Joburg looted despite fortune spent on army of security guards

In the city of Johannesburg, a peculiar situation has unfolded. Despite having over 4,000 in-sourced security guards, the municipality still spends an astonishing R16 million every month on outsourced private security firms. The most striking example of this is the Metro Centre, a condemned building that's been plagued by break-ins, copper theft, and vandalism over the past five years, resulting in staggering losses of R200 million.

Chabalala is raising concerns about the issue, asking who is benefiting from the arrangement.

He explains that the City's decision to hire private security firms under Regulation 36, which allows for emergency procurement, has been a contentious one. "Unfortunately, some of the supply chain officials were pressured to use the regulation, even though there's no emergency at all," he says. This raises questions about the City's priorities and the effectiveness of its security measures.

The Metro Centre, once the old Civic Centre in Braamfontein, has been deemed structurally unsafe, yet it continues to be guarded by private security firms Chabalala points out that the City's own security guards are available to protect the facility, but the decision to hire private firms has led to a significant financial burden. "On top of what we're spending – R1 million to guard this facility - we continue to experience break-ins, despite the security guards being there, despite the City guards being there, who are supposed to be guarding this property 24/7," he emphasises.

The situation is not unique to the Metro Centre; over 105 municipal facilities are guarded by private firms, leaving one to wonder who benefits from this arrangement. Chabalala’s concerns highlight the need for a more transparent and effective approach to security in the City.

Click below to listen to Chabalala's concerns and insights on the City's security arrangements and the need for a more transparent and effective approach, as well as potential solutions: