With South Africa’s latest SAPS crime stats revealing a 6.6% year-on-year rise in commercial crime in Q1 2025 – including theft, fraud, and cash-in-transit incidents – local businesses are under growing pressure to evolve their security strategies.
Traditional security models are no longer enough. As risks become more sophisticated, so too must the response.
One company leading this evolution is Phangela Group, a national security services provider delivering integrated guarding, surveillance and risk management solutions to sectors including banking, retail and logistics.
A recent collaboration between Phangela and one of SA’s leading banks offers a compelling example of how adaptive, intelligence-led security is becoming a business imperative. In response to an uptick in ATM-related fraud, the bank partnered with Phangela to deploy undercover surveillance teams in unmarked vehicles in identified high-risk areas. These teams monitor behavioural patterns and intercept repeat offenders, often before a crime takes place.
“It’s no longer just about manning a post,” says one of the highly placed tactical operations managers at the financial institution. “We need security partners who understand reputational risk, can act with discretion, and adapt to fast-changing conditions. These interventions have delivered measurable results.”
This marks a notable shift from reactive guarding to proactive threat prevention, a model Phangela says is being increasingly adopted across high-footfall and high-value environments.
“Our clients aren’t looking for generic security anymore,” says Christopher Thornhill, CEO of Phangela. “They want insight-driven, risk-adjusted solutions that are both responsive and compliant with teams that can think and act beyond the job description. The tactical teams deployed for ATM surveillance average over 10 arrests per two-man team every month. Together with preventing ATM crimes, this contributes to keeping repeat offenders off the street.”
Unlike cut-price operators, Phangela has staked its reputation on compliance-first service delivery, holding full PSIRA and NBCPSS accreditations. Every officer is properly vetted, registered, trained, and legally contracted – a commitment Thornhill says all clients should be demanding in a sector where legal risk and reputational damage are real.
“We’ve reached a tipping point in the industry,” he adds. “Clients are willing to invest in security that’s consistent, auditable, and tailored to their environment. From a Cape Town shopping mall to a Northern Cape mine, each site requires a bespoke plan.”
Phangela’s operations model includes a 100% site coverage track record, supported by a national network of standby relievers and hands-on operations managers who review performance metrics monthly. This data-driven approach allows for rapid course correction and early risk detection.
The company is also investing in people: many of Phangela’s current site managers and senior team members began their careers as officers. This is a reflection of its internal skills development ethos and its long-term commitment to reduce turnover, strengthening morale, and improving overall site performance.
As economic uncertainty persists and security threats grow more complex, Thornhill believes the role of private security will only expand.
“Security is no longer a grudge purchase, it’s a strategic partnership,” he says. “If you’re running a business in South Africa today, your resilience depends on how prepared you are, and who’s standing beside you.”