Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
- Gauteng education leader Lebogang Maile shared plans to put AI cameras inside classrooms to stop school crime.
- Gauteng education spokesperson Onwabile Lubhelwana said these new AI systems use body recognition to protect children from school violence.
Gauteng education MEC Lebogang Maile wants to put smart AI cameras and fingerprint scanners inside classrooms.
Maile shared his plans earlier in June to stop bad behaviour, violence and crime in schools. He also wants armed guards to protect schools.
Gauteng education spokesperson Onwabile Lubhelwana spoke about the plans on Newzroom Afrika. Lubhelwana said: “He wants to take it to the extent of having biometric systems and AI cameras, which recognise the face and some other body parts.”
Big companies offered to help with this technology.
Lubhelwana said companies want to help out of patriotism, not because they want government contracts. The department hopes these changes will stop the terrible violence in Gauteng schools. Lubhelwana also told SABC News that schools show what is happening in communities.
Lubhelwana said children see violence and crime at home. The department has seen more learners attacking each other and teachers. People are worried about weapons in schools, so Maile wants community volunteers to search learners.
These AI cameras already protect homes and neighbourhoods. They help security companies stop crime before it happens. A company called Vumacam runs more than 7,000 cameras on street poles across Gauteng. The Gauteng government and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department use this system.
Axon Security said these smart systems do not make human mistakes. Researchers Tladi Maja and Kris Pillay from Unisa said these cameras spot strange behaviour and send help quickly. The cameras recognise faces and car number plates.
Local software companies like AVLytics and GhostHome use this smart tech. GhostHome uses special thermal cameras that see people moving in pitch darkness, heavy rain or thick smoke.
Pictured above: A classroom.
Image source: Pexels
