Long wait for CCTV project as BCM yet to award tender

THE hopes of businesses in the East London CBD to have closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) operating by the start of the festive season have been dashed.

Buffalo City Metro (BCM) said the project to have the CCTV cameras installed in the CBD was still at “designing stage”.

In April this year BCM announced plans to install a minimum of 15 CCTV cameras in the CBD and seven along the beachfront.

The Dispatch has reported that only five CCTV cameras have been installed along the beachfront so far.

BCM had earlier said on its website that the tender for the CCTV camera project was awarded and the contractors were already on site. However, when asked for an update on the project last week, BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi said the tender for the installation of cameras in the CBD had not yet gone out. He said it would only be put out to tender once the “design” has been completed.

Ngesi said the tender for a service provider to design the system closed last week.

“The tender for the installation of the CCTV cameras in the CBD will only go out once the design has been completed,” said Ngesi.

A number of clothing stores in Oxford Street, who have been targeted by “grab and run” criminals and armed robbers, said they would feel much safer if the CCTV cameras were installed and running by December.

Store manager at Truworths, Vuyiseka Jali, said they were constantly targeted by criminals because there are no CCTV cameras in the CBD.

“These criminals know they will get away easily because they are not being watched and police will take time to respond,” she said.

Identity Store manager Estro Canham said she was not only concerned about the store being a target but also for the safety of their customers. —