AI, drones and facial recognition join fight against crime in Philippi East Residents hope the use of drones, artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology will give SAPS an upper hand in tackling crime in the area. Image: Supplied A technology-driven project using drones, artificial intelligence and facial recognition hopes to turn the tide on rampant crime in Philippi East. The Philippi East Integrated Safety Initiative is being spearheaded by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry through a public-private partnership involving technology companies, private security, community organisations and public-sector stakeholders. The project aims to assist SAPS in identifying suspects, tracking suspicious vehicles and improving responses to crime in an area plagued by murders, hijackings, extortion, robberies and smash-and-grab attacks. The scale of the investment is significant, with a single drone capable of constituting an investment of about R500,000, depending on its specifications and fitted technology. Cape Chamber deputy president Loyiso Ngqwemla said the total value of the initiative was still being finalised with several technology partners to confirm the value of their contributions. Participating organisations are contributing technology, expertise, operational support and community-based services. Licence plate recognition technology providers include SNIPR, Navic and Vumacam, while Africa Drone Kings is supplying drone platforms. Artificial intelligence partners include Aizatron and AiZSec. The technology hopes to bring down the high crime rate in Phillipi Image: Supplied Prosec Guards is supporting operational response capability, while the ICS Foundation has provided stakeholder coordination to help ensure the technologies, community organisations and operational partners function as one integrated safety system. The contributions include intelligent surveillance technology, AI-enabled analytics, licence plate recognition, facial recognition cameras, operational coordination, community engagement programmes and response resources. Community activist Dumisani Qwebe welcomed the initiative, saying residents had been informed and were in talks with the Cape Chamber. “This is a positive