Court endorses Debswana 'spy' tactics

In a recent judgement, High Court judge Isaac Lesetedi found no fault in Debswana's employing security measures that included strip searches, forbidding handshakes, hand-to-cover-mouth when sneezing during working hours, and installation of spy cameras in the toilets in the 'Red Area', which is used by 43 CARP employees.

The 43 were demanding P5 million each as compensation for breach of their human rights after discovering a surveillance camera in the toilets they have been using. Seemingly breaking the hearts of the aggrieved individuals, Lesetedi said, 'because diamonds are precious, marketable and are an easy to steal commodity, theft of the product by employees and those who have access to the product is an ever present high risk in the recovery'.