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How Many CCTV Cameras Does a Typical South African Home Actually Need?

By the Remtech Installers team · Updated October 2026 · 3 min read

The short answer

Most homes need about four to eight cameras. Cover the entrances, the driveway or gate and the blind side of the property rather than counting rooms. Plan around where someone would approach or climb in, then add cameras for the vulnerable spots.

Map your risk points

  • The front gate and driveway, where vehicles and people arrive.
  • Doors, front, back and any sliding or patio doors.
  • The garage and any side or service access.
  • Walls and the blind side, where nobody sees you from the street.
  • The back garden and any outbuildings.

Camera types and when to use each

TypeGood forWatch out for
BulletLong views, such as a driveway or a wallVisible and easy to angle, but easier to reach
DomeDoors and covered areasHarder to tamper with
TurretNight-time clarity and simple set-upCheck the field of view for your spot

Want a camera plan for your home?

Tell us about your property. We will walk the site, suggest camera positions and quote you for free.

How much detail do you need?

There are two jobs a camera can do: show what is going on, and help identify a person or a number plate. For a general view, a standard resolution camera is often enough. For a gate or a door where you want a face or a plate, choose a higher resolution and place the camera at the right distance and angle. Ask your installer to test the view before fixing it.

Walls, electric fencing and false alerts

  • Electric fencing and beams can trigger motion alerts, so set detection zones.
  • Insects and spiders drawn to infrared light can cause false alerts at night.
  • Trees and shadows moving in the wind trigger motion detection.
  • Face cameras away from the sun, which blinds them at sunrise or sunset.

Power and backup

Cameras only help if they are running. Plan for load shedding from the start. Read CCTV and load shedding, and make sure you can view them remotely: viewing CCTV on your phone.

Estates, complexes and the law

Make sure your camera positions respect your neighbours and your estate’s rules. See is CCTV legal at home in South Africa?

A worked example: a three-bedroom house

This is an illustration, not a fixed plan.

PositionCamerasPurpose
Front gate and driveway1Vehicles and faces as people arrive
Front door1Visitors at the door
Garage and side access1A common entry point
Back door or patio1Sliding doors and the rear entrance
Back garden and wall1The blind side of the property
Side passage1A narrow route that is hard to see from the street
Total6

Frequently asked questions

Many people only use outdoor cameras. Indoor cameras raise privacy questions, so think carefully about where they go.

Not always. It uses more storage and bandwidth, so match it to the job.

Often one or two covering the front door and balcony, subject to your building’s rules.

They may deter some people, but they give no footage when you need it.

It depends on the number of cameras, the resolution and how many days you want to keep. Ask your installer to calculate it.

Written by the Remtech Installers team.
We are accredited DStv installers serving Gauteng, with over 10 years of experience. Prices and details here are indicative as of October 2026, so ask us for a quote that fits your home. About us

Get the right number of cameras

Call us or send a message. See our CCTV installations in Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort and Edenvale.

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