Security Focus Africa March 2022 Vol 40 No 3 by Contact Publications

www.securityfocusafrica.com | Vol 40 No 3 March 2022 The official industry journal for professional risk practitioners: security, safety, health, environment and quality assurance

DRONES & In conversation Update GUARDING with SAPS Lt Colonel from SASA

Marli Strydom

Kidnapping and security: Meetpersonal newly appointed ConCourt judge threats solutions Jodyand Kollapen

Expert Panel on July 2021 Unrest — legal overview

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securityfocusafrica.com Security Focus Africa has been marketing suppliers to buyers in Africa since 1980, and is the official industry journal of the Security Association of South Africa (SASA). Our readers form the core of Southern Africa’s buyers and decision-makers in the security products and services industry. Our digital platform has a highly-focused readership of people at the very heart of the security industry. Our news is distributed via website, digital magazine, and social media. Our annual Security Focus Africa Buyers Guide is searchable via our online directory, with over 760 businesses and branches throughout Africa. Need to find a service or supplier? We will help you find exactly what you need.

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Security Focus Africa: Serving the South African security industry for 41 years

CONTENTS www.securityfocusafrica.com The official industry journal for

VOL 40 NO 3 MARCH 2022

| Vol 40 No 3 March 2022

professional risk practitioners:

nt and quality assurance

security, safety, health, environme

DRONES &

In conversa tion

Update GUARDING with SAPS Lt Colonel Marli Strydom from SASA

Kidnapping and ritrty:judge cuCou l se naoint rso ed Con ly app t new Meepe utions solen d lap s an threatJod y Kol

st — legal overview Expert Panel on July 2021 Unre

No need to compromise your security!

Get quality and affordable batteries brought to you by

G S S Group THE BRAND YOU CAN TRUST 4

+27 (0) 10 140 7137

sales@gssgroup.co.za

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

www.gssgroup.co.za

14 COVER STORY KIDNAPPING AND PERSONAL SECURITY 14 One of the many threats to personal security in a world

struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and its fallout, it’s a particularly vile crime that often goes unreported, as does human trafficking and other abuses.

28 securityfocusafrica.com

Official Journal of the Security Association of South Africa

Published by Contact Publications (Pty) Ltd (Reg No. 1981/011920/07)

Vol 40 No 3

TEL: 031 764 6977 FAX: 086 762 1867 MANAGING DIRECTOR:

REGULARS EDITOR’S COMMENT 6 Doomscrolling, FOMO and where have all the flowers gone?

ASSOCIATION NEWS 8 Update from SASA. NEWS IN BRIEF 10 News snippets from around the world.

NEWS 13 Securex, A-OSH Expo,

Facilities Management Expo — and now Firexpo — all confirmed for 2022!

FIGHTING FRAUD 2022 InsurTech Trends: 18

Anti-fraud analytics booms as cyber war rages.

TRAINING 20 Upskilling and reskilling your workforce in 2022.

CYBER SECURITY 21 Log4Shell exploitation continues: More than 30,000 scans reported in January.

ISS TODAY 22 Thousands of new SA police

recruits may yield little benefit.

Malcolm King malcolm@contactpub.co.za

PERSONALITY PROFILE 24 Lieutenant Colonel Marli Strydom.

CYBER SECURITY To click or not to click — 26 results of phishing study with 80,000 people.

WELLBEING Working from home increases 27 ‘digital anxiety’.

GARTNER 28 Gartner predicts 25 percent of people will spend at least one hour per day in the metaverse by 2026.’

VEHICLE SECURITY Watch your vehicles — 29 when did you last check your car’s tracking device?

EDITOR: Ingrid Olivier ingrid@securityfocusafrica.com

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Vincent Goode vincent@contactpub.co.za

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Jackie Goosen jackie@contactpub.co.za

POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 414, Kloof 3640, South Africa

PUBLICATION DETAILS: Security Focus Africa has 12 issues a year and is published monthly, with the annual Buyers’ Guide in December. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, we will only be publishing digitally, until further notice.

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS:

THE LAST WORD Expert Panel Report on 30

Editorial contributions are welcome.

July 2021 Unrest.

editorial@securityfocusafrica.co.za.

DIRECTORY Security and related 32 associations and organisations.

33 ADVERTISERS INDEX

For details please email

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: Malcolm King Email: malcolm@contactpub.co.za

Security Focus Africa is a member of

www.securityfocusafrica.com securityfocusafrica.com

EDITOR’S COMMENT

Doomscrolling, FOMO and where have all the flowers gone? In his article Doomscrolling: The impact of negative news and disaster reporting on mental well-being, Malibongwe Tyilo addresses the importance of taking breaks from the ‘constant loop of violence’ on TV, phone and computer screens.

ritten first in July 2021, and recently updated, the article refers to a study titled Covid-19 and the 24/7 News Cycle: Does Covid-19 News Exposure Affect Mental Health?. Interestingly, it found that people don’t need to be personally affected by an event to suffer psychological distress. “Instead, news media consumption may be one pathway by which the event becomes distressing”, especially when it’s repeatedly viewed, he writes. On top of daily news feeds on the pandemic, crime, and natural disasters, we are now also witnessing the horror of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, hour by hour. Tyilo shares the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines on how

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

to cope with the never-ending barrage of bad news. These include only watching, reading, or listening to news at specific times of the day, and making sure that information comes from trusted sources only. This article on the Mayo Clinic website has a lot of good advice, too. Opting out of 24/7 news scrolling is going to take some serious self-discipline for those of us who suffer from the fear of missing out (FOMO), a phenomenon first identified in 1996 by marketing strategist Dr Dan Herman, according to Wikipedia. “Before the Internet, a related phenomenon, ‘keeping up with the Joneses’’, was widely experienced. FOMO generalised and intensified this experience because so much more of people’s lives became publicly

documented and easily accessed,” it explains, adding: “Studies have found that the likelihood of experiencing fear of missing out has been linked to anxiety or depression.” As does over-exposure to bad news. Somewhere in the middle lies the solution: balance. While writing this article, I’m listening to American songwriter and social activist Pete Seeger’s heart-breakingly beautiful anti-war song: “Where have all the flowers gone?”. My thoughts are with Ukraine — how could we, as a world, have allowed this to happen? “Oh, When will [we] ever learn?” In a media statement dated

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

Kyiv, Ukraine; 24 February 2022.

24 February 2022, the South African Government said it was dismayed at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, which would likely result in human suffering and destruction, and that the effects would not only be felt by Ukraine but throughout the rest of the world. “No country is immune to the effects of this conflict. As the UN Secretary-General has indicated, the conflict will have a huge impact on the global economy – in a moment when we are emerging from the Covid pandemic – and so many developing countries need to have space for the recovery.” Calling on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine, in line with the United Nations Charter, which enjoins all member states to settle their international disputes by peaceful means, the media release also emphasised South Africa’s respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and international law. It called for the protection of human rights and for the UN Security Council to play its role in the ‘search for peace – though so far, nobody

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is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine’, say the authors of Under siege: SA residents caught up in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine speak of panic and terror. In sunny South Africa, our battle against crime wages on. Following the release of the police crime stats for 2021/2022 by Police Minister General Bheki Cele on 18 February 2022, the ‘good’ news is that common robbery, sexual assault, attempted sexual offences and contact sexual offences have recorded three-to-four-digit decreases. Murder, however, ‘remains worryingly stubborn’ at 8.9 percent. Out of the 6,859 people killed in the country – 902 of them were women – 352 were children and 27 were SAPS (South African Police Service) officers, both on and off duty. Other crimes that increased during October to December 2021 were arson (963 cases), carjacking (13.8 percent), truckjacking (2.8 percent), bank robbery (six counts higher), and kidnapping, in all but two provinces: in all, 2,605 kidnapping cases

were opened with the police, 686 more cases year-on-year. The January 2022 signing of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act, and the Domestic Violence Amendment Act, will hopefully add to the reduction in sexual offences, which – despite a nine percent decrease – translated to 11,315 victims between October and December 2021. It’s also heartening that more than 380 police stations throughout South Africa now have dedicated GBV (gender-based violence) desks, that 91,489 police officers have been trained in victim empowerment, domestic violence, and sexual offences -related programmes, and that there are now 185 FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) units on the ground. Stay safe.

Ingrid Olivier, Editor ingridolivier@idotwrite.co.za SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Update from SASA February has been a relatively uneventful month in the private security sector, but it has been extremely active behind the scenes…

From the desk of Tony Botes, SASA National Administrator.

ASA Membership Our membership year ended on 28 February, which means that our office is currently swamped with compliance verification for our Gold Members, and updating of details for all categories of members. SASA has, for the second consecutive year – and mainly because of the ongoing economic situation in the country – decided not to increase the joining or annual fees. We trust that our reserves will comfortably carry us through until 2023 and beyond. To those members, in all categories, who have not yet responded to our email communications, please make urgent contact with our Admin Department on admin@sasecurity.co.za or 0861 100 680 or 083 650 4981. The year ahead… The next few months are going to be filled with challenges of all sorts, but we can assure our members that we will be

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

diligent in meeting these head-on, while keeping members informed at all times. Wage negotiations for the 2023 to 2025 three-year period have already commenced, with the exchange of demands by both ‘organised employers’ (SASA, SANSEA/South African National Security Employers’ Association and CEO/ Consolidated Employer Organisation) and ‘organised labour’ (20+ trade unions), set to take place on 1 March 2022. Round one of the face-to-face meetings is scheduled for 17 March. We expect this to just be an exploratory meeting, with both parties motivating their positions and giving clarity on their demands and offers. The actual negotiations will be scheduled to take place a fortnight thereafter, at which the two groups of 12-a-side will engage, hopefully professionally and peacefully, in a process to reach a mutually acceptable settlement in time for it to be approved by the Registrar of Labour Relations and their Minister for implementation

as from March 2023. We do, however, believe that this is going to be one of the most difficult wage negotiation processes in the past couple of decades, as all parties are facing massive challenges. These include serious resistance against any type of price increase from consumers and the retention of clients by security businesses as a result of the huge economic challenges facing our country and the rest of the world. SASA is committed to working towards an acceptable collective agreement and we will keep our members informed of developments during the process. However, that’s not all — there are challenges from within… Neither PSIRA (Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority) nor the Minister of Police have responded to our attorney’s letter of demand that they cease and desist with regard to the new uniform and branding regulations. By the time

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

this issue of Security Focus Africa is published, we will have served legal papers on the Minister in this regard. Only time will tell the outcome, but we have great confidence that our legal representatives (who include a wellrespected and highly competent Senior Counsel) will secure a significant relaxation of the regulations. Still with PSIRA, and their proposed new annual and monthly fee structure, we have met with their senior management in an attempt to ‘flatten the curve’ in respect of both the company annual fees and monthly ‘per security officer’ levies. PSIRA is facing massive debt write-offs with regard to failing companies, mainly those in the 0-20 employee group. Their figures specify some 10,145 out of a total of 12,392 registered security companies, employing 28,907 of a total of 442,723 registered and active security officers. This means that, in the lowest two groups (0-5 and 6-20 security officers), these micro-sized businesses, collectively, employ an average of 2.8 security officers each, with at least one in each company being a director. PSIRA is demanding that the larger companies pay much higher fees in order to subsidise the smaller companies and minimise its debt write-off. It must be pointed out that the abovementioned total of registered and active security officers quoted by PSIRA is close to

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100,000 less than was revealed to the industry at the latest formal Gauteng Provincial Industry Compliance Forum (PICF) meeting. This difference, which will dramatically affect their budget calculations, needs to be explained. PSIRA also needs to make provision for registration and other administrative fee revenues as well as fines they impose on defaulters in its latest business model — which we don’t believe can work in its proposed format. To this end, we have made a number of alternate fee proposals which would be acceptable to SASA and its partners, as well as a way for PSIRA to create a guarantee system to minimise write-offs. Despite reminders from us, and commitments from their senior management, PSIRA has not yet responded to our proposals, for whatever reason, and neither have they scheduled a new meeting to discuss our proposals of a month ago. Keep in mind that these new fees are due to come into effect on 1 April 2022 and that the clock is ticking… Benefits of SASA membership: We are working on expanding membership benefits, which will be communicated to all members once finalised. Currently, these include: • A strictly applied Code of Ethics • Representation at national and local government level • Industry exposure in the media as well

as at major shows and exhibitions • Contacts and networking opportunities • Discounted training courses, events and seminars • Access to a security library managed by UNISA (University of South Africa) • Updates on new legislation and other industry-relevant information • Access to security-related and affiliated associations in South Africa and overseas • The SASA national website • A central administration office • Free digital subscription to Security Focus Africa magazine, the official journal of SASA • A mentorship programme which is designed to guide and assist startup security companies with attaining the compliance standards required to qualify for Gold Membership For more information about what SASA does and how it can assist you and your company, or to report any wrongdoings or concerns, please contact: Tony Botes, SASA National Administrator, at: Tel: 0861 100 680 / 083 650 4981 Cell: 083 272 1373 Email: info@sasecurity.co.za / tony@sasecurity.co.za Website: www.sasecurity.co.za

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

ASSOCIATION NEWS

News snippets from around the world was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the shooting that claimed the lives of eight suspects and left four police officers injured. www.news24.com

Looking for a job? SAPS has posts for graduates, but you will be vetted

Ramaphosa terminates police boss Khehla Sitole’s contract ‘by mutual agreement’ President Cyril Ramaphosa has, by mutual agreement, terminated the employment contract of General Khehla Sitole, with effect from 31 March 2022. In a statement last Friday, the Presidency said Sitole, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), and Ramaphosa have agreed that the early termination of the Commissioner’s contract is ‘in the best interests of the country.’ www.news24.com

Why is Russia attacking Ukraine? Here are 5 reasons Putin and others have given for the invasion Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Putin says he is concerned over NATO’s eastward expansion and has falsely said Ukraine is committing genocide. Russian forces attacked Ukraine early that Thursday morning, launching a large-scale and unprovoked invasion that was feared for weeks. The Russian military entered Ukraine from several directions, with troops headed towards its capital, Kyiv, and attacked with airstrikes and shelling. Ukrainian authorities said dozens of soldiers on both sides and some Ukrainian

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

civilians were killed amid the fighting. www.businessinsider.co.za

South Africa’s Budget Speech 2022: A deep dive The Finance Minister was able to avoid tax rate increases, and even make a positive contribution to reducing the deficit, as a result of better-than-expected tax revenues. These were largely contributed by the mining sector due to the increase in commodity prices, strong consumer demand after the Covid-19 lockdowns contributing to VAT and corporate taxes, and better personal tax collections due to improved earnings. The Finance Minister referred to reducing the corporate tax rate in future, and the disbenefits of further rate increases generally. He also cautioned that unless GDP (gross domestic product) and tax revenue increased, there was no capacity for increased permanent state expenditure. www.lexology.com

Rosettenville shootout: Tembisa suspect was out on parole for robbery when arrested, court hears The latest arrested suspect linked to the deadly Rosettenville shootout on 21 February 2022 is a parolee. The Tembisa Magistrate’s Court has heard that Milton Sandile Gasa was out on parole when he

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has invited graduates in possession of a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) 6 or higher to join the fight against crime by joining the organisation as entry level police trainees. SAPS spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said the crime combatting entity is heeding the call by President Cyril Ramaphosa, during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), to boost police boots by 12,000 recruits. www.iol.co.za

Ukraine says radiation levels around Chernobyl are increasing after fighting there Ukraine has reported that radiation levels around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site were increasing. Russian troops seized the site last Thursday following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine’s nuclear agency said military equipment disturbed radioactive dust on the ground. www.businessinsider.co.za

Population-based survey reveals why SA is at a turning point in the pandemic South Africans had extensive immunity against severe Covid-19 disease and death prior to Omicron, due to high infections in the first three waves and vaccination. A recent study in Gauteng, where a quarter of South Africans – some 15.5 million – live, showed that three in four people had been infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (which causes Covid-19) at least once since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 and prior to the Omicron wave in SA in November 2021. www.iol.co.za

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NEWS IN BRIEF SAPS: Why do National Commissioners never finish their terms? General Khehla Sitole has joined the list of former National Commissioners who never finished their terms at the helm of the South African Police Services. Here are some of the National Commissioners who were suspended: Jackie Selebi: appointed national police commissioner in February 2000. In 2010 he was sentenced to 15 years in jail for taking bribes from drug dealer Glenn Agliotti. Bheki Cele: The current Minister of Police was appointed by then-President Jacob Zuma to serve as commissioner between 2009 and 2011 but was suspended following corruption allegations. Riah Phiyega: She was appointed in 2012 and suspended by then-President, Jacob Zuma in October 2015, following the findings of the commission of inquiry into the Marikana tragedy. Khomotso Phahlane: The former acting National Commissioner was fired in July 2020 after he was found guilty of elements of dishonesty. www.thesouthafrican.com

New Joburg mayor says that insourcing is an option — but only if it makes financial sense The city of Johannesburg does not have a problem insourcing staff, provided it makes financial sense. This is the view of newly elected mayor Jolidee Matongo, who warned that any move to insource services should be done after a study had been undertaken to ensure its viability. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Matongo said he did not have a problem with insourcing provided it achieved financial savings for the city. “I think the point the late mayor Geoffrey Makhubo made, and some of us in the ANC made, is that when insourcing was done for the security guards and cleaners in the city, it was a populist stance,” Matongo said, adding that people were told that the city was wasting money, spending R12,000 per month paying a security company while a security guard earned less. www.sowetanlive.co.za

Zondo report, part 1 and 2: a short overview The first Zondo commission report will be helpful to curious South Africans seeking to know and decipher some of the dubious decisions set into motion as part of a process of state capture on the

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instructions of former president Jacob Zuma. This entailed a self-serving agenda to loot the state, aided by people in public institutions and in the private sector. This report provided details, exposing corruption, but also listed Zondo’s 10 recommendations. The following subheadings make up the initial report: Volume I – Chapter 1: South African Airways and its associated companies; Volume II – Chapter 2: The New Age and its dealings with government departments and stateowned entities; Volume III – Chapter 3: South African Revenue Services (SARS) and public procurement in South Africa; Chapter 4: Public procurement in South Africa. mg.co.za

Murders on the rise, sexual offences cases dropping in Gauteng: provincial Police Commissioner Elias Mawela Gauteng Commissioner of Police Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela has revealed that the province had a high incidence of murder between October and December last year. Mawela made these revelations when he released the provincial crime statistics for the third quarter — October to December 2021. “During the period under review, 243 more people were killed in Gauteng, which reflects an increase of 18.3 percent. www.iol.co.za

Gauteng crime: 3,033 sexual offences reported in three months More than 3,000 sexual offences were recorded in Gauteng in the third quarter

of the 2021/2022 financial year. Gauteng police commissioner Lt-Gen Elias Mawela presented the Q3 provincial crime statistics to the legislature’s portfolio committee on community safety on 26 February 2022. Sexual offences include rape, sexual assault and sexual contact. The Q3 figure – 3,033 – was 243 fewer than the same period in 2020/2021. www.timeslive.co.za

$2.9 million worth of meth disguised as onions seized at California border Authorities have seized approximately 1,336 pounds of methamphetamine disguised as onions in Southern California, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said on 26 February 2022. The confiscated drugs are worth an estimated $2.9 million, authorities said. “This was not only a clever attempt to try and smuggle in narcotics, one I haven’t seen before, but also time consuming to wrap narcotics into these small packages, designed to look like onions,” Sidney Aki, director of field operations in San Diego, said in a statement. www.cbsnews.com

Rising electricity tariffs: South Africans are now paying 307 percent more Eskom initially requested an increase of 20.5 percent for the 2022/2023 financial year. In the current application for the next three financial years (MYPD5), Eskom based its calculations on a regulatory asset base (RAB) of R1.263 billion, following a revaluation. During NERSA’s (National Energy Regulator of

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NEWS IN BRIEF

South Africa) public hearing, SALGA (South African Local Government Association) said Eskom’s proposed increases ‘are unrealistic and unsustainable and go against economic and social issues currently affecting the South African economy’. www.citizen.co.za

Two cops linked to Rosettenville shooting The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is probing allegations that two suspects involved in the Rosettenville, Johannesburg, shooting on 21 February 2022, are police officers. They are among nine suspects who escaped after the showdown between cops and alleged cash-in-transit (CIT) heist suspects on Monday afternoon. Eight alleged robbers were killed. The death of a ninth person – earlier recorded by IPID as a police officer – is under investigation. www.sowetanlive.co.za

North Korea fired a ballistic missile North Korea resumed a weapons-testing blitz after a month-long lull during the Beijing Winter Olympics, with the world’s attention now focused on Ukraine. The Sunday 28 February launch is Pyongyang’s eighth so far this year, including test-firing its most powerful missile since high-profile negotiations between leader Kim Jong Un and then US President Donald Trump collapsed in 2017. www.citizen.co.za

Revamped SA Revenue Service reels in big fish, focuses on super-wealthy South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter and his team at SARS have been hard at work rebuilding, to improve revenue collection and widen the taxpayer net, bringing a surplus R189-billion to the budget at a time when South Africa has never needed it more. Over the past year alone, SARS recruited an additional 490 staff (also contributing to sorely-needed job creation) and invested R430-million in its information and communications technology infrastructure. www.dailymaverick.co.za

Huge petrol price increase for South Africa in March The Department of Mineral Resources

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and Energy has published its adjustments to South African fuel prices for March 2022. These adjustments are bad news for South Africans, who will now pay R1.46 more per litre for unleaded 93 and 95 petrol, while diesel prices will rise by R1.44 and R1.48 for diesel, 500ppm and 50ppm, respectively. mybroadband.co.za

acted beyond the scope of his powers under the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act when he promulgated procurement regulations in 2017. www.sowetanlive.co.za

Ukrainian govt offering rewards for Russian politicians’ crypto info

Police in Brazil, Spain, the US and Paraguay have dismantled a world-wide drug network being operated from a command post in Dubai. The extensive investigation involved the Brazilian Federal Police (Polícia Federal), Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), the US Drugs Enforcement Administration and the Paraguayan SENAD. The operation, coordinated by Europol, brought down a major criminal organisation involved in large-scale cocaine trafficking and money laundering. www.sundayworld.com/

The Ukrainian government is soliciting any leads on information related to the cryptocurrency wallets of Russian and Belorussian politicians as the country continues to rely on crowdfunding efforts for its defence against Russia and its allies. Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov tweeted last Saturday that the Ukrainian crypto community will reward those who provide information. The government has already used Twitter to solicit crypto donations and posted in online hacker forums that it is looking for help in protecting against cyberattacks. www.news24.com/fin24

Treasury boss halts all new state tenders amid confusion on ConCourt ruling The director-general of the National Treasury has written to all organs of state, ordering them not to advertise new tenders. Dondo Mogajane’s memo on Friday says the instruction follows a Constitutional Court ruling on 16 February that the finance minister

Police dismantle world-wide drug network being operated from command post in Dubai

Ramaphosa: State’s litigation bill for five years adds up to R7-billion The government’s litigation bill for the past five years totalled some R7-billion and was a measure both of the government’s failure to deliver services and to properly manage its defence in lawsuits, President Cyril Ramaphosa said last Friday. “Litigation against the state has risen by staggering levels,” the president said as he opened the inaugural meeting of the intergovernmental national litigation forum. mg.co.za

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NEWS

Securex, A-OSH Expo, Facilities Management Expo — and now Firexpo — all confirmed for 2022! Specialised Exhibitions, the largest trade show organiser in Southern Africa, is pleased to announce that its Securex South Africa, A-OSH Expo and Facilities Management exhibitions are confirmed to go ahead for 2022, with the exciting addition of Firexpo to the Securex show.

he four trade shows will take place from 31 May to 2 June 2022 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Says Mark Anderson, portfolio director at Specialised Exhibitions: “The current rules around larger gatherings of people have allowed for the cautious reopening of the local business tourism sector, specifically relating to meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice). “These new regulations, as well as the success of our Restart Expo – which successfully demonstrated that it is possible to hold organised gatherings in a controlled, safe way – have made it possible for us to go ahead with exhibitions planned for 2022.” Securex will celebrate its 28th year of existence, with its continued focus on all elements of the security sector — from physical and retail security to access control, vehicle and personnel tracking, cybersecurity and more.

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“An exciting new development for Securex is the addition of the Firexpo section, which will focus exclusively on fire-related products and services,” Anderson explains. “A-OSH will be in its tenth repetition and will, once again, focus on all things occupational health and safety related, while Facilities Management Expo – our facilities and properties management community – commemorates its second year as a co-located trade show. “We’re expecting to see thousands of visitors attending the free-of-charge events over the three-day period, with the draw cards of seeing the latest industry products and services under one roof, quality content across our three seminar theatres for Securex, A-OSH and Facilities Management Expo, and exceptional networking opportunities,” he adds. “Interest from exhibitors across the four expos has been high, but there is still some space available for those organisations

looking to engage directly with potential clients and boost brand awareness.” For more information on the upcoming trade shows, visit www.securex.co.za, www.aosh.co.za, www.fmexpo.co.za, and www.firexpo.co.za. Specialised Exhibitions is a division of the Montgomery Group, a global events and exhibitions company. Contact Zelda Jordaan for more information on booking an exhibition stand at one of the four shows on tel: +27 (0)11 835 1565 or email: zeldaj@specialised.com CONTACTS Specialised Exhibitions Keraysha Pillay Tel: +27 (0)11 835-1565 Email: kerayshap@specialised.com icomm Nicola Read Tel: +27 (0)83 269 2227 Email: nicola@pr.co.za Website: www.icomm-pr.co.za

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KIDNAPPING & PERSONAL SECURITY

Kidnapping and personal security The armed kidnapping of the four young Moti brothers in South Africa in October 2021 hit global headlines. One of the many threats to personal security in a world struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and its fallout, it’s a particularly vile crime that often goes unreported, as does human trafficking and other abuses.

idnapping According to Lizette Lancaster of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), figures for the period April to September 2021 show that there were 4,232 kidnappings, or more than 23 a day on average, in South Africa. In her article, she says that while the kidnappings that most often make the news involve wealthy businesspeople or their family members, those committed for the purposes of extortion or ransom contribute to less than five percent, according to police statistics. The figure

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may be higher though, she adds, since many cases aren’t reported, due to threats made by the perpetrators, noting that ‘some criminal groups specialise in kidnapping for ransom as it’s perceived as a relatively low-risk, high-reward endeavour’. “The increase in national and transnational syndicates in South Africa poses various security threats, including the potential for more kidnappings,” she warns. “Organised crime groups may commit the crime because their members include highly skilled people willing to engage in violence. Syndicates

also have firearms, vehicles, and extensive networks for moving illicit goods. Kidnappings are also rising across the country’s borders, for example, in Mozambique, and are spilling over into South Africa.” South Africa’s personal security threat landscape has changed significantly over the years, says David de Lima, Managing Director of 24/7 Security Services. “The hard lockdown period of Covid-19 was followed by a spike in incidents, and we are seeing this trend continue into 2022, partly as a result of the social-economic climate.”

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KIDNAPPING & PERSONAL SECURITY

“Contact crimes, and specifically kidnappings, have always been around,” he continues, but the increased media exposure of high-profile cases has placed a spotlight on kidnapping recently. “We believe that the statistics around kidnappings may not be a true reflection of the current situation since many people don’t report attempted and actual kidnappings — they would rather pay a ransom and hope for the quick and safe release of victims. Further, a large number of kidnappings involve organised crime syndicates and are motivated by political and financial factors, which is not really an accurate reflection of the general population’s personal safety environment.” Human trafficking In its report The Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Trafficking in Persons, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says that the pandemic has brought immense challenges to the anti-trafficking field. “Capitalising on people’s loss of livelihoods during the pandemic and the increasing amount of time both adults and children were spending on the Internet, traffickers utilise social media and other online platforms to recruit new victims. Thirty-seven percent of stakeholder survey respondents reported that the recruitment of victims has moved online during the pandemic. Traffickers have responded to the closure of bars, clubs, and massage parlours (due to lockdowns, curfews, and other measures to control the spread of Covid-19) by moving the sexual exploitation of adults and children to private homes and apartments. In some countries, traffickers have also capitalised on social distancing measures to transport victims across national borders, knowing that law enforcement have, at times, been unable to carefully inspect vehicles,” it says. The report goes on to recommend a number of ways that countries can strengthen their anti-trafficking responses. These include: • Monitoring the effect of Covid-19 mitigating measures on people and particularly the vulnerable i.e. children and migrants; • Monitoring shifts in the modus operandi of traffickers, migration dynamics and heightened vulnerabilities of certain groups; • Implementing UN recommendations to collect, analyse and publish relevant

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data on human trafficking cases; • Publishing official messages that exempt victims of trafficking, genderbased or intimate partner violence, from Covid-19 movement restrictions when seeking help or reporting incidents to the police; • Developing plans and strategies for frontline organisations around the division of anti-trafficking roles and responsibilities; • Creating contingency plans that ensure the availability of a minimum package of services to victims (protection, investigation, and judicial proceedings); • Strengthening national legal frameworks to ensure that countries have ‘robust’ legislation in place to address all forms of trafficking, including online child sexual exploitation and other forms of online recruitment, and that relevant authorities are trained in the scope and practical application of the legislation, particularly regarding collecting and securing digital evidence; • Developing effective prevention activities by widely disseminating information about human trafficking

via TV, hotlines, and social media; • Setting up mobile investigation teams with full personal protection equipment (PPE); • Developing and implementing online internet safety programmes for parents and children, and ensuring that schools, as places of protection and food sources, remain open; • Strengthening protection measures for trafficking victims by ensuring that shelters take into consideration language and literacy needs, and provide access to psychosocial support, legal aid, and education; • Strengthening e-justice mechanisms with technology to allow access by victims, witnesses, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, court staff and interpreters; • Setting aside adequate budgets for extra law enforcement and judicial resources such as e-justice mechanisms, night courts, and mobile investigation units as well as extra protection and reintegration resources including hotline staff, legal aid, psychosocial therapists, emergency food aid, health care needs and cash transfers.

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KIDNAPPING & PERSONAL SECURITY

Covid-19 — weapon of mass destruction Another grave threat to 2022 personal security is Covid-19, “the most damaging weapon of mass distraction in modern history,” maintains Benedict Weaver of Zero Foundation Africa. “Distraction (not destruction) is what makes the disease so effective and unique. Everyone’s focus has been on the virus with relatively little attention given to rises in cybercrime, IP theft, online radicalisation of insurgents, eco-terrorism, hostile surveillance and a range of other threats that have not been recognised or addressed because of Covid.” “Apart from the nearly six million deaths in the past two years, governments’ responses have negatively impacted all economic sectors, except personal protection equipment (PPE) and vaccine production,” he says. “Given governments’ decision to lockdown populations, suspend international travel and impose curfews, the socioeconomic landscapes of all countries have been affected. This is especially true for South Africa with its shrinking tax base, expanding population and political unrest — it’s a ‘perfect storm’ that has changed the personal security threat landscape and revealed a range of new risks.” The South African government’s response to the pandemic adversely affected most businesses and the livelihood of many workers, he continues. “Precisely

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because many workers live just one missed paycheck away from poverty, the financial impact of lockdowns and curfews have affected all social classes. And, while the lockdowns might have initially prompted a decline in property crimes, they also expanded the number of laws that could be broken. Examples are the more than 400,000 arrests for offenses for violating curfew and contravening gathering rules, an increase in gender-based violence and the growing number of sexually motivated kidnappings involving young children. The pandemic has provided opportunities for the criminally-inclined that might not have existed beforehand, he believes. “In other words, the psychological impact of the pandemic created a change in both behaviour and motive, which has resulted in a greater risk to one’s personal safety and security. Future historians and criminologists will debate the reasons for the initial decline and the subsequent increase in criminal activity during the pandemic. However, current evidence shows that organised crime (OC) actually leveraged the situation, and was characterised by a desperate demand for contraband cigarettes and liquor, increased social anxiety and a reliance on digital solutions. The shift in behaviour towards online transactions and the trend towards working from home, meant that compliance with workplace cybersecurity protocols was suspended. Information, whether commercially sensitive or financial,

was easier to access and be manipulated, hence the number of fraud schemes, online scams and identity thefts.” Solutions The best rule of thumb is to develop a security plan around the four Ds, believes Benedict Weaver. “Deter, Detect, Delay and Deny. You could go further with another D — as in Destroy,” he adds, “but this is possibly too hardcore for most suburban households.” David de Lima advocates the employ of close protection officers (CPOs) for company executives, dignitaries, celebrities, and others who are vulnerable to crimes such as kidnapping for ransom. He also recommends armed escorts for people travelling in high-risk areas and businesses transporting route-to-market goods, business stand-off services during opening and closing times to ensure staff’s safe arrival and departure, and specially trained guards for school and campus security. “In order to ensure safe environments for learners, teachers, and parents, guarding staff need to be specially trained in school and campus security and supported by armed reaction and K9 units, with ongoing, high visibility patrols.” Add to this technology — his company recommends the use of the 24/7 ePOD (a mobile panic device with two-way communication functionality) and the 24/7 App (which has a built-in panic button) for

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KIDNAPPING & PERSONAL SECURITY

clients who want to improve their personal safety. “We encourage people to be 100 percent alert of their environment at all times, but often they don’t pay attention to details or are easily distracted when out in public,” he says. His recommendations for improving personal security, regardless of people’s wealth or status, include: • When travelling, be observant of your surroundings and of vehicles that could be following you. Stay off your cell phone – not only does it distract you, but it makes you an easy target for criminals. Likewise, keep valuable jewellery, watches, and electronic devices out of sight. • In addition to being mindful, we must all be aware of the information we share and manage the flow of personal information. Criminals are always on the lookout for information that they can use to their advantage. • Immediately report suspicious people, vehicles and activities to your security company or the police. Follow your gut feel — it is usually right. • Families need to talk about security — not to instil fear but to raise awareness about their personal safety. They need to put action plans in place, and scenario-based training will prepare the whole family should they be confronted with a threatening situation. Emergency contact numbers must be readily available to everybody in the home, including staff. Contact details must include their security company, SAPS (South African Police Service), fire and rescue services, ambulance etc. “A home forms the centre of a person or family’s security circle,” concludes De Lima. “The layered circle needs to be in place to provide a haven. The circle starts with panic buttons inside the house and flows outwards with alarms, CCTV cameras, outdoor lights, perimeter beams, electric fences and finally, gates and perimeter safety.” Contributors: ISS Africa: https://issafrica.org/iss-today/who-getskidnapped-in-south-africa 24/7 Security Services: https://24-7security.co.za/ Benedict Weaver / Zero Foundation: https://www.zerofoundationafrica. com/ UNODC: https://www.unodc.org/

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The importance of H.E.A.T. training for employee travellers By Benedict Weaver / Zero Foundation Africa.

survivor is defined as ‘a person who copes well with difficulties in their life’. Anyone reading this article can relate to that definition, even if the types of difficulties we have personally faced are not the same as each other’s. Alison Clarke had stepped outside of a Cape Town night club to get some fresh air before going back inside. A man approached her and suddenly started touching her inappropriately. She could have panicked, frozen in place, and become a victim but instead, remembering her training, she did what is known as the ‘Trident’ — and it saved her life. The best part of the Trident is that it is a simple self-defence technique anyone can master. Scott O’Grady was flying a peacekeeping mission over Bosnia in June 1995. His F16 jet was hit by a missile and he ejected. On landing, he grabbed his bail-out bag and survived for a week behind enemy lines. The contents of that bail-out bag saved him until he was rescued by US Marines. The two examples above are from different scenarios, but both reflect difficulties handled well, under pressure. Every employer has a Duty of Care (DoC) responsibility to its staff and contractors working on the company premises. However, this responsibility extends beyond the physical workplace when staff travel abroad on company business. Then, your staff represent the ethos and business practices of your company. If their travel experience could expose them to the risk of loss of life, liberty, or limb, then their employer must ensure that the corporate traveller has the necessary skillset to avoid preventable death, detention or bodily damage. Such a skillset is taught during hostile environment awareness training (HEAT) courses – which are available in South Africa – which equip employees with the ability to operate effectively when seemingly benign situations turn hostile. The benefits of a two-day H.E.A.T. course: It will provide details of their company’s corporate travel security policy and procedures. (If your company doesn’t have a policy, one needs to be developed before the pandemic ends and travel resumes.) It will showcase the pre-planning that needs to be carried out before staff leave their home country: key areas include destination intelligence about the foreign country; meet-and-greet protocols at airports; routes to hotels; local resources for emergency medical situations; and evacuation processes along corridors of safety and emergency communications. It will introduce the concept of ‘Everyday Carry (EDC)’ — by knowing what kit to carry and how to use it, staff will be more self-reliant and capable of operating with confidence in a hostile environment, which will in turn provide the company with sufficient time to arrange for a controlled and safe evacuation. It will allow staff to make informed decisions about where to spend their leisure time without exposing themselves or the company to physical, financial, or reputational risk. It will show management how to prepare a debriefing on their return. The nature of this debriefing is to provide management with lessons learned; marketing intelligence about the competition; and identified risks to other employees travelling on business.

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

SECURITY FIGHTINGIN FRAUD ACTION

2022 InsurTech Trends: Anti-fraud analytics booms as cyber war rages New research shows insurers’ rapid adoption of predictive algorithms and digital identity technology to stem the pandemic-driven fraud deluge.

nsurers’ use of predictive analytics to fight fraud has reached an alltime high, according to the latest insurance fraud technology study by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud and analytics and AI leader SAS. The State of Insurance Fraud Technology study reveals that 80% of insurers use predictive modelling to detect fraud, up from 55% in 2018. In a category new to the 2021 survey, the study also underscores the importance of identity verification software, cited by 40% of survey respondents. Identity analytics is quickly becoming must-have technology for insurers amid an alarming spike in malicious phishing scams, up 600% since the pandemic’s onset. “The shifts we’ve seen since the 2018 study emphasise the increasingly sophisticated technologies needed to foil

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insurance fraudsters’ criminal exploits,” said David Hartley, Director of Insurance Solutions at SAS. “Predictive modelling is up 25%. Text mining has nearly doubled, jumping from 33% to 65% in three years. These findings prove that, even as Covid has fuelled rampant fraud, insurers are agilely stretching their advanced analytics and AI capabilities to counter rapidly changing threats.” The study results will be explored in an upcoming insurance fraud webinar hosted by the Coalition and SAS, The State of Insurance Fraud Technology 2022: Trends as the World Reopens, on 16 February 2022 at 14H00 ET and available thereafter on demand. Gauging insurance fraud technology trends since 2012 Insurance fraud causes more than

$80 billion in losses annually in the United States alone. Fraudsters the world over are using phishing schemes, malware and even social media quizzes to steal sensitive personal information from unsuspecting consumers. The lucrative data is then sold on the dark web for nefarious purposes, such as traditional identity theft or the creation of synthetic IDs using an amalgam of stolen and fabricated data. Scammers can use the identities to file bogus claims for cash or collect commissions from insurers for selling fake policies. Since 2012, the Coalition has used its biennial State of Insurance Fraud Technology study to track how technology is augmenting fraud fighters’ abilities to thwart fraudsters and criminal rings. SAS has been a partner in the research effort since the inaugural study.

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SECURITY FIGHTING IN FRAUD ACTION

Now in its fifth iteration since 2012, the latest study is based on responses to a 20-question survey sent to 100 Coalition members in October 2021. Survey recipients are employed by insurance companies that comprised at least 80% of the estimated property and casualty premiums written in the US insurance market in 2020. “Capturing these trends over time enables us to understand how, and to what extent, insurance companies use anti-fraud technology,” said Dave Rioux, Coalition Co-Chair and Chair of the organisation’s Research Committee. “This research also provides important insights into emerging use cases and common challenges, helping the entire industry discern the technologies that are proving most effective against these unprecedented fraud attacks.” Additional takeaways from the latest study include: Anti-fraud technology is flourishing. The study identified automated red flags (88%), predictive modelling (80%), text mining (65%), reporting capability (64%), case management (61%), exception reporting (51%), and data visualisation/ link analysis (51%) among insurers’ most used anti-fraud technologies. Insurers are diversifying their data sources. Beyond relying on their own internal data, insurers are turning to

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industry fraud-watch lists (88%), public records (79%), third-party data aggregators (55%), social-media data (48%) and data from personal devices (15%). Notably, the use of unstructured data soared from just under half in 2018 to 81% in 2021. A picture is worth a thousand data points. Insurers are flocking to photo analysis technology (up from 49% in 2018 to 81% in 2021) to authenticate claim damage, identify digitally altered images, and index pictures submitted in other claims. Investigators are clamouring for more resources. New anti-fraud technology is creating efficiencies in investigative processes, but the resources insurers are dedicating to internal and external investigative teams are insufficient to keep pace with the billions in fraud committed each year. Limited IT resources was the top anti-fraud challenge, cited by 68% of respondents. “We know that criminals are using advanced technology at scale to steal personal information and plunder billions of dollars from insurance companies each year,” said Kim Kuster, Principal Business Consultant at SAS’ Global Security Intelligence Practice. “Wider adoption of emerging technologies and deeper investment in human- and machinepowered fraud fighting capabilities will help turn the tide of fraud flooding the

domestic and international insurance markets.” The State of Insurance Fraud Technology study and similar Coalition research efforts are aimed at preparing fraud investigators and their leadership teams for the threats that lay ahead. Learn more at InsuranceFraud.org. About the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud Formed in 1993, the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud is America’s only antifraud alliance speaking for consumers, insurance companies, government agencies and others. Through its unique work, the Coalition empowers consumers to fight back, helps fraud fighters better detect this crime and deters more people from committing fraud. About SAS SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW®. For further information please contact: Mabel Schrimpton GTM Marketing Lead: South Africa & Sub-Sahara Africa, SAS Mabel.Schrimpton@sas.com

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

TRAINING

learnership and skills development costs by up to 63%. By engaging with a specialist in skills development, training and learnerships who understands the B-BBEE codes of good practice and provide a complete administrative management of the skills development process, your company can benefit financially, as well as transform.

Upskilling and reskilling your workforce in 2022 By Prudence Mabitsela, Managing Director of Dynamic DNA.

he future of companies, and therefore the economy in general, is today directly related to their ability to successfully transform digitally. Along with exploding technology innovations and the pressure of a global pandemic, this transformation was accelerated in South Africa during 2020/2021, and our skills need to evolve along with this shift. “Digital innovations in Artificial Intelligence, robotics, automation and others are rewriting the world of work, and it is essential that companies and employees get the digital and soft skills they need, to adapt,” says Prudence Mabitsela, 51% shareholder and Managing Director of Dynamic DNA, a leading training and skills development company empowering Africa’s ICT (Information Communication Technology) generation. Companies of all sizes and from nearly every industry need skilled people to survive and grow; not only do they require scarce ICT skills, but the way employees work is increasingly digital as new tools are introduced in the workplace. And, while this rapid change makes lives and businesses better, it also widens the skills gap as countless people are left behind. UNESCO defines digital skills as having ‘a range of abilities to use digital devices, communication applications, and networks to access and manage information. They enable people to create and share digital

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content, communicate and collaborate, and solve problems for effective and creative self-fulfilment in life, learning, work, and social activities at large’. Prudence has a passion for empowering young people with the right skills for the future and is also an inspiration for black women seeking a career in the ICT sector. She shares the steps companies can take to upskill and reskill to achieve digital transformation. Skills planning Evaluate your company’s technology demands and plan for talent you will need today and tomorrow. Skills planning is important to identify skills that are lacking in your workforce, which means examining your current and future skills requirements, identifying talent, and planning the interventions your company needs to develop or acquire these skills. Take advantage of tax credits and levy reimbursements While the process and administrative burden of the skills development process is onerous, the financial returns are worth it. In Dynamic DNA’s experience in the ICT skills sector, they have been able to reduce

Invest in upskilling and reskilling your employees Instead of seeking scarce skills from the industry, you can also identify individuals within your company to send for training. There are a variety of specialist short skills and soft skills courses available that will further your company’s transition into the digital economy and meet your long-term strategic goals. By investing in upskilling and reskilling you can develop the potential of existing employees instead of spending on searching in an already competitive job market. By enabling those employees to advance out of lower skilled positions, you also provide an opportunity for them to further their career while closing the skills gap in the country. Get creative There are a variety of ways for employers to find engaging ways of upskilling existing employees such as bespoke training courses at their offices, learnership programmes for reskilling, online training, or intensive bootcamps. Adjust hiring practices Many companies expect employees to have a four-year degree and specific experience. This is not possible in the current skills crisis, and it isn’t inclusive, as many young people do not have the financial opportunity to attend university. By widening the net to include inexperienced individuals, especially digitally savvy Generation Z candidates; recruiting for potential; and participating in learnerships, employers remove the barrier to entry for candidates who have the right cognitive abilities, behaviours, and values, who can in the long-term become a valuable employee. In South Africa, as unemployment rates soar, the rate at which people are being trained and hired to fill the digital skills gap is far too slow. With the added pressure to meet B-BBEE requirements, companies need to invest time and energy in training, upskilling and reskilling programmes, as well as adapt their hiring practices to be more inclusive.

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CYBER SECURITY

Log4Shell exploitation continues: More than 30,000 scans reported in January Discovered in December 2021, Log4Shell quickly became infamous as the vulnerability of the year.

The number of scans for Log4Shell vulnerability, January 1 through January 20, 2022.

lthough the Apache Foundation released a patch for this CVE shortly after its discovery, this vulnerability continues to pose a huge threat for individuals and organisations. In fact, during the first three weeks of January, Kaspersky products blocked 30,562 attempts to attack users using exploits targeting the Log4Shell vulnerability. CVE-2021-44228 or Log4Shell is a Remote Code Execution (RCE) class vulnerability, meaning that if it is exploited on a vulnerable server, attackers gain the ability to execute arbitrary code and potentially take full control over the system. This CVE has been ranked a 10 out of 10 in terms of severity. The vulnerability is extremely attractive to cybercriminals because it allows them to gain complete control over the victim’s system and is easy to exploit. Since it was first reported, Kaspersky products have detected and prevented 154,098 attempts to scan and attack devices through targeting the Log4Shell vulnerability. Most of the attacked systems were located in Russia (13%), Brazil (8.97%) and the USA (7.36%). Although the Apache Foundation has already released a patch for this CVE, it takes weeks or months for vendors to

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update their software. Unsurprisingly, Kaspersky experts have observed that malicious attackers are continuing widespread scans to exploit Log4Shell. The first three weeks of January saw Kaspersky products block 30,562 attempts to attack users by means of targeting the Log4Shell vulnerability. Moreover, almost 40% of these attempts were detected within the first five days of the month, from 1-5 January. “We certainly see that there have been far fewer scans and attempted attacks using Log4Shell than there were in the first weeks when it was initially discovered. Still, attempts to exploit this vulnerability are here to stay. As our telemetry shows, cybercriminals continue their extensive mass scanning activities and make attempts to leverage the exploitable code. This vulnerability is being exploited by both advanced threat actors who target specific organisations and opportunists simply looking for any vulnerable systems to attack. We urge everyone who has not yet done so to patch up and use a strong security solution to keep themselves protected,” comments Evgeny Lopatin, security expert at Kaspersky. Kaspersky products protect against attacks leveraging vulnerabilities, including usage of PoCs under the

following names: • UMIDS:Intrusion.Generic.CVE-202144228. • PDM:Exploit.Win32.Generic To safeguard against this new vulnerability, Kaspersky experts recommend: • Installing the most recent version of the library. You can download it on the project page. If you are using the library of a third-party product, you will need to monitor and install timely updates from a software provider. • Following Apache Log4j project guidelines: https://logging.apache. org/log4j/2.x/security.html. • Businesses use a security solution that provides exploitation prevention vulnerability and patch management components, such as Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business. Kaspersky’s Automatic Exploit Prevention component also monitors suspicious actions on applications and blocks malicious file executions. • Using solutions like Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response and Kaspersky Managed Detection and Response, which help identify and stop attacks in the early stages before attackers can reach their final goal. About Kaspersky Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialised security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help 240,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.co.za.

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

WELLBEING ISS TODAY

Thousands of new SA police recruits may yield little benefit The rush to hire won’t deliver the better quality officers and police leaders South Africa needs. 22 February 2022. By David Bruce, Independent Researcher on violence, policing and public security. This article forms part of the author’s policing and public violence work for the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). Republished from https://issafrica.org/iss-today/thousands-of-new-sa-police-recruits-may-yield-little-benefit.

ver the past year, concerns have been raised about the decline in the number of police in South Africa. Due to budgetary restrictions, last year’s Treasury projections were that the number of South African Police Service (SAPS) personnel would drop by 13%, or 24,413 employees, to 162,945 by 2023-24. In response to these concerns, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the hiring of 12,000 police officials in his 2022 State of the Nation Address. This is higher than the figure of 10,000 new members noted by

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Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale in November last year. According to the SAPS, the recruitment of 7,000 members has already started. But this approach reflects shortcomings in government thinking about how to strengthen policing. Rigorous standards are needed when bringing in and training new SAPS members, and the rush to hire suggests that lessons from our recent history haven’t been learnt. A massive recruitment drive between 2003 and 2012 resulted in 123,606 new police joining the organisation – an average of more than 12,300 a year. The

total number of personnel reached 199,345 in 2012. But rather than improving policing, there has since been a steady decline in the SAPS’ performance. Research shows that this deterioration can be linked to the fact that many who join the SAPS have little interest in policing as a vocation. Instead, it is often a last-ditch attempt at getting a job when other options fail.

En masse recruitment makes it more difficult for SAPS to hire only the most suitable candidates securityfocusafrica.com

SUCCESS ISS TODAY STORY

Other questions are how SAPS members at station level are to be mobilised into public order formations – and how these formations will be commanded – should large-scale unrest break out. It’s also unclear if they would be provided with protective equipment or vehicles for their deployment. A potentially viable approach involves establishing auxiliary public order units that provide support during large-scale disorder in each of the country’s 176 policing clusters. These auxiliary units would be maintained at optimum strength in areas vulnerable to disruption and violence. In the nine years after 2012, when the SAPS reached nearly 200,000 employees, it has hired 35,657 personnel, an average of fewer than 4,000 a year. During the same period, it lost 43,290 (an average of 4,810 a year) due to resignations, retirement, deaths and dismissals. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, recruitment appears to have been suspended because training requires face-to-face contact. Police numbers have declined more rapidly, falling by more than 5,000 between 2020 and 2021.

Pressure to reach recruitment targets during mass hiring programmes inevitably undermines standards during selection, training and assessment. En masse recruitment makes it more difficult for the SAPS to ensure that only suitable candidates are accepted. And those recruits who do aspire to become capable police officers often lose out as training and support systems are strained by large volumes. The SAPS knows this. In 2019 the human resources and training components told Parliament they wanted to focus on ‘quality’ rather than ‘quantity’ and minimise the risk of corruption in hiring processes. But political pressure to escalate the pace of recruitment undermines these goals. One of the reasons for the renewed focus on increasing police numbers is last year’s July public violence. The high-level panel that looked into the state’s response found that ‘There is no doubt that the police had insufficient capacity to stop the violence.’ But the recruitment process is being initiated without government having resolved basic questions about how to augment SAPS public order policing

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capacity. An essential requirement is an effective and sustainable framework for mobilising auxiliary support for public order units. New police recruits receive four weeks of training in crowd management as part of their basic training. This approach has been in place for several years but was ineffective in responding to the July 2021 unrest.

Four weeks of crowd management training didn’t equip regular police to respond to the 2021 unrest The expert panel recommended that ‘Police officers at station level should receive adequate training in crowd control.’ But this isn’t a sustainable approach. Crowd management training cannot be provided once-off and needs to be supplemented by regular in-service courses. The SAPS already has considerable difficulty providing consistent in-service training for its existing full-time public order unit members.

Without better leadership, even well-trained police recruits will be ineffectively utilised The question of how many police officers would be optimal for South Africa remains open. But considering that SAPS numbers have fallen, recruitment – with a strong emphasis on quality – is needed. Consistently high standards must be applied by SAPS personnel responsible for hiring and training. Sustained recruitment over several years in smaller batches accompanied by strict vetting and assessment will do far more to improve policing in South Africa. Each recruit is a long-term financial investment in training, salaries, benefits, uniforms and equipment. Due care can ensure that this public money is invested effectively. Better policing also requires professional and competent SAPS leaders. Without a substantially rejuvenated leadership cohort, even well-trained recruits will be ineffectively utilised, whether in day-to-day policing or in responding to public unrest.

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

PERSONALITY XXX PROFILE

Lieutenant Colonel Marli Strydom In conversation with Lieutenant Colonel Marli Strydom, tireless crusader for the bruised and battered victims of gender-based violence (GBV).

egarded by many as a ‘mother to the motherless’, Lieutenant Colonel Marli Strydom has been with the South African Police Service (SAPS) for almost 30 years. She has served as the Unit Commander for the FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) Unit in Galeshewe, near Kimberley, in the Northern Province since 2018, securing more than 20 life sentences and 1,581 years imprisonment for GBV (gender-based violence) perpetrators, and was recognised by Minister of Public Service and Administration, Senzo Mchunu as second runner-up in the ‘Best Operational Employee’ category in the National Batho Pele Excellence Awards in 2020. Her unflagging dedication to ‘bruised, battered and emotionally-scarred GBV victims’ has seen her provide muchneeded closure for families over the years, including that of two-year-old

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Michaila Springbok, who was kidnapped, raped, and then strangled to death in 2019. Her badly mutilated body was found in the Vaal River in Delportshoop after a frantic search by police and the community, says Marli, who spent sleepless nights leading the tracing operation, providing the family with up-to-date information on the progress of the search party, and supporting, comforting, and facilitating counselling sessions for them. In March 2020, the killer, Johannes Morwe, who was known to the family, was convicted, and sentenced to two life sentences as well as an additional 21 years imprisonment by the Kimberley High Court. Despite the many harrowing cases in which she’s been involved, Marli’s commitment to serving the community with ‘respect, empathy, and integrity; and ensuring that victims receive accurate information and stay well-informed of the status of their cases’, keeps her positive.

Growing up Born and raised in Barkly West in the Northern Cape, Marli is the eldest of five daughters. “We were known as the Holtzhausen Clan, she laughs, noting the freedom that she and her siblings enjoyed growing up. “We could walk to the swimming pool and spend the whole day there without being afraid of being hurt. We could be children, without any worries,” she adds on a more sombre note. Her mom insisted that all her girls participate in team sports, and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Luckily Marli loved sport, and by the age of five, she was swimming in galas. She went on to play netball, korfball (softball) and tennis, and participate in biathlons. Another of her great loves was – and still is – reading. “Nothing is better than the smell of a new book,” she recalls. As an adult, she represented the Northern Cape in netball, biathlon, and

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PERSONALITY PROFILE

korfball, going on to play for South Africa’s korfball team. She also took up mountain biking, and still rides actively on a regular basis. From a young age, Marli dreamed of becoming a doctor. With four other siblings to educate, however, there weren’t funds to pay for her studies. Determined to find a career in which she could make a difference, she turned her sights to the South African Police Service (SAPS). “There were a number of different careers available and I realised that I would enjoy being a detective… the detective movies on TV probably also played a huge role in my decision!” she laughs. “I knew I was going to be a police official before I knew that I had passed matric! On the day that I was supposed to collect my final matric results from my school, I had an interview with SAPS recruitment, so my mom had to fetch them. “I began my police career as a ‘verrrry’ young 17-year-old in 1994, fresh out of school. I only turned 18 when I was at the Oudtshoorn Police Academy, where I did my six months’ basic training. From there, I joined the Visible Policing Unit in Barkly West as a constable. I was very fortunate to start at a small station because I was taught to do everything, from attending to complaints to completing the different registers — knowledge that I still use today. Two years later, I applied for a transfer to the General Detective Branch at Barkly West, where I became their first-ever female detective — at last, I was where I wanted to be!” At the same time, Marli represented SAPS Northern Cape in netball, tennis, functional fitness, and mountain biking. This led to her being chosen to represent the National South African SAPS Teams in functional fitness and mountain biking. She also qualified as a ‘Learn to Swim Coach’, teaching children and grownups water safety — her way of giving back to the community. And, when she gets the opportunity, she bakes birthday cakes, which is how she really relaxes. One of her very first cases when she was still a new detective was that of a young girl who was abducted by a man known to the community. “He took her to a field and when she tried to escape, he caught her again and broke her arm in the process. He then raped her and left her to find her way back to town. On the day of the trial, this brave little girl – with her arm still in plaster – stood

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up to the defense lawyer, who tried his best to dishonour her. She remained calm, and testified with the dignity that a much older person would have admired. She was a star and I always will remember that.” Another career success was the chase and arrest of a serial rapist who terrorised the communities of Galeshewe and Kagisho from 2014 to 2018. “He robbed, assaulted, and raped the victims without using condoms. We had all these DNA hits, but no suspect, because his DNA hadn’t yet been captured in the system. Meanwhile, he was becoming more and more violent and aggressive. The turning point came when he was arrested for being in possession of a stolen vehicle in Grahamstown. We linked him to 14 cases and arrested him. He was found guilty on 12 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, 14 counts of rape, two counts of attempted robbery, and six counts of kidnapping. He ended up with three life sentences and an additional 441 years imprisonment.” What inspires you? “My motto is that if I help just one victim for the day, then I have served my purpose. I am here to protect and serve my community, and even the smallest ‘thank you’ is enough to keep me positive. I also know that I can be the difference that I want to see and that I must lead by example.” Goals “Currently, I am the Unit Commander of Galeshewe FCS, the biggest FCS Unit in the Northern Cape. We’re performing very well thanks to me having the best team any commander could wish for. My goal for the unit is to continue excelling, and to empower every member so that they can reach their full potential.” “I am also assisting another unit, which doesn’t have a commander at the moment — my short-term goal is to guide them to the same level of expertise as Galeshewe FCS. For the future, I would like to work as the Coordinator of the Northern Cape FCS Units and share my knowledge with all of them.” Gender-based violence “GBV is something that will not just disappear, and the perspective of South Africans must be changed in this regard. Women must realise that they are not the weaker sex just because they are women. They have the same rights as men and can

stand on their own feet. And men must realise the same. “Another concern is the ‘I-do-notwant-to-get-involved, it’s-not-my business’ attitude of people. If a crime is committed against a woman, child, or elderly person, it MUST be reported. We cannot turn a blind eye.” Day-to-day responsibilities Marli’s key responsibilities include providing victims of GBV crimes with support and feedback on a weekly basis, apprehending perpetrators of rape, abduction, sexual and other assaults, and child neglect, and ensuring that cases are successfully prosecuted. Her unit also conducts awareness campaigns aimed at empowering communities, and works with schools, places of worship and the elderly, on special projects. Best advice “It’s incredibly fulfilling being a police official. I enjoy my work, and I love the interaction with the members and the community. Youngsters considering a career in the police force need to look beyond the salary if they want to be successful: they must want to be the change they want to see, they must never, ever forget that every docket is a victim, they must respect one another, and they must always stay humble. And they must appreciate life.”

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

CYBER SECURITY

To click or not to click — results of phishing study with 80,000 people Phishing emails that mimic HR announcements or ask for assistance with invoicing get the most clicks from recipients, according to a new study from cyber security provider F-Secure.

ays South African spokesperson, F-Secure’s Director of Consulting Riaan Naude: “The study, To Click or Not to Click: What we Learned from Phishing 80,000 People, which included 82,402 participants, tested how employees from four different organisations responded to emails that simulated one of four commonly used phishing tactics. Twenty-two percent of recipients that received an email simulating a human resources announcement about vacation time clicked, making emails that mimic those sent by HR the most frequent source of clicks in the study. An email, asking the recipient to help with an invoice (referred to as CEO Fraud in the report), was the second-most frequently engaged with email type, receiving clicks from 16 percent of recipients. Document Share (notifications from a document hosting service) and Service Issue Notification (messages from an online service) emails received clicks from 7 percent and 6 percent of recipients, making them the least frequently clicked emails in the study. However, according to Matthew Connor, F-Secure Service Delivery Manager and lead author of the report, the study’s most notable finding was that people working in ‘technical’ roles seemed equally or even more susceptible to phishing attempts than the general population. “The privileged access that technical personnel have to an organisation’s infrastructure can lead to them being actively targeted by adversaries, so advanced or even average susceptibility to phishing is a concern,” Connor explained. “Post-study surveys found that these personnel were more aware of previous phishing attempts than others, so we know this is a real threat. The fact that they click as often or more often than others, even with their level of awareness, highlights a significant challenge in the fight against phishing.” Out of the two organisations studied

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

Riaan Naude.

Matt Connor.

with personnel working in IT or DevOps, both clicked test emails at rates that were either equal to or higher than other departments in their organisations: 26 percent from DevOps and 24 percent from IT compared to 25 percent for one organisation, and 30 percent from DevOps and 21 percent from IT compared to 11 percent for the other organisation. Furthermore, the study found that these departments were no better at reporting phishing attempts than others. In one organisation, IT and DevOps came third and sixth out of nine departments in terms of reporting. In the other organisation, DevOps was the twelfth best at reporting out of seventeen departments, while IT was fifteenth. The value of a fast, easy-to-use reporting process was also highlighted in the report. In the first minute after the test emails arrived in inboxes, over three times the number of people who reported it as suspicious had clicked. This number levelled out at around five minutes and stayed consistent after that. And, while reporting became more common as time went on, the different processes at different organisations

played a key role. Forty-seven percent of participants from an organisation that provided all employees with a dedicated button to flag suspicious emails used it during the study. Only 13 percent and 12 percent of participants from two other organisations reported their test emails (the remaining organisation did not provide data on reporting). According to Naude, the patterns in report-and-click rates identified by the study highlights a practical opportunity for organisations to mobilise employees in a collective effort to protect themselves against phishing. “The evidence in the study clearly points to fast, painless reporting processes as common ground where security personnel and other teams can work together to improve an organisation’s resilience against phishing. Getting this right means that an attack can be detected and prevented earlier, as security teams may only have a few precious minutes to mitigate a potential compromise,” said Naude. More information on solutions that help organisations address phishing and other security challenges is available at https:// www.f-secure.com/business.

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WELLBEING

Working from home increases ‘digital anxiety’ Two-thirds of remote workers reported worrying about their online security and privacy, even if nothing is wrong.

orking from home has spiked since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March of 2020. This effort to reduce health risks may have limited the spread of the virus, but, according to a new analysis by cyber security provider F-Secure, it may also have helped increase digital anxiety for those working remotely. In a recent survey, 67 percent of internet users who work from home reported they increasingly worry about their online security and privacy even if nothing is wrong, compared to 58% of other users. Senior Lecturer in Cyberpsychology at Nottingham Trent University Dr. Lee Hadlington, whose research interests include employees’ adherence to workplace cyber security practices, said it makes sense that people’s sudden shift to telecommuting increased their anxieties

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about online threats. “It is not surprising that individuals have started to worry more about cyber security, particularly when working from home. Many individuals were thrust into the ‘new normal’ of home working with very little preparation, training, or equipment. Let’s not forget, for most individuals in a workplace environment, cyber security is generally a second thought, and is usually something that is seen as the responsibility of someone else in the company. This, coupled with the fact that many home workers have less than perfect home working environments (e.g. desks in busy parts of the house, limited/poor internet connection, limited working knowledge of internet-based technology), means that these cyber security fears could be symptomatic of a combination of factors,” he said.

While worries about online security and privacy were prevalent among all survey respondents, remote workers reported elevated concerns about a myriad of issues, including: • 65 percent of those who work from home said the internet is becoming a more dangerous place, compared to 54% of other respondents. • 63 percent of remote workers said concerns about data privacy have changed how they use the internet, compared to 48% of other respondents. • 71 percent of remote workers said they worry that new internet connected devices—such as wearables and connected home appliances—could lead to a violation of their privacy, compared to 64% of non-remote workers. • 70 percent of remote workers felt increasingly uncomfortable connecting to public WiFi due to security risks compared to 63% of other respondents. “Working from home could also have meant that individuals may have had more time to focus on other aspects of their working life and spent more time engaging in self-reflection and aspects of self-improvement; this could have included a reassessment of cyber risks in their daily lives. The pandemic also meant people were isolated, with many turned to the one thing they did have access to — the Internet. Of course, spending more time engaged in one activity could lead to an increase in perceptions of risk, particularly when people are being subjected to negative news stories about cybersecurity related issues,” Dr. Hadlington explained. According to F-Secure Security Consultant Tom Gaffney, managing security while working remotely takes technical security measures that protect data and devices, and steps to keep people’s personal and professional lives separate. “Steps which everyone can take to secure themselves and their privacy when they work from home include updating their devices and software, ensuring their personal devices have security software installed, and some other basic infosec measures,” said Gaffney. “But keeping your personal and professional online activities separate from one another may be as important as any of these tips. Restricting what sort of things you do on each device and during which times can be an essential way to ease digital anxiety.”

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

CYBER GARTNER SECURITY

Gartner predicts 25 percent of people will spend at least one hour per day in the metaverse by 2026 Reproduced from https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-02-07-gartner-predicts-25-percent-ofpeople-will-spend-at-least-one-hour-per-day-in-the-metaverse-by-2026

y 2026, 25 percent of people will spend at least one hour a day in the metaverse for work, shopping, education, social and/or entertainment, according to Gartner, Inc. “Vendors are already building ways for users to replicate their lives in digital worlds,” said Marty Resnick, Research Vice President at Gartner. “From attending virtual classrooms to buying digital land and constructing virtual homes, these activities are currently being conducted in separate environments. Eventually, they will take place in a single environment – the metaverse – with multiple destinations across technologies and experiences.” Gartner defines a metaverse as a collective virtual shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical and digital reality.

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

It is persistent, providing enhanced immersive experiences, as well as device independent and accessible through any type of device, from tablets to headmounted displays. Because no single vendor will own the metaverse, Gartner expects it to have a virtual economy enabled by digital currencies and nonfungible tokens (NFTs). The metaverse will impact every business that consumers interact with every day. It will also impact how work gets done. Enterprises will provide better engagement, collaboration and connection to their employees through immersive workspaces in virtual offices. Businesses will not need to create their own infrastructure to do so because the metaverse will provide the framework. In addition, virtual events that have gained

popularity over the last 18 months will offer more collaborative and immersive networking opportunities and workshops. “Enterprises will have the ability to expand and enhance their business models in unprecedented ways by moving from a digital business to a metaverse business,” said Resnick. “By 2026, 30 percent of the organisations in the world will have products and services ready for metaverse.” The adoption of metaverse technologies is nascent and fragmented, and Gartner cautions organisations about investing heavily in a specific metaverse. “It is still too early to know which investments will be viable in the long term, but product managers should take the time to learn, explore and prepare for a metaverse in order to position themselves competitively,” said Resnick.

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VEHICLE MEDIA STATEMENT XXX SECURITY

Watch your vehicles — when did you last check your car’s tracking device? Compiled on behalf of Fidelity Securedrive by Cathy Findley Public Relations.

vehicle tracking device is much like a medical aid — you don’t realise its value until you really need it. And with the current high rate of stolen vehicles, this is one asset you don’t want to be without. It used to be that it was just new vehicles that were vulnerable to vehicle robbery syndicates but, according to Fidelity SecureDrive, this year has seen an increase in brazen tactics and robberies of older vehicles that don’t have modern tracking devices. The company says further that they’re seeing as many as four incidents a week in Gauteng. “The reality, however, is that even if you do have a tracking device, if (it is) older than three years, it is like having a

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three-year old cell phone and you should be considering your options,” says Wahl Bartmann, CEO of Fidelity Services Group. With processing capacity literally more than doubling every 18 months, anything older than three years is outdated and places you at risk, he maintains. “We now know just how low the accuracy of the old technology really was when compared to our current technology which provides 3m pinpoint accuracy. This is absolutely critical in recovering stolen vehicles,” he says. Pinpoint accuracy has become increasingly necessary and recent advances in GPS technology have made geospatial information far more accurate and accessible. “These days, tracking devices are not

only much more sophisticated, but they have also become so much more affordable, so it is definitely worth investing in one,” he says. In light of current trends, Bartmann reminds motorists that when leaving their cars unattended to always ensure that they are locked and to be constantly aware of car jamming, particularly in parking garages and shopping centres and now, as we have seen, even in secure complexes.” “This year it is definitely worthwhile reviewing what you already have in your car or what you are considering buying. Asking your telemetry service partner some key questions could be the best investment in your security you have made,” concludes Bartmann.

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

THE LAST NEWS WORD

Expert Panel Report on July 2021 Unrest By Peter Bagshawe

etween 9 and 18 July 2021, South Africa was rocked by riots, incidents of arson, civil disobedience, Internet activism and looting in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng, which President Cyril Ramaphosa referred to as ‘insurrection’. The then-Acting Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, on 20 July, referred to initial estimated losses in the region of R50 billion to the national economy, with 337 deaths

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

and 2,219 dockets opened and being processed by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Stark information does not show the impact of the loss of life and property, damage to infrastructure, loss of direct jobs and ancillary informal employment, reputational damage internationally, financial losses to traders, impact on insurances and financial markets or the destruction of trust in the ability of the state to provide protection of life and

property, as required in terms of the South African Constitution. In response not only to the situation that arose, but also widespread criticism of the state, President Ramaphosa, on 5 August 2021, appointed an Expert Panel, chaired by Professor Sandy Africa and comprising experts in relevant areas, to investigate the preparedness – or lack of preparedness – of the government relating to the ‘insurrection’. Dr Sandy Africa is an Associate Professor in the

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THE LAST NEWS WORD

Department of Political Sciences at the University of Pretoria and also holds positions in The African Security Sector Network and the Geneva Democratic Centre for the Control on Armed Forces. On 7 February 2022, President Ramaphosa authorised the release of the Report of (the?) Expert Panel on (the) July 2021 Unrest, which provides insight into the state of the member sectors of the Security Cluster and demonstrates the level of dysfunction prior to, and during, the riots. Turning to the causes of the riots, the Panel report referred directly to the weakness of state institutions, endemic poverty, the ongoing unemployment crisis, and the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma as primary drivers. Further factors identified include poor rollout of service delivery and unacceptable living conditions, the state of the economy, poor spatial planning, and the emergence of informal settlements in urban spaces, corruption within government, and state capture. All of these have been referred to, and debated previously, but serve to provide the background that led to many poor people participating in looting, led by individuals with more direct political objectives. It is telling that the Expert Panel Report found that internal differences within the African National Congress (ANC) contributed to the unrest. Further to this, the Report also catalogued a series of failures, including the South African Police Service (SAPS) being inadequately prepared, and a lack of intelligence from state security officials, with a final comment being that little has changed in the underlying conditions that led to the riots. It is well known that there is a divisive relationship between the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, and now-former National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole. On 20 September 2021 it was announced that President Ramaphosa had launched an inquiry into Sitole’s alleged misconduct and fitness to hold office and that Sitole had been issued a notice of suspension. Sitole submitted his representations on the notice to suspend to the President on 15 October 2021. It was announced by the Office of the Presidency on the evening of 25 February 2022, that Sitole will, by mutual agreement, vacate his position with effect from 31 March ‘in the best interests of the country’. This, in effect, brings an end to a situation that has

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widely been regarded as counterproductive to the operation and the morale of the South African Police Service. Despite the cordial tone of the announcement, it is apparent that this was, in all likelihood, an executive decision. Political reaction has been swift, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front (FF) calling for the dismissal of Minister Cele. Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the South African Police Union (SAPU) have referred to the termination of Sitole’s contract as being politically motivated. The probity of a former National Police Commissioner holding office as Minister of Police is a further factor that requires debate. The Panel Report referred to police capacity as being overstretched due to orchestrated and spontaneous, simultaneous incidents of violence and looting, exacerbated by having to operate in areas with no road infrastructure, poor lighting and in an environment where police members were subject to threats and intimidation. The Public Order Policing Unit, in particular, was under-resourced and understaffed, equipment had not been maintained, and only one water cannon vehicle was available per province, Nyala vehicles were not available, logistics were inadequate, rubber bullets and tear gas canisters could not be resupplied, and intelligence would not seem to have been available on the ground. Evidence given by Minister Cele to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) hearing claimed that the Minister did not receive intelligence reports prior to, or during, the period of the riots, despite these having been received by Sitole and Lieutenant-General Masemola, Deputy National Commissioner for Policing, and senior managers within the Crime Intelligence Division. The Panel Report contained findings of a significant failure of the Intelligence Service to identify, anticipate, prevent, or disrupt the planned violence. The Report found the Intelligence Service’s interpretation of what was brewing slow and, as a result, it failed to put in place necessary measures to detect and disrupt the unrest. In evidence given to the SAHRC hearing, former State Security Minister, Ayanda Dlodlo, gave evidence contrary to the Report, laying blame firmly on the police service, who, she contended, received fit-for-purpose intelligence prior to, and during, the unrest. Dlodlo was, subsequent to the riots, transferred and is currently Minister

of Public Service and Administration. The stabilisation of the unrest was largely a result of the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), albeit too late to avoid extensive damage. Then-Minister of Defence and now Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, gave evidence to the Human Rights Commission that, in consultation with the President, and at the request of the Minister of Police, a complement of 2,500 members of the Defence Force was deployed. Initially, troops were used to guard National Key Points (NKP): the deployment was increased to 10,000, and finally 25,000 troops were deployed in unrest areas to stabilise Kwa-Zulu Natal. Her evidence stated that the deployment was not smooth, with little cooperation being received from Kwa-Zulu Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, and a limited flow of information until intervention from Mapisa-Nqakula and senior Defence Force officers. Again, this points to fractured lines of communication. The above is, in effect, a litany of defects identified by the Report of Expert(s?) Panel on (the) July 2021 Unrest, which is bolstered by evidence being given at the South African Human Rights Commission hearing. The lack of performance by departments and deflection by the relevant Minister is concerning, as there is a lack of acceptance of accountability which spreads through to party and executive level. A prime example of this is the recently-announced under-spending by the South African Police Service of R4 billion on their budget. Given the deficiencies identified in the Expert Panel Report, and the strictures under which the Police Service operated during the insurrection, this is an area that requires investigation and remediation, from the top down. The termination of Sitole’s contract may be the initial move to correcting or rectifying deficiencies or lack of performance identified in the Report, but the likelihood is that this is more of a political decision. In the interim the causative factors identified by the Expert Panel remain in play, as do the risks of further unrest. PETER BAGSHAWE holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the former University of Rhodesia and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Witwatersrand.

SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MARCH 2022

Security Focus Africa March 2022 Vol 40 No 3

Articles inside

KIDNAPPING & PERSONAL SECURITY

THE LAST WORD

GARTNER

CYBER SECURITY

WELLBEING

VEHICLE SECURITY

PERSONALITY PROFILE

ASSOCIATION NEWS

NEWS

CYBER SECURITY

News snippets from around the world.

EDITOR’S COMMENT

TRAINING

FIGHTING FRAUD

ISS TODAY