and arrest of four suspects wanted for multiple crimes including common robbery and rape on December 8.The suspects escaped the Strubens Valley Makro in a blue Volkswagen Polo hatchback after stealing a display laptop, November 27. Two males and two females posing as couples made off with the laptop valued at approximately R20 000. Reports suggest the group distracted the sales person by purposefully triggering the alarm of one laptop, then removing another as the employee was busy resetting the alarm.

Charnel Hattingh, Head of Marketing and Communications at Fidelity ADT, said the blue Polo’s details were then loaded onto the Vumacam network. “Fortunately our Community Operations Manager on the East Rand, Sheldon Grobler, was on his way home at the time when the wanted vehicle drove past him on Ontdekkers Road. He immediately made a U-turn and started chasing the vehicle,” she explained.

“Shortly after West Rand K9 unit arrived and assisted to intercept the vehicle of which all four suspects from the initial incident were occupants,” she added. All four suspects were taken to Honeydew Police Station where, according to Charnel, further questioning revealed that at least three of the suspects had open cases against them involving theft, rape, shoplifting and common robbery.

Charnel concluded, “Licence plate recognition (LPR) cameras are an excellent crime deterrent. There are several benefits for both the community and security providers as the LPR cameras are linked to a national database of suspicious or stolen vehicles. The system is monitored 24-hours a day and the presence of the cameras themselves act as a good deterrent to criminals.”

Vumacam and licence plate recognition cameras assist in arrest of multiple suspects

Wahl Bartmann is the chief executive of Fidelity Services Group, South Africa’s largest private security solutions provider.

A former Natal Sharks rugby stalwart, and Springbok, Bartmann has been with the security firm for in excess of 30 years, having taken the reins in 2005.

He oversaw the acquisition of ADT, the security business belonging to US-based Tyco for approximately R1.9 billion in 2016, and is in charge of a business that employs around 50,000 people.

In this Business Talk episode, Bartmann discusses what FSG has learnt from the July unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

He discusses how Fidelity had to adapt its urban structure in 2021 driven by the advancements in technology and evolving crime patterns that have changed the face of the security industry.

Bartmann highlights the newer crime-related trends he has seen in 2021 and what people should be aware of, specifically crimes driven by the pandemic.

He gives insight into what we can expect for 2022 and delivers a message to South Africans on how they can be part of the fight against crime.

Business Talk – Fidelity Services Group CEO Wahl Bartmann on the latest crime trends in South Africa

While there are many fears around using video surveillance, the fears are often based on a preconceived belief that mass surveillance is taking place. Vumacam is not in the business of mass surveillance, nor do we plan to be.

There is not a minute that goes by in South Africa that is crime-free. As you read this, statistics tell us that somewhere in our country another family is dealing with a horrific criminal incident that will change their lives forever. Crime is a gross threat to our right to safety. We all watch, wait, and expect to be the next victim.

It is a brutal truth that erodes our faith in the many brilliant aspects of our country. 

The words “Who will intervene?” “Something must be done!” have been a plea for years.

This is why Vumacam exists. A multitude of factors create the pervasive existence of crime, and a multitude of solutions are required, but we chose to act in a realm in which we have expertise.

Vumacam was shaped by our experience in the private security industry where the manpower to effectively fight crime was unachievable. The sheer number of “boots on the ground” that would be required to get ahead of this epidemic, would be logistically and financially impossible.

The Vumacam network of cameras that watch over Johannesburg provides a game-changing means for private security companies and law enforcement to prevent, document and investigate criminal activity. Where often fatal crime took place without witnesses or information to investigate, Vumacam’s technology creates a pivot point for crime fighting.

We deploy video surveillance infrastructure in public spaces (ie, on street corners). The feeds from the smart camera network are processed by our platform to which artificial intelligence is applied to highlight irregular activity (such as being hijacked, attacked, falling down or someone breaking a car window).

Our technology enables collaboration between private and public institutions in their pursuit of crime prevention, detection, and apprehension. It allows the ability to deploy the right resources to the right place, at the right time. Our License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras can flag vehicles that have been placed on a Vehicle of Interest (VOI) database if they are suspected of or have been involved in a crime.

Video surveillance is not a new concept, and although applying the technology in the public domain is relatively new in SA, as with any new concept, serious doubt and misperceptions can exist when it’s not fully understood.

For Vumacam, using technology responsibly is just as critical a priority as fighting crime.

Mass surveillance is defined as “indiscriminate surveillance which uses systems or technologies that collect, analyse, and/or generate data on indefinite or large numbers of people instead of limiting surveillance to individuals about which there is reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing”.

Our technology is not intended, nor honed for this purpose, but rather provides situational awareness alerting our partners in crime fighting to threats which may be imminent or are already taking place.

In short, our cameras are not watching you — they enable our partners to watch out for you.

As committed as Vumacam is to the pursuit of safety and security of every South African citizen, we are equally committed to respect and protect their privacy.

Vumacam has taken carefully considered steps to be Popia (Protection of Personal Information Act) compliant.

We realise that our expertise must be equally supported by ethical consideration and legal guidance. We are working hand in hand with our legal team who are experts in the field, to draft a code of conduct (as allowed for in Section 60 of Popia) for the video surveillance industry. This will ensure that the standards for privacy protection are clear and explicit and the importance of complying with the code of conduct will be as important as complying with Popia itself.

The argument that the technology should not exist because it might be managed incorrectly is an illogical one that will set society back. The argument that it should be managed and regulated, however, is an argument that we firmly support.

Responsible use of video surveillance has immense benefits. Safer environments foster economic growth, providing the stability required for communities and businesses to thrive, not just survive. Using technology — in the right way — creates game-changing scenarios for every South African.  DM

Technology is a game changer in protecting citizens from a crime-riddled life

Ricky Croock, CEO of Vumacam, speaks to Refilwe Moloto following concerns raised by investigative journalist Heidi Swart that their sprawling camera network may infringe on privacy rights.

Vumacam responds to concerns their camera network may flout privacy regulations

CAPETALK BREAKFAST: Vumacam responds to concerns their camera network may flout privacy regulations

Vumacam and Well Connected Services are pleased to announce a collaborative partnership, as the entities look to provide the platform for public and private space CCTV monitoring to more industries.

Well Connected a Johannesburg based business development consultancy, focuses on strategically linking their network of clients to best-of-breed service providers. Michael Varney, joint Managing Director of Well Connected commented “We are thrilled to welcome Vumacam and their state of the art offering to our stable of suppliers. We have identified the opportunity to provide our clients with a cohesive platform to manage their on-the-ground assets through Vumacam’s intelligent responses to alerts and powerful analytical tools”.

Vumacam – a joint venture between Vumatel and Imfezeko Holdings – was born out of a need to solve the ever-increasing crime pandemic that South Africa has been dealing with for a number of years. The company sought to do so by making public space CCTV surveillance a truly effective tool to address crime, contribute to safer environments and bring neighbourhoods together. Connected networks help drive smarter, closer collaboration between communities, and independent security companies from different areas to secure the streets where South Africans live, work and play.

The success of Vumacam’s complex, highly successful public space infrastructure and software management platform contributed to the advancement of the platform which is also available to the private sector through a hybrid private space CCTV solution.  It is the only private space CCTV solution that integrates their national public space camera alerts into a private estate or commercial control room providing advance notice of possible threats before they reach your property.

“Together with an impressive and diverse customer base, Well Connected’s approach to business development is well aligned to Vumacam’s aggressive market penetration strategy and we look forward to implementing the Vumacam platform across their range of clients” says Ricky Croock, Vumacam’s CEO.

Vumacam: Vumacam to partner with Well Connected Services

After days of riots and unrest, South Africa is beginning to return to normal, although we are not sure what this looks like yet. The turmoil that started on the 9 th of July came with little warning and escalated quickly with devastating consequences. Numerous businesses and livelihoods were destroyed, but most distressing has been the loss of lives, with reports estimating that over 330 people have died due to the unrest.

What we have seen is that we can rely on the resilience and strength of the South African people as communities have rallied together to clean up and assist wherever they could. It has taken a team effort to manage and bring order to the situation.

The pressure that law enforcement and the private security industry found themselves under was immense. Many businesses they serve had little to no warning that danger was imminent, leaving onsite security teams, staff, and customers vulnerable. The scale of unrest geographically put pressure on local resources, which highlighted the importance of accurate deployment. Response times are mission-critical, and technology is essential to accurately escalate, respond and deploy backup to the right place at the right time through real-time intelligence.

The positive feedback from Vumacam partners as to how the platform assisted them has been encouraging, not only because cameras provided situational awareness to their teams on the ground, but video intelligence helped to deploy backup teams strategically when needed. As the unrest escalated, so did the volume of alarms, and unfortunately, false alarms too. However, on sites with cameras feeding live video into a secure cloud environment, utilised visual verification to quickly dismiss false alarms that would otherwise distract from real emergencies.

As investigators have begun to unpack the last few weeks’ events, a lot of valuable footage was lost where onsite recording servers were damaged or destroyed. Sometimes footage wasn’t available because cameras were not in working order. That is why we constantly scan and monitor camera uptime – alerting on cameras that are down. There is no question that events like this stress test all our failsafe systems.

While it may take a while before we realise the complete financial, logistical, and societal impact on our country, it has shown us that there are both gaps and solutions we can put in place now to safeguard our people and our premises. Businesses and industries are using this time to review security processes and strategies. Technology plays a big part in optimising security systems.

Vumacam is proud of our partners, who work every day to protect all of us, and we will continue to develop our robust and secure visual technology platform to assist responders with accurate real-time intelligence.

Personal security is a topic of interest for all South Africans. In this podcast, a panel of guests from Ava Security and Vumacam explore the convergence of video, predictive analytics and human interaction to fight crime.

Gavin Hill, CIO of Vumacam, explains that large-scale CCTV deployments are complex IT challenges that involve connectivity, bandwidth and storage.

Vumacam CEO Ricky Croock said this overarching web of information forms a glue that can connect private sector security companies and public policing to catch criminals.

Ava Security co-founder and head of engineering Sam Lancia touches on advancements in artificial intelligence and how these can extend the reach of a security operator from a centralised point. With more than 120 000 hours of video being produced every day by Vumacam, human reviews simply cannot keep pace. Traditional analytics needs to be enhanced by modern technology, Lancia said.

With the continuously falling price of storage, better connectivity and massive strides in AI, the predictive security space is an area to watch with interest.

Inside the fast-changing world of CCTV, with Vumacam and Ava Security

Tech Central: Inside the fast-changing world of CCTV, with Vumacam and Ava Security

One of the biggest challenges in the Rosebank node is the increasing drug and dagga dealing, so much so that the area has become a safe haven for dealers to deal in plain sight.

To help fight this, the Rosebank Management District collaborated with the Rosebank Police Station and local private security companies to launch a Special SAPS and Private Security Operation.

“Rosebank Management District has always been in the forefront in terms of crime prevention in the node and has been a good example of how the South African Police Service and private security companies can work together,” said Lerato Khiba, precinct manager of the Excellerate Managed Services Precinct Management.

“We have also established a collaborative working group focused on safety and security issues within the Rosebank node.”

The first operation was held on the night of 16 April. In attendance were Excellerate Security, 24/7, SRM, Sergeant Bongi Mdletshe of the Rosebank Police Station, and two Metro police officials.

The operation was successful and 48 dagga joints, a large plastic of dagga together with four medium and 10 ten small bags were found with a street value of R2 500. The dagga was found abandoned in a bin on the corner of Tyrwhitt and Keys avenues in Rosebank.

According to Mdletshe, the corner is a very problematic corner where drug dealers deal.

“I believe that these interventions involve communities taking responsibility for crime prevention in their own neighbourhoods,” Khiba said.

Rosebank Management District is currently looking at projects that include improving surveillance through schemes such as VumaCam and AI Surveillance, car guard initiatives (Rosebank Homeless Association) and Public Safety Ambassadors to make the precinct a safer place.

Mdletshe urged the public to report such crimes to the police.

Details: Rosebank police 011 778 4732/4735.

GAZETTE: The RMD joins forces with the SAPS and local private security companies to combat crime

Security company Fidelity says thanks to Vumacam’s surveillance street cameras it has recovered 19 stolen vehicles in Gauteng over the last three months.

This comes after the company expanded its partnership with Vumacam to roll out a further 1,400 cameras on poles in the province.

Fidelity Services Group CEO Wahl Bartmann said Vumacam’s infrastructure has allowed Fidelity to better integrate analytics on flagged crime incidents across all Vumacam cameras nationally.

“The results in Gauteng have been extremely positive. In the last three months alone we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of positive recoveries,” Bartmann stated.

Bartmann said they recovered four hijacked vehicles in March, and in three of the incidents the suspects were handed over to SAPS for further investigation.

In April, a further five vehicles were recovered, while in May Fidelity recovered 10 more vehicles.

Bartmann said that a number of recovered vehicles had cloned licence plates and were used in robberies.

On 13 April, for example, a Volkswagen Golf 7 GTi with a cloned license plate was picked up in Rosebank after being cited for truck hijacking and fraud.

The vehicle was recovered, while three suspects were taken in for questioning and two handguns were seized.

Later that same month, a Ford Focus was involved in attempted theft of motor vehicle at Lifestyle Crossing, Little Falls.

Following the theft, Fidelity loaded the vehicle on its system, but the plates came out as having no ownership.

“Shortly after the vehicle was loaded, we started receiving hits on the cameras. The hits were sent through and our Fidelity and SAPS teams started chasing the vehicle which was later pulled over and the driver arrested,” Bartmann said. The teams also found signal jammers in the car.

They tested the VIN number on the vehicle and found it matched an open case from Hillbrow SAPS.

Fidelity said the ability of the Vumacam system to match a car and number plate and track its history was extremely effective.

“In Dainfern/Fourways, for example, there had been numerous incidents and a list of vehicles was sent through and loaded on the system,” Fidelity stated.

“It did not take long for one of the cameras to pick up a BMW and find that the vehicle history suggested that this vehicle was seen at every incident.”

The Fidelity team monitored the movements of the vehicle carefully before it was spotted moving from Observatory to Fourways in early May.

“Our teams were immediately alerted – including our Specialised Intervention Unit, the SecureDrive Ops and Drone teams, JMPD Undercover, Douglasdale SAPS and the estate teams,” Fidelity said.

“The vehicle was successfully recovered with one suspect and approximately ten stolen laptops and cameras were found in his possession.”

Fidelity said there was no doubt that an integrated approach and sharing of real time information was paying dividends in matching stolen and cloned cars.

“It is clear the cameras are a huge support to the broader crime prevention efforts and it is encouraging to see how effective this solution is coordinating law enforcement and private security company solutions to effectively deal with criminal activity,” Bartmann said.

MYBROADBAND: Big success in stolen vehicle recoveries thanks to Vumacam

According to one of the first responders, CCS firefighter Brandon Inkley, he found that a motorbike and vehicle had collided, and unfortunately the motorcyclist had succumbed to his injuries.

On Wednesday, 17 March at about 7pm a fatal accident between a white Jeep SUV and a blue and white Suzuki motorbike occurred at the intersection of Jim Fouchè and Cockspur Roads, Weltevreden Park.

It is alleged that both vehicles were travelling north on Jim Fouchè Road, and the Jeep rear-ended the motorbike that was waiting to turn right.

Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson, Xolani Fihla confirmed that the motorbike rider sustained fatal injuries and died on scene. His body was taken to Roodepoort Mortuary and a case of culpable homicide was opened at Honeydew Police.

According to Community Support Services (CCS), a local security provider in the area, they started monitoring a Vumacam camera on the corner of Jim Fouche and Cockspur recently.

On the night of the fatal accident, the controllers monitoring the intersection were immediately alerted through the AI cameras and within three minutes security personnel and medical teams were at the scene.

Unfortunately, the motorbike rider did succumb to his injuries, and the driver of the Jeep was apprehended.

“Honeydew CPF victim support was also on the scene to assist the family of the deceased,” said Honeydew CPF PRO, Michael Steyn.

One of the first responders, CCS firefighter, Brandon Inkley, confirmed what had happened, and said, “The scene was handed over to JMPD for further investigation and the driver of the Jeep, suspected to be under the influence, was taken in by JMPD for further investigation.

“My condolences go out to the friends and family of the motorcyclist,” said Brandon.

Honeydew Police Station spokesperson, Captain Balan Muthan confirmed that a case of culpable homicide was opened at the station and the matter is currently under investigation.

Roodepoort record: One life claimed in Weltevreden Park accident

South Africa’s annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children is well underway, once again highlighting how the grave threat faced by the country’s women has reached crisis levels.

While statistics paint a grim picture, technology has a significant role to play in preventing and combating gender-based violence (GBV), says Warren Myers, Founder and CEO of AURA, South Africa’s leading security and medical response platform. This follows a live webinar, hosted by AURA in collaboration with Vumacam, featuring a carefully-selected panel to discuss a new roadmap for technology and its role in addressing GBV. Joining Myers on the panel in discussing the importance of safety and technology was Vumacam CEO Ricky Croock, Mara Glennie of the TEARS Foundation and Unam Mahlati, Senior Operations and Logistics Manager for Uber SSA.

Myers says the social and economic impact of GBV is almost unquantifiable – a sentiment shared by the webinar panel. “Safety is a key pillar of a thriving society, a necessity for human flourishing, and a non-negotiable human right. The fact that women live in fear every day suppresses innovation and progress and jeopardises the very future of our nation.”

Technology can be a useful tool in crime prevention by empowering women with the means to get assistance in the event they feel threatened or unsafe. “The AURA platform ensures anyone can access the technology that enables security companies to quickly reach victims of domestic abuse. It offers a safety net and peace of mind via on-demand emergency services where potential victims of crime can get help from the closest response vehicle in five minutes or less,” he says.

Innovative leaps in technology have the potential to make a measurable and lasting impact on society, says Myers. “We want to change the mindset of perpetrators of violence and abuse where they begin to feel a real fear of being apprehended. Perhaps more importantly, we should strive to change the mindset of society’s most vulnerable to be confident that there’s a network of people who are able to help, and who are dedicated to making it harder for people to get away with being an abuser.”

He adds that much more needs to be done to stop the scourge of GBV in South Africa. “Of course technology alone is not a panacea, but it can make a major difference if enough stakeholders work together which is why AURA is thankful to Vumacam, Uber and the TEARS Foundation for lending their support and expertise to our webinar.”

As part of its commitment to making a difference during 2020’s 16 Days of Activism AURA will ensure the availability of 1,000 responses for the TEARS Foundation to assist them in their efforts in providing access to crisis intervention, advocacy, counselling, and prevention education services for those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and child sexual abuse.

Sustainable technology-based solutions to help victims of Gender-based Violence are vital to protect South Africa’s most vulnerable. It plays a vital role in assisting women by enabling technology to tackle the epidemic of GBV, enveloping South Africa. TEARS’ free technology-based services which can be accessed by dialling 1347355#, helps 88 217 victims of GBV per annum.

iAfrica: Using Technology To Fight SA’s Pandemic Of Gender-Based Violence

By the end of December, 1,400 licence-plate recognition cameras will be installed in dozens of Johannesburg suburbs as part of a deal between the security company Fidelity and CCTV company Vumacam.

The cameras are installed by Vumacam and connected to its parent company Vumatel’s fibre network, which feeds the video into Fidelity’s command centre, where it is monitored in real time and stored for 30 days.

“Crime fighting needs to be done in an organised and collaborative manner and linking the largest public space CCTV network with the largest security fleet in the country will certainly make a big impact on crime,” said Vumacam CEO, Ricky Croock.

The two companies started a partnership earlier this year which saw them roll out of a smart camera network across Bassonia, Glenvista, Mulbarton and Glenanda in Johannesburg, which included 27 licence-plate recognition cameras (each with its own pole) and 54 overview cameras.

This has now been extended to add cameras to 75 Johannesburg suburbs:

Some three months ago, Vumacam won a court battle against the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), which refused to process its applications for wayleaves (the right to use another party’s property without owning or possessing it  to erect its cameras. The JRA contended that Vumacam was infringing on residents’ privacy by spying on their movements, but the court ruled against it.

Vumatel is owned by Remgro-controlled Community Investment holdings.

BUSINESS INSIDER: These Joburg suburbs will have 1,400 cameras that read licence plates before the end of 2020

They expect to see great results from the technology based on existing sites where it has a significant impact on reducing crime

Vumacam has been rolling out cameras in various areas of the City of Johannesburg for just over three years, and has seen major successes in the prevention of crime and the apprehension of criminals.

The efficacy of the smart surveillance cameras in Johannesburg has generated significant interest from residents and security providers from other municipalities.As one of the leading security providers in the East Rand, Makopano Risk Solutions recognised the value of Vumacam’s technology and how it can work to make the communities that they protect safer.

“At the end of 2019, Makopano started working with Vumacam on a strategic rollout plan to provide an additional layer of protection in the areas they serve.The first cameras are expected to go live by the end of August 2020 and a total of 34 overview cameras and 25 Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras will be operational in the next few months.”

“Although implementation of the cameras has just started, we expect to see great results from the technology based on the existing sites where the camera system has a huge impact on reducing levels of crime,” said JJ Venter, CEO of Makopano Risk Solutions.

The two main types of cameras, overview and LPR, will be linked to Makopano Risk Solutions’ control room via a stable fibre connection. The overview cameras use AI software to flag any unusual behaviour, while the LPR cameras generate alerts sent on any vehicles that are captured in a Vehicle of Interest database which may be linked to a crime.

These alerts are sent to a central control room.

Venter said: “Makopano is focused on being the leading community security provider in the East Rand and Vumacam is the market leader with regards to community-based CCTV monitoring and surveillance systems.

“We see strong benefits for our customers coming out of our partnership with Vumacam. We will continue to provide the high level of security the community has come to expect, while Vumacam handle the physical installation of the camera poles and maintenance thereof.”

Vumacam takes privacy and protection of data seriously and has elected to adopt the European GDPR data protection regulations as a standard prior to the promulgation of South Africa’s POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) in July 2020.

All data is already secured to the same high security standards employed by major banks and insurers. Furthermore, utilising Black Screen Monitoring in the camera network control room essentially removes the need for live viewing of video footage and only displays system-flagged events.

As a result, operators are only viewing short flagged events which they can then respond to by either dismissing the alert if it is not a threat or sending out a patrol vehicle where necessary. The combination of Vumacam’s technologically advanced camera systems and Makopano Risk Solutions’ professional team of security experts will see

Ekurhuleni residents benefit from greater protection in their suburbs, streets and homes as Makopano continues to expand the reach and efficacy of its operations across the East Rand.

Businesses team up for a safer Ekurhuleni

Vumacam CEO Ricky Croock joined Azania Mosaka on her show to explain how the network works and some of its functions.

Vumacam, the company rolling out a network of high-definition security cameras across Johannesburg, recently won a court battle it brought against the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) over the agency’s decision to stop issuing wayleaves to the company earlier this year.

In a court ruling handed down last week, it was found that the decision from the JRA to “suspend the consideration of aerial and CCTV wayleave applications” was “unlawful and invalid”.

The CCTV platform currently exclusive to Johannesburg has come under great public scrutiny, raising questions around privacy.

“Just to paint the picture, we look at anonymisation of data. We can’t link a number plate to a person’s ID or any of their personal information. Really, what we are trying to look at is for situational awareness to say if something unusual is happening at that intersection – say there is a potential hijacking – it will then flag in the security company’s control room and then they can send out a response to go and assist.”
– Ricky Croock, Vumacam – CEO

“Similarly, what happens with the number plates is that we do, scan everyone’s number plates but that only queries against the SAPS unique code database and only if the car is listed as stolen or been involved in a crime, will it then flag into the security company’s control room and then that would then follow standard operating procedure and then pursue that vehicle to detain the suspect.”
-Ricky Croock, Vumacam – CEO

“We have looked at the POPI (Protection of Personal Information) Act and it’s only coming into effect next year but we have for the last two to three years looked at our interpretation of the POPI Act. We are overly sensitive around the privacy debate and making sure that it’s only being used for the right reasons. This is really for the communities and for the communities to benefit from because we live in the country that we do live with high crime rates and we need to do something about it.”
-Ricky Croock, Vumacam – CEO

“We are not interested in personal information, that is all anonymised information.”
– Ricky Croock, Vumacam – CEO

We flag if there is something unusual such as potential hijacking

Vumacam, the company rolling out a network of high-definition security cameras across Johannesburg, has won a court battle it brought against the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), with the court finding that the agency’s decision to stop issuing wayleaves to the company earlier this year was unlawful.

The JRA was reportedly worried Vumacam’s cameras would be used beyond their stated purpose of fighting crime and was concerned it was using them to spy on innocent people.

In a high court ruling handed down on Thursday, it was found that the decision from the JRA to “suspend the consideration of aerial and CCTV wayleave applications” was “unlawful and invalid”.

The court directed the JRA to proceed with the consideration and determination of wayleave applications within seven days of the order and further said that the agency should provide reasons to Vumacam if applications are refused in the future.

“Vumacam acknowledged that while the protection of data and privacy has always been a priority for Vumacam, it is not the JRA’s responsibility or legal right to suspend decision making on wayleaves for this reason,” said CEO Ricky Croock.

“We take the protection of data and privacy rights very seriously and have ensured significant measures to exceed not only local by-laws and regulations but also international standards on privacy.”

The court also found that there was no disputing that Vumacam complies with the legislative prescripts set out in the Protection of Personal Information Act when it comes to protecting individuals’ rights to privacy.

“Our doors are always open to any party or individual who wants to learn more about our operations and we are pleased that with this ruling we are able to address the equally important constitutional rights of citizens to be kept safe from the unrelenting impact of crime in South Africa,” Croock said in a statement.

TECH CENTRAL: Vumacam wins ‘spy camera’ court case against city

Here at Vumacam, we’ve all been touched by the gut-wrenching realities of COVID-19. That is why we believe it is important to celebrate the small victories and initiatives that keep turning the pandemic on its head.

Our colleague, Thandi Ntini, is the proud mother to Brandon (14), who recently submitted a story to Lights Courage Action!, a Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation initiative.  The initiative, which seeks to bring light and courage through storytelling, is a form of community-building, changing the COVID-19 narrative from deep fear to solution seeking. Here is Brandon in his own words:

“…Fear has been planted into everyone by this pandemic. This has taught people to practice hygiene. Lifestyle has changed with no choice, we have to wear masks all the time and avoid being in crowds. We spend our time with our families, all of the time, yet on the other side we still wish to socialise with other people, even going to Church. I feel like this pandemic has imprisoned us. There is no more joy or peace in our lives, as we are always worried but, COVID-19 has taught people to love one another. I have seen this through people donating money and food to the less privileged. The spirit of unity and giving is global. I urge people to stay united and protect ourselves and be safe. Together we can do it…”

Brandon’s story speaks to the struggles many South Africans are currently experiencing with the pandemic, yet through all the hardship and turmoil he is still inspired by the generosity of spirit exhibited by the people of South Africa, who have remained strong and hardworking though it all.

“If there is one thing this pandemic has taught us, it is that no matter your position in life, your situation can change in an instant. Kindness is free. You can help someone in any way by keeping your heart open. That is how we make the world a better place,” says Thandi.

Thandi’s journey with Vumacam began in August 2017 when she joined the Imfezeko Group, a shareholder of Vumacam, as a receptionist. The apple does not fall far from the tree, as Thandi not only proved herself by her incredible work ethic but did it all whilst studying Business Management part-time. In January 2020 Thandi’s hard work was recognized by the Vumacam Management and she was promoted to a projects administrator position where she works closely with the team who plan and build the infrastructure.

On behalf of everyone at Vumacam, we would like to challenge our clients, suppliers, security providers and team members to give back to individuals in need, or their community, because we are #StrongerTogether.

Read other LCA submissions here: https://www.tutu.org.za/stories/brandon/

JOBURG– The primary issue that Vumacam has however experienced is not necessarily around the technology itself but the challenges brought to one’s privacy.

Concerns around Vumacam’s balance between privacy and crime fighting have always been a hot topic of discussion.

Vumacam offers CCTV deployment and surveillance technology, and their network of pole-mounted street cameras have been helping law enforcement and security companies to fight crime. The cameras flag unusual behaviour and licence plates of vehicles that have previously been linked to a crime.

To better help the public understand how the organisation operates, Vumacam CEO Ricky Croock sat down with digital media law expert Emma Sadleir and corporate advisor James McCormack in a webinar on 4 August.

According to Croock, Vumacam has only been interested in understanding situational awareness to assist private security companies, the Metro police and the police. “We then give it [the information] to the various security companies who can then validate it, assess if they need to dispatch a vehicle or not,” he said.

Police provincial spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters confirmed that the police service had relied on CCTV footage in a number of occurrences. “We collaborate with a variety of private entities or individuals who usually come forward in response to our calls to the public to assist with information that could assist in the investigation of crimes,” she explained.

McCormack noted that Vumacam had framed its policies and operations in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popi Act). The technology did not utilise any facial recognition software andm as such, had not violated any laws in the Popi Act.

While the Popi Act is constructed around what people could do with personal information, Sadleir added that what people deemed personal and private all came down to expectation of privacy.

“Over the last few decades the law has come up with a common law test for privacy which basically says that if I can show that I have a legitimate expectation of privacy in a particular set of circumstances and somebody infringes on it, I can sue them,” explained Sadleir.

She added that the expectation of privacy could also change based on the circumstances and when dealing with this there were two defences – consent and public interest. “In the case of Vumacam, when infringing on the privacy of a criminal there is a huge public interest override.”

The law does, however, continues to play catch up when it comes to communication technology but there have been a number of developments. “Today, we essentially treat online and digital content as we would public content in any space. What I say on Facebook will be treated exactly the same way as if I had written it in newspaper or on a poster.”

She concluded, “The principals are there and they are good but it is a question of how are we going to apply these very old laws to these very new ways of communicating and living.”

Vumacan unpacks the expectation of privacy

Apcan security have recently started their new TRF Unit which collects crime statistics, create profiles, does surveillance and arrest criminals.

Apcan security has taken fighting crime to a whole new level by establishing a Tactical Response Force (TRF) Unit.

On Saturday 15 August, they officially launched the new units with a meet and greet, and a security awareness programme at their offices on Voortrekker Road in Krugersdorp.

The TRF Unit is tasked with using their newly installed Vuma Cams to locate crime hot spots, do surveillance, create a profile and track criminals on the Vuma Cams.

In the past month and a half that the unit has been operational, they have already made more than 25 arrests.

They use five vehicles and work closely with local police to ensure that repeat criminals in the area are being caught and brought to book.

Riaan Carelse, Apcan Regional and Reaction Sales Manager explained that within minutes of a vehicle passing their Vuma Cams, they can get a report to show if its licence plate could be connected to any crimes.

One example of this unit in action was a recent arrest made at a second-hand dealership.

On Thursday 13 August at about 8.30am the unit was alerted to a break-in on Hanekom Street in Whiteridge. The thieves stole a red oil welder, industrial bush cutter, cellphone, collectors movie prop swords, 10 gold watches and a collectors Star Trek watch.

With the information received from the scene and the help of the community they were able to catch one suspect who showed them where he had sold a sword. The team continued their investigation and later found the other two identified suspects as well. Unfortunately they did not have any stolen property with them.

Then on 14 August, the TRF unit, Florida Detectives and West Rand K9 Unit were working on the case and at about 11am they identified a second-hand car dealership in Newlands as having something to do with the crimes.

The owner of the dealership denied having any illegal or stolen items on his property, and granted the police and TRF unit permission to search the property.

During the search a red oil welder, leaf blower and industrial bush cutter were found in a hidden room.

News & Insights

Unlocking Security Insights:
Delve into Real-Life
incidents and their valuable lessons

News and Articles

Vumacam and licence plate recognition cameras assist in arrest of multiple suspects

December 14, 2021

Read more

News and Articles

MYBROADBAND: Big success in stolen vehicle recoveries thanks to Vumacam

June 3, 2021

Read more

News and Articles

iAfrica: Using Technology To Fight SA’s Pandemic Of Gender-Based Violence

December 6, 2020

Read more

News and Articles

Businesses team up for a safer Ekurhuleni

August 28, 2020

Read more

News and Articles

We flag if there is something unusual such as potential hijacking

August 24, 2020

Read more

News and Articles

Shining a light on our own

August 19, 2020

Read more

Contact us.

Customer Support Queries:

For any queries related to footage requests, training, and accounts, our dedicated support team is ready to assist you. Reach out to us at:

Sales Queries:

For sales queries and to learn more about our solutions, please email:

Privacy Related Concerns:

For privacy-related concerns, feel free to contact us at:

Media & General Enquiries:

For all media-related inquiries or any general questions, feel free to contact us at:

Support Emergency Queries: 010 900 3094

Follow us:

News & Insights

Unlocking Security Insights: Delve into Real-Life incidents and their valuable lessons

News and Articles

Vumacam and licence plate recognition cameras assist in arrest of multiple suspects

December 14, 2021

Read more

News and Articles

MYBROADBAND: Big success in stolen vehicle recoveries thanks to Vumacam

June 3, 2021

Read more

News and Articles

iAfrica: Using Technology To Fight SA’s Pandemic Of Gender-Based Violence

December 6, 2020

Read more

News and Articles

Businesses team up for a safer Ekurhuleni

August 28, 2020

Read more

News and Articles

We flag if there is something unusual such as potential hijacking

August 24, 2020

Read more

News and Articles

Shining a light on our own

August 19, 2020

Read more

Contact us.

Customer Support Queries:

For any queries related to footage requests, training, and accounts, our dedicated support team is ready to assist you. Reach out to us at:

Sales Queries:

For sales queries and to learn more about our solutions, please email:

Privacy Related Concerns:

For privacy-related concerns, feel free to contact us at:

Media & General Enquiries:

For all media-related inquiries or any general questions, feel free to contact us at:

Support Emergency Queries: 010 900 3094

Follow us:

Unlocking Security Insights:
Delve into Real-Life
incidents and their valuable lessons