Big problem for smartphone, dashcam, and drone users in South Africa’s biggest city

The City of Johannesburg’s controversial by-law on CCTV cameras could require the registration of smartphones, dashcams, and drone cameras if they are ever used to record public spaces.

Private security companies and anti-crime activists have blasted the by-law since its publication in late February 2025.

One of the city’s biggest CCTV network operators — Vumacam — says the legislation places signficant, unlawful restrictions on privately owned CCTV cameras, which are “onerous and overly restrictive.”

“The new by-laws also appear to limit how the private security industry can use CCTV to protect the
communities they serve.

“Vumacam believes this is a step backwards in the critical fight to protect all citizens and grow the economy, as many private security operators have used surveillance technologies to great
effect in the last few years.”

The by-law requires people and private companies with CCTV cameras that view a public area to register them.

It also bars sharing video footage showing a crime in a public area on social media or other online platforms.

The footage must first be supplied to the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) for investigation before anything else may be done with it.

The by-law may have even more severe implications due to what cameras are required to follow the rules.

In Section 2 of the by-law, the CoJ explains that it applies to all CCTV cameras and mobile cameras, including drone cameras in a public space or on a private property with a view or angle of coverage to a public space in the area and jurisdiction of the city.

The by-law also states that temporary installations of a CCTV camera or system on city land or infrastructure are also prohibited, including if used on a trailer or vehicle adapted to be a “roving CCTV camera.”

In a statement requesting public comment on the by-law, the city explained the rules would apply to camera-related surveillance equipment, including:

• Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)
• Body Worn Video (BWV)
• Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
• Other systems that capture information of identifiable individuals or information relating to individuals

Based on these broad definitions, dashcams and mobile phone cameras may need to be registered, and the footage they capture showing crimes in public areas may not be shared on social media.

The by-law also prohibits the use of drone CCTV cameras on any private or public property within the city’s jurisdiction.

South Africa already has laws stipulating that a drone can only be used within 50 metres of private property or with the relevant property owner’s permission.

Drones may also not fly above 120 metres, and when operated over public areas, the drone operator must have a remotely piloted aircraft operator’s certificate.

It is also possible that the “in public space” clause would cover television news crews, who would be unable to share footage of public areas in reports if they show a crime being committed — like protesters damaging a store.

Totalitarian surveillance standards

The city’s public safety committee chairperson, Sarah Wissler, defended the by-law.

She pointed out that the law would prevent the sharing on the Internet of sensitive incidents like murder or manslaughter before the deceased’s loved ones were notified.

“Imagine it was your wife and your child and people you don’t know are watching the footage of their deaths on the Internet,” she said.

Prominent anti-crime activist and journalist Yusuf Abramjee believes the real motivation behind the law is not to protect people’s right to privacy but to hide government’s failures.

Johannesburg in particular has been struggling with collapsing infrastructure including faulty traffic lights, potholes, leaking sewage, and frequent power outages.

The law would also make it unlawful to film South African Police Service or Johannesburg metro officers demanding bribes or to make secret recordings of corruption taking place.

There are already laws designed to protect people’s privacy, including the Protection of Private Information Act and, South Africa’s defamation and crimen injuria laws.

Eblockwatch’s André Snyman has also criticised barring camera owners from sharing the footage on social media and rubbished claims by the police that this could prejudice cases.

“Show me one case that was thrown out or one identity parade that went wrong because someone shared a video on social media,” Snyman said.

“I can show you many criminals behind bars because of videos being shared.”