Kgathi warns exploitive security firms
Lebogang Mosikare | Tuesday May 23, 2017 17:10
Speaking during the Fifth Private Security Services Pitso yesterday, Kgathi said security companies still delays salary payments to their employees, ill treat workers, and refuse to pay terminal benefits.
“My office continues to receive a significant number of complaints from employees of your companies for non-compliance with the laws of Botswana especially the Employment Act. The only option left for my ministry in this situation is to take punitive action against such companies.
“That could mean termination or cancellation of their licences which I am confident that the Private Security Licensing Board will be able to handle with utmost diligence and professionalism,” Kgathi said.
Kgathi also berated some security guards of playing truant with their jobs by not coming to work as expected while expecting to be paid their full salaries. He urged them to discard such behaviour, which fuels crime and may lead to the collapse of the economy.
“As the private security sector, your role is indeed significant to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement and the ultimate realisation of our national development plans and Vision 2036…To this end, my Ministry is forever at your disposal to assist where possible in improving the conditions under which you operate,” Kgathi said.
Listing a plethora of problems besieging the private security industry, Kgathi said some companies do not comply with the provisions of the law.
“Companies omit to provide identity cards to their employees, whilst others employ security guards who have not been vetted for criminal records. Some of these companies do not provide full uniform or protective clothing and equipment to their employees simply because the Private Security Services Act is silent on the issuance of uniforms. I am happy to inform you that the new Act has a provision for the issuance of uniforms to guards,” Kgathi said.
He added that once the Act is wholly operational, challenges that have been prevailing will be eliminated.
Kgathi reminded private security providers that they primarily exist to protect life and property and to complement other law enforcement agencies in crime prevention.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Pitso, Kgathi said once the whole Act is commenced and operationalised, the Board will come up with standards that will regulate how security companies should operate.
He added that the board would in future devise a curriculum in conjunction with Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) to regulate the training of security guards.
He stated that if the Act was commenced and operationalised, most of private security companies will close because they currently do not meet all the requirements of the Act.
“We will give the companies time to prepare for the operalisation of the whole Act, but once that period has elapsed we will without fear or favour expect them to comply with all the requirements of the Act. We will not make any exceptions for any company,” Kgathi said.
The deputy permanent secretary in the ministry of Defence, Justice and Security Dimpho Mogami urged private security companies to thoroughly familiarise themselves with the Private Security Services Act to avoid finding themselves on the wrong side of the law.