Joburgers fuming as City passes by-law to regulate private CCTV cameras

The City of Johannesburg has approved a new by-law that will regulate the use of privately-owned CCTV and other surveillance cameras.

By Nick Pawson

27-02-25 20:03

in News

The legislation also applies to drones, body cameras, and number plate recognition systems. Image: Pixabay

A by-law regulating the use of privately owned closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras has just been passed by the City of Johannesburg.

The legislation also applies to drones, body cameras, and automatic number plate recognition systems in public spaces.

It will now be a legal requirement to register the above camera-related surveillance equipment with the City.

The law aims to improve security and prosecute perpetrators of crime.

“This regulation will enhance security while ensuring that constitutional rights of citizens are not trampled on,” said Joburg speaker Nobuhle Mthembu.

However, many Joburgers don’t see it that way.

The by-law has led to a flood of complaints from residents, while civil society, businesses and opppsition parties have expressed their disapproval.

Key aspects of the by-law

Mandatory registration: CCTV cameras, including those on private property with a public view, must be registered with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). A database of all registered cameras will be maintained by the JMPD’s CCTV department.

Access and use of footage: Footage remains confidential and can only be accessed by authorised law enforcement agencies (SAPS and JMPD). Any footage released must be documented to track its use.

Regulations and fees: The City can introduce tariffs or charges related to the by-law, which will be published in the provincial gazette. There will be penalties for non-compliance, and violations can lead to fines, imprisonment, or both.

Municipal camera exemptions: City departments are not required to apply for approval but must register camera locations with JMPD for record-keeping.

Pushback from the public

Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus leader Belinda Echeozonjoku said the by-law has sparked widespread public dissent.

“Instead of working with these stakeholders to strengthen crime prevention efforts, the City of Johannesburg is imposing yet another layer of red tape, forcing residents to seek approvals, renewals and compliance checks that come with undisclosed fees and penalties,” she told Mail & Guardian.

The by-law was passed by the City of Johannesburg’s ANC-ActionSA-Economic Freedom Fighers-Patriotic Alliance coalition, with some smaller parties also agreeing to it.

The only other party to oppose the draft was the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP).

“The by-law is not clear on the intrusion into the lives of citizens,” said ACDP councillor Ronald Winston Harris, who also questioned how the registration process would be monitored.

“Yes, the technology is necessary for public safety, but we are not clear on the impact on private citizens.”

ActionSA’s Sarah Winslow meanwhile said there was a lot of misinformation around the by-law.

“We are not restricting residents that have personal cameras, but rather making sure that everyone complies with the Popia [Protection of Personal Information] Act,” Winslow added.