Too much Security, or not enough?

AbaQulusi Municipality’s current state of security conjures up images of a circus without a ringmaster.

In one corner sits ADM Security, ousted by the local municipality after their contract allegedly expired in April 2015. Since expiry of their contract with AbaQulusi Municipality, ADM Security has been working on a month to month basis, with staff reporting that they have not been paid in the last two months.

“It was observed that both Sharks and ADM were operating on a month to month basis, their contracts having expired on or about April 2015 and October 2015 for ADM and Sharks, respectively,” stated Acting Municipal Manager, AB Mnikathi, in a press release, following the questionable signing off of the security tender to LK Security Solutions earlier this year. “My office had no choice in embarking on the tender process since all other committees in the municipality had concluded all they had to do regarding the procurement of guarding services and it was all left to my office to see to the conclusion of the process.”

The tender was controversially awarded to LK Security Solutions on May 25 by Mnikathi, whose precarious position as Acting Municipal Manager is still under scrutiny, following her questionably extended term in the driving seat of the local municipality.

In the other corner, we have the newly appointed LK Security Solutions, who appear to have the backing of Mnikathi and are, therefore, untouchable. The only factor working against LK Security is the apparent lack of a Service Level Agreement between them and the municipality.

Chaos recently broke out at the main municipal building in Mark Street, when both companies were let loose on each other and ADM staff refused to allow LK staff access to the building. ADM remained inside, standing their ground, while LK lingered outside the building, apparently under the instruction of the Acting MM to commence with their freshly acquired duty of safeguarding the AbaQulusi Municipality.

By Tuesday, LK Security Solutions appeared to have taken their spot in the municipal building, guarding the entrance to the municipal offices and allegedly taking charge of the security control room, according to an ousted security guard whose main question is, when will he be paid?

Over and above the two duelling security companies at odds over their position at the municipality, as well as VIP protection for Mnikathi alone, the 24 hour CCTV video surveillance begs the question, “How much security does the municipality actually need?”

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