Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe has warned security companies that lights installed on their vehicles should be authorised by the relevant authorities.
Speaking at a meeting with security companies appointed to safeguard government property, Mr Shongwe said security companies should complement government and assist in fighting crime, not impersonate police or traffic officers.
“Security vehicles may only be fitted with a white diffused light that only turns on and off, and that light should not be a strobe light as is commonly used by many security companies,”he said.
Mr Shongwe said sirens on security vehicles are also prohibited and law enforcement officers will discontinue those vehicles or order the drivers to remove such lights or sirens. He added that this is applicable not only to security companies that have contracts with the government, but to any vehicle used by security companies.
During the meeting, owners of security companies were also advised to instil discipline among their officers and improve their management operations within their allocated sites.
“Government is in a drive to run its programmes in a cost-effective manner, hence the reduction in the number of guards on government sites,”said the MEC.
He also called on security companies to work with the department to resolve problems in some of affected sites with the reduced number of guards, and for affected officers to negotiate peacefully with relevant companies rather than disrupting services at some of the sites.
Mr Shongwe also warned security companies that still owe former employees money to pay them urgently.
