How Many CCTV Cameras Does Your Johannesburg Home Actually Need?

The Minimum CCTV Setup for a Johannesburg Home

A minimum effective CCTV system for a standard residential property in Johannesburg requires four cameras positioned to cover every access point and the immediate approach to your home. This is the baseline — below four cameras, you will have coverage gaps that can be exploited.

Camera 1: The Entrance Gate

The entrance camera must capture clear facial detail and vehicle number plates at a distance of three to five metres. This requires a camera with a minimum resolution of 2MP (1080p) and adequate IR night illumination. Position it at head height, angled slightly downward, so it captures approaching faces rather than tops of heads.

Camera 2: Front Door Approach

A wide-angle camera covering the front door and any path leading to it records every visitor. This is often the most valuable forensic camera in a Johannesburg household — smash and grab events, package theft and confrontations at the door are all captured with good coverage here.

Camera 3: Rear Garden and Perimeter

Rear perimeter access is the most common intruder approach in residential break-ins across Johannesburg suburbs and estates. A camera mounted under the rear eave covering the garden and the perimeter wall provides early detection and recording. In larger gardens, two cameras may be required to cover the full perimeter.

Camera 4: Garage and Driveway

Vehicle crimes — including car theft from open garages, smash and grab follow-home incidents and tyre deflation scams — are addressed by a driveway camera that captures vehicles and individuals near your garage. This camera also provides a useful secondary view of the entrance approach.

How Many Cameras for a Larger Johannesburg Property?

For properties with a plot size above 1,000 square metres, a perimeter wall exceeding 80 metres in length or multiple outbuildings, a six to eight camera system is appropriate. Estate properties in Dainfern, Steyn City, Blair Athol and Pecanwood typically require this level of coverage.

What CCTV Brand Does AriKai Secure Install?

We install Hikvision IP cameras — the world's leading CCTV brand, used by security professionals across South Africa. All systems include an NVR recorder with 30-day recording capacity, remote smartphone viewing via Hik-Connect and infrared night vision up to 30 metres.