Police hail SGA Security during 40 years celebrations

DAR ES SALAAM: The Tanzania Police Force has commended the good work done by private security companies including the SGA Security, whereby it (Police Force) has promised to cooperate with the private companies in ensuring efficiency for the security of citizens and their properties.

This was stated by the Head of the Private Security Companies Desk at the Tanzania Police Force’s Headquarters Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ulrich Matei during the occasion to mark the 40th anniversary since the establishment of the SGA Security in Tanzania, which was held in Dar es Salaam.

“The Police Force is aware of the importance of the activities carried out by SGA Security as major stakeholder in the entire scope of protection and security which is done using the best security systems”, he said, adding, these are systems that comply with the procedures and guidelines issued by the Police Force in the new permit for the guidelines of private security companies.

DCP Matei who represented the Inspector General of Police (IGP) during the occasion, continued say that SGA Security has invested well in modern working environments, as well as having reliable working tools, training for their employees at all levels, good performance systems, strong management, readiness to cooperate with other stakeholders, including the government while taking into account legal and social requirements.

“SGA Security’s service standards are international recognized, and this is reflected in the many awards they have won including four ISO certifications; the company is also a member of the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers (ICoCA), being one of the few companies to achieve that level of recognition”, he said, adding, these achievements are a reflection of the standards sought by many clients, especially in the diplomatic, mining, oil and gas sectors, to name but a few.

He said SGA Security has begun to focus on environmental, social and good governance issues, a matter he said was very much focused on these issues as part of protecting the environment and developing itself in a sustainable manner.

Commenting on the SGA Security Company’s honour as a Big Taxpayer Award for two consecutive years (2021 and 2022), DCP Matei said that this was a great honour as far as the security sector was concerned in the country, especially when put in mind that SGA Security is a private company.

“Let me take this opportunity to congratulate you for the honour you have received, a move which will make your company to continue to be trusted and also continue to cooperate with the government in carrying out your duties”, he said.

In addition, DCP Matei commended the SGA Security Company for caring for its employees, which he said the move was proved by the exercise of rewarding them (employees) when the time comes.

“We have heard in the speech of the company’s Director and also that of the Chairman of the Board concerning the caring of the employees by SGA Security; this one of the fields that other private security sector can learn from SGA Security” he added.

“It is very rare to find a security guard who has worked for one company for more than 32 years; we have also been told that there are more than 600 employees who have served the company for more than 20 years; this is a clear evidence that you care about your employees that is why they continue to work here for many years”, he said.

DCP Matei also commended the company for its pre-employment readiness training program for security guards in line with complying with the police force’s call for private security companies to hire security guards who have undergone the National Service (JKT) or Reserve Force (Mgambo) training.

“I am happy that SGA Security is paying a close attention to these calls; May I take this opportunity to advise you to ensure that you hire people who do not have any criminal records”, he said.

“All private institutions should understand that there are guidelines to observe before providing new employments; one of them is that, private security companies should use a process of passing potential new security employees through training aimed at preparing new employees; this training is carried out with the guidance of the Police Force which (the police force) also collaborate with security companies to provide human rights training”, he said.

He added, “I would like to confirm that SGA Security has been at the forefront of engaging the Police Force before providing new employments, whereby we understand that they prepare their new employees for the work; among other things, I believe that this is the secret of the success of the SGA Security Company”.

“Let me take this opportunity to commend the leadership of the SGA Security company for continuing to provide its cooperation to the Police Force in its quest to ensure the security of citizens and their property”, he said.

Speaking during the occasion, the SGA Security Company’s Managing Director (MD) Mr Eric Sambu said that, the company which provides more than 5,000 employments was the first private security company to be established in the country.

“By employing 5,000 directly, this translates clearly that SGA Security company benefits more than 30,000 people if put in consideration that one employee has six (6) dependants”, he noted.

According to him, for the past 40 years the company has been considering all the quality criteria required in providing good services, something which he said was proved by the various quality awards that the company has received throughout its existence.

“These awards include, the ACOYA, the Local Content Award, the best Mining Security technology award, the Africa Consumer Choice Award, the East African Quality award and the Large Taxpayer award”, he added, adding, the company’s management was working round the clock to ensure the sustainability growth of the institution by continuing to improve its services.

Mr Sambu attributed the company’s great achievements to the good foundations which he said were laid by its founders named Ed van Tongeren and Philemon Mgaya (both deceased) as well as the tireless efforts of the company’s staff, whom he said worked with dedication, loyalty, resilience and innovation.

“Through our dedicated staff we have played our role as great (corporate) citizens; we have controlled crime and made other concentrate in building the nation while putting in mind that, good security is what matters to everyone”, he said, adding, the future plans of the company are guided the institution’s four pillars which named them as Innovation, Sector focus, All-inclusive service offering, and regional expansion.