City of Joburg to repeal private CCTV bylaw

The City of Joburg intends to repeal its controversial private security bylaw, adopted in February, which required privately-owned CCTV systems overlooking public spaces to be registered with the city and placed restrictions on property owners sharing the footage.

- Antoinette Slabbert

The bylaw also provides for the annual renewal of approval, regular inspections of all CCTV cameras by city officials, payment of fees in respect of applications and renewals, as well as the fact that footage may only be released to a South African Police Service or Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department officer — footage obtained from CCTV cameras may no longer be shared by the property owner or security provider.

Neil Gopal, CEO of the South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa), described this as legislative overreach by the city.