Gatvol - October 2022

LET’S WORK TOGETHER TO STOP

*SUCCESS REPORT*

of stolen vehicle taken in a house robbery

Case 3/10/2022

*OPERATIONAL TEAMS*

Magma Security and

Investigations

Tracker Connect

Plessislaer SAPS

On 04/10/2022 a vehicle that was stolen in a house robbery in the Alexandra area was activated by Tracker Connect.

Magma Security and Investigation members responded and recovered the vehicle in Mpumuza area in Sweetwaters.

vehicle was handed over to Plessislaer SAPS for further processing and investigation.

*SUCCESS REPORT*

*OPERATIONAL TEAMS*

Magma Security and Investigations

Security

District Trio Crimes

05/10/2022 a white Polo vehicle was stopped after reports of being involved in a shooting. A drug dealer known as Pappa was found to be driving. One baretta 8mm with one magazine and 8 live rounds was found in his possession with the serial number filed off the frame. Serial number was located in the barrel H39975Z and reported positive on Alex Case 397/07/2022.

was seized and entered into VSU pound as it contained a large amount of drugs to the street value of R30 000 This is what

contained

1430 heroin capsules

10×jaws of rock cocaine

41 banking containing cut pieces of rock cocaine

is wanted in a Prestbury Case triple murder as well as

Case 1 count of murder

31/10/2022

MAGMA SECURITY AND INVESTIGATIONS SUCCESS REPORT

• Possession of stolen motor vehicle

Greenwood Cas 09/10/2022

• Possession of drugs

Cato Manor Cas 11/10/2022

*OPERATIONAL TEAMS*

• Magma Security and Investigations

• Stabilisation Team Saps

• Rapid Rail Cross Boarder Saps

On 01/10/2022 Magma Security and Investigations received information about a Toyota Fortuner that was involved in multiple criminal cases. A joint operation was conducted with the Stabilisation Roving Team and Rapid Rail Cross Boarder. This resulted in the vehicle being intercepted on the N2 freeway. The vehicle was found to have been stolen in Pietermaritzburg with Cas 500/06/2022. Upon further investigation of premises occupied by the suspect the following recoveries were made:

*RECOVERIES*

• Toyota Fortuner PMB Cas 500/06/2022

• Drugs believed to be to the value of five million rands

• A signal jammer

• 2 cellphones

• Cash to the value of R34 700

Suspect detained at Greenwood Park Station. Two cases were opened against the suspect

• Possession of stolen motor vehicle

SAP13 832/10/2022

SAP14 01/10/2022

SAP 14a S1668475

• Possession of drugs

SAP13 687/2022

*SUCCESS REPORT*

Theft of Truck and Container

Bellair Cas 17/10/2022

*OPERATIONAL TEAMS*

• Magma Security and Investigations

• Camperdown SAPS

On 2022/10/06 at 11:30 Magma Security and Investigations was doing patrols on Umlaas Road, R603, when they spotted a trailer with a container, parked suspiciously on the side of the road.

On closer inspection it was established that the trailer and containers were reported stolen via Bellair CAS 17/10/2022 on 2022/10/05.

The container was checked and inside it a Heidelberg MO-E printer, serial number 601.806, was discovered. The second container containing Copper was missing. Total value of printer R4.5 million and the trailer R300 000-00

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PRODUCT BREAKDOWN

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L O A D S H E D D I N G...

Not the smile joke like Eskom has changed their onhold music to Hello Darkness my old friendapologies to Simon and Garfunkel –or after Queen Elisabeth 2 passed away the Eifel tower in France turned off its lights as a mark of respect, but here in South Africa Eskom turned off the lights in half the country. Those are humorous but what is happening in the country is not.

We have been blighted with 1828 hours of loadshedding so far this year That equates to 76 full 24 hour days-at time of writing-of no power. That is almost 3 months - a third of the year so far-and there is no end in sight.

There are articles that the current Government is doing something about it. What I have no idea and I’m not sure that they have any idea as to how to fix a problem of their own creation.

In 2005 the ANC government was warned that the current infrastructure was failing. They did nothing about it then and now they are spinning to save the country. They have decided to re-employ people with electrical engineering experience-why there are none in Eskom’s employ heaven and the ANC only knows.

I hope it’s not too little too late .Saving the country is what they need to do. Eskom is owed billions from municipal governments who have defaulted on payments and they need to find a way to recoup that without punishing the customers who have been paying their respective municipalities.

Then there is the issue of illegal use of electricity The Government need to put a stop to that. The easiest way but the most controversial way is to cancel the debt and start again.

Apart from the huge inconvenience of no power there are other things to consider. The price of food has increased dramatically. Why?

No electricity. Farmers have had to use generators to run their milking machines, vegetable growers have had to find a way to keep their crops fresh and watered and then stored. Cold rooms need electricity. Some of the farmers have found a solution in gas But at what cost?

Abattoirs have had to invest in alternate forms of power supply to keep the meat flowing to the shops. National chains have had to obtain high powered generators to run their fridges to prevent the food in their fridges from going off. Shopping centers have also had to find a way to keep their doors open. The list goes on and on....

The net result is the consumer has to pay more. Insurance rates are about to go up because of Eskom’s failure to provide adequate electricity to the home and business. Appliances get damaged because of the on/ off nature of the supply. Business in particular is under huge pressure with the August liquidations running at about 44% higher than in 2021 with the majority of small to medium business closing their doors. This has resulted in an increase of unemployment rate which currently sits at the highest in South Africa’s history. And there is more gloom to come with almost 900000 school leavers wanting to enter the job market Crime has dramatically increased and with the year end on the horizon it is only going to get worse. Criminals strike during loadshedding because it is easy in the dark. With the up to 6 hours a day loadshedding happing currently batteries on electric fencing or on gate motors do not have

sufficient time to recharge.

The ANC must sort out the loadshedding problem today. This is beyond urgent. In 6 to 8 months from now if they do not sort out the problem South Africa with be ruined.

In the meantime what can we do to protect our homes and businesses?

The only alternative is to find alternate power sources. Be that Solar Energy Gas or something else we need to become creative to solve our immediate issues because the way things are going right now we, the home and business owners, need to focus on keeping our doors open and our loved ones safe.

We in KZN have survived riots, floods and covid so now we have a different plow to put our hand to and as the old saying goes n boer maak n plan and we need to make a plan so that we can continue to prosper and keep our loved ones safe.

“Hello Darkness my old friend”

From the Sounds of Silence Lyrics and music Paul Simon

“Loadshedding in South Africa has become a joke!”

LOADSHEDDING-RELATED CLAIMS SOAR: HERE’S HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Insurer King Price says it has settled more than R21 million in claims in the past 14 months alone due to damages sustained through power surges and dips, most of which were caused by loadshedding – and it expects this figure to rise as the country veers into Stage 6 loadshedding territory again.

Wynand van Vuuren, the client experience partner at King Price Insurance, said the claims were registered in the period from 1 July 2021 to 19 September 2022, and are all related to power surges and dips that affected buildings, home contents and portable possessions. Lightningrelated claims are specifically excluded from this figure.

“We’re getting a growing number of claims for ‘fried’ computer equipment, fridges, TVs and even electrical distribution boards caused by power surges,” said Van Vuuren. “As a result, we’re asking our policyholders to install surge protectors to protect their appliances, and to make sure their generators and back-up power systems are installed professionally to ensure they’re covered by insurance.”

It’s also important to check your home contents insurance to see if you’re covered for damage from power surges, says Van Vuuren. In general, consumers should be able to claim these damages directly from their municipality, but this isn’t always viable. If you’re insured for electrical damage due to power surges and dips, you can claim directly from your insurer, who will then claim from the municipality on your behalf.

According to the Ombudsman for Short-term Insurance (OSTI), 11% of home contents claims disputes in 2020 were related to power surges, and this increased to 16% in 2021. Some home contents insurance policies don’t include cover for loss or damage caused by power surges, while other policies only cover power surge damage for an additional premium on request.

There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from power outages and surges.

Install surge protectors and UPS Surge protectors and UPS (uninterruptable power supply) systems can go a long way towards protecting your most valuable appliances. A UPS allows your appliances to shut down properly when the power goes off, and protects your big ticket appliances from the power surges that often occur when the power comes back on.“If you can’t afford a UPS, it’s advisable to manually disconnect your more sensitive appliances from the power

supply and reconnect them after the electricity is switched back on,” says Van Vuuren.

Use alternative power supplies safely Alternative power supplies must comply with safety guidelines, and they must be installed by a professional. Portable generators are relatively cheap and easy to operate, but must be correctly linked to your power supply: simply plugging a generator into a house plug is known as backfeeding, and it’s not only dangerous, but will result in any damage not being covered by insurance.

“Whether you’re using a generator or an inverter, make sure they power your electric fence, gate and alarm as well, as burglars are all too quick to exploit opportunities caused by power outages. If you don’t have an alternative power supply, make sure your fence, gate and alarm have a battery back-up,” says Van Vuuren.

LOAD-SHEDDING: HOW POWER SURGES AND GENERATORS AFFECT YOUR INSURANCE

Load-shedding is on the menu again, sending South African consumers scrambling for alternative power supplies – but while it’s worth installing surge protectors to protect your appliances, make sure your generators or back-up power systems are installed professionally to ensure you’re covered by insurance.

It’s also important to make sure that your household contents policy includes power surge cover. According to the Ombudsman for Short-term Insurance (OSTI), 11% of household content disputes in 2020 were related to power surge claims, and this increased to 16% in 2021. Some household contents insurance policies do not include power surge cover, while other policies only cover power surge damage for an additional premium on request.

Wynand van Vuuren, the client experience partner at King Price Insurance, says there are several steps you can take to protect yourself from power outages and surges.

The case for UPS

It’s always a good idea to install surge protectors and UPS (uninterruptable power supply) systems in your house, especially for your most valuable appliances. A UPS allows you to shut your appliances down properly when the power goes off, and protects your big ticket appliances from power surges that often occur when the power comes back on.

“We get a lot of claims for ‘fried’ computer equipment, fridges, TVs and even distribution boards caused by power surges. If you can’t afford a UPS, it’s advisable to manually disconnect

your more sensitive appliances from the power supply and reconnect them after the electricity is switched back on,” says Van Vuuren.

It’s also important to check your home contents insurance to see if you’re covered for damage from power surges, says Van Vuuren. In general, consumers should be able to claim these damages directly from their municipality, but this isn’t always viable. If you’re insured for electrical damage due to power surges and dips, you can claim directly from your insurer, who will then claim from the municipality on your behalf.

Doing alternative power supplies right Apart from keeping your lights on, different power options all have one thing in common: they must comply with safety guidelines, and they must be installed by a professional.

• An inverter changes DC power from a battery into AC power that you can use to operate all kinds of devices. Obviously, it needs a battery pack to be useful. These batteries are either charged by solar or from the grid while the power is on.

• A portable generator is the little generator on wheels that you see people buying in their dozens at Makro and Builders Warehouse over the weekend. They’re relatively cheap and easy to operate, but can’t keep big appliances running. It’s also essential that portable generators are operated in open areas with good air flow, to prevent carbon monoxide build-up, and that fuel is stored safely in an area with adequate ventilation. ‘Portable’ doesn’t mean that it can be moved to a different location

during load-shedding. Not only is the generator not covered, but any possible damage caused by the generator won’t be covered either, because it’s not properly installed

• Stationary generators are usually slightly bigger units that are installed permanently, and switch on automatically when the power goes off. They’re more expensive, but have greater capacity.

“Whether you’re using a generator or an inverter, make sure they power your electric fence, gate and alarm as well, as burglars are all too quick to exploit opportunities caused by power outages. If you don’t have an alternative power supply, make sure your fence, gate and alarm have a battery back-up,” says Van Vuuren.

“And make sure your generator’s insured as well, in case it’s stolen or struck by lightning. You would typically insure a portable generator under your home contents. A stationary (standby) generator becomes a fixed fitting once installed, and must therefore be added to your buildings cover.”

FOR MORE INFO: Cathy Nolan: cathy.nolan@kingprice.co.za

‘WORKING FROM ANYWHERE MEANS THREATS ARE EVERYWHERE’

For many South Africans, ‘working from anywhere’ has become the hottest trend in town. They’re not just working from home: they’re working from their local coffee shops, public places, and even other countries. In the process, they’re exposing their employers to a world of new cyber-security threats – and many businesses aren’t doing enough to manage their risks, says insurer King Price.

2021 was a record year for data breaches, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center – but many companies still think it will never happen to them, says George Parrott, a commercial partner at King Price. Interpol estimates that nine out of every 10 African businesses are operating without the necessary cybersecurity protocols in place, putting themselves and their clients at risk of massive financial loss.

“The problem is that working from anywhere means cyber-threats are everywhere, and companies of all sizes must take extra precautions to secure their IT systems and company and customer data,” said Parrott.

The biggest problem is that, when they work remotely, employees do things they wouldn’t do at the office. They share devices with other family members or use the same device for both personal and work activities. They log on to unsecured WiFi networks. They install their own software and apps or insert thumb drives without first making sure where they come from. Many even actively try to get around company security measures, or don’t install the latest security patches and updates.

So, how do you allow your employees

the freedom to work remotely while staying secure? Since it is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Parrott shares four tips and highlights the importance of being proactive to ensure that the correct processes and protection are in place.

Educate your people

In the world of cyber-security, people are the weakest link. You can have all the security and firewalls in the world, but it counts for nothing if one employee clicks on a dodgy link in an SMS or an email. “I cannot stress how important it is to not only have a strong remote working security policy, but to constantly keep security top of mind with every single employee,” said Parrott.

Keep the crown jewels safe

It’s important to get the security basics in place: a firewall, enterpriselevel anti-virus software, and regular data back-ups. Businesses must also be able to control who is able to access their information. That means ensuring robust verification of everyone who wants to access company systems and networks, and keeping a log of who accesses the system and when. Something else to consider is having some form of cyber insurance in place, to help cover your business in case it becomes a victim of cybercrimes despite all efforts to prevent this from happening.

Use a VPN

If your people work remotely, or use their personal devices for work, virtual private networks (VPNs) are a critical tool. A VPN provides a secure, reliable connection to your company’s computer systems, even if your people

are logging on from public Wi-Fi, says Parrott. All your internet traffic is then routed through an encrypted virtual ‘tunnel’ that is secure and private.

Get those updates done

When your device is in the office and connected to the company network, security updates are installed automatically. Away from the office, it’s the Wild West, with many remote employees either postponing or avoiding installing updates. “You’ve got to make it as easy as possible for your people to stay updated, otherwise you’re putting yourself at risk,” said Parrott.

The risks are immense: a cyberattack can literally put a small to mid-sized company out of business. The IBM 2019 Cost of a Data Study puts the average total cost of a data breach in South Africa at R43.3 million. Globally, an Inc.com study suggests that 60% of small businesses close their doors within 6 months of an attack.

Adding an extra layer of complexity is South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), which fundamentally changed the way businesses deal with consumers’ personal information. If your business is hacked, and you don’t have the correct procedures and safeguards in place, you could get fined by the Regulator.

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The Final Word

Here we are in the final 3 months of the year and what a month September has been, the Queens passing has made the world stop and think about where we are. She dedicated her whole life to service, and serving the people of the commonwealth. And she fulfilled her promise.

Our leaders should take a leaf out of her book.

I stumbled upon a horrific stat this week In KZN in the first quarter of this financial year there have been 1623 murders. KZN is the murder capital of South Africa to put it into perspective in the 3 months March April and May 92 days in total 1623 murders have been committed. That is 18 murders a day. If you compare our stat with the UK, in 2019/2020 the whole financial year there were

714 murders. We in comparison are facing a figure of 6500 murders during this year. Something is so wrong with our society and it needs to be corrected urgently.

If we add to this figure the farm murders which the government does not consider murder but robbery, the rapes and then the burglaries never mind the fraud and state capture, we seem to be a country in the grip of the largest crime wave in living memory. Stories are coming out daily about crime- a construction mafia, Eskom CEO’s car being bugged, and German tourist being murdered whilst on holiday, employees stealing millions of rand from their employers.

It is clear that in its current form crime and criminals are winning and it seems that the police are powerless to stop it. Yes arrests are

made and some criminals are being prosecuted but far too many are getting away with it

With all that it seems that the biggest crime of all in South Africa at the moment is the load shedding and the strategic sabotage of Eskom. Thankfully the leadership in Eskom have finally been given teeth to deal with this issue and some of the culprits have finally been caught suspended and arrested and hopefully soon to be convicted and get some time behind bars

With all the bad news I thought I would leave you with this cartoon that I came across

Until next time...

MARTYN SMITHERS