SOME CASH-IN-TRANSIT GUARDS EARN E2 500, NO INSURANCE

MBABANE - It is a risky job that is not financially rewarding for security guards.

Despite getting E2 500 per month, most of them are not insured. Robbers target security guards when they transport money to safety. Some of them have been killed and left fatherless children and widows. Ricardo Mpetse, who works for one of the security companies, said their jobs carried more risks than the soldiers and police. He said it was riskier because they carried what everyone wanted to have.

Mpetse said a robber knew that he could be rich if he were to overpower him and steal the millions of Emalangeni he was transporting from the businesses to the banks. The most frustrating thing as he related his story was that he did not have a life insurance. “Not to have a life policy, it’s criminal,” he said.

He urged government to pass a law that would compel all security companies to introduce life policies for their employees. “On a daily basis, I am not sure whether I will return home,” he said. Imagine carrying a gun with the duty to safeguard millions of Emalangeni, but still earn around E2 500 monthly.  

This is the compelling situation cash-in-transit drivers and guards are faced with almost on a daily basis. This is despite the risks associated with their jobs. Cash-in-transit operatives ensure the safe and secure transportation of cash and a wide variety of valuables, including jewellery, art and precious metals to their intended destinations.

Drivers in this risky industry are paid E126.24 per shift (they normally do 26 shifts per month), which adds up to around E3 282.24 per month. On the other hand, cash-in-transit guards are paid E113.67 per shift. Interesting to note is that an employee, other than a patrol supervisor, with three months or less service, earns E46.10 less than a cash-in-transit driver.

Service

A guard with more than three months service gets E103.51 per shift while a patrol supervisor (Grade II) receives E106.31. A patrol supervisor is paid E126.65 per shift. In essence, this means the more shifts the security guards take, the higher are the risk of being robbed and possibly getting injured or killed. The catch here is that the guards are always looking for more shifts to get better financial reward at the end of the month because payment is calculated on the number of shifts performed.

A telephonist working in the same sector is supposed to be paid E87.97 per shift while an office clerk receives E126.65 (per shift). This is according to regulation of Wages (Security Services Industry) Order, promulgated under Legal Notice No: 127 of 2022, as revoked by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Phila Buthelezi.

At least three of the security guards were interviewed by this publication on the risk factor of their job compared to what they are getting at the end of the month. They admitted that desperation was the motivation behind taking such jobs. “Unfortunately, these are the only easily available jobs in Eswatini and if you are to put food on the table for your family, then you have no choice but to take it. We are fully aware of the risk involved, especially for us cash-in-transit drivers and guards, but there are limited alternative options,” he said.

The guard said everytime he left his family for work, they always pray to the Almighty God for his protection.
“Even before we board the vehicle that will transport the money, we make a short prayer for God’s protection.  Unfortunately, some of us never make it back intact when a robbery takes place because there is always the risk of being shot and possibly killed. Some of the robbers use rubber bullets but others use live ones,” he said.

The guard lamented the fact that despite such high risk factors in their line of duty, their salaries were not a reflection of that. “I am sure some people think we earn a lot of money, given the nature of our work but this is not the case, unfortunately. To my knowledge, no one earns over E3 000 because such payments are calculated on the number of shifts worked. Not everybody is able to work the stipulated 26 shifts per month,” the guard said.

Eswatini has a number of security companies, most of which are sub-contracted by big companies and government to guard cash and other essentials.While most of these cash-in-transit robberies are mostly common in South Africa, Eswatini has had a number of them in recent times.

Targeted

One of such was a movie-like scene that played itself out at Ezulwini Corner Plaza when a black Honda Fit targeted a cash security services vehicle, shooting two cash security guards with rubber bullets.  The incident left onlookers amazed as it only took close to eight minutes to unfold before the criminals took off with a substantial amount of cash that had been collected from three shops trading at the complex. The cash security services was under Guard Alert.

One of the eyewitnesses, who happened to be a security officer manning the building, stated that the Honda Fit, which had three occupants on board, drove straight next to the cash-in-transit vehicle where two people alighted, wearing balaclavas.  He stated that one remained on the steering wheel, while his colleagues alighted and fired at the two guards with rubber bullets.

Resultantly, they fell to the ground. The eyewitness stated that one of the cash security guards was carrying a firearm which was taken away from him by the two men who proceeded to take the cash inside the car and drove off. The money had been collected from some shops and had been put inside the vehicle. One of the cash security personnel was inside the vehicle when the money was taken.

“One of the cash security guards was shot in his upper body with a rubber bullet, but did not sustain any injuries as he was wearing a bulletproof vest, while the other was missed,” alleged the source. He stated that the cash security guards retreated and did not even attempt to follow the Honda Fit as it sped off with the cash immediately after they had taken it.” This happened on May 6, 2022.

Another spine-chilling cash-in-transit incident happened in Pigg’s Peak, where an armed gang robbed a cash-in-transit-van outside First National Bank (FNB).  This daring gang turned what started as a bright morning into a nightmare when they robbed a cash-in transit van in full view of the public. This was in August 9, 2021 and it happened just before 9am when the van arrived to deliver the cash collected from some of the shops and pay points. It is alleged the gang made off with the cash from three different bank outlets including an eatery.

Queue

The robbery happened outside the bank, where clients normally queue to enter the bank or withdraw from the ATMs. Some of the robbers were within this area while others were positioned on the parking which is also a few metres from the ATMs. It was gathered that the cash had been collected from some shops around Pigg’s Peak for deposit at the bank. The van first arrived and parked in such a way that it reversed towards the entrance of the bank. One of the security guards, a woman, carried some of the bags then entered the bank. At this point, a VW Polo hatchback drove towards the cash-in-transit van and parked in front. Only the driver was in the vehicle.

As two more security guards tried to carry cash into the back, two men approached, running towards the van. Behind them, two more approached, making the total number to four.  All the four men had pistols and some of them were visibly carrying two. Within a few seconds, one of the robbers fired a shot after he was spotted by one of the security guards. At this time, the second security was almost at the door of the bank when he was approached by a second robber who put his arm around his neck. The security guard was carrying two containers of cash.

During the commotion between the security guards and the robbers, shots were fired. The robbers fired more shots, hitting one of the guards in the stomach. The injured security fell to the floor. The second security guard was also pushed to the ground where one of the robbers pressed against him, while the others took the money and put it into the Polo which was parked outside. The robbery lasted for about 90 seconds after which the gang fled in the polo vehicle. 

The injured guard was taken to the theatre to get a bullet, believed to have been lodged into his body, removed.

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