The CCTV “Revolution”
Illustration by Hunter French
Johannesburg gets “smart” surveillance
Parkhurst houses are on the left, Alexandra township shacks on the right. (Images: Google Earth)
At the street level: Parkhurst houses vs. Alexandra shacks. (Images: Google Earth)
From a distance: Alexandra is the top-right rectangle; suburbs are all around. (Image: Google Earth)
Illustration by Hunter French
Dreams of Monopoly Power: Vumacam’s CCTV Strategy
Race, Class, and Video Analytics – Powered by AI

iSentry’s “suspicious activity” includes pedestrians gathering in groups and a construction worker sitting at a curb. From “ISENTRY SHIFT REPORT FOR TUESDAY 14 OCTOBER 2014 - DAY SHIFT."
Private security firms post pictures of black men apprehended by security. The (mostly white) Facebook users applaud, even though individuals apprehended are only suspects, and in some cases, no items or weapons were recovered.
Violence, Crime and Fear
Vumacam’s current, planned, and in progress areas of coverage in Johannesburg suburbs.
Mission Creep
Illustration by Hunter French