Crime
Durban security firm suspends officers as assault video sparks investigation
A disturbing video filmed in Durban’s city centre has triggered public anger and a swift internal investigation by a private security company.
Ensure Security Services has condemned the conduct of its officers after footage surfaced showing a man being assaulted in the Durban CBD. The company described the actions seen in the video as completely unacceptable and said they violated its professional standards and core values.
What the company says happened
In a statement released on Tuesday, Ensure confirmed it became aware of the video earlier that day and immediately launched a full internal investigation. All officers involved have been placed on precautionary suspension while the probe continues.
The company also confirmed the matter has been reported to the South African Police Service and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement.
According to Ensure’s preliminary findings, the individual in the video was not a defenceless homeless man but someone allegedly linked to a syndicate involved in vehicle parts and copper theft in the city. The company stated that when officers arrived on the scene, the suspect was already in the hands of members of the public. It further claimed that after being apprehended, he led officers to a buyer and alleged head of the syndicate, who was also detained. Both individuals were reportedly handed over to SAPS for processing.
The Denis Hurley Centre’s concern
The incident is said to have taken place outside the Embassy Building in Durban CBD before Christmas. The Denis Hurley Centre has raised serious concerns, stating that the man was last seen being taken away in a vehicle by Ensure officers after the assault.
The centre also expressed disappointment at the circumstances surrounding the incident, bringing the matter into the public eye by sharing the video on social media.
Public reaction and accountability
Online reaction has been swift and emotional. Many Durban residents have voiced concern about the treatment of vulnerable people in the inner city, while others have pointed to rising crime in the CBD and the pressure placed on security personnel.
Ensure criticised what it described as rash and irresponsible sharing of the video, saying it led to public judgement of the organisation based on the unauthorised actions of a small number of employees. The company said those officers acted without instruction or approval.
At the same time, the firm stressed it has zero tolerance for behaviour that undermines the safety, dignity, or rights of members of the public. It said the matter is now in the hands of its legal team and that further updates will be shared as the investigation progresses.
A wider conversation in Durban
Durban’s CBD has long been a space where issues of homelessness, crime, and private security intersect. With businesses relying heavily on private security firms, incidents like this reignite difficult questions about oversight, accountability, and the balance between crime prevention and human rights.
For now, the official investigation continues. What remains clear is that the video has sparked more than outrage. It has forced a public conversation about how security is enforced on the streets of Durban and who is ultimately responsible when that enforcement goes too far.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Magic 828
