Another multi-million rand project under the scope and management of the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate has come to an end, this time the "ShotSpotter", which is under review.
This comes on the back of the Cape Argus exclusively revealing that the City’s R100 million "Eye in the Sky” contract was cancelled in August 2025 due to non-compliance.
In a third development, Saftey and Security mayco member JP Smith said the City was "not at liberty to disclose its latest tender relating to safety and security", after the budget was diverted following the Eye in the Sky contract collapse.
The City’s ShotSpotter, (now known as SoundThinking), first launched its acoustic gunshot detection system in Cape Town as a pilot program in Hanover Park in 2016.
The technology was then deployed in Hanover Park, Manenberg, and Lavender Hill, among other areas since 2023, utilising acoustic gunshot detection technology and drones to pinpoint gun violence flare-ups.
Smith said it had run its course and was currently under review.
“The three-year gunshot detection technology tender has run its course and is currently under review.
"This technology has been very useful, not only in terms of alerting staff to active shooting incidents, but the data has helped identify hotspots which in turn has helped with deployment patterns and focus areas,” Smith said.
At the time (2023), the City said it was investing approximately R860 million over three years in safety technology, including CCTV cameras, drones, body cameras, dashcams, aerial surveillance, and gunshot detection systems.
The news has been met with shock by crime fighting watchdogs, who said the City had promoted the ShotSpotter as a technology to improve responses to firearm-related crime.
But the metro is still experiencing high levels of violence, with ten areas frequently ranking among the highest nationwide for violent crimes, including murder and attempted murder.
Jay Jay Idel, executive director at Fight Against Crime SA (FACSA), said their crime-fighting organisation was deeply concerned by the ShotSpotter’s contract coming to an end and had many questions.
" More importantly, this raises a fundamental question: what was the purpose and effectiveness of ShotSpotter in the first place?
“The City promoted the technology as a tool to detect gunfire and improve responses to firearm-related crime.
“Communities are therefore entitled to ask whether ShotSpotter achieved its intended objectives."
When it came to the demise of Eye in the Sky, Smith said that “part of the budget has been held over given that the Eye in the Sky technology procurement has been readvertised for procurement.”
“Yes, the City can confirm that the process is under way. We are not at liberty to say anything more at this stage,” said Smith.
The Cape Argus understands that this relates to a new 36-month aerial surveillance tender, which was advertised between May 15 and June 18, 2026.
According to the tender advertised online, the City of Cape Town is seeking providers of aerial Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) services to support public safety operations.
STOP CoCT founder, Sandra Dickson, also commented on the new tender advertised.
“What we can say is this: JP Smith’s statement now confirms that the previous ISR / Eye in the Sky contract ended in August 2025 after the joint venture failed.
“Was the new tender designed differently to avoid the failure of the first contract?
“Will there again be only one bidder?
“What lessons were learned from the failed joint venture?
“What will the financial exposure be this time?"
Smith said the Eye in the Sky had taught them many lessons: “Importantly, the City has also gained valuable operational insights that will further optimise the use of this, and other aerial capabilities should another successful tender be awarded."
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