The R565.4 million budget for protecting municipal assets in the City of Tshwane will be utilised for installation of modern technologies, including motion detection and other smart tools, to enhance security personnel’s efforts.
This is according to Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Safety, Hannes Coetzee, who vowed that the City would step up asset protection following this week’s arrest of three municipal officials accused of stealing transformers worth around R7 million at a Laudium electricity substation.
He commended the SAPS for their decisive action and emphasised that the development marks a crucial step towards protecting the city’s infrastructure and assets.
“This administration has made it clear that theft and internal misconduct will be dealt with decisively. The infrastructure under our care is not abstract; it powers homes, clinics, businesses, and public facilities. When it is stolen or sabotaged, it is the residents who pay the price,” he said.
Coetzee slammed past administrations, saying they had woefully underprotected the City’s assets.
“To address this, the City is pursuing a consolidated asset protection strategy that includes both physical security and advanced technological solutions,” he said.
During the recent tabling of the 2025/2026 budget, Finance MMC Eugene Modise pointed out that the city is “woefully under-protected”.
He said the R565 million budget for protecting municipal assets, especially electricity infrastructure, will help secure infrastructure against theft and vandalism.
The funds, he said, will be used for CCTV camera installations, deploying security personnel, and recruiting 200 additional metro police officers.
“At present, Tshwane is woefully under-protected. To address this, the city is pursuing a consolidated asset protection strategy that includes both physical security and advanced technological solutions,” said Modise.
Mayor Nasiphi Moya shared the same sentiment during her maiden State of Capital Address, saying: “We are finalising a consolidated asset protection strategy that includes both physical security and advanced technology. This plan will make use of CCTV, motion detection, and other smart tools to support and enhance the work of our security personnel. Importantly, we are shifting away from outsourced contracts and building a dedicated, inhouse security team.”
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za
