Private security companies ready for festive season

EDWARD BULE
Correspondent | Tuesday December 21, 2010 00:00

These  establishments can be schools and clinics,  or VIPs, installations, service centers, shopping complexes, private homes, banks, offices, entertainment venues, public events, resort centers and airports.

It is always a busy time during the festive season as the reality is that it is during this period that the crime rate goes up.  Crimes such as robbery, assault, fights, rape, burglary, house-breaking, shoplifting, pick-pocketing and mugging become quite common. With a lot of workers receiving bonuses, many people withdrawing large amounts of money, thieves now take advantage of the heightened shopping activities and movements of the people from one place to another.

Private security companies provide an array of services including guarding, alarm installation, dogs and private investigations. One of the challenges of the private security companies is to stay ahead of criminals with respect to security technology.

Private security companies have been accused of underpaying their guards, but overworks them.  In some instances guards provided by the security companies have been involved in criminal acts including bank robberies.  The private security companies interviewed by Mmegi are adamant that not only are they ready for the festive season but will provide quality service during the festive season.

Ali Parekh, the Managing Director of Security Services, says that, in anticipation of more bookings during the festive season, his company has hired extra guards who have completed a three-week course in preparation for work.

Parekh says that his company does not have the problem of guards stealing from clients because it has a strict screening system.  He says that on the few occasions when guards have been caught on the wrong side of the law, they have been handed over to the police.

On whether dishonest guards are forced into acts of desparation because of underpayment, companies interviewed insist that they follow the labour laws in paying employees so the issue of underpayment does not arise.

The Director of Rhino Security company, Kaketere Silver says that her company, which is normally contracted by individuals and council, is aware of what is at stake when a guard steals from a client. To minimise the problem, the management, she says, talks to the guards regularly about this problem. Silver says that although the company tries to avoid giving women guards the night watch, a lot of them request to be given night duty. 

Mpho Gucha, the Information Officer at G4S says that one of the challenges in the security industry is the proliferation of 'fly-by-night' companies who then fail to deliver after winning a tender.  She adds that to pre-empt the problem of guards stealing from clients, her company gives employees decent wages.  Asked whether hiring foreigners as security guards by some private security companies does not compromise the security of the country, Gucha says her company policy is to hire citizens only adding that they deal with sensitive issues, which should never be handled by foreigners.

The Finance Manager of Wayguard Security company says that although guards have been known to steal from clients, some clients sometimes misplace their property then claim that they have been robbed by guards in order to get compensation from the company.  He says that, before any compensation is made to the client, whether it results from stealing or negligence by the guard, a thorough investigation is made that involves the police.  He adds that before being hired, prospective guards are screened and those found with criminal records are immediately disqualified from work.

Batlhophi Mosarwa, the Regional Service Manager of Security Systems admits that no vetting system is watertight.

His main problem is that the vetting process, which is done under the auspices of the Office of the President, is rather slow.  He adds that some companies under-quote in order to win tenders resulting in them failing to pay their workers properly. He says that the private security companies work very closely together in their fight against crime.

The Manager of Trojan Security company, Brown Kerekisitswe says that at Trojan, women do not do night patrols adding that to ensure that customers get good service, there are regular checks on the guards to catch those who desert their stations.

To protect the company, the guards are addressed during parades on the virtues of commitment to duty and honesty.  The manager's message to the people is for them to install burglar bars on their windows and possibly doors as well, close their windows and curtains before travelling.