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A report brought to the Safety Emergency and Security Committee has detailed information showing that the repair, maintenance and upgrade of the much-needed CCTV control room will only be concluded by 14 December 2023.

This is four months just to prepare a report, how much longer is it going to take this municipality to repair the CCTV cameras across the city?

With less than 14% of the city's CCTV cameras operational city-wide, 69 of 499, the city has failed abysmally to prioritize the safety of the residents of this city. This is while the Mayor and his cronies remain fully protected at City Hall where 95% of the cameras monitoring City Hall and their offices are fully functional. There is no regard for ratepayers.

While recent crime stats show that crime is soaring in the city, the mayor plans on splurging R9 million of our hard-earned taxpayer’s money on a self-promotion roadshow.

The urgency of resolving issues with much-needed crime-fighting resources such as CCTV cameras, is the least of the ANC’s concerns.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has repeatedly questioned the removal of the much-needed security management contracts in the Durban CBD, Isipingo CBD, and the beachfront. However, it has become glaringly evident that the ANC is not concerned about the safety of tourists, visitors, or businesses and the economy of our city. Visible policing is globally recognised as a major crime deterrent yet spotting a police officer patrolling our streets is a rare occurrence in this City.

Residents are under siege in their homes as crime spirals out of control and this lack of urgency and efficiency is a prime example of the ANC attitude that now permeates our City Hall.

Equally, the handover of the CCTV monitoring system from the disaster management unit to Metro Police is being dealt with at a snail’s pace. Back in January, Metro Chief Commissioner Mchunu made a commitment to “reduce crime by 50% in three months”.

Nine months later the eye in the sky has gone blind in the wake of spiralling crime and his words have been proven to be the usual blast of hot air.

The DA will continue to fight on behalf of the safety of the residents of eThekwini and probe this issue of CCTV with the urgency it requires.

Issued by Councillor Sharmaine Sewshanker - DA eThekwini Member of Safety Emergency and Security