In 2020, Watcher Surveillance Solutions was approached by Plantation Farms, a third-generation family farming operation in the south of Boksburg, to provide a farm security solution to assist in reducing crop losses due to theft.

Estate upgrades and enhances its security through a partnership between surveillance specialist Watcher and the incumbent guarding company.

Looking beyond the hype and all the marketing optimism about AI and cloud services in the security market, there are significant benefits to incorporating the two into an estate’s security operation.

Watcher Surveillance Solutions provides an off-site Surveillance Operating Centre (SOC), offering a cloud-based video management system that manages customers’ video feeds using the latest in-video analytics and artificial intelligence.

Organisations need security systems that are reliable, intelligent, efficient and aimed at optimising the guarding component in order to adapt to their environments.

Two explosions have been reported at Woolworths stores in South Africa over the past week. SMART Security Solutions asked Jimmy Roodt, an experienced and accredited explosive ordnance disposal specialist from Gauntlet Security Solutions, for his insight into the events.

The World Security Report 2026 states: “In a world of increasing volatility, physical security has evolved. It is no longer just a defensive measure; it is a critical driver of corporate value.”

Across the African continent, organisations are increasingly recognising AI as a catalyst for economic growth, operational efficiency, and digital transformation. Yet, one critical challenge continues to slow adoption: access to the right infrastructure.

Combined with the reliability of video systems and industrial IoT connectivity, large-scale AI transforms video from a record-keeping tool into a core intelligence engine for the factory.