Kumba Iron Ore funds security firm

Mpho Oss, founder, Kgomongwe Security Services

Determined and possessed by a desire to succeed, Oss hitch-hiked 76 kilometres from Kuruman to the Zimele Hub in Kathu to ask for financial assistance in making his dream a reality. The former policeman had an idea for a new kind of security company as criminals are continuously becoming more sophisticated and the fight against crime has to be more proactive.

"I remind my people daily what we do is important. Our work is not just a job but a way to improve the lives of everyone they know. My goal is to make sure that we prevent crime before it even happens," Oss explains.

Crime is a problem

His company pinpoints vulnerabilities and designs security solutions to counter a company's exposure. "My officers are well-trained specialists who are making inroads in a very competitive environment," he continues. Success has been the reward for Oss' desire to keep his neighbours safe, but the idea grew from a very personal observation. "I am proud to tell people I am from Kuruman, and I want to see it grow and prosper, but crime is a big problem. We needed to find a way to tackle this beast to make our town attractive to businesses and safe to live in."

Bringing his 18 years of experience in the South African Police Service to bear, Mpho realised that business as usual was not the way to fight crime. He believes that better trained and experienced security personnel work better. "We are not a company of bored boom guards waving strangers onto your property. We are the people you come to for absolute peace of mind. Thanks to Zimele, we offer a professional business that understand the needs of each client and offer tailored solutions that add business value."

A clear vision

Even though Oss is a gruff and no nonsense slab of muscle, it was not his physical presence that instilled confidence in John Seretse, Zimele manager in Kathu, to help fund Kgomongwe Security Services. "Mpho knew what he was talking about; he had given his idea a lot of thought and was able to articulate his vision clearly. Further, he was able to show how his business would grow and be sustainable over the long run. For these reasons, Zimele saw it fitting to support Mpho's small enterprise as it is perfectly aligned with one of Anglo American's strategic goals of creating sustainable jobs."

Kumba Iron Ore's confidence in his vision has seen the company grow from the seed of an idea to a company with 44 full time employees, with security contracts across the province.