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Kouga leads the way in using crime fighting technology

By

Dear Editor

While violent crime is spiralling out of control in the Eastern Cape the DA-led Kouga Municipality’s Community Safety Plan is at the forefront of using technology to keep residents safe.

Today I was joined by Tsitsi-Kouga Constituency Leader, Dr Vicky Knoetze MPL, Kouga Mayor, Cllr Hattingh Bornman, and Kouga Deputy Mayor, Cllr Timothy Jantjes, in conducting an oversight inspection at the municipality’s state-of-the-art Incident Command Centre in Humansdorp.

Kouga’s adopted Community Safety Plan entails a whole-of-society approach working in collaboration with stakeholders such as the SAPS, agricultural and civic rights organisations, municipal departments, emergency services, the NSRI, private security companies, businesses, schools, and charities.

The command centre has the capacity to monitor more than 300 cameras – with municipal and private security cameras feeding into the system. Various social media and community messaging groups are also monitored to report information regarding incidents to the relevant authorities.

The 35 licence plate recognition cameras that have been installed have also been instrumental in assisting the police to monitor known criminals and have led to the confiscation of almost R1 million in illegal abalone, and countless arrests.

The ground-breaking “UR SAFE Kouga App” allows residents who find themselves in dangerous situations or emergencies to dial the centre using only a voice command and includes geo-located emergency response features, family and friends tracking, as well as real time location sharing.

The DA government in Kouga also implemented a “Boots on the Ground” initiative, which consists of 18 members that are retired police officers and experts in the safety sector. This initiative increases visibility and assists in terms of policing initiatives and enhancing the safety and security of our residents and visitors.

Just down the N2, Nelson Mandela Bay was recently identified by a global study as the most dangerous city in the country and the ninth most dangerous in the world – yet not a single municipal CCTV camera is in working order and the operations centre is non-operational.

Kouga is an example of a DA government’s ability to implement its plan to Rescue South Africa by halving violent crime, including murder, attempted murder, and gender-based violence when elected to govern at the Union Buildings after the 29 May General Election.

The DA-led Kouga Local Municipality is committed to community safety and is well on its way towards becoming the safest municipality in South Africa.

Regards

Andrew Whitfield MP
DA EC Provincial Leader

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