The Star reports that the security industry says the vicious attack on its members at Moses Mabhida Stadium by suspected Kaizer Chiefs supporters is one of the many incidents reducing their members to sitting ducks at work.

The Association of African Private Security Owners of SA (Taapsosa) expressed outrage at the soccer violence at the stadium last weekend, which left four security officers injured.

Taapsosa deputy president Jones Maphalaphathwa said this danger to men and women earning an honest living for their families adds to the growing number in the killing of security guards.

Cash-in-transit heists and business robberies are some of the places of work that have added to the long list of security personnel dying on duty.

Video footage of security guard Sabela Maziba being kicked by unruly Kaizer Chiefs supporters went viral after the team lost 2-0 to Free State Stars in the Nedbank Cup semi-final match.

Taapsosa said they watched the footage in “disbelief”.  “In the past we have noted that security guards are targets, as they go about their duties.  It is crucial that the safety of security guards against hooligans be prioritised.”

Taapsosa is demanding that all perpetrators be held accountable for their actions, and that stakeholders in the industry take steps to ensure the safety of security guards.

Maphalaphathwa attributed the violence at the soccer game to poor planning on the part of the stadium management.  In the days leading up to an event, stakeholders such as security managers from each team are invited to a meeting to plan for it, he pointed out.  Security companies determine how many guards they want at an event and identify what risks may occur and then make a recommendation.  But by the time this meeting takes place stakeholders have already set a security budget, and their advice is ignored.

“Usually when we advise our clients, they do not want to take our advice in terms of risk assessments.  But when these clients ignore our advice and something goes wrong, security guards are often blamed,” Maphalaphathwa said.  “When something happens, it reflects on us.  People say ‘where was (the) security?’  They say we are not good or not trained properly.”

In the case of the weekend’s game, Maphalaphathwa said they should have anticipated that Chiefs coach Steve Komphela, who was already under fire, presented a risk in his own right, and made plans about where they placed security accordingly.  He said the violence could have been prevented, if people contemplating jumping onto the field had seen the guards watching them.

The guards were equipped with sticks and pepper spray.  “You need to ensure that you have adequate numbers of people and that they have the proper equipment,” Maphalaphathwa said.  “In this case, we have not really done an investigation, but I doubt that the guards were properly armed.”

Maphalaphathwa hopes that this event will help stakeholders take Taapsosa and security companies more seriously.  “We need to make stakeholders aware that they are putting us at risk.  Whether or not they take us seriously, we will not stop engaging and approaching (them).”

This report by Lila Reynolds appeared on page 2 of The Star of 25 April 2018

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