Mapula Sibanda and Jonathan Ancer report on how ex- freedom fighters are using their military skills in=20 security companies
When the South African National Defence Force (SANDF)=20 called on former freedom fighters to be integrated into=20 a national army some members of the Alexandra Returnees=20 Support Committee (Arsco) were not enchanted by the=20 offer to reconcile with their former enemies.
Former Mkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and Azanian People’s=20 Liberation Army (Apla) cadres who felt they only had=20 military skills to offer decided to establish security=20 companies aimed at combating crime in the townships and=20 industrial areas.
A year and a half later, security companies Sibuyile=20 and Thuthuka Security are emerging as a force to be=20 reckoned with in South Africa’s security industry.
Formed by Arsco members, both companies have their=20 headquarters in Wynberg, Sandton and employ former=20 marshals, self-defence unit (SDU) members and self- protection unit (SPU) members. They offer guarding and=20 armed escort services.
Sibuyile — meaning “we have returned” — is the larger=20 company, with a staff of about 600 and offices in=20 Gauteng, Natal, and the Eastern Cape. Its monthly=20 turnover is R700 000 a month
“The idea to start Sibuyile came after we assessed the=20 integration process and realised that a sizable number=20 of ex-combatants would be left out of the new defence=20 force. We also felt it was unjust for those without=20 high school qualifications to be integrated into lower=20 ranks in the new force,” Sibuyile spokesperson Bob=20 Mabaso explained.
Mabaso said a number of obstacles, such as the shortage=20 of necessary expertise in industrial security services=20 and access to financial resources, made Sibuyile team=20 up with Springbok Patrols managing director Mick=20
Springbok Patrols offered financial and logistical=20 support in exchange for 49 percent ownership of=20 Sibuyile. A Small Business Development Corporation=20 (SBDC) loan allowed Sibuyile to hold the remaining 51=20 percent share.=20
Springbok Patrols also formalised the training of the=20 guards at one of their security training bases in De=20 Deur near Vereeniging.
Sibuyile also installs electronic security systems and=20 has 10 clients nationwide, including the African=20 National Congress (ANC). Competing against top security=20 firms, the company recently won a R5-million contract=20 with Spoornet in Natal.
“Our major bargaining factor is that we are=20 representatives of the community and even members of=20 organised crime know about us because we are soldiers.=20 Liaising with community structures encourages residents=20 to work with us in reducing the crime rate and building=20 up our reputation,” Mabaso said.
Working hard to build their reputation, Thuthuka –=20 which means “progress” — has a staff of 60 and=20 operates in the Gauteng and Kwandebele areas. The story=20 of its conception is similar to Sibuyile’s, except that=20 it is a joint venture with the Security Operations=20
Thuthuka has four clients. Spokesperson Ndleleni Nhlapo=20 explained the difficulties they face in trying to=20 increase their clientele: “The reality is that most=20 white-owned companies are sceptical of using us as=20 there is still the perception that black companies=20 cannot offer efficient service. We hope, in this stage=20 of transition and political development, those fears=20 will be allayed.”=20