City of Mbombela installs cameras to combat crime
The City of Mbombela has installed 24-hour CCTV cameras in crime hotspots to improve public safety, support crime prevention efforts, and create a safer environment for residents and visitors.
As part of its mandate to keep residents safe and monitor the streets of the City of Mbombela (CoM), the municipality has installed 24-hour CCTV surveillance cameras in crime hotspots.
This initiative will further strengthen Mbombela’s position as the provincial economic hub and gateway to the rest of Mpumalanga.
According to the CoM spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, the municipality’s mandate to ensure a safe and healthy environment is enshrined in the Constitution.
The president previously identified 10 cities for the Safer Cities Programme, with eMalahleni being the only city initially selected in Mpumalanga.
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“However, the Mpumalanga province urged for the CoM to be included to advance the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, which aims to ensure that by 2030 all South Africans feel safe at home, live free from fear, women walk freely and children play safely outdoors,” he said.
In line with the NDP 2030 directives, the CoM developed a security master plan to address factors contributing to crime and community instability.
During the 2025 State of the City Address, executive mayor Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko committed to expanding the CCTV monitoring system in strategic high-crime areas to strengthen law enforcement efforts.
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“The city has since expanded its monitoring system across all four regions of the municipality, including strategic rural areas. The municipality works in collaboration with the private sector and the police, sharing vital information and resources to strengthen crime-fighting efforts,” Ngala added.
The CCTV system is monitored 24 hours a day by the CoM and includes facial recognition technology as well as automatic number plate recognition capabilities for vehicle tracking.
“We have noticed a significant improvement in combating serious crimes and protecting municipal infrastructure. The municipality is committed to expanding this service annually to enhance public safety and attract investment for sustainable job creation,” he concluded.
The exact locations of the cameras will not be disclosed to prevent vandalism and to ensure that criminals are unaware of where they are installed.
