AFRICA is no more dangerous than any other continent in the world, in the view of Andre Du Venage, operations manager of G4S Special Cargo Handling (G4SSCH). “Security is needed regardless of where you operate. “Syndicates are operative everywhere. There is no one country that can say it has no security problems. In fact, truck hijackings originated in America.” According to Du Venage, whose company offers specialised security when transporting high-value cargo across Africa, security is so important that it is factored into the cost of goods long that the cargo has been transported anywhere. “It is always a juggling act for companies to decide when and where to cut off their security. We offer a service where we not only monitor and inspect cargo for a client on its arrival in the country, but we also ensure safe storage and, once it’s cleared by customs, we provide an armed escort to its final delivery destination. Our employees are specially trained to ensure the best security possible when transporting into and across Africa.” According to Du Venage, as cargo has become more difficult to access at ports and airports in South Africa, road transport has become the target for most criminals. “There has been an increase in truck hijackings and that means we must increase security. Within minutes of a truck being hijacked, the tracking system will be removed and that truck with its cargo will just disappear. The losses incurred are huge and markets are negatively affected.” Du Venage says security detail on cargo can never be under-estimated. “We offer a service that sees cargo under surveillance for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our staff undergoes regular advance driving as well as firearm training. We employ a variety of tactics such as never using the same delivery routes and ensuring cargo can be tracked at all times.”
