Cape Town to expand body-worn camera network to 3 000 devices

The City of Cape Town plans to expand its body-worn camera network to 3,000 devices, an increase of 750 cameras from the current 2,250 units in use. These cameras are being deployed to Metro Police, Law Enforcement, and Traffic officers. Footage from these cameras has been requested over 450 times for internal investigations and shared with the South African Police Service (SAPS) for criminal investigations.

The footage has aided in providing evidence of suspects' actions, dealing with complaints against officers, and enhancing public safety. Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith emphasized that body-worn cameras protect both officers and the public, allowing officers to stream live footage to the City’s operations centre.

This feature proved useful during the June 30, 2026 protests, as officers could send live footage from their cameras to the centre, complementing drone and CCTV footage. Additionally, 25 City enforcement vehicles will be equipped with in-vehicle cameras featuring automatic number plate recognition technology, bringing the total to 555.

The CCTV network recorded 41,005 incidents over the past year, resulting in 541 arrests, a 18% increase compared to the previous year. Most arrests were for drug possession, followed by drug dealing, traffic offenses, theft from motor vehicles, and cable or metal theft. Some suspects were apprehended after cameras detected suspicious vehicles or vehicles police were investigating in connection with crimes.

SAPS has also increased its requests for City CCTV footage, with 242 requests between January 2026 and June 2026, representing a 35% rise from the same period last year. These requests cover a range of serious offenses, including murder, armed robbery, arson, culpable homicide, and theft from motor vehicles. Smith expressed optimism about the growing use of the City’s CCTV footage by SAPS, stating that such inquiries should become standard practice in investigations.

He believes that increasing the number of CCTV, body-worn, and vehicle cameras can provide more evidence for investigators and improve the chances of successful prosecutions.