'If we pull out spray guns, thugs could open fire thinking we are drawing real guns', says guard
A SECURITY company with a R54 million contract from the Department of Justice is allegedly forcing guards to work shifts of longer than 24 hours and has provided them with pepper spray guns at sites where armed guards are required.
Guards working for Mabotwane Security Services also claim that if they refuse to work for 24 hours without a break, food or taking a bath, they are assaulted by their supervisors. They also claim they get fired if they fall asleep on duty.
The company has, among others, a R54million two-year contract to secure Department of Justice sites in Northern Cape and North West. The City of Tshwane has a three-year contract with the company for armed guarding at a number of sites, including Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria West, where Sowetan found guards armed with pepper spray guns instead of proper weapons.
The watchdog Private Security Regulatory Authority and the Department of Labour both confirmed they were conducting investigations into the company.
When approached for comment, one of the company's three directors, Enos Malatji, denied the allegations. Mabotwane's contract with the City of Tshwane began last August and expires in July 2013. Municipal spokesperson Pieter de Necker confirmed the "contract involves armed guarding".
He said the municipality was "not aware" guards were armed with pepper spray guns instead.
Guards at Pilditch Stadium, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, claimed their lives were at risk.
"Should we be accosted by armed criminals we might be killed because if we pull out spray guns they could open fire thinking we are drawing real guns. All guards at every site are armed with pepper spray guns. Only patrollers are armed with firearms," one guard said.
The Pretoria police are investigating a case of assault against one of the company's supervisors, who allegedly attacked a guard because he had not shaved.
Thabo Rapelego, 25, said it was the second time in two months. He claimed he was slapped and punched by his supervisor for refusing to work for 36 hours after a 24-hour shift at the Fountains Valley Recreational Park in Pretoria.
"I didn't open a case because they threatened to fire me and I need this job. I realised this was not going to stop when I was attacked and almost run over with a car early this month by another supervisor," Rapelego said.
Police spokesperson Constable Nare Setati confirmed a case of assault had been opened and said it had been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision.
Former employee Klaas Mucheku said he was assaulted by a supervisor in July last year in front of student nurses at the Odi Hospital in Mabopane, north of Pretoria. Mucheku did not lay charges because he was afraid of losing his job, but was fired a month later.
One of the company's supervisors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident was a misunderstanding between two employees and the matter was resolved internally.
Malatji said he was unaware of the long hours his employees were allegedly forced to work. He said the matter would be investigated.
Security Stink Exposed
'If we pull out spray guns, thugs could open fire thinking we are drawing real guns', says guard
A SECURITY company with a R54 million contract from the Department of Justice is allegedly forcing guards to work shifts of longer than 24 hours and has provided them with pepper spray guns at sites where armed guards are required.
Guards working for Mabotwane Security Services also claim that if they refuse to work for 24 hours without a break, food or taking a bath, they are assaulted by their supervisors. They also claim they get fired if they fall asleep on duty.
The company has, among others, a R54million two-year contract to secure Department of Justice sites in Northern Cape and North West. The City of Tshwane has a three-year contract with the company for armed guarding at a number of sites, including Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria West, where Sowetan found guards armed with pepper spray guns instead of proper weapons.
The watchdog Private Security Regulatory Authority and the Department of Labour both confirmed they were conducting investigations into the company.
When approached for comment, one of the company's three directors, Enos Malatji, denied the allegations. Mabotwane's contract with the City of Tshwane began last August and expires in July 2013. Municipal spokesperson Pieter de Necker confirmed the "contract involves armed guarding".
He said the municipality was "not aware" guards were armed with pepper spray guns instead.
Guards at Pilditch Stadium, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, claimed their lives were at risk.
"Should we be accosted by armed criminals we might be killed because if we pull out spray guns they could open fire thinking we are drawing real guns. All guards at every site are armed with pepper spray guns. Only patrollers are armed with firearms," one guard said.
The Pretoria police are investigating a case of assault against one of the company's supervisors, who allegedly attacked a guard because he had not shaved.
Thabo Rapelego, 25, said it was the second time in two months. He claimed he was slapped and punched by his supervisor for refusing to work for 36 hours after a 24-hour shift at the Fountains Valley Recreational Park in Pretoria.
"I didn't open a case because they threatened to fire me and I need this job. I realised this was not going to stop when I was attacked and almost run over with a car early this month by another supervisor," Rapelego said.
Police spokesperson Constable Nare Setati confirmed a case of assault had been opened and said it had been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision.
Former employee Klaas Mucheku said he was assaulted by a supervisor in July last year in front of student nurses at the Odi Hospital in Mabopane, north of Pretoria. Mucheku did not lay charges because he was afraid of losing his job, but was fired a month later.
One of the company's supervisors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident was a misunderstanding between two employees and the matter was resolved internally.
Malatji said he was unaware of the long hours his employees were allegedly forced to work. He said the matter would be investigated.
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