Leading security companies across the country are closing ranks in an attempt to assist government’s security cluster to clamp down on EFF’s nationwide shutdown on Monday.
Sunday World can reveal that Fidelity Security Services Group, through its head of investigations and retired KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Johan Booysens, has written to national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola for an “urgent briefing” with the police.
According to Fidelity, the briefing will come up with contingency plans to deal with possible disruptive behavior during the planned march.
“As you are aware, various groupings are envisaging a national shutdown on the 20th of March 2023,” reads Booysen’s letter to Masemola and the police’s top brass.
“Obviously, the threats, which are circulating in the media, are disconcerting and manifest in an emerging psyche of fear and apprehension by business and the public.
“To this extent, I request the security industry to be briefed by SA Police Service [SAPS] to mitigate potential risk to limb and property and to allay fears of public instability.”
Booysen believes Fidelity’s experience and massive security personnel numbers place the group in an ideal position to help maintain order during the shutdown.
In his view, the police alone are not capable of the job after dropping the ball during the unrest that claimed over 300 lives in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in July 2021.
He wrote further: “It will be appreciated if an urgent briefing to the security industry can be facilitated within this week to ensure contingency plans are in place, and [to figure out] to what extent the security industry can assist SAPS to prevent looting with the potential loss of life, injuries, and damage to property.”
Fidelity sent Masemola a report explaining how the security company has studied what could potentially be a violent march. The group based its assessment on public remarks by EFF leader Julius Malema following his official declaration of the protest on January 29.
The security group believes that Malema “strategically chose the date of March 20” to ensure that many people join the march, including workers who plan to take leave to have an extended long weekend with Tuesday being the Human Rights Day public holiday.
“As a result, a large turnout is expected,” according to Fidelity.
A prediction of a large turnout, according to Fidelity, is backed up by other ongoing protests such as one at Wits University, National Education, Health and Allied Workers Unions pay strike, and “many of the daily protests which will coincide with the planned shutdown”.
Fidelity told Masemola that bringing private security companies on board will also help minimise the possible impact of travel disruptions, as most highways in major cities will be affected.
“ANC members may take issue with the fact that the EFF wants to remove President Cyril Ramaphosa from office. Therefore, conflict and violence may erupt between members of the EFF and the ANC,” reads the letter.
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