COMPANY PROFILE
2014
Bidvest Protea Coin
+27 12 665 8000 | www.coin.co.za
company profile
South Africa’s top security guard? Editorial: Harriet Pattison Production Ajuanne Payne
Following the consolidation between Protea Coin Group and Bidvest Magnum in March 2013 to form Bidvest Protea Coin, the company has seen exponential growth, becoming the security provider of choice for the South African security services market. IndustrySA speaks to CEO, Petrus van Niekerk, who reveals what the future holds and why the security sector is so vital to South African industries…
In July 2007, Protea Coin was formed from a merger between Protea Security and Coin Security. Coin Security was first incorporated in July
armed reaction and monitoring, risk management, estate, aviation and mining security, and hi-tech security solutions.”
1979 in Pretoria and rendered a guarding service nationally. It was one of the first two companies to provide an armed banking service in South Africa and also began providing armed response services, a fire service and services in CCTV surveillance. By 1992, Coin Security was operating internationally as it expanded its services further into Africa. At the time of the merger, Protea Security led the way by initiating a holistic end-to-end approach to security in various economic sectors, including the mining sector. It was founded almost four decades ago by Jorge Ferreira and the growth of the company was based on the same strategy that still applies to Protea Coin Group today, a strong focus on market awareness and providing tailored security solutions for customers. CEO of Bidvest Protea Coin, Petrus van Niekerk explains why this merger was such a beneficial step for the security industry: “The merger strategically facilitated the provision of an integrated set of security services - such as integrated guarding services, assets in transit and cash processing,
BIDVEST PROTEA COIN
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Then, in March 2013, Protea Coin Group (2007) and Bidvest Magnum (2010) were consolidated to form Bidvest Protea Coin. Offering a wide range of security services from Cash-inTransit to Close Protection services, Bidvest Protea Coin continues to expand its range of technology, helping to place the company on an enviable pedestal within the industry. “In August 2010, Protea Coin Group sold its residential and armed response services to ADT Security,” Van Niekerk explains. “It however also acquired both SACO Systems and Terrisano Access Control Technologies (TACT), expanding the company’s expertise even further. “Protea Coin continued to expand its range of services and successfully achieved market penetration into Ghana, opening an office and starting a large mining contract in August 2012. In 2013 it acquired Siyaya Fencing extending its service to unique security fencing solutions,” says van Niekerk.
Bidvest Protea Coin
THE LEADING PROVIDER Today, Bidvest Protea Coin is the market leader in integrated risk reduction solutions to various industries across Southern Africa and earlier this year, it was awarded the Top 500 companies accolade as the No1 company in the security sector. Priding itself on a reputation of service excellence, Van Niekerk attributes this success to a number of reasons, namely; focused management, a skilled and trained workforce and the synergies that exist within the business model. Not to mention its ever increasing and unmatched national footprint within in the security sector that stretches across the African border. “With a track record of 34 years’ experience in providing physical guarding, cash and technical security solutions to corporates, financial and tertiary institutions, mining and industrial sectors, residential estates and National Key Points, Bidvest Protea Coin have come to appreciate that customers invest capital and time in realising one major expectation and that is reliability,” explains van Niekerk. The Gijima training centre, established in 1980, also helps to ensure its staff are trained to the highest standards:
“The industry leading training academy established by Bidvest Protea Coin develops personnel to provide the best services possible, irrespective of the skills required by the market. The academy underpins the company’s dedication to service excellence,” van Niekerk says.
PROTECTING SA’S MINES Providing a turn-key solution for its clients, Bidvest Protea Coin has 14 divisions which covers a range of industry sectors from mining, industrial, transportation to residential and golf estates. With such a prominent mining industry in South Africa, security and surveillance is essential. Often located in remote areas with a heavy reliance on hazardous materials, a security breach has the potential not only to disrupt production but also endanger staff and damage the local environment. With mines often employing hundreds of people, companies have a duty and responsibility to care for its contractors, visitors and the general public. It is essential to ensure also that access to high risk areas, such as underground sites and explosive rooms, is prohibited to the public.
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company profile
Security then, is imperative and will vary from mine to mine. Coal mines for example will need to focus more on operational efficiency compared to high-value mines where protection and security of products and equipment is essential. Providing an array of first class services, Bidvest Protea Coin offer surveillance, crime prevention and risk management solutions which includes identifying and analysing high to medium risk areas within the mining sector. Van Niekerk explains: “New initiatives and the expansion of the Bidvest Protea Coin tactical response ability allow for the effective deployment of tactical security services to highly volatile events, not only that which occur in the mining industry but also including other protests, strikes, cash-in-transit heists and organised illegal activities elsewhere.” Perimeter security is perhaps one of the most challenging of security measures in terms of ensuring unauthorized personnel are kept out for safety reasons. With costly equipment on site, theft control is also imperative. Bidvest Protea Coin also specialise in the protection and securing of valuable products such as precious metals or stones and ensuring the safety of equipment, property and machinery. It provides surveillance for covert operations and
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initiates crime prevention for specialised precious metals, white-collar crime and mine-related investigations.
AVIATION SECURITY Similarly, security in aviation is imperative to ensure the protection of both property and aircraft. Considering how many flights arrive and depart across South Africa’s airports each day, security is an important sector and one that Bidvest Protea Coin manage on a large scale. The company’s aviation division is one of only nine companies that is licensed by the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). Offering numerous services including securing of cargo, aircraft security and protection of premises and property, it is able to provide for both landside and airside services across local and international airports in South Africa. Impressively, the company also has its own aviation accredited training centre where it is able to conduct aviation training in airport induction, dangerous goods and vehicle movements at airports.
KEEPING AN EYE In addition to specialising within the mining and aviation industry, Bidvest Protea Coin also offers a unique tracking system which can double up as a full fleet and time
Bidvest Protea Coin management system. Rather impressively, the system can be deployed to clients anywhere in South Africa, while the movement is monitored by Protea Coin in its 24 hour control room on a real time basis. Off the field, the company maintains a pro-active approach in combating crime in its Investigations and Information Gathering division. This involves both overt and covert tracking systems, fraud investigations, tracing missing persons, polygraph examinations and electronic monitoring. With impressively high success rates in this division, tracing and apprehending criminals involved in theft and fraud and tracing those responsible for high risk stock losses at client premises are amongst the company’s extremely successful services to date.
A SECURE FUTURE Van Niekerk explains that with the recent acquisition of Mvelaserve (including Protea Coin Group as a subsidiary) by Bidvest in 2013, it has created a very exciting future for the company and one of continued success and growth: “It has indeed created one of the most exciting developments within the South African security industry in recent times. The integration of two South African products (Protea Coin Group and Bidvest Magnum) has significantly increased
economies of scale, management, operational, technical and resource capacity, efficiencies and effectiveness. “Bidvest Protea Coin have now established a footprint across South Africa with some 27,000 staff serving almost every sector their unique requirements. Indeed specialisation, with a strong emphasis on integrating security solutions is probably what sets Bidvest Protea Coin apart among its competitors.” The Security Sector in South Africa is certainly one of, if not the most competitive, but Bidvest Protea Coin’s vision remains confident. To deliver a service that is priced, geared and determined to add value. The company’s success rests on knowing how important security really is and understanding that feeling safe and secure is absolutely imperative for its clients. “We continue to identify the main challenges or competitive forces which may hinder or influence profitability,” explains van Niekerk. “Addressing these shapes them into the companies favour and is crucial to our strategy. We focus on product not price. Upholding service delivery imperatives is what retains customers and attracts new ones. Hence we will continue to improve customer value by providing an affordable yet reliable service,” van Niekerk concludes.
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TM
Established in 2007, We manufacture and supply security ware to all commercial, private and industrial sectors with a security requirement that particularly include the mining, security and government environments at wholesale prices. Our Services Gio Technologies services include: • We manufacture, supply, install, service and maintain a comprehensive portfolio of security related equipment • We customise products and services to the specific needs of every individual client, and • We have the expertise, competence and experience to advise clients on best solutions for every situation. • Cash in Transit (CIT) • Protector Bullet Proof Vest – All Levels • Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
• Access Control • Protector Pepper Spray Gas Alarm Management Systems • Riot Control Military Standard Products
You can find anything and everything in the field of safety and security with Gio Technologies. If we don’t have it, we will find it or make it! Don’t let the criminals hold the keys to your business success Physical Address 117 Pretoria Road Witfield Boksburg
Postal Address P.O. Box 5023 Delminville
Contact Number Tel: +27 (0)11 826 4706 Fax: +27 (0)11 826 6310 Email: security@giotechnologies.co.za Email: sales2@giotechnologies.co.za Email: sales3@giotechnologies.co.za
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