Security Company’s Court Bid to Recover Seized Items Fails
Why This Case Matters
A big security firm in South Africa, Calvin and Family Security Services, tried to get back stuff that police took during a raid. But the court said their request wasn’t urgent enough, so they lost. This story is about business, police powers, and what happens when things get messy.
The Company’s Emergency Request
What They Wanted Back
The company, led by CEO Si Mangele Mathibeli (wife of owner Calvin Mojalefa Mathibeli), went to court urgently after police seized items from their Durban North office on March 10. They claimed police took a weapons register, computers, laptops, hard drives, phones, tablets, and all documents. The company argued this stopped them from deploying armed guards legally under the Firearms Control Act and risked losing their firearms licenses.
Denying Wrongdoing
Si Mangele said her company follows all rules for security firms—they employ about 4,250 officers and serve many clients. She denied any fraud, like using fake SAPS stamps or having illegal guns. She also defended her husband, saying claims he has political or police influence are “false and unfounded.”
Police Reveal Their Evidence
A Source Speaks
But police had their own story. An investigator from Counterintelligence Investigations in Pretoria said a reliable, vetted source who worked in all four of Mathibeli’s companies confirmed fraud. The source said the company manipulated tender documents, used illegal firearms, and won multiple contracts through these means.
Questioning the Source
Si Mangele hit back, saying the source wasn’t named and no details were given about their identity or background. She called the source’s credibility into question, arguing it wasn’t enough proof for the seizure.
Clearing Up What Was Actually Taken
Police Set the Record Straight
During court, police lawyer Hawa Dhoda explained that on March 10, officers only seized four laptops and some company documents—not the firearms register. She said the weapons register
