The new restriction has drawn strong opposition from anti-crime activists, including Crime Watch presenter Yusuf Abramjee, who questioned the rationale behind limiting access to footage that could help identify and apprehend criminals
A newly introduced by-law regulating the use of private CCTV cameras in Johannesburg has come under criticism from residents and anti-crime activists, who argue that it undermines efforts to combat crime. The regulation, which reinforces existing laws, prohibits residents from sharing their CCTV footage online, a move many see as a barrier to public awareness and crime prevention.
According to a report by the Sunday Times, the by-law explicitly states that “no data or information collected through a CCTV camera shall be disclosed or shared with any person not authorised to have access to such data”. It further mandates that all footage capturing criminal activity must be kept confidential and only used for further investigation.
Concerns Over Public Interest
The new restriction has drawn strong opposition from anti-crime activists, including Crime Watch presenter Yusuf Abramjee, who questioned the rationale behind limiting access to footage that could help identify and apprehend criminals.
“How can they stop me from sharing footage if it is in the public interest?” Abramjee asked.
He argued that social media has played a crucial role in exposing crime trends and holding authorities accountable.
“This new by-law exists purely because social media has made the state’s failures in curbing crime too visible,” Abramjee said. “I post hundreds of crime videos a month. If it weren’t for social media users like myself, residents would have no idea about the extent of crime in our country.”
Comparisons With Cape Town’s Approach
While Johannesburg moves to enforce stricter controls, Cape Town is also in the process of drafting its own CCTV by-law. However, Cape Town’s version does not include restrictions on sharing footage on social media or with Community Policing Forums (CPFs).
City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member (MMC) for Safety and Security, JP Smith, confirmed that Johannesburg’s by-law is similar in some aspects to Cape Town’s proposal but differs in its stance on footage distribution.
“We expect a degree of responsibility from our residents when it comes to other people’s privacy,” Smith said. “Essentially, what we want to achieve is to regulate the cameras facing public spaces in our city. At the moment, there is no national framework covering this issue.”
Impact On Crime Prevention
Residents fear that the new regulation could reduce transparency and limit their ability to alert others about crime hotspots. Many argue that community-driven crime prevention efforts rely on the rapid sharing of footage, particularly on social media, where criminals can be identified and tracked more quickly.
While city officials maintain that the by-law is intended to protect privacy and ensure responsible use of surveillance data, critics warn that it may do more harm than good by restricting the flow of crucial crime-related information.
As the debate continues, questions remain over how the regulation will be enforced and whether it will ultimately serve public safety or bureaucratic control.
