The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo, Business Reporter
BULAWAYO-BASED security firm, Nokel Security is working on attaining International Organisation for Standardisation 9001:2015 (IS0 9001:2015) certification early next year as it forges ahead to grow its business.
Nokel Security managing director Retired Colonel Kenneth Mhlophe said the company has started the process attaining ISO 9001:2015 certification.
“We have engaged a consultancy firm, Snap Tactix Consulting which is taking us through the process of attaining ISO 9001:2015 certification and its task is to see us through the certification and registration processes. Our target is to be ISO certified by March 2018 as we hope to have covered all the requirements by that time.
“The consultant started with awareness training, which was followed by the gap analysis process as well as implementation training and we were given the month of August to revisit our procedures and amend where necessary to conform to the ISO 9001:2015 standards. The firm will come back to train our managers, supervisors and checkers and this will be followed by the training of all the staff,” said Rtd Col Mhlophe.
ISO 9001:2015 specifies requirements for a quality management system when an organisation needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements and aims to enhance customer satisfaction.
Nokel Security provides services to mines, manufacturing industries, warehouse companies, banks, property management consultants, hotels, fast food outlets, farms, residential properties and many others in Matabeleland region and recently opened a branch in Harare.
“We are geared up for ISO 9001:2015 certification as we make efforts to move with times. Every business is moving towards ISO certification and we believe it’s a big step towards growing our business and improving our professionalism and corporate governance. If one is ISO certified they tend to be recognised internationally and thus we can use that to explore regional markets,” said Rtd Col Mhlophe.
He said as part of enhancing its service delivery the company recently purchased new armoured and rapid response vehicles.
“We have bought two well-equipped cash-in-transit vehicles. We would have liked to have more but the problem at the moment is that of the cash shortages in the country so very few companies are moving cash to the banks. We have also bought five vehicles to be used for rapid response as we seek to improve on our reaction time.
“We intend not to take more than seven minutes to reach and attend to distress calls from our alarm and closed-circuit television systems which would be installed in various areas we safe guard,” said Rtd Col Mhlophe.
He said there was an alarming rise in the number of unregistered security companies throughout the country.
“We are facing a very big challenge due to the continuous sprouting of unregistered security companies. It’s not only affecting Nokel Security but the whole spectrum of the security sector and this is causing unfair competition as we (registered companies) are tax compliant.
“These unregistered companies have the audacity to charge below the statutory rates and as a result we continue losing clients to them. However, we urge individuals and companies to desist from engaging them so as to guard against unwarranted losses,” said Rtd Col Mhlophe.
Zimbabwe Indigenous National Security president Mr Leonard Musariri encouraged unregistered security companies to seek assistance from the organisation to enable them to operate legally.
“We are encouraging new players in the industry or those that are unregistered to approach us and we assist them to go through all the formalities including those required by our parent ministry, the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“Some of the challenges they might be facing are mere myth which arise due to lack of knowledge. New players should be wary of under charging which might see them further break the law by under-paying employees among other illegal activities,” said Mr Musariri.
He said unregistered security companies risk being blacklisted for contravening the Private Investigators and Security Guard Control Act.
@DNsingo
