We have 687 newsletter subscribers, with our 22nd edition receiving 424 reads.
This week, our Article of the Week explores Crime Statistics: Who Can We Trust? Bonus content includes Who Will Guard the Guards?, tips for answering the interview question "What Is Your Ideal Job?", and a spotlight on the Branch Administrator role.
Subscribe for free today to stay informed and receive your Bi-monthly copy!
Members of the Anti-Gang unit in Hanover Park, Cape Town. Archive photo by Ashraf Hendricks
Once again, statistics on crime from the country’s two most important sources wildly contradict each other. South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics do not match those of the Victims of Crime Survey (VOCS) released by Statistics South Africa at the end of August 2024.
The SAPS murder figures, for example, are almost 25% higher than those of VOCS. SAPS reported cases of sexual offences were about double those of VOCS. Conversely, home burglaries reported by SAPS were about 15% of the figure reported by VOCS.
The VOCS survey produces estimates of the actual number of incidents of crime experienced by households and individuals, while SAPS statistics are derived from crime actually reported at police stations.
Stats SA says the VOCS figures “complement SAPS crime statistics by providing estimates for quantities that cannot be measured at police stations”.
VOCS does indeed add value to the SAPS crime stats. The survey measures indicators such as how safe people feel in certain settings, what people do to protect themselves, their trust in police services, and the way they assess the performance of the courts. SAPS crime stats do not measure these issues and many have argued that they have no interest in doing so.
The idea that VOCS is a “complement” to the official crime statistics arises from the claim that VOCS is able to record incidents of crime that do not appear in the SAPS statistics. But if that is the case, then VOCS stats should be consistently higher than SAPS, and this is not so. Why would a victim of crime take the trouble to report it to SAPS but not reveal it to a Stats SA researcher (assuming of course that VOCS sampling is sound)?
For example, comparing figures for April 2022 to March 2023 from both data sets, we find several inconsistencies.
Murder
The VOCS found that about 22,000 households experienced a case of murder, significantly up from the previous year’s figure of 16,000. But the SAPS stats reflect 27,494 murder cases for 2022/23 – almost 25% higher than the VOCS figure. Murder is one of the most commonly reported crimes, and the VOCS indicates 100% of households claim they reported this crime to the police. This discrepancy is hard to explain.
Sexual offences
According to the VOCS, household experiences of sexual offences virtually doubled from 11,000 cases to 22,000 cases, though Stats SA acknowledges that its sample size was inadequate. Total sexual offences reported to SAPS for 2022/23 were 53,498 – well over double the VOCS figure, despite the fact that sexual offences are known to be heavily under-reported. In fact, VOCS estimates suggest that just over 78% of such cases are reported to the police, so that the figure for sexual offences (using SAPS) may be over 68,000.
Assault
The VOCS survey reports only one category of assault, unlike the SAPS stats which report both common assault and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH). VOCS reports that 129,000 households experienced assault. This is nearly double the figure of 68,000 for the previous year. For the same period, SAPS reported 185,374 cases of common assault and 169,374 cases of assault with GBH, yielding a total assault figure of 354,748 cases, nearly three times the VOCS figure. In theory, the SAPS figures should have been much lower than VOCS as the Stats SA survey found that less than 68% of households report such cases to SAPS.
Burglary
For 2022/23, SAPS reported 163,493 burglaries at residential premises, but VOCS reports that about 1.1 million households experienced housebreaking in the same period. If the VOCS figure of about 44% of cases reported to the police is correct, then using the VOCS figure, the police should have been notified of about 484,000 cases.
Robbery
Both VOCS and SAPS define home robbery / robbery at residential premises as involving some form of contact or force between perpetrators and victims. VOCS reports that 209,000 households experienced home robberies in 2022/23. This is about nine times the SAPS reported figure of 23,065. However, SAPS has several other categories of robbery, and classification can be sloppy. If the VOCS figure of 58% of victims reporting to SAPS is correct, then, using the VOCS totals, SAPS should have received about 121,000 complaints of this nature.
Motor theft
The VOCS reports that 87,000 households experienced theft of motor vehicles in 2022/23 of which 74,000 (about 85%) were reported to the police. SAPS however reports only 37,461 cases for the same period (and unlike VOCS, SAPS includes motorcycles in this crime category). This suggests that only about 51% of the cases that VOCS estimates are reported, are in fact reported. Motor vehicle theft typically has a high reporting rate due to the fact that it is an insurance requirement.
What to believe
South Africa is not unique in battling with this data puzzle. Around the world, contradictions between official crime statistics and independent victim surveys are the norm.
There are several reasons for this. Many crimes go unreported, public confidence in the police and the courts is lacking, rumours and media coverage of crime (often fuelled by social media) can lead to panic perceptions that do not match hard data.
Survey data is often skewed by crime victims who understandably have problems recalling the incident and when exactly it occurred. Victims often struggle to match their description of the crime to the definition used by researchers.
But none of these explanations should become a long-term rationale for accepting the wide gap between VOCS data and SAPS crime statistics. Whether through better-aligned formats or more credible methods, VOCS and SAPS data must be made more comparable.
Those working to make communities safer through better policing strategies and crime prevention need good reliable evidence. Dependable data is critical. But who to believe: SAPS crime stats with the acknowledged problems of administration, likely under-reporting and possible manipulation? Or VOCS, which relies on Stats South Africa’s questionable technical competence and the perceptions and memories of possibly traumatised victims?
Glenn Hollands works in the field of community safety https://groundup.org.za/article/crime-statistics-who-are-we-to-believe/
3.Weekly Poll
Loading...
Last editions’ poll results:
Responses: We had 4 responses to last weeks poll: What is the average time you change jobs?
25% of respondents voted every Payday
75% of respondents voted as little as possible
4. Interview Q & A
How to Answer the Interview Question: "What is Your Ideal Job?"
When asked, "What is your ideal job?" in an interview, it's easy to feel a bit overwhelmed. It’s a broad question that can leave you wondering how to balance honesty with professionalism. The truth is, interviewers ask this question to understand your career aspirations, gauge whether your goals align with the company’s role, and assess how well you’d fit into their team.
Crafting a strong answer requires preparation, self-awareness, and the ability to tailor your response to the position you’re applying for.
Why Do Recruiters Ask This Question?
This question is designed to uncover key insights about you, including:
Your Career Goals: Employers want to understand your professional ambitions and ensure the role they’re offering aligns with your vision for the future.
Role Fit: Recruiters are assessing whether your ideal job matches the role you’re applying for. If it doesn’t, it might suggest you’re not fully committed to the position or that your stay might be short-lived.
Motivators: Your answer reveals what excites and motivates you professionally, helping recruiters determine if their company can provide the right environment for you to thrive.
Structuring Your Answer
Be Honest, But Strategic
While it’s important to be truthful about your career aspirations, avoid mentioning roles or industries that deviate significantly from the job at hand. For instance, if you’re applying for a security management position, talking about a dream to become a wildlife photographer might raise eyebrows.
Align Your Ideal Job with the Role You’re Applying For
Tailor your answer to highlight aspects of the current role that overlap with your vision of an ideal job. This demonstrates enthusiasm and commitment.
Show Flexibility and a Growth Mindset
Employers appreciate candidates who are adaptable and eager to grow within the company. Mention how you’d like to develop your skills and progress in a way that benefits both you and the organisation.
Avoid Unrealistic or Generic Statements
Avoid overly idealistic answers like, “I want to be the CEO in a year,” unless it’s a realistic trajectory. Similarly, steer clear of generic answers like, “I want to work in a positive environment,” without explaining what that means to you.
Key Points to Include
Relevant Skills and Interests: Discuss the skills you want to utilise or develop in your ideal job.
Teamwork or Independence: Highlight whether you prefer collaborative or independent work and how that fits the role.
Long-Term Goals: Share how the role can help you achieve your career aspirations.
Enthusiasm for the Role: Show genuine interest in the position you’re applying for by explaining how it matches your professional goals.
Model Answer
Interviewer: "What is your ideal job?"
Candidate: "My ideal job is one where I can use my skills and experience to make a meaningful impact while continuing to learn and grow. For example, I thrive in roles that allow me to manage teams, solve complex problems, and contribute to achieving organisational goals.
This is why I’m particularly excited about this position. It aligns with my strengths in project management and team leadership, while also offering opportunities to deepen my expertise in [insert specific skill or area related to the role].
In the long term, I aspire to take on more responsibilities and contribute to strategic decision-making within the company. I value organisations that encourage growth and innovation, and I see this role as a perfect fit for my aspirations and skill set."
Why This Works
Customised to the Role: The candidate highlights specific aspects of the job that match their skills and aspirations.
Shows Long-Term Interest: The mention of future responsibilities reassures the employer of the candidate’s commitment.
Balanced Enthusiasm: The answer is professional, realistic, and enthusiastic, demonstrating genuine interest in the company.
Final Tips
Do Your Research: Learn about the company’s culture and the role to tailor your answer effectively.
Be Specific: Generic answers can come across as unprepared or insincere. Focus on aspects of the role that genuinely excite you.
Practice: Rehearse your answer to ensure you can deliver it with confidence and clarity.
Remember, your response to "What is your ideal job?" is an opportunity to align your aspirations with the role you’re applying for. A well-crafted answer can demonstrate your professionalism, enthusiasm, and readiness to contribute to the organisation’s success.
5. The different career options available in the security field:
The Role of Branch Administrators in the Security Industry
Branch Administrators play a crucial role in the smooth operation of security companies. They serve as the backbone of administrative support, ensuring that daily activities at a branch level run efficiently. This role requires exceptional organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Duties and Responsibilities
The key responsibilities of a Branch Administrator include:
Administrative Support: Handling correspondence, filing, data entry, and maintaining accurate records of staff, clients, and operational activities.
Staff Coordination: Managing staff schedules, tracking attendance, and assisting with payroll processes.
Client Liaison: Acting as the first point of contact for clients, addressing inquiries, and ensuring client satisfaction.
Inventory and Equipment Management: Keeping track of branch equipment, uniforms, and supplies to ensure that everything is in place for operations.
Compliance and Reporting: Ensuring adherence to company policies, preparing reports for management, and maintaining regulatory compliance.
The Importance of Branch Administrators
Branch Administrators are essential to the success of a security company. They provide the structure and support needed for the branch to deliver high-quality services. By managing the administrative workload, they allow operational teams, such as security guards and supervisors, to focus on their core responsibilities of maintaining safety and security.
Effective Branch Administrators also help maintain strong relationships with clients, contributing to client retention and overall business growth. Their ability to ensure compliance and accurate reporting protects the company from legal and operational risks.
Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a Branch Administrator, candidates typically need:
Strong administrative and organisational skills.
Proficiency in office software, such as Microsoft Office or similar systems.
Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
Familiarity with security industry operations is often an advantage.
Attention to detail and the ability to handle confidential information.
Career Prospects
Branch Administrators have various opportunities for growth. With experience, they can progress to roles such as Regional Administrators, Branch Managers, or Operations Coordinators. Their skills are also transferable to other industries, broadening their career options.
Branch Administrators are the unsung heroes of the security industry, ensuring operational excellence and client satisfaction at the branch level. Their work behind the scenes is vital for the success of security companies, making this a rewarding and impactful career path.
Published on 25 October 2024 ByJonathan Kaiser and Miguel Malaj
South Africa is a dangerous place. This is not news to anyone, however, what may come as a surprise is the size of our private security force that has ballooned to 2.7 million registered guards. To place that into perspective, South Africa only has 150 000 police officers and 71 000 active military personnel.
The state of crime is such that security services are deemed a necessity and not a luxury. With over 300 000 cases of theft and burglary reported each quarter in South Africa, business owners and private individuals have little choice but to rely on the R50 billion private security industry. Concerningly 300 – 600 guards die in the line of duty each year. These facts are an unfortunate indictment on society.
Alarmingly, from the first graph below, it is evident that, at least from 2010, we have deployed less police per person per year, notwithstanding the continual growth in population. Evident from the second graph depicting the Crime index, crime rates have not dropped and have remained uncomfortably stable and high. It is therefore no feat of great imagination to predict that our reliance on private security services will only increase in future.
When security services fail to protect property or life, the consequences can be severe (literally life or death), and clients are quick to hold security firms accountable, as recent case law demonstrates. What then are the key drivers behind claims in this space and what are the primary risks facing this industry?
Achilles Heel
With the exclusion of petty or chance theft, industry experts agree with us that, for the most part, criminal syndicates are responsible for organising most crime within this country. It is operated like a business and is exceptionally efficient. Claim investigations reveal that in most large-scale operations, one or more security officials have been bribed and in the few cases where bribes were refused, those guards are often kidnapped (or their lives threatened) and replaced with doppelgangers. Once the ‘replacement’ guard was let onto site, all the failsafe security systems and processes come to nought. In another case, the syndicate bribed two different security firms (onsite and offsite monitoring) and furthermore had inside knowledge on the building layout to locate and avoid the infrared beams.
The ‘Achilles heel’ then to the security industry is the apparent ease with which guards can be swayed to betray their employers, and furthermore, the lack of controls around ensuring that guards identities are properly authenticated prior to entry onto any site, irrespective if the person ‘looks’ like one of the regular guards. Much like cyber security, the weakest link is usually the human element.
Who watches the watchmen?
There is a lack of continuous oversight over the guards themselves. The philosopher Plato is credited with the quote ‘Quis custodiet ipsos custodes’: “Who watches the watchmen”. Independent checking and site supervision is key to keeping everyone honest. Based on our claims data, had there been independent oversight, perhaps in the form of a control room, it would forestall most if not all large-scale theft.
Without proper oversight, the trust placed in security officials is merely blind faith, and the risk of corruption is high. This risk is perhaps one born from socio-economic circumstances and with remuneration for security services being on the low end and consumers in South Africa being unwilling or unable to pay for absolute loyalty, these issues will persist.
To demonstrate effective risk mitigation, security service providers must implement measures to have ongoing oversight – to watch its watchmen.
Self-defence or trigger happy?
Another factor plaguing the reputation of the industry as well as being a leading cause for claims is the lack of restraint being exercised by security officials. The law calls for a proportional response when acting in self-defence or out of necessity. One would, for example, be hard pressed to convince a court that it was necessary to shoot a suspect in the back when they failed to surrender and were fleeing. Only the police can issue orders that are by law required to be complied with. Notwithstanding such orders, the police would not, per se, be entitled to shoot any suspect in the back for disobeying their orders to surrender.
Recently an unarmed man was shot by a security official because he refused to move away from an ATM that the guard wanted to refill. The use of force in this incident was on the face of it unnecessary and extreme.
In another matter, a security official, in attempting to prevent robbers from fleeing the scene, accidentally shot an innocent bystander.
Self-defence or necessity typically requires that force be proportional and used only as a last resort. These incidents highlight the risks and legal complexities surrounding the discharge of firearms. The lesson here is clear: the use of a firearm must be strictly proportional to the threat and employed only when absolutely necessary. Numerous claims have arisen from the disproportionate use of force, underscoring the need for robust internal training and clear policies on the use of firearms. The primary objective of the security guard is to protect, not arrest.
The South African private security industry is regarded as one of the most sophisticated in the world. Still, like any other industry, the industry is influenced by various elements which include, complying with the law, adhering to industry regulations and standards, maintaining commercial relationships, competition, meeting financial targets, managing reputational risk, investing and utilisation of technology, whilst simultaneously navigating the unique challenges that arise from other elements inherent to South Africa such as social inequality, poor economic performance, high levels of unemployment, lack of law enforcement, violence, and poverty ultimately contributing to a high crime rate.
When considering the unique challenges, the private security industry faces, as a portfolio manager (insurance broker and insurer), relying on the traditional methods of underwriting and risk evaluation may no longer be adequate. Therefore, underwriting a security company effectively will require a more collaborative approach, particularly through close partnerships with brokers and the security company to gain a comprehensive understanding of the security company. Portfolio managers should in addition to standard risk factors focus on the experience of the personnel responsible for the day-to-day operations and compliance, evaluate the security company’s standard operating procedures (SOPs), training programmes, recruitment and vetting practices, disciplinary procedures, and accident response plans.
Additionally, evaluating the firm’s primary customers, their experience in the type of security services rendered, and their approach to contractual risk management is essential.
During the 2024 underwriting year, the SHA team applied this approach, and we can confirm that the collaborations were fruitful and resulted in good engagements on important issues facing the security industry.
For example, when we engaged with security companies to understand how they are addressing some of the most common and aggravating factors challenging security companies, we learnt about some of the following mitigating factors being used:
Control rooms and 24/7 remote monitoring: This tool enables security companies to monitor sites remotely as opposed to the site itself. The monitoring technology used integrates the use of artificial intelligence, smart alarms, sensors and cameras allowing security companies to monitor multiple sites simultaneously with little to no actual human involvement with the operator just having to respond to an alert. Operators in the control room are subject to strict vetting procedures and access to the control room uses advanced biometrics systems. The combination of these features and controls allows security companies to combat and reduce the risk of the ‘Achilles heel’ which is probably the most common aggravating factor contributing to the failure to prevent theft, robbery, fidelity-type losses, and harm to security guards.
Drones: One of the security companies we engaged with started using and operating drones remotely from their control room. Aerial monitoring allows the security company to monitor large areas and difficult-to-reach sites (i.e. farms, mining operations, forestry, and remote estates) more frequently and in a time-effective manner. However, it should be noted that one of the challenges security companies will face in this space is the lack of legislation and/or regulation addressing the use of drones in the security industry.
Extensive firearm training including real life simulations: In addition to theoretical firearm training, during our site visits we witnessed practical training on shooting firearms including real-life scenario-based simulations training. The training is conducted and facilitated by ex-military and police officers. The purpose of this is to enable and help armed guards improve their decision making under high stress situations, develop their judgement and problem-solving ability based on various scenarios, improve their shooting skills and muscle memory, and help guards better adhere to protocols to ensure compliance with industry standards and legislation. This type of firearm training may help prevent “trigger happy” scenarios highlighted earlier.
The examples highlighted above are only some of the methods security companies are using to address their challenges, but they also illustrate some of the benefits of a more collaborative approach to managing a portfolio as it enables portfolio managers to improve their knowledge and understanding of the industry which will in turn improve underwriting practices, risk evaluation and selection.
In addition to the above, portfolio managers should consider monitoring PSIRA’s (Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority) performance. PSIRA’s performance is critical because it is responsible for the oversight, regulation, and enforcement of the security industry rules, standards, and practices. PSIRA releases an annual report available on its website. This report shares information in relation to the authority’s performance of various objectives which includes important areas such as their administration ability which focuses on how PSIRA achieves their strategic initiatives, objectives and goals.
The report also has a dedicated section focusing on the PSIRA’s ability to enforce the law. This section’s primary focus is ensuring that all security industry players operate and comply with regulations and standards and it takes appropriate action where violations happen and where necessary prosecute players who do not comply. The report includes key performance indicators such as the number of security companies inspected, the number of security companies firearm-related activities inspected, the number of complaints investigated, and the number of security companies prosecuted for non-compliance.
The annual report also covers the research and development activities of PSIRA which shares articles and surveys based on the research and investigations conducted by PSIRA, for example, in a report called “TRACKING THE VALUABLE: THE USE OF TRACKING DEVICES IN THE PRIVATE SECURITY SECTOR”, the report researched and investigated the tracking sector which can be split into the following 3 segments:
Technology: this segment includes the manufacturing and assembling of tracking devices and accessories; The installation and monitoring segment which consists of companies that are fitting tracking devices and providing monitoring for motor vehicles, trailers, human beings, and animals; And the segment responsible for tracking and recovery of vehicles, property, or people.
One of the interesting findings of the report highlighted several companies providing the services listed in the three points above are not registered service providers and recommended that service providers who fall within these segments are obligated to register and be certified with PSIRA.
Reviewing the annual PSIRA report may share valuable insights into the security industry which can enable portfolio managers to proactively address and prevent possible gaps that may exist in their security industry insurance portfolio.
Written by Jonathan Kaiser, Claims Manager at SHA Risk Specialists, and Miguel Malaj, Business Head at SHA Risk Specialists. SHA Risk Specialists, a division of Santam, is the largest provider of liability insurance on the African continent and internationally.
That’s it for this week’s edition! We hope you found it informative. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with your colleagues.
We’d love to hear from you—leave your feedback or ideas in the comments. Your input helps shape future content and ensures the newsletter remains valuable to you.
Note: Due to work commitments, we’ll likely transition to a monthly newsletter format soon—stay tuned for updates!
