Opposition councillors have questioned KwaDukuza municipality’s decision to award Pro Secure another three-year security contract.

Councillors were informed at last Wednesday’s reconvened council meeting that the security tender had been finalised and Pro Secure had retained the contract.

DA chief whip Jack Abrahams questioned the contract, claiming there had been 22 break-ins or security breaches at municipal sites guarded by the company during the current council term.

These allegedly included break-ins at libraries, theft of relief parcels and vandalism of electricity infrastructure.

Abrahams said the municipality’s new monthly security bill was R5.49-million.

“Both the DA and the AG had also previously asked council for the necessary Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) documents relating to the Pro Secure guards,” he said.

KwaDukuza’s relationship with Pro Secure dates back several years and has previously attracted scrutiny.

Municipal records show that in the 2022/23 financial year, about R48.4-million was spent on Pro Secure services through Community Safety and a further R13.3-million through Electrical.

In May 2023, KwaDukuza’s finance offices were broken into while Pro Secure guards were on duty. Two guards were later dismissed after a municipal investigation found required procedures had not been followed.

Former Pro Secure CEO Ferrel Govender is currently in custody while standing trial in the Durban High Court for the murder of businessman Shailen Singh.

The trial has been adjourned to May 17 next year.

The Courier approached both the KwaDukuza municipality and Pro Secure for comment, but neither had responded at time of publication.