TNMC to install surveillance cameras

PINI BOTHOKO
Correspondent | Tuesday July 23, 2013 00:00

'Our mandate is to protect the company assets and employees and since we do not have too many employees in our department, we have decided to introduce surveillance cameras to boost the security in the mine,' she explained. She said that they have been liaising with the police and Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) to fight crime in the mine.'Between 2010 and 2011, we recovered property worth P781,616 stolen from the mine and still believe that there is a lot more of these properties out there,' she said. 

Garebamono said that usually, the mine employees collaborate with non-staff to steal from the company. 'Since they know most of the things in the mine, employees are the ones who sneak mine properties through the fence with cars parked outside to collect them. We usually struggle to locate employees who are involved because we have shortage of manpower,' she explained. She added that the mine premises are big and cannot be patrolled effectively by security personnel and this gives thieves the leeway to steal. Employees caught in the act have gone through disciplinary hearing she said.

Garebamono said that they do alcohol testing on employees before they start work to ensure safety especially when dealing with risky machines. 'We do not want employees to work under the influence of alcohol because we want good productivity in the mine. We also do luggage searching to make sure that they (employees) do not bring anything illegal into the mine,' she said.

TNMC public relations manager, Tebogo Rapitsenyane said he has a strong feeling that the surveillance camera system will tighten up the mine's security. He said that some of the employees who have been involved in theft are facing criminal charges because they are working with the police.'There are some employees especially from sub-contractors who have been fired and prohibited to visit the mine after being involved in theft of the mine properties,' said Rapitsenyane.