Gauteng: The Gauteng provincial government recently met with their KwaZulu-Natal counterparts where innovative crime-fighting technologies and intergovernmental collaboration were under the spotlight. This engagement was led by the Gauteng Department of e-Government, represented by Head of Department Masabata Mutlaneng, in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Community Safety, led by Acting Head Roche Mogorosi. The high-level delegation from the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government was welcomed for a strategic dialogue.
According to South African Government News Agency, the KwaZulu-Natal delegation, led by Premier Thami Ntuli, was received at the Gauteng Provincial Command Centre. The meeting focused on innovative crime-fighting technologies and intergovernmental collaboration, following a formal request from KwaZulu-Natal for collaborative learning to enhance service delivery in areas such as safety, digital infrastructure, and technology integration.
Premier Ntuli and his team were given an exclusive tour of Gauteng’s advanced e-Policing systems, highlighting the province’s dedication to digital public safety solutions. Central to the tour were two flagship technologies: the Gauteng e-Panic Button, a mobile application for rapid emergency alerts, and the CCTV surveillance network, a province-wide system for monitoring and crime deterrence.
Masabata Mutlaneng stressed that these technologies are integral to Gauteng’s digital transformation strategy. ‘As e-Gov, our role is to modernise government services through automation and innovation. Our work directly supports departments like Community Safety in building smarter, more responsive environments,’ she said. Mutlaneng also emphasized a shift from reactive to preventative policing, noting the psychological impact of visible technology on community safety.
The Gauteng Department of e-Government also showcased its efforts against cybercrime, introducing the KwaZulu-Natal delegation to its Cybersecurity Command Centre. The centre focuses on monitoring and neutralizing digital threats, particularly phishing and potential breaches of government infrastructure. ‘We’ve seen some alarming trends in cyber-attacks, but the proactive systems we’ve put in place have significantly bolstered our resilience,’ Mutlaneng added.
The visit concluded with both delegations reaffirming their commitment to ongoing collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the use of technology to enhance service delivery and community safety across provincial boundaries.