Hefty bill for protection services
Competition Commission spent R14.9m in past financial year to beef up security for senior officials
THE Competition Commission has spent R14.9 million on protection services since June last year owing to security breaches and criminal acts against senior staff.
This is according to Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel in a written reply to a parliamentary question from the DA’s Michael Cardo.
Cardo wanted to know about executive members of the commission who had received VIP protection services in the past five financial year.
Patel said he had been advised by the commission’s commissioner, Tembinkosi Bonakele, that the institution undertook investigations into collusion and cartel activities in the economy.
“In the course of carrying out its responsibilities, it is privy to commercially
The report pointed to some security gaps in the security of the commissioner and deputy commissioner
sensitive information that may result in significant competition penalties being imposed on affected parties and the possibility of criminal charges being brought against individuals. In addition, significant vested interests in the economy may be affected by the commission’s work,” Patel said.
He added that the commission and senior staff had been subject to a spate of criminal acts.
“The source and purpose of which is not yet apparent in spite of these having been reported to law-enforcement agencies, which warranted, in the opinion of the commission, the provision of security to a limited number of senior officials in order to ensure the safety of these persons and sensitive information.”
Patel named at least two incidents where the deputy commissioner and chief financial officer (CFO) had been the victims of crime, as well as breaches at the commission’s premises.
“On May 25, 2017, the deputy commissioner, while returning from a work assignment, was held at gunpoint and his work computer laptop, tablet and mobile phone, among other things, were taken.
“On August8,. 2017, there was a security breach at the commission’s premises and two laptops containing sensitive evidence were stolen from the cartels division. This followed incidents where laptops and mobile phones belonging to, among others, the commissioner were stolen under what the commissioner described as ‘mysterious circumstances’,” Patel said, adding that the CFO had been robbed at gunpoint on September 9 last year.
Patel said the commission provided private security to four senior staff members after terminating the services of the security service provider at their premises, and commissioning a security assessment by a private service provider.
“The report pointed to some security gaps in the security of the commissioner, the deputy commissioner and the divisional manager for cartels.
“Further work is also being done on IT security systems, and further upgrades will be done subject to budget availability,” Patel said.
The minister added that the SAPS were providing security to former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, who heads the market inquiry into private healthcare. This was at the commission’s request.
Patel said R14.9m was paid to the various protection services with R14 607 748 paid between June last year and March this year.
A total of R373 304 was paid in this financial year between April 2018 and August 2018.
Patel also said the State Security Agency had been approached to further investigate the criminal incidents, and undertook a comprehensive assessment on the security requirements of the commission.
“The detailed security assessments will inform any further decisions on this matter, including whether to continue with security measures and the appropriate level of such services,” Patel said.