In response to recent articles on the security situation in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, over the past 17 months, with the integrated security systems being frequently offline, including the mobile surveillance vehicle (MSV) and due lack of maintenance, NMBM strategic management has allowed a massive breach in security, which may lead to serious consequential risks for the NMBM.
Afrisec Strategic Solutions (Pty) Ltd provided costing, in December last year, for urgent repairs and maintenance for the state-of-the-art MSV, which Afrisec built and supplied to the NMBM in 2010.
Statistically, the MSV deployment has been one of the best performing assets for crime prevention in the NMBM.
It has not been effectively deployed in the field since November last year due to maintenance issues.
Afrisec had no part in the alleged removal of physical radio signals and equipment as stated in the editorial comment of May 18 (“Action needed to secure city assets”).
Since November 30 2016, Afrisec has been restricted from accessing any NMBM sites.
While a service provider to the NMBM, Afrisec invoiced NMBM for equipment, annual software and hardware licence renewals.
But Afrisec did not receive payment from the NMBM from November 30 2016, and could not pay its suppliers and SMME subcontractors.
These suppliers discontinued supplying materials and licence renewals to Afrisec.
Afrisec continued to pay for the licences until June 29 last year, still without receiving any payments from the NMBM. NMBM software and hardware licences were not renewed, therefore alarm signals to the central control room ceased.
Since that date, three other service providers have worked on the integrated security system. Afrisec, therefore, denies removing any physical radio links or equipment from the alarm system.
The integrated security system included alarm systems as well as CCTV, access control, electric fence, time and attendance, and mobile surveillance systems. Without the proper maintenance budgets being allocated, these systems begin to fail and go offline.This risk was indicated by Afrisec to the NMBM strategic management on March 16 2015, February 2 2016 and October 6 2016, when an emergency programme and maintenance programme was presented to get systems back on line.
This risk has been a concern to us, a situation which Afrisec has attempted to avoid, having served the metro well over a number of years (against orders received from the metro), as reflected in several letters of reference received in the past from the metro, acclaiming Afrisec for its services.
As to the history of Afrisec’s relationship with the metro, on October 6 2008, NMBM adopted the security master plan, the “architectural blueprint” for an integrated security system with a central control room.
The massive security system, installed and maintained by Afrisec, formed an umbrella over the metro’s assets and personnel – monitoring, in addition, weather system warnings, guards, beachfronts, buildings, electrical substations, cycle routes, the central business district, tourist attractions and armoury, and providing CCTV footage of crimes being committed.
Afrisec only supplies and maintains equipment, software and hardware.
The NMBM personnel operate and manage the CCTV and alarm monitoring system at the central control room.
On October 19 2016, the NMBM instituted legal action against Afrisec.
Afrisec’s security contract with the NMBM expired on November 30 2016.
Afrisec still has valid orders that need to be completed and suppliers that need to be paid, but is restricted from accessing any municipal site or the network to commission sites and complete orders received.
Afrisec did not receive payment for multi-million rand invoices submitted for work completed prior to November 30 2016.
Afrisec published an advertisement in The Herald on January 11 last year regarding unfounded allegations against Afrisec and the summons issued against it.
The first court hearing in the case between Afrisec and NMBM took place on August 30 last year, regarding an exception against Afrisec’s counter claim. Judgment delivered on January 23 this year was in Afrisec’s favour with costs.
Gary Johnson, managing director, Afrisec Strategic Solutions