On March 24, the Kouga Municipality launched Africa’s first Drone as a First Responder (DFR) Programme at the Kouga Incident Command Centre (ICC) in Humansdorp in a bid to fight crime.
Stuart Riddle, director of the URSafe SA application, the supplier of the drone, said that the reason behind having a first responder operation is to bring safety and security to the residents and law enforcement officers.
He said that the idea of the drone responding first to a scene means that a drone, which adheres to the rules of the South African Civil Aviation Authority, arrives long before a person.
“Drones fly at 80km/h across town, which cannot be achieved by a vehicle,” said Riddle.
He said that through live streaming, the video footage is displayed at the ICC to indicate what is happening on the ground, what first responder officers need, and what danger they are facing.
Riddle further said that the officers can also be warned ahead of approaching the scene.
He mentioned that the drone, equipped with thermal and infrared capabilities, can operate at night and be deployed to fire and flood areas.
“If you have someone who is injured, perhaps in a ditch, a first responder cannot see them, but the drone can indicate to the first responder where this person is,” said Riddle.
“This brings down the response time dramatically and provides responders with vital information that is needed.”
He said that the primary objective is to provide a mass network of drones which will be linked to the ICC.
Riddle said that their three drones are pre-programmed, preventing them from flying into certain air spaces.
“Some of the ways that the drones are activated, the ICC can send a drone to a crime scene if needed, residents can push an SOS button on the URSafe SA application, or a notification can be sent from the first responder’s body camera in times of danger,” said Riddle.
He further said that routine surveillance can be done throughout the area, which will assist greatly in dealing with damage to municipal infrastructure.
Riddle said that he believes the DFR programme is the new version of South Africa’s 911 and is the first of its kind in Africa.
Kouga Executive Mayor, Hattingh Bornman said that the launch of the programme is a demonstration that they are making massive progress in the municipality in terms of fighting crime and making sure that communities are safe.
“If our communities are safe, it enables an environment where our economy can grow. If our economy can grow, then jobs are created, and families can have a better life. This plays a key role directly in the lives of families having a better life,” said Bornman.
He further said that if they can create a space where the municipal area no longer has crime, gangsterism, and vandalism, then they have created a safe space where everyone can enjoy living.
Bornman said that the municipality collaborates effectively with the South African Police Services, law enforcement, the Boots on the Ground initiative, and private security companies in the fight against crime, with the launch of the programme adding an additional crime-fighting agent.
“The drone is an eye in the sky that can respond to crime much quicker,” said Bornman.
He said that the information obtained through the drone will be sent directly back to the ICC, which they have been running successfully for a few years.
Andrew Whitfield, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, said that as much as the programme is about creating a safer Kouga, which has been layered by the efforts put in place by CCTV cameras, partnerships with private security, and the SAPS, this is ultimately about creating an environment in which businesses can do business and people can get permanent jobs.
“I want us to see this as an economic enabler because if we don’t have safe communities and safe environments where people can do business, let alone invest and expand their businesses, we will not be able to move the needle on growth in South Africa,” said Whitfield.
“This is part of a much bigger vision of how safety interventions make a direct contribution in dealing with economic issues.”
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