Vigilance is key to staying safe
Tembisa's John Magolego says his job has taught him vigilance.
Mr John Magolego has been in the security industry, working for a known security company for the past 22 years, and is thankful to have never been a victim of crime.
This single dad of two is a community leader in his hometown of Hospital View, Tembisa, and says his job has taught him vigilance.
“Too many people aren’t vigilant enough when it comes to personal security. Private security companies and the SAPS play a vital role in managing crime, but it’s a three-way street. Communities who are involved and responsible are a vital link,” said Mr Magolego.
As an Operations Area Manager for ADT’s Randburg Hub, John is in charge of large suburbs like Linden, Blairgowrie, Bordeaux and Bryanston. Crime remains of concern in these suburbs with their plentiful entrances and roads. The most common crimes here are driveway robberies and hijackings.
“People must remember that criminals don’t appear out of nowhere. The warning signs are always there – a strange car in your street, a person loitering near your gate, someone following you. Criminals know that the closer we get to home the more relaxed we become. But this is actually when you need to be at your most alert.”
To help communities curb crime, Mr Magolego and his team meet with the various role players regularly to share intelligence and strategies.
Communication is key, he says. Customers also get regular alerts and tips via cellular phone groups and email, and people are encouraged to take these tips seriously and share them with friends and neighbours.
So, what do Mr Magolego’s customers really think about crime and the value of a private security company?
“Many people still believe crime is out of control and that there needs to be more joint operations with the SAPS and other role players. The value our customers place on our service is that not only are we responding to emergencies at their premises, we are on patrol 24 hours a day as the eyes and ears of their neighbourhoods,” said Mr Magolego.
To ensure the company’s service is top-class, under Mr Magolego’s watchful eye there is a firm emphasis on response activities.
“Response is the core of our business and critical to our service levels. There’s a lot more of course, which goes on behind the scenes, in delivering this service and a big part of that is ensuring our officers are safe. If they’re protected and kept out of harm’s way on duty, they can protect and safeguard our customers.”
Security issues don’t end when a shift ends.
At home, Mr Magolego is a community leader involved with regular security meetings and neighbourhood patrols.
If he could swap jobs, Mr Magolego said he would be a flight attendant so that he could travel the world.
