Telecommunications giant MTN has partnered with the Gauteng Provincial Community Police Board to support community policing forums (CPFs) as the company accelerates its fight against ongoing vandalism and theft of batteries and cables at cellphone towers across South Africa.

The partnership with the Gauteng Provincial Community Police Board will see technology harnessed to prevent and reduce incidents, protect network tower infrastructure and minimise network downtime and its impact on the connectivity experience of subscribers, and to ultimately ensure that communities are safer, said MTN South Africa CEO Charles Molapisi.

A pilot phase of the partnership is currently being rolled out in Soweto, and a command centre has been set up with laptops, printers and other equipment to gather data, with technology, such as closed-circuit television and WiFi points, to be harnessed to detect criminal activity and alert responders.

CPF members will receive new uniforms and equipment, including panic buttons and handcuffs, to ensure they are armed for any eventuality.

Boarder benefits are planned for the second phase of the initiative.

“Our aim is, in time, to empower CPFs across South Africa to protect network sites in their respective communities. Nothing is more important in South Africa today than the fight against the crime that is impacting our country,” said Molapisi.

“Persistent loadshedding in recent months has resulted in a significant increase in theft of network assets and vandalism of our tower infrastructure. These criminal activities come at a high cost to the company and they also prevent communities from accessing the network and staying in touch and connected to work, the emergency services and to each other.”

He explained that it is an opportune time to identify opportunities from this crisis and partner with local communities and CPFs to leverage their competencies and abilities to combat criminal and infrastructure damage.

“Communities must own the technology infrastructure and defend it by using intelligence and the crime prevention measures of the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies. Fighting criminal tendencies and infrastructure damage needs a multi-integrated approach.”

CPFs, through force multiplier community patrollers intelligence from the community crime intelligence network, have a chance to make difference and win the war against crime, added Gauteng Provincial Community Police Board executive chairperson TJ Masilela.

“Together we can ensure criminals are brought to book, syndicates dismantled and ultimately the people of South Africa can enjoy the full benefits of a modern connected life,” Molapisi concluded.