The Klapmuts community recently welcomed Sinqobile Equestrian Security Services (SESS), a private security company awarded a tender from Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) to patrol the railway line in and around the town.
However, some are questioning whether its security guards are there to protect or target them.
This comes after three incidents in which the company’s personnel allegedly aggressively targeted road users a long way from the railway line where they were stationed to patrol.
According to a Klapmuts resident they were alerted to the first incident, on 28 October at 23:54, when a motorist had been pulled to the side of the road opposite the Klapmuts Hotel by two SESS vehicles.
The resident said the motorist was in the car with his family and their dog when he was assaulted, while his dog was killed.
They related how security guards had physically assaulted the man, and when his dog tried to come to his owner’s defence it was shot.
The resident, who does not wish to be named for fear of victimisation, said the victim tried to open a case at Klapmuts Police Station the following day, but was denied the right do so due to “insufficient evidence”.
Instead, the victim opened a case at Paarl Police Station on 2 November, after which it was transferred to Klapmuts Police Station for investigation. This according to Capt. Louise du Plessis, spokesperson for Paarl Police Station.
Sgt. Madilyn Dombas, spokesperson for the Klapmuts Police Station denied the above allegations, claiming “no-one has been turned away for any criminal case,” and that “it is the duty of any police officer to assist whenever needed.”
She told Paarl Post the police station is currently investigating the matter.
On 12 November SESS attempted to pull over another vehicl in Protea Road, outside Klapmuts, but the motorist drove to Klamputs Police Station followed by the SESS.
After arriving there the SESS security guards drove off after being interrogated by the motorist, the resident related.
The last known incident occurred on 4 January 2024, when a female driver was followed by an SESS vehicle to her home on a farm outside Klapmuts.
According to the anonymous source, the driver said a bakkie tail-gaited her “with bright lights driving very fast.”
On her arrival at home a family member confronted the SESS security guards about why they were following the female driver.
They said, “sorry, we just wanted to make sure she got home safely,” and drove off.
According to Mary Papayya, a TFR spokesperson, SESS was awarded a “traditional contract” on 1 May 2022 and a subsequent “outcomes-based security (OBS) [contract] from 1 August 2023.”
They have been active in the area since 1 May 2022.
Papayya said the company was registered at the Private Security Industry Regulating Authority (PSiRA), and its registration number was known to Paarl Post.
“The OBS contract awarded to SESS is a multi-pronged approach that includes security visibility, preventive measures, investigations, and community outreach programmes,” she pointed out.
“The area of responsibility includes all Transnet and TFR owned infrastructure for the entire Cape Corridor stretching across the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape, and Free State.”
“Activities outside the TFR infrastructure are conducted as part of a larger partnership with the police, local law enforcement, TFR security and community-based organisations, with joint operations that are conducted frequently.”
Paarl Post reached out to an SESS employee in its financial division who did not have any knowledge of the incidents in Klapmuts involving its security guards, and emphasised “we [SESS] are not there to terrorise the [Klapmuts] community.”
The employee added that SESS was awarded the tender by TFR to specifically guard the railway in and around Klapmuts, and does not understand why the security guards were deviating from their designated patrolling area.
According to the anonymous resident, the OBS contract awarded to SESS was alarming, because it is an agreement in which a service provider’s payment is dependant on the results they delivered and alleged perpetrators they targeted.
“That is why they ‘hunt’ anyone, regardless of the legality of doing so,” the source alleged.
Since Paarl Post sent its enquiries out to TFR and SESS roughly two weeks ago, no incident involving SESS security guards has since been reported, and the security company’s presence seemed to have been minimised.
After the article was published, TFR responded to Paarl Post explaining that the SESS tender is still active.
