Gauteng Premier credits CCTV and face recognition technology for G20 summit crime success

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has hailed the implementation of advanced CCTV and face recognition technology as pivotal in ensuring the safe conduct of the recent G20 Leaders' Summit, which resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals for various crimes related to the high-profile event.

Speaking alongside Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Tommy Mthombeni, Lesufi outlined the efficacy of these technologies in maintaining security during the two-day summit.

Among the most notable incidents leading to arrests was the swift apprehension of suspects accused of stealing a cellphone from a Vietnamese delegate just hours after the crime occurred in Sandton.

“We are now punching numbers with the provincial commissioner. There was a lot of overtime, lots of resources, and lots of cars that were needed. We said to the police commissioner, we want to continue with the visibility of the police. The mere fact that someone steals a cellphone in a store, and within four hours we arrest those people, using CCTV and face recognition, means we can enforce law enforcement," Lesufi remarked.

Despite the successful management of crime during the summit, Lesufi noted several disruptions, attributing them to a covert 'third force' intent on sabotaging the workings of the South African government.

He referred to acts of vandalism aimed at public infrastructure, alongside significant power disruptions affecting critical services, including a surprising power outage at Parliament in the lead-up to the summit.

“It is clear that there has been a third force at hand. Some people did not want the summit to succeed,” Lesufi stated, underlining that, as expected in South Africa, issues inevitably arose even amidst major activities. Specific incidents during the summit included the theft of cellphones and luggage from Vietnamese delegates at Checkers Sandton City Mall, where police swiftly arrested four suspects.

"Additionally, at the DaVinci Hotel, one individual was apprehended for possessing a firearm illegally, while further investigations at the Mercure Hotel led to the arrest of two suspects associated with the negligent loss of a firearm belonging to a member of the South African Police Service.

Throughout the same period, from November 17 to 20, Gauteng reported a total of 1,799 arrests related to a range of criminal activities, including vandalism, theft, kidnapping, and extortion.

Mthombeni said efforts to crack down on crime were made across the province as part of Operation Shanela and the province’s safer festive season operations, which reported more than 16,000 total arrests over the past weekend.

"As part of Operation Shanela and our Safer Festive Season campaign, we conducted various operations across the province. In relation to the summit, out of the 13 arrests, we were able to link one suspect involved in the cellphone theft to other crimes in the area," explained Mthombeni, reaffirming the ongoing commitment to enhance public safety.

Meanwhile, the South African Police Service (SAPS) revealed that its Operations across the country netted no less than 16,000 arrests during intensified operations aimed at curbing crime during the festive season. These operations led to the capture of 178 suspects for rape and 143 for murder between November 17 and 23, alongside the confiscation of 150 unlicensed firearms, 984 dangerous weapons, and contraband valued at over R4 million.