On Friday, 30 April 2010, the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Safety and Liaison, South African Police Service (SAPS) and Integcomm will be officially opening the Terrestrial Trunked Radio Access Academy, which is housed at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth.
Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet; MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Ghishma Barry and MEC for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Xoliswa Tom have already confirmed their attendance of the event, which is scheduled to start at 11h00 at the University Way, Summerstrand North Campus Conference Centre, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
This academy is the first of its kind in the world with equipment and resources to the value of R40 million, which have been installed in this centre and will be managed by Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University as a separate business unit.
It forms part of the R1 billion contract awarded by the SAPS to Integcomm for the installation of this TETRA system. The academy will ensure that training of the TETRA system is done locally, instead of overseas, as in the past, and form part of the curriculum for fourth year engineering students.
Already, 24 SAPS members have been trained in operating the system for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. TETRA system is the new communication system, which is currently being installed for SAPS to improve the police performance in the province. This system will be implemented in two phases, namely:
* Phase one: focusing on ensuring effective communication for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup and
* Phase two: will be a roll out to the entire province.
The benefits of this system allows for communication between the police throughout the province on one frequency effectively. Furthermore, the system is being integrated with identified municipalities' closed circuit television (CCTV) camera systems through a common control room to effectively monitor crime.
Considering the demographics of the province, particularly rural communities, TETRA system will ensure effective service delivery to communities, particularly the marginalised.
A further important feature of the TETRA system is that each police vehicle will have an automated vehicle location system (AVL) to track down the exact location of vehicles to ensure rapid responses to a crime scene. This AVL system will also stop abuse of vehicles by police members.
All 10111 centres' personnel will be trained to use this system and as well as a train-the-trainer system to capacitate other SAPS members. Three new 10111 centres will also be built in East London, Port Elizabeth and Mthatha, of which East London will be the first.
Enquiries:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Cell: 082 4422 388
Tell: 043 604 7584
E-mail: nossy.mzini@dot.ecprov.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Safety and Liaison, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
26 April 2010
