SAPO spends R30m to fight crime

Johannesburg, 20 May 2009

The South African Post Office (SAPO) will spend R30 million on electronic security measures in an effort to step up its initiatives against crime.

“Postal crime remains an ongoing challenge,” says Patrick Ngomane, GM, Security and Investigations Services Division, SAPO.

The unit, which was set up in 1999, following high incidents of crime at post offices across the country, says technology is key to the fight against crime. The project has been approved by the group executive committee and forms part of SAPO's integrated crime prevention strategy.

Ngomane says a 21% increase in crime was reported over 2008. Identity theft and violent crimes remain key concerns for the organisation.

“This technology will go a long way towards deterring and detecting crime at mail processing centres,” he says.

SAPO has drawn up and begun implementing its integrated security strategy, he notes. As part of this, surveillance systems, online security and credit card safety features will be improved. The project, which was commissioned in December, is scheduled for roll-out in the first half of the 2009/10 financial year.

Killing crime

Following reports of credit card fraud at Postbank, in March, Ngomane says electronic security features have already been implemented. Interventions at Postbank have been implemented to prevent identity theft-related incidents, and fraud incidents within this division have been reduced by 18%, says Ngomane.

Increases in car hijackings are also proving rife within the logistics operation. SAPO has installed modern vehicle tracking devices in 67 of its vehicles.

“This is fast clamping down on crime. An additional 300 vehicles are also scheduled to be installed with this technology in the new financial year.”

He says the “active working relationship with various external partners” is key to improving the post office's security.

“We will continue to reinforce these partnerships with the various specialised units of the SAPS, and facilitate the exchange of information and expertise with these and other similar authorities,” he explains.

Cyber crime threats

With the planned corporatisation of Postbank, SAPO says it remains “vigilant of the perceived threat of cyber crime”. Ngomane says the organisation is increasing the capacity of its investigation unit with the specialised skills to prevent and respond to cyber crime.

SAPO was recently alerted to an advance payment scam that originated from a SADC country. The scam involved SAPO's money order product, which was being used as a platform to commit fraud. Customers are reported to have lost an average of R20 000 per day, over a period of six months. Ngomane says certain forms of payment had to be terminated and security measures became increasingly important.

“Various programmes are set to be implemented within the new financial year. While the collective and primary objective of these measures would be to improve the general security of our working and business environment, it would also reduce the current cost of security, thereby contributing towards SAPO's competitiveness within the market,” Ngomane concludes.