How to Set Up a CCTV System for SA Small Business

Quick Answer

Setting up CCTV for an SA small business starts with planning camera coverage zones, picking PoE IP cameras with at least 4MP resolution, and installing an NVR with enough storage for 30 days of footage. Budget roughly R8,000 to R25,000 for a four-camera system installed.

Mapping Your Coverage Before Buying Hardware

Walk your premises with a clipboard and mark every entry point, till area, stockroom door, and parking bay. SA small businesses typically need cameras at the front entrance, rear delivery door, point-of-sale zone, and any safe or cash-handling area. Note which spots have power and where you can run Cat6 cabling without ripping ceilings. Skipping this step leads to blind spots and expensive re-installs. A quick site sketch saves hours of cable rerouting later and keeps the install budget honest.

Choosing Cameras and Recording Hardware

Stick with PoE IP cameras at 4MP or higher for licence-plate clarity at the gate and face recognition near tills. A four or eight-channel NVR with a 4TB surveillance-grade drive gives you around 30 days of continuous recording on motion. Pick cameras with IR night vision rated to 30 metres minimum because most SA break-ins happen in the dark, and loadshedding makes streetlights unreliable. Look for IP66 weather rating on outdoor units to survive Highveld thunderstorms and coastal salt air.

Power, Backup, and Loadshedding Survival

Run your NVR and PoE switch off a 1000VA UPS minimum. Cameras pulling power over Ethernet stay live as long as the switch does, so a single backup point covers the whole network. For 24/7 coverage through Stage 6, consider a small inverter with lithium batteries. Cloud backup of critical event clips means recordings survive even if the NVR walks out the door. Local stock from Evetech in full ZAR pricing keeps the project predictable, and SA delivery means you start installing within days rather than weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much storage do I need for a four-camera CCTV system?

A 4TB surveillance HDD typically holds 25 to 30 days of continuous 4MP footage from four cameras using H.265 compression. Bump to 8TB for longer retention.

Do I need a fibre line for remote CCTV viewing?

Fibre helps but is not essential. Even a stable 10Mbps upload works for two simultaneous mobile streams. LTE fixed wireless is a fine fallback.

Is professional installation worth the cost in SA?

For four-plus cameras and proper cable management, yes. A bad install voids warranties and creates fire risks. DIY suits one or two cameras around a single area.