Bunkers and helipad surprise expert
A FORMER head of VIP protection has expressed surprise at the extent of security features, including underground bunkers, that have been fitted to President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla residence.
Security consultant Ben Groenewald, who left the police’s VIP protection unit in the early ’90s, said although the threat analysis conducted to determine the level of security at private residences of VIPs was different from when he was still with the unit, the installation of bunkers and extra amenities such as clinics and helipads seemed unusual.
“I have never heard of bunkers being installed in private residences, but it might be that the needs and threat analysis have changed. These things are done at the level of a threat analysis and you can’t comment in the absence of a threat analysis and evaluation.”
But Groenewald said it was always practice — which he knows still exists — that security installations at private residences should be at a lower level to those at official residences and offices.
SECURITY: Ben Groenewald
“You have to distinguish between official residences and private residences.
“An official residence is always an international place of meeting, so you will have a higher level of security than at a private residence of a person.
“All these people also have private residences, which were categorised on a lower scale than official residences for obvious reasons,” he said.
Groenewald said he was also surprised to learn that Nkandla had been declared a national key point. He said in terms of the National Key Points Act, which was in place when he was still with the VIP unit, national key points were strategic installations such as airports, parliament and top government offices.
“The fact that Nkandla was declared a national key point to me was a surprise. If you look at a national key point, it must be in the interests of the security of the country. National security points were mainly your internal threats — those points that might be of international significance such as your fuel depots, Koeberg [nuclear power station], the Union Buildings, Tuynhuys [Cape Town presidency office] and parliament,” he said.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who is responsible for monitoring compliance with the Key Points Act, has indicated that all the residences of former presidents have been declared national key points.
Groenewald said in terms of the arrangements when he was in the service VIPs were consulted with regard to any security enhancements that were to be done on their private properties.
He said if the amount to be spent on security enhancements exceeded the amounts set down in terms of cabinet-approved protocols, the understanding was that the principal concerned would be personally responsible for the extra costs.
“Whenever the costs exceeded the approved amount and the principal was consulted, the costs over and above the consultation would be borne by the principal concerned,” he said.
The Ministerial Handbook, compiled in 2003, states the government is responsible only for security enhancements to the value of R100 000 at private residences of political office-bearers. Any amount exceeding that is billed to the office-bearer concerned.
According to the handbook, security measures at private residences of public office-bearers could include: A bulletproof guard hut; A 2 100mm-high perimeter fence; Vehicle and pedestrian gates; Security gates for external doors; Illumination (security lights); Intercom system; Alarm system; and Fire extinguishers.