Sitting on a crate in a far corner behind the shelves,=20 a Drum magazine in his hand, Mabutho Dube looks like an=20 ordinary doorman as he buzzed customers in and out of=20 an emergency pharmacy in Rosettenville.
The twenty-one-year-old, former Mofolo, Soweto, SDU=20 member is one of two Sibuyile security men hired after=20 armed robbers stormed the chemist two months ago and=20 escaped with cash and jewellery.
Wearing black corduroy trousers and a dark blue jersey,=20 the slightly built youth says he relies on his civilian=20 appearance to surprise potential robbers.
Dube was one of the first batch of community soldiers=20 to be trained for guard duties by Sibuyile Security=20 last June at a training base in De Deur, near=20
“After the elections when the SPUs were disbanded, I=20 discovered that the school system was worse than when I=20 left it a few years before, and the escalating crime=20 rate in our townships was depressing. So I started to=20 search for a job that could help the community and my=20 family of eight.” He approached Sibuyile and was=20 offered a job as a security guard.
Dube’s gun is concealed in a hip-holster. He says he is=20 used to carrying concealed weapons and recalls the=20 times as an SDU member when he would hide an illegal=20 AK-47 on his body. “I would not hesitate to shoot=20 anyone who is a threat to this property,” he says.
Dube sees his job as a way to continue to fight for the=20 freedom of all people by helping to eradicate crime.
Besides the pharmacy, Dube guards a burger outlet, a=20 video rental shop and a casino in the vicinity from 9am=20 to 9pm.
“It is a great idea to have civilian-clad security=20 around the area. We have had no problems since we have=20 hired these guys,” says pharmacy manager Cheryl=20