Bits 'n bytes
1 June 2006, News

Access control, as we have covered extensively in Hi-Tech Security Solutions and particularly in the annual Access Control Handbook, is becoming an increasingly more important part of our daily lives. We have come to accept it when we enter premises - mostly for business purposes - but if we take a look at what is happening at schools we realise just how vulnerable our children are in places where we leave them to be educated.

On 17 May a 15-year-old schoolgirl was shot in the leg when a gun went off accidentally while a schoolboy was playing with it in a classroom of a Durban school (read a report of the incident at http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id =vn20060518013649546C101421">).

And this just two days after safety measures in public and independent schools were discussed by provincial heads of Education Departments in Pretoria ( http://www.info.gov. za/speeches/2006/06051609151001.htm)

The Director-General of the Department of Education, Duncan Hindle, and the nine provincial heads of education met on 15 May to discuss school safety measures at public and independent schools.

The Heads of Education Departments Committee (HEDCOM) approved additional amendments of safety measures in schools. The amendments will be forwarded to the provincial MECs and the minister of education, Ms Naledi Pandor, MP, this month for approval.

The Regulations for School Safety Measures under the South African Schools Act were first passed in October 2001 and those for independent schools in August 2004. These Regulations must be seen as support to the applicable laws of the country.

The existing Regulations state that all schools have been declared 'drug free and dangerous object free zones'.

Call me ignorant, but I have to question what is being done to enforce these regulations and who, in fact, is actually doing it. More about that in next month's issue...

This month our feature looks at an issue that affects each and every one of us - security in the residential sector. Check out ('Connected homes: create convenience, security and cost savings') to see what is new, what the trends are and what can be done to make your home a safer place.

I hope to see all of you at Securex!

Lynne

Further reading:

• Surveillance culture, good and bad
  May 2013, Technews Publishing, News
  News of the bomb attack in Boston was all over the news last month, complete with some really mindless and careless speculation among TV and print journalists about who did it, who was arrested and ...
  
• iLegal Conference 2013
  May 2013, Technews Publishing, Conferences, Exhibitions
  Hosted by Hi-Tech Security Solutions, the recent iLegal Conference 2013 highlighted current critical issues in CCTV security surveillance in this country and launched the updated Consumer Goods Council (CGCSA) CCTV Industry Guidelines.
  
• Keeping cash safe
  May 2013, Technews Publishing, Risk Management
  Biometrics, interlocks, cash degradation systems, time delay lockers and safes, remote opening, better physical armouring protection, tracking, CCTV, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), DNA sprinklers and smoke cloaks are all technologies that have played a large role in the reduction in cash-in-transit incidents.
  
• Local is lekker the world over
  May 2013, Technews Publishing, News
  Despite facing many problems, South African manufacturers of security products manage to produce goods that are not only successfully deployed in the country, but also throughout Africa and the developed world. Hi-Tech Security Solutions spoke to four successful local manufacturers.
  
• Local manufacturing by the numbers
  May 2013, News
  Hedley Davidson unpacks the realities of local manufacturing by the numbers, having been locally designing and manufacturing electronic access control since 1989. This article focuses on his belief that South African companies have the necessary ingredients to bring internationally competitive products to market.
  
• If you build a BMS, will they install?
  May 2013, Technews Publishing, Enterprise Solutions
  After many years and unhappy customers, most BMS systems today are open and support a variety of communications protocols. With this in hand, we should expect to see more vendors extending their BMS systems into the cloud.
  
• SIA Gold Award recognises bravery of crime monitor
  April 2013, Enforce Electronics, News
  Enforce crime monitor, Mduduzi Mazibuko, was recognised at the annual Security Industry Alliance (SIA) Awards Ceremony for his bravery and skill in assisting the SAPS in the chase and arrest of a suspect ...
  
• New foam protection system from G4S
  May 2013, News
  In line with its strategy to deter and deflect crime, G4S Cash Solutions South Africa is installing a new foam protection system in all of its cash-in-transit vehicles that carry bulk and high value consignments. ...
  
• ADT appoints Soraya Chavoos
  May 2013, ADT Security, News
  Soraya Chavoos has been appointed as ADT’s technical manager in the Northern Region. She brings over 14 years of experience to the position. Chavoos started her career as a technical co-ordinator for ...
  
• What you see is what you sign
  May 2013, Brand New Technologies, News
  VPSign’s VPad is an electronic document product that captures handwritten signatures and is available locally from Brand New Technologies. It is based on a full-sized LCD tablet computer with an integrated ...
  
• Cathexis to exhibit at IFSEC UK
  May 2013, News
  Following the successful launch of its new CatVision IP Video Management suite in South Africa, local surveillance solutions provider, Cathexis will be exhibiting at the IFSEC show in Birmingham in May ...
  
• Instacom expands service to the Western Cape
  May 2013, News
  Instacom, a South African based telecommunications company specialising in push-to-talk communication has set its sights on the Western Cape. After success throughout Eastern Cape, KZN and Gauteng, it ...