Security is more than providing guards

Recently the private security sector in South Africa was under attacked in a so called Green Paper on Policing for interfering and trying to take over the role of the SA Police in crime fighting in South Africa – a debate in progress. Misconceptions about the actual role of the private security in SA prevail.

So often private security is associated with fighting crime and handling forearms only – this is but one of various activities that the private security industry is responsible for. As a matter of fact the private security industry is indeed very successful in fighting crime - who is the first to arrive at a residential burglary.

The private security industry, at least the larger and future orientated security businesses, has grown into risk reduction service providers. There is more to guarding, it is about a holistic approach providing a bouquet of services ranging indeed from fighting crime to safety enforcement, stock control, front office reception services, escort services, safety incident investigations, fire services and many more.

Unfortunately there are  many of the 9 000 private security companies in SA that fail to realize the bigger picture and many are what is referred to as the “providers of warm bodies in uniforms” – these are indeed the role players adding to the negative image of the industry.  

Time has come for the end users of security to realize that it is not about the cheapest security services but about the service provider than can summarise and find solutions to a variety of risks. So often, almost as a rule, the lowest level of security officers are hired by business to reduce their risk – how serious can those business leaders be about their risk or is the responsibility conveniently transferred to a private security company at the lowest premium. They leave decision making in crisis situations and at split seconds in the hands of people that are sometimes at the lowest end of remuneration, training and motivation levels in structures where remuneration for services fails to recognise the important role of decentralised private security management – “on site rather than distanced management”.

In an era of workforces with different discipline and a labour market that is different to the past the traditional security guard has to be supplemented with additional safeguards – electronic security devices, cameras, tracking systems, external and additional support teams are a few of the safeguards that traditional security guarding services require to meet the serious business owners demands for risk reduction.

Let us not confuse security guards with fighting crime only – they have an important role to play in your total risk reduction service of your business (without being armed).

NEW COMMAND UNIT MOBILE IN RISK REDUCTION

The Thorburn Mobile Command Unit, a tactical mobile workstation backed up by CCTV cameras and on board monitoring, was launched officially during the past week at the Thorburn Security Solutions offices in Pretoria.  Electronic security solutions suppliers Hayman Systems designed and build the Mobile Command Unit for Thorburn Security Solutions. Hayman Systems Managing Director Jan Louis Grobelaar  commented that “We are proud of this outcome. The design of this Mobile Command Unit allows for the support of rapid deployment, crowd facilitation and area dominance that is effective and can be easily applied. The various power supply capabilities and high level Bosch cameras with sufficient battery back up in wireless applications are unique quality features.”

Unique in the design is its variation on power supplies – solar power, electricity or generator. Whilst the solar power is convenient in remote areas and adding to environmental protection, is the downfall of the additional 200kg weight of the batteries adding to difficulty in towing the unit.

The unit was recently deployed at a music festival at Buffelsvlei  Guest Farm near Lydenburg and the first success was achieved when, after the event, culprits stealing a table were identified on the review of CCTV footage. This weekend, on Women’s Day, the unit will deploy to Morula Sun and Casino to monitor a music festival in support of the Thorburn event security officers.

The Mobile Command Unit provides flexibility in operational execution – addition workspace and adds “eyes” to areas of interest. It is especially the wireless cameras that are deployed up to 100 – 150 meters from the unit which provides depth in surveillance, backed by a dome camera.

Commenting on the new product addition to the Thorburn stable, MD Dolf Scheepers commented that “We constantly design and invest in new products and services, we adapt easily and we strive for absolute quality through a dedicated leadership team with well-motivated and cared for security officers. We see ourselves as leaders in the field. Our adherence to South African norms and standards through our black ownership, recently increased black women shareholding to 37%, Level 2 BBBEE rating, SABS ISO certification and reputation as a company that cares for communities where we operate are some of our unique features us pride ourselves on.”

Dr Donald assists in presenting Surveillance Skills

The past two weeks saw intense efforts of skills development of Thorburn Security Solutions staff in the Northern Region which ranges from focussed mining security refresher training courses in Steelpoort, intense CCTV surveillance training , psychometric potential assessments on staff to employment equity discussions on future EE improvements in the company.

Ten Thorburn Security Solutions (from Pretoria, Nkomati Mine and Phalabora Mining Company) and two Phalabora Mining Company CCTV surveillance operatives attended a two day surveillance course presented by Dr Craig Donald from Leaderware who is an industrial psychologist. He is a specialist in training CCTV body language and the detection of incident behaviour.

In Steelpoort in Mpumalanga at the Thorburn Operational Center mining security officers were refreshed in security techniques as part of the bi annual refresher training.

During the past two weeks ten employees (as part of a larger group to be tested over the next few months) have undergone psychometric skills potential assessments conducted by outsourced specialists Ipac. The purpose is to determine future leadership potential and future training and development focus areas for staff. Many internal promotions in the past were prompted by the results of Ipac potential analysis results.

 In a latest development has the company Employment Equity Committee met during the week to discuss EE matters which amongst others will include the development of staff. The EE committee members were given the assurance that the development of staff will be high on the Thorburn agenda and that there will be a specific focus of female development.

Unigrad Lowveld Campus (former Damelin Nelspruit) in Nelspruit will be contracted to provide Office Administration courses to female mining security officers in the Steeplpoort area whilst Business Writing, as an expansion of our previous English courses in Steelpoort, will also be presented in the near future. Lecturers from Unigrad Lowveld campus will be deployed to Steelpoort to support the Thorburn Security training needs.

 In Johannesburg our annual 10 months English Training Course presented by Gwen Hoch from Innovative Learning will commence in August 2013 in Rosebank, focussed on Johannesburg employees.

 

 

 

Two in One Madiba Day 2013 also a Thorburn ice Breaker

Thorburn Security Solutions joined the world in celebrating Madiba’s 95^th birthday and hundreds of companies “doing good” to communities on this special day. Early morning all Thorburn operational areas received a sms reminding our staff of this special day and thanked Madiba for his contribution to a better SA.

Late afternoon Regional Manager Reinardt Rall and a team from the Thorburn Northern Regional Office added warmth to 100 under privileged children at Highlands Park in Eersterus east of Pretoria. Whilst the Anglican Church Good Sheppard Parish in Eersterus offered these children with a hot meal (weekly), the Thorburn Security Solutions team handed out beanie hats and gloves to the 100 children. The Good Sheppard Parish provide meals to almost 300 children per week in three areas in Eersterus.

Reverend Patricia Ohlson expressed her appreciation and gratitude towards Thorburn Security Solutions for this initiative.

Two objectives achieved with one visit – honouring the Madiba heritage and also bringing warmth through the Thorburn Ice Breaker Project – in last week a similar project was launched near Nkomati Mine in Mpumalanga Province.

Below is the Thorburn Security Solutions team with the some of the children at Highlands Park

Vincent Ndou (left) and Florry Modisane (right) with a recipient of the beanie hat and gloves

 

 

 

To Live your Dream

To live your Dream

On Friday morning I heard a very interesting radio discussion on Living a Dream -  when the initial dream is shattered, dead, unfulfilled not viable or whatever. There must be a new dream, fresh approach and importantly – there must be someone strong with or supporting you Living that Dream. In the unknown environment of living a new dream one needs support.

Are we in SA not focussing too much on the old dream – are we not managing our future by relying on the old dream of a revolution (some political parties still refer to themselves as a revolutionary party whilst other still follow segregation and white rule). It sounds as if we have a new dream – a new democracy but the ingredients of becoming the true democracy still rely of the revolutionary concepts and talk. It is like baking that fresh bread from a new recipe with the yeast and dough from 1994. The recipe is fresh with the objective of a different bread, but the ingredients would not allow this bread to rise to the expectations. Labour unrest, strikes and militancy are typical examples of the past – defenced by saying that in a democracy people must strike?

It is not only the dream of government that is not always a fresh dream, our business dreams are sometimes also old dreams with nothing fresh to it – the old saying will always prevail: “if you want to do business today, the way you have done it yesterday you would not be in business tomorrow”   Yes, many a business practice will never change but it is required to bring about change in practices that can change – have a new business dream, live that dream?

Can business leaders whom have reached their “sell by date” actually Live a New Dream for their business? I doubt. We first need to extend the sell by date of the business leaders and then focus on the new dream. We need to give the business leader support or the leader has to create his own support for his new dream. Be careful – the sell by date one can do something about but when the leader reach his expiry date, there is a problem difficult to fix.

Let us all Live New Dreams, have strength to get there and stop focusing on the negatives of the past in achieving the dream.

Strategic Time Out and Recalculating before its half time

Emotions of poor performance, laziness and general slackness amongst some people in South Africa has driven me to thoughts on the lessons of life – in short Reality

From excellence to significance  - that is the half time decision we have to take but before we reach half time we need to “recalculate” (as we get the Garmin notice when we are off track or on the wrong route). Do we spend enough time to “recalculate” about our lives or are we just in a stream and there we go on the road to nowhere?

How often do we hear that message on our wrong routes that we have taken where a system “recalculate” the new direction that we have to take. Isn’t that true in life that we constantly have to “recalculate” and change direction to achieve the ultimate objective where we want to be? Don’t we sometimes ignore that “recalculation”, carry on with the wrong route and eventually stop, study the tracking device and then carry on a new route again? How many times have the irritating “recalculation” sound been switched off thinking that on “gut feeling” I can reach the target or objective?

But when we play our game of life, where we would like to call half time around the 40 or 50’s mark, we also need to know where we want to play before half time. It is so clear when someone plays in his own half, always defending his goal line - defending from the one end to the other end, occasionally giving a long kick in the half of the positive life but falling back defending against the onslaughts of life again – never exploiting the advantages of the long kick. Ignoring the sounds of “recalculating”, not being persistent or not in an environment where he can or want to hear the “recalculating” sounds. Pubs, clubs and social parties are not the best places to hear these sounds of “recalculating”. On the other hand, if you don’t want to hear it you will never hear it. If excellence is not in your making, you would not get there – your body language and appearance also tells the story of excellence.

“Strategic Time Out” (STO) is a concept in soccer, cricket and in rugby (water break) that time out in soccer and that break in IPL cricket to do a “mini recalculation” or just to rest – but in actual fact that break needed to re strategize and to get new and quick direction. It is that chances in life to   get back on track to minimise the “recalculation” calls – eventually to be in a position to move from excellence to significance in our mid years when we go to the “change room of life” and call half time. How will it feel if we never reach the “change room of life” because we never succeeded in our first half? We neglected the game plan from the coach of life, the lessons learned from others become mistakes repeated and in general we run from the one side of life to the other – no direction to the gaol line of life.  We drop balls, we miss passes, we don’t see the gaps of life and we never follow up on our long kicks. When we have opportunities then it is from the defence on our own goal line.

Young South Africans – stop playing in your own half defending your goal line, stop batting from the back foot in defensive mode, listen to the “recalculation” calls from the Garmin of life and use your Strategic Time Out to gain momentum – avoid the practices of getting slack, achieving nothing and not gaining in the game of life. You are the future leaders in this country and you are to take business forward through passion, dedication, loyalty and hard work. Listen to the “recalculation calls”, take STO and make the best of your game – play in the opponent half attacking the goal line of the realities that we have to face every day.

Remember that Hope is not a Strategy –just a hope.

Handling labour unrest in the future - the way forward?

The labour strike season is set to open in South Africa. The period May to September is known as strike season as this is the time period when most and predominantly mining wage negotiations, takes place. It is rumoured and probably true that the mining industry is gearing themselves for unknown levels of labour unrest as double digit wage increase expectations would be tabled. Ironically the hunting season is also open in May.

How will the labour unrest be handled, would organised labour honour labour legislation, will there be a repeat of Marikana, will there be limitations on the use of force against striking workers and to what extent will unions have control over their members? Following the criticism at Marikana what can be expected from the SAP?

Would business expect private security to fulfil the role of the SAP in strike handling when it comes to the use of force or would it be more negotiated unrest and the handling thereof – we hope for a peaceful wage negotiation period in SA in 2013 hoping that lessons at Marikana in 2012 have been learnt in terms of the do’s and don’ts of strikes and the handling thereof. We cannot afford a repeat of the Marikana disaster!

The outcome of the Marikana Commission would be interesting and it would be interesting to see the limitations that would be put on law enforcement agencies and private security in terms of the handling of crowds in the future?

Impact of the Economic downturn on the security industry in SA.

Recession, economic downturn, impact of labour unrest on mining and the general economy, high labour force salary expectations, labour union fights for survival, political rivalry with external influences from socialist movements on labour issues  and now lately fragflation (high inflation and low economic growth) also influence the private security industry negatively. With more than 8 000 registered security businesses the “cake” is not big enough to give everyone a sizable opportunity under current conditions.

The reality is a decline in business spending or planning to spend on private security services and stretching payment terms to 60 days plus. Budget adjustments hardly exceed 6% whilst new security contracts are all signed on lower than current rates. The nett effect is an ailing private security industry dropping to net profit margins below 5% at rand values of between R300 and R350 per person per month. It is estimated that on equal time work, companies make more profit out of car guards than a security guard – up to R900 profit could be made from a car guard.

Despite for the above is the security industry growing – more and more new entrants are seen in the industry, new names emerge and “go down” (No nonsense security CC) more second hand bakkies of new companies feature and there are rumours of a growing dissatisfaction amongst security officers due to low rates, non complying security owners pertaining to provident fund contributions and statutory compliance. Government Gazette 36278 dated 28 March 2013 reflect on more than 200 security services providers withdrawn from rendering security services due to failure to pay annual PSIRA fees. In an April 2013 report it is published that only 480 private security companies out of 9020 registered companies contribute and comply with the regulations of the Private Security Services Provident Fund (PSSPF).

But to the contrary:  The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) is spending more than R65 milj on offices and furniture to improve their corporate image and R700 000 a year for a management events office with no events to manage, as published in a Parliaments portfolio committee report on police. The authority is funded through tariffs and fees from members – that is security companies and security officers contributing. To foot the bill, tariff increases imposed were almost 900% in 2012 and is now a cause for legal action from the private security industry. The chairman of PSIRA earns R1,44 milj per annum, which is according to the report R500 000 more than in equivalent entities.  All the positions in the Risk Management and Internal Audit and prosecution division were empty and the IT department appointed 5 new people. Despite for all of these the portfolio committee raised its concerns for poor performance, meeting only 14 of the 46 measureable targets leaving the authority with a 30,4% success rate.

Where does this leave private security companies and business?

 A decline in service levels, less innovative security solutions, security officers less cared for, increases in safety risks due to improper uniforms and protective measures with staff vulnerable due to non statutory compliance in terms of UIF, WCA and other compliant contributions and an industry looking shabby due to low cost uniforms? All of these in efforts to protect net profit margins and enhance shareholder expectations?

The serious security services provider would take on the challenge to compete on price (sic) and would differentiate the low price with additional products and services – over are the days where high prices would be justified with promises of better staff, better uniforms, better training and management. The era is entered (wrongly) where low prices will be protected by the above but business will require that ‘extra” from the service provider, despite for a low price.

 More and more smaller role players will vanish whilst BBBEE and Mining Charter requirements will put more pressure on the larger companies to share wealth in especially mining contracts with local role players putting additional pressure on profit margins being at least 26% less than a year ago.

Whilst survival will force security companies to “go for every new business opportunity” will the responsible business owner still wait and see to it that affordable business contracts are entered into. Mining security might not, if Mining Charter pressure continue to surface, be the lucrative business in the future.

Responsible business owners and users of private security will continue to maintain their values of preferring security services suppliers who care for their employees, value safety of staff and provide that bit extra that would put the user of security at ease of dealing with a responsible security services supplier. The risk of dishonest, unhappy and disgruntled security staff is a threat to business.

Irresponsible security businesses will underpay their staff, reduce costs on uniforms and site equipment and continue to be non statutory compliant – clever and innovative ideas to overcome high statutory expenses in terms of for example the 4,28% WCA contributions will become more pertinent whilst tax compliance would decrease. Security officer unhappiness and possible irresponsible industrial action could be the order of the day.

 Responsible security companies will continue to do business on quality standards, differentiate themselves from the rest of the market and wait for “better days to come” whilst the responsible user of security should appreciate and uses businesses that would be prepared to reduce costs, maintain standards and lower profits.

 The future

The future lies in the hands of true, honest and caring leaders with a passion for the industry, service delivery and maintenance of standards who rate quality as the first prize and then profits will follow immediately

 

 

SECURITY BRUTALITY

Having watched the video where an elderly lady got beaten up by store (CB clothing) security in Jane Furse in Sekhukhuneland in Limpopo Province (already in October 2012 but only surfaced now) can only be described as shocking. It was alleged that she stole a packet of under wear, but the violent beating, almost like a “tribal or bundu court”, is ridiculous.

This took place whilst being looked on by what is presumed to be clothing store staff. Luckily five arrests were executed in April 2013 and bail denied to the three main suspects. These three suspects, presumed to be security guards or staff performing security functions, are also facing charges of assault from a previous case. The question is – if they performed security functions they had to be registered as security officers –are they registered and who do they work for?

The levels of brutality in SA are getting out of hand – if it is not individual police officers, then security guards (recent example on illegal miners caught) and even striking workers. Where will it end?

There must be a “bigger picture” – are there underlying social frustrations or psychological disorders that requires attention? Can ordinary people act in this manner - are South Africans frustrated with each other, disgruntled with social systems or even politically disillusioned and tired of substandard living conditions or what is our problem in SA? Is this the lawless society that we live in where there is no respect for each other or the legal system - on all levels of society?

How low are our morals and what could be done to lift these morals?

 

 

Work stoppages a risk to stability in business?

2012 saw the bloodiest and most stretched out labour actions in many years in SA. If protected it would have been more acceptable but the unprotected and illegal nature of the 2012 strike actions made it even worse – with no respect for labour laws in SA. It was specifically the mining industry and Western Cape seasonal farm  workers that were the culprits.

What was significant of the 2012 strikes in the mining sectors was the move away from the traditional stronghold labour union, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) to a rival and non COSATU affiliated union, AMCU. Being on the background most of the time in 2012 AMCU left the talking and organizing to the Democratic Socialist Movement – an anti ANC movement with strong socialist ties and links to a London based organisation.

The total value of production lost due to strikes and stoppages in the mining industry in 2012 reached R15.3 billion ($1.67 billion), Mining Weekly.com reported.

The outlook for 2013 does not look good an kicked off on a negative note – NUM and AMCU rivalry continued, forcing certain mines to lose production due to illegal protest action, AMCU initially refused to assign an  agreement with government, mines and NUM but eventually succeeded to do so,  construction workers at the MEDUPI power plant construction area have been striking since mid January 2013 halting construction and delaying the finalisation of the project scheduled for finishing year end and in another devastating strike where  employees and a union are fighting for union recognition has caused  PRASA (the rail agency) R70 milj in damage to infrastructure. Nursing students in Gauteng went on strike, South African medical students in Cuba strike, a private security company in Mpumalanga strike, Dairy belle employees were on a stretched out strike in NW province, striking employees on three mines of Exxaro Coal, SAA employees strike for union organisational rights, Post Office workers in Gauteng and any more are on strike– all in the first three months of 2013.

The mood of labour is definitely not supporting economic growth, let alone building the image of SA abroad.  One can expect that the 2012 trend of illegal strikes or initial illegal work stoppages will continue especially in the mining industry where wages negotiations are scheduled for this year  – grievances will be addressed firstly through illegal work stoppages and then followed by dialogue. It can further be expected that AMCU would continue with a drive to take over membership from the NUM on mines and on various fronts in SA. AMCU earned themselves the tag of a “striking” rather than negotiating union.

When it happens it happens to everyone

Icon’s, celebrities, super stars, hero’s or whatever we call standing out in society have an inherent similarity to ordinary  citizens and that is that somewhere in their makeup they are also normal.

The past 12 months saw devastating impacts on various sports celebrities.  How painful is it to see Joost van der Westhuizen the former rugby hero (see him walking and listening to him talking), Mark Boucher our cricket celebrity almost losing his eye in a freak accident in a cricket match. Now we have Oscar Pistorius, world renowned athlete shattered following a life changing four shots killing his girlfriend. Reeva Steenkamp died as a model, celebrity and known personality.  Lance Armstrong was centre in a drug scandal. Many years ago it was Tiger Woods and his “underground lifestyle” and the most famous for South Africans was Hansie Cronje and his match fixing scandal and eventual tragic death – now Oscar follows in his footsteps.

What has happened to all of them is normal and happens to the ordinary citizens every day. Anine Booysen lost her life through rape and left her parents behind in a dramatic rape case in Bredasdorp in the Western Cape. The former investigating officer Botha in the Pistorius case in what is described as “bad day” in the witness stand has been taken off the case - all of a sudden to hear that a  case of attempted murder  withdrawn many years ago has been reopened – in the late afternoon after his dismal witness appearance in court. What an unbelievable coincidence on a day when it seems as if the state had no foot to stand on against Oscar - quick thinking by the powers to be shattering an ordinary policeman?

 Are we prepared for the “happening” in our lives –if we are hardworking labourers, blue collar workers, politicians or if we are executions and celebrities? In a recent interview cricket star Mark Boucher was very realistic saying that the accident causing him to lose out site in his eye and thereby not reaching the milestone 150 test match could have happened in his first or second test of his career leaving him without a career. He is very thankful even if this has happened.

Following a heart operation eight years ago I read the book “Halftime” making me realize that it is time to get to the change room of life, re strategize, redirect certain priorities and to make that life change for the second half or what is intended to be a last half of my life”. As it is referred the change from Excellence to Significance. Am I achieving full significance – no – I have to get back to the change room of life from time to time and again do adjustments.

I heard Joost talking to Jacaranda radio station in the past week on his birthday and realized that the once hero of Loftus Versfeld rugby stadium and the rugby nation is just as ordinary as all of us, he is just worse off as he has a daily counter on his life and he knows it. Ordinary people and celebrities all have a counter but we don’t see or hear it “tick”. Mark Boucher has taken his second half and moved in a worthy charity focusing on anti-rhino pouching. Our counter could reach its target in seconds without warning us  - did Oscar think his Valentines day would be such a disaster?

Oscar, following his gloom, glamour, fight for recognition and achieving success has a hard gravel road ahead, whatever the outcome of the court case his life has changed forever the night of 13 February – he should still be in the mode of Excellence and he would probably have to go to the change room of life and decide which way forward. Reeva Steenkamp did not have a chance in live to get to the change room and call halftime – she was still young and in her Excellence phase not necessary to re strategize. She was still on the compass and GPS phase with a call for “recalculating” now and then, change direction and move on in success. But the ordinary girl from Bredasdorp, Anine Booysen followed the same route as Reeva – a world just as shattered about her death as with Reeva.

For Oscar the GPS have temporarily switched off as any direction now might be the wrong direction and the court has put limitations on his direction – the outcome of the court case starting in June 2013 will determine his next and new direction. Hard life………but faith, prayer and belief are the cornerstones of his life, more than ever before.

And the families -in situations like this families and close friends make changes, choices and sacrifices – each of the mentioned celebrities’ families and friends made sacrifices.  Bitterness at least with the Booysen and Steenkamp families and so many we don’t know whilst uncertainty will haunt the Pistorius family for many months to come.

It happens to all of us – when we are in the run for Excellence we must listen to the GPS of life and the recalculating turnaround messages. When the time of our life is there we must go to the change room of life and strategize for Significance – our counter of life ticker could change its stance in seconds.

Perspective on leader managers

“The next revolution started: "ordinary people like me getting frustrated with systems of which the 'soul' lacks authentic leader-managers", Callie Roos commented on Twitter on 19 January 2013. Knowing Callie Roos for some years as a life coach, mentor, motivational speaker, trainer and change manager, Callie posts on his website (www.onpurpose.co.za) that experience has taught him four things about the successful businesses of the future:

• They will be distinguished by the wholeness of their people.
• Sustainable change begins where the individual mind set reflect on reality and create new meaning for itself.
• To become pro-active and advance to significance is a choice.
• The ultimate training and development intervention happens through process and not only design.

Having read Callie’s latest Tweet (19 January 2013) on his frustration and experience with the lack of leader managers in SA, I found an email that I have send on 9 Sept 2010 after I attended a church service that Callie conducted in Pierre van Ryneveld in Centurion (Pretoria). It was so inspirational that I summarised what Callie has said in an email to my managers at Thorburn Security Solutions. Comparing what Callie has said on 9 September 2010 with his January 2013 tweet, I must share it with you and I quote my email.

“Having listened thoroughly to the "pastor" or "dominee" in church this morning (Callie Roos - see detail on www.onpurpose.co.za or www.callieroos.co.za), I realized that for us to be successful and to be in a position to "make a mark", be respected or to just be the leader of choice in Thorburn Security, we have to amongst others:

 1.            Be thankful - We have so much to be thankful for – people who are thankful are normally also humble. Sit back, think of what you have and what others would dream of to have from you and be humble about your and our achievements.

 2.            We need to have a strong vision - we need to know what we want to achieve and we must do it!

3.            We need to take ownership - be in control of what you do or what is expected from you to do. Be accountable for your deeds or you failure to do something.

4.            We need to have intuition - that gut feel that we mix with a bit of research before we commence with a task or initiative.

5.            Be inspirational - people around you must experience your presence in a positive manner and they must look forward to your very next move as they should realize that that very next move is inspiring them to higher achievements. Are you only criticizing and negative or motivational with positive inspirational acts, words and phrases? Positive Thinkers are also inspirational!

6.            Do what you do, do well! If you have two tasks to do today, do them both well - don't do three half if you need to do two well. 

 7.            You must grow! As stated are people who are thankful normally people who grow. I can recall that a well know South African, dr David Malapo wrote  a book - "if you are not growing you are dying"

I add one aspect to what Callie has said - and you know that is my focus area - that is to have a passion for life, a passion for your family, a passion for your community, passion for Thorburn Security, passion for security and loss prevention and passion for our clients. Passion is a sign of inspiration that you portray" end of quote/email.

 

I am convinced that using these elements Callie has taught us as the bear minimum for growth as leader managers in SA, we would see a vast difference and less frustrations.

 

Thanks Callie for sharing your views with us!!!

 

Update on labour unrest causing instability in SA as on 20 January 2013

The past week saw labour unrest continuing in various sectors in South Africa with the potential for instability in the labour market increasing which eventually affects the crime potential.

·         The seasonal farm workers strike in the Western Cape continued with high levels of violence and threats of “taking it to the streets of Cape Town” in the coming week. Interestingly has farmers not openly or “desperately” complained about influences on existing farming activities and it can be expected to have an influence in the latter half of February with grape harvesting, although less people might be temporarily employed but achieving more productive results.

·         The illegal strike by bus workers in Tshwane ended on 15 January 2013.

·         The legal strike by Dairy Belle workers in Bloemhof in North West Province is continuing.

·         The announcement by Amplats relating to the layoff of 14 000 workers in their Rustenburg operations caused major tension involving the ANC, government and organised labour all lashing out at Amplats with the ridiculous “calls for the nationalising” of the Amplats mines by the AMCU (union emerging in the platinum industry).

·          Harmony Gold is still keeping their Kusasalethu Mine shut until agreements could be reached with organised labour in a peaceful way forward which could eventually see some 6 000 people being retrenched. Tension in Rustenburg and Carletonville is high and other mines who already threatened with restructuring at the end of 2012. They could announce their plans soon which could add to the tension and instability.

·         A strike by employees from SAA which was initially averted, started on Friday 18 January 2013 due to the SAA Board and Executive Committee being divided if the union who has 1 300 members out of a workforce of 11 000 should be recognised.

·         On 16 January 2013 construction has stopped on the Medupi power plant in Limpopo. Contract workers from Hitachi and Alstom, companies sub-contracted by Eskom, went on strike as workers want December bonuses.

·         On 16 January  the Gauteng Department of Health has taken a decision to close down the Chris Hani Baragwanath Nursing College indefinitely following a week-long illegal protest and class disruptions.  Student nurses were expected to vacate the college premises on 16 January 2013. This follows their demand that three Heads of Department (HODs) should be removed from the college. The students have also defied a court interdict compelling them to stop the protest and return to classes.

·         On 17 January 2013 a group of approx  240 dissident security officers took to the streets of Pretoria to hand over a memorandum with demands to the Dept of Labour. The group was not represented by a union. This follows various demands and a previous attempt to launch a march on 14 December 2012 when the turnout was more than 500 people. A minimum wage of R7 500 is demanded. It is not known what the content of the memorandum and specific demands were but it is believed (from unconfirmed information) that they threatened that they could embark on strike action if they don’t get feedback from Government. It seems as some of the 240 attendees were there through intimidation.

The potential for instability, which is further influenced by community unrest as already seen in Burgersfort (Limpopo) and Sasolburg over job creation, is high. Unemployment and poverty in areas where external employment takes preference to local employment could raise the potential for community unrest. At a mine near Steelpoort it was alleged that 500 people were laid off but they continued to employee external workers. Service delivery issues could, as in other years rise from March onwards.

 

Recalculating in the Modern Journey

In the old days a compass and a map with a bit of “brain power” gave you direction. The principle of the compass and the magnetic influences on a compass linked to map work and a basic knowledge of astrology still apply, but modern technology have integrated everything in Tom Tom’, Garmins and other GPS devices which we use nowadays. I can remember there were only a few privileged military units who in SA in the mid 1980’s used satellite navigation systems in armoured vehicles opposed to the compass.

The modern journey in 2013 is a technology driven journey – the Garmin, Tom Tom, Ipad, iphone, Blackberry and Galaxy all give directions, distances and detour information – the sceneries and places of interest are, as we were used to seeing on a map, all available with the touch of a button. Dangerous is outdated devices or flat batteries.

There is however one very important function which the compass could never give you as many would only at a very late stage find that he is lost or took the wrong route, and that function is the familiar sound of “Recalculating, recalculating…………..”.

How often do we hear that message on our wrong routes that we have taken where a system recalculate the new direction that we have to take. Isn’t that true in life that we constantly have to recalculate and change direction to achieve the ultimate objective where we want to be? Don’t we sometimes ignore that recalculation, carry on with the wrong route and eventually stop, study the tracking device and then carry on a new route again? How many times have the irritating recalculation sound been switched off thinking that on “gut feeling” I can reach the target or objective? How lucky are we to have a recalculation function which we never had in the compass and map era. May the device never be outdated or have a flat battery.

In the modern journey in business the leader is the Garmin and Tom Tom and the leader determine the call to recalculate. Are leaders equipped to make that call, do people have trust in the leader to make the call on their behalf, are the leaders  familiar enough with the business to make the call and would the leader be known to his people for them to trust the recalculation call? For the leader to be trusted to make that recalculation call he must be knowledgeable about his products, may never be leading with outdated ideas, must never run out of energy with a “flat battery”, know the environment, the competitors, clients and opportunities but most of all must he be a person that people are looking up to. Great leaders are Great Achievers and therefore trusted recalculation advisors!

But as individuals, as families, as communities and religious groupings we constantly have to make the recalculation call – our beliefs, our principles, cultures, values and whatever tools there are influences our decision to recalculate. Our analysis of the ”map of life” is a sole guiding force for us to recalculate the way we heading as individuals, families and communities.

My message is simple – recalculate at the earliest possible moment on the 2013 journey and don’t wait till you are almost at the end of the journey with your compass and your map to realize you have taken the wrong route, or when the system is outdated or the battery is flat.

Labour unrest potential in SA 11 Jan 2013

In South Africa the potential for labour unrest is high. Dairy producers Dairy Bell’s staff has been on strike for the past seven weeks whilst it seem as if bus drivers in Pretoria, the capital, walked out on strike as well leaving the bus service temporarily terminated.

 With so called farm workers in the Western Cape on strike (more seasonal workers than permanent farming employees) since 9 January 2013 with more than 115 arrested already by 11 January, the strike potential for 2013 rose. Adding a threat from the NUM that more strikes can be expected in the mining industry the potential and outlook is positive for more strikes. The private security officers has since October 2012 threatened with strike action or a three day stay away and a planned march to the Union Buildings demanding  R7 500 minimum wage on 14 December 2012 failed. There desire to march and stay away from work is still prevailing.

The strike potential in SA will be influenced by

·         The current strike in the Western Cape and the opening of negotiations on 11 January with a group of farmers with a possible increase of an estimated R100 - R110 (not their desired R150 per day) on the cards. Wage expectations, the “violent feeling” and being “part of the striking struggle” could be sparked in other sectors.

·         The effects of the 2012 mining sector strikes will possibly result in job reductions and retrenchments would be the order of the day. More mines could follow the example set by Harmony where the Kusasalethu mine near Carletonville is closed in totality, a Section 189 process initiated and after 60 days retrenchments of as many as 6 000 people could be the order of the day as the labour mood and effects of the 2012 strikes have made it unbearable to manage the mine in a safe manner. The closure of the mine in order to safeguard people is supported by the Chamber of Mines. Remark. The initial 2012 prominent and later “behind the scenes union AMCU has since 2012 at for example the Harmony Kusasalethu mine gained the majority status from NUM with 62% representation.

·         Wage negotiations in the mining sector will commence early this year with high expectations for increases following the increases passed on in 2012 by for example Lonmin Platinum.

·         The presentation of the African Cup of Nations Soccer Tournament could be regarded as a forum to gain international sympathy for workers’ rights and conditions whilst it is not excluded that security officers employed in event security functions could boycott the soccer security services requirements following earlier threats to that effect in 2012.

Fitch Ratings cut South Africa’s credit rating to the second-lowest investment grade because of slowing economic growth, a widening budget deficit and rising unemployment which will all be further negatively affected by strike action and violence in SA.

Our Justice System

Is it correct to get R800 bail if you have been found in possession of platinum powder worth R800 000? Happened over festive period when Marikana Miner was caught near Rustenburg in road block.