Following the tragedy which befell Gert Pretorius recently, the Vryheid Herald has requested safety tips for business owners from local stakeholders in the security industry.
Louis Breytenbach of the Vryheid AfriForum security division warned business owners needed to be vigilant and safeguard themselves against criminals.
Vryheid Neighbourhood Watch chairman, André Rheder advised business owners not to venture out to sites for clients which could not be verified, and said one should never go alone and unarmed into ‘unknown territory’.
“Make use of the buddy system like we do in the Neighbourhood Watch,” he suggested. “Always have someone to back you up; don’t ever go alone.”
George Weber and Peter Barry, who have decades of collective experience in the security industry, had the following advice for business owners who found themselves in situations which didn’t feel right:
“Sharing your live location using the apps available these days – like Life360 or even WhatsApp – before going out to see clients is one option,” advised Barry. “Keeping people informed of your whereabouts is imperative these days. If something feels off, take somebody with you. Don’t travel alone and always carry a weapon if possible. Self defense training is also a necessity.”
Weber added knowledge was power.
“These guys do their research when choosing their targets. It pays to equip yourself with knowledge when dealing with clients. Find out as much detail as you can about a new client, who contacts you to come out and give them a quote. Businesses in Vryheid are struggling and it’s so unfortunate that criminals are taking advantage of this in such a brutal manner. No business deal is worth the loss of your life.”
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