Following relentless DA pressure, the eThekwini municipality has decided to allocate R110 million to fix more than 90% of the city’s non-functional CCTV cameras.
To ensure that the said R110 million is legitimate and spent accordingly, we have written to the Head of eThekwini Disaster Management, Vincent Ngubane requesting a copy of the award letter and a clear timeline for the completion of this important undertaking. eThekwini Municipality is notorious for awarding tenders to companies that lack technical experience, start, and do not complete the job.
We previously condemned a report submitted to the city’s Safety, Emergency, and Security Committee which had revealed that only 69 out of the city’s 499 CCTV cameras were working. Surveillance cameras play a significant role when it comes to in crime prevention, especially in this city where crime is spiraling out of control.
The city’s inability to keep the vital operation of the CCTV was a spectacular failure to prioritize the safety of the residents, tourists, visitors, and businesses in the city. This is while Mayor Kaunda and his cronies remain fully protected at City Hall where 95% of the cameras are fully functional.
This is total hypocrisy and a huge disregard for the ratepayers.
The DA will continue to fight for the residents and the ratepayers of eThekwini who continue to receive substandard service from the city’s ANC and EFF government.