In response, Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu noted the primary reason for the bid’s cancellation was an error in the specified International Standard Organisation (ISO) requirement. The bid initially mandated compliance with ISO 17020, a standard applicable to mortuaries, instead of the correct ISO 17025 standard, which pertains to machine calibrations in forensic laboratories. This material error invalidated the tender, as awarding it under the wrong standard could have led to supplier performance issues.

Additionally, most bidders failed to meet another key requirement outlined in paragraph 1.6 of the bid. This clause required bidders or Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to confirm that the proposed tool or solution had been in use for at least three years. The evaluation committee observed that OEMs might have deliberately withheld this information, making it difficult for suppliers to comply. As a result, the clause required revision to ensure broader participation without compromising compliance.

The error regarding the ISO standard was only identified during the evaluation process after the bid had closed on 14 November 2024. Given the significance of this oversight, proceeding with the tender in its existing form would have risked awarding the contract under incorrect specifications, leading to potential legal and operational challenges. This necessity to rectify the issue before proceeding led to the bid’s cancellation.

Prior to the cancellation, five bids were received from the following companies:

• Forensic Work (PTY) Ltd.
• Transcomm.
• Risk Diversion Digital (PTY) Ltd.
• AIE On Holdings (PTY) Ltd.
• Mustek.

Despite these submissions, the bid was not awarded to any of the participants. The recommendation to cancel the bid was made to prevent procedural inconsistencies and ensure compliance with the correct technical standards.

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BMA officers will work closely with other security agencies, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and the Department of Home Affairs. This cooperative approach ensures that their operations overlap seamlessly with existing security frameworks.

The new drones will operate at various ports of entry and along border regions, providing tactical support for day-to-day activities. The procurement of these systems is a strategic move to enhance surveillance, safety, and operational efficiency.

The multi-rotor tactical drones being procured are designed to meet the unique demands of border security. They include:

Aircraft Specifications:

• • Maximum take-off weight of 2 kg.
  • Compact dimensions, foldable for portability.
  • Minimum flight time of 3 hours.
  • Capability to operate in GPS-denied environments and resist GPS spoofing.
  • Advanced anti-interference features to counter radio frequency interference (RFI) and electromagnetic interference (EMI).
  • Hot-swappable batteries and robust build for harsh environmental conditions.

Payload Capabilities:

• • High-resolution wide and zoom cameras (50 MP and 48 MP, respectively).
  • Thermal imaging with a resolution of 640 x 512 pixels and 16x digital zoom.
  • Night vision functionality with 2 MP resolution and 8x zoom.
  • Laser rangefinder with a measuring range of up to 1,000 km.

Additional specifications include a hybrid electric and gasoline engine, a flight range of 10 km, a maximum altitude of 4,000 meters, and a video transmission range of up to 20 km. These features ensure the drones are suitable for extensive surveillance and logistical operations.

The BMA has outlined a delivery timeline of 30 days from the date of order, with the drones being dispatched to identified ports of entry. Initial allocations include two drones each for Beitbridge and Lebombo.

The drones are expected to have a lifespan of 5 to 10 years, emphasizing their role in the long-term strategy to secure South Africa’s borders. With capabilities such as license plate recognition, night surveillance, and laser scanning, the equipment will play a pivotal role in combating illegal activities and enhancing border integrity.

The procurement underscores the BMA’s commitment to leveraging advanced technology to address security challenges, ensuring a safer and more secure South African border landscape.

The closure date for applications is 28^th of January 2025, for more information, the bid document can be found here.

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The envisioned system will serve as a critical enhancement to PSiRA’s existing processes by integrating facial recognition with systems such as the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and the Integrated Justice System (IJS). This integration will facilitate real-time verification of applicants’ citizenship and identity, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.

The scope of work includes the development, supply, and implementation of a comprehensive, web-based solution accessible via smartphones, integrated cameras, and external devices. The system must detect background interference, capture facial images, and cross-verify them against national databases. Additionally, it will generate certificates and populate data into PSiRA’s registration and assessment systems.

The project requires an Agile development approach and includes post-implementation support, training, and system handover after 24 months. Bidders must demonstrate expertise in similar systems, provide project plans, and comply with strict evaluation criteria focusing on functionality, live demonstrations, and pricing.

The closing date for the bid is 03 February 2025, to learn more, view the bid document here.

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The five-year tender (Tender 19/1/9/1/01 TR (24)) closed on 14 November 2024, marking a step forward in addressing sophisticated crime in South Africa as police have struggled with investigating organised crime and money laundering.

Traditional crime scene analyses will be boosted with new automated investigative tools. Improving on the long-established methods of examining fingerprints, the tender calls for fingerprint quality enhancement software able to accommodate the capturing of fingerprint and shoeprint images as well as enhancing the images. The solution must also provide a comprehensive audit trail and allow for the creation of a digital chart for presentation in court.

Additional facial/image quality enhancement software is required to enhance low resolution degraded still images of suspect faces to high quality images in order to enable facial identification. The software must be able to automatically generate a report detailing all the processing steps, settings and algorithm used in analysis, as well as the source information for presentation in court.

The new facial recognition/mapping software (biometric face matching software) must be able to identify human faces in images and determine if the face in two images belongs to the same person, even from different angles and poor lighting conditions.

In a dramatic effort to improve the skills of crime scene investigators, new three-dimensional (3D) crime scene simulation software must be able to assist in the training and equipping of crime scene examiners by testing or assessing their observation skills and knowledge of crime scene processing. When using the software, the trainee will wear a headset that produces a 3D image, allowing the trainee to virtually walk through the crime scene.

Recognising the importance of technology in combating financial and organized crime, the SAPS is also looking at forensic accounting investigative tools to tackle complex crimes and organised syndicates.

eDiscovery (electronic discovery) is the process of finding, reviewing and collating digital information to be used as evidence in legal procedures. SAPS requires an eDiscovery solution able to convert documents from any format, producing working papers that can perform Computer Assisted Audit Techniques (CAATs) and data analytics. These capabilities should support the analysis of bank statements, trend analysis in financial statements and other financial information.

For financial and asset forfeiture investigations, the document conversion software (OCR) must have a high volume scanning capability, capable of converting paper documents and images into readable digital data formats.

In all cases, comprehensive initial and ongoing training for SAPS personnel must be provided, as well as software and hardware support.

The integration of these advanced tools should enhance the SAPS’s ability to combat financial crimes and improve crime scene forensics and investigations, increasing efficiency and boosting public trust by enabling faster crime resolution and improved prosecution rates.

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Vehicles require Level B6 ballistic protection against 7.62×39 mm full metal jacket (FMJ) rounds at 10 metres, and 7.62×51 mm rounds. Further, the armour must be upgradeable to STANAG Level I on all vertical sides. Vehicles must retain their standard factory appearance, with armouring concealed and discreet.

Vehicles must be fitted with 360-degree Level B6 protection, including the vehicle floor. The windshield, rear glass and side glass must be armoured to Level B6, with spall mitigation capability, but side windows must be able to slide down halfway into the door. The electrical window system must be able to sustain the weight of protective glass, and a heavy-duty window mechanism must be installed to open the windows.

All doors must be lockable to prevent outside access, with reinforced hinges to handle the weight of the armoured doors. The vehicle pillars and roof must additionally meet Level B6 protection, with the fuel tank, radiator and battery also covered with ballistic protection.

Front and rear suspension must be upgraded with heavy-duty shocks and an adjustable coil spring, with additional leaf springs if the vehicle is designed with such a system. A high-performance custom brake system must be incorporated to accommodate the additional weight, with high-performance brake pads able to sustain high heat and high-speed braking.

Vehicles must be provided with five heavy-duty rims and five heavy-duty tires with run flat capability. Further, a heavy-duty jack for the vehicle must be provided.

All ferrous metal parts must be protected against corrosion in an acceptable and suitable manner. All repairs pertaining to the armouring must be concluded within 30 days.

Several companies on the market offer discreet vehicle armouring to Level B6, notably Armormax and SVI Engineering. Both companies are recognised as a Qualified Vehicle Modifiers (QVM) by the Ford Motor Company.

The QVM programme is a global standards recognition structure that intends to gauge the ability of a final stage manufacturer to produce a consistent quality level throughout the product line, through control over the engineering, fabrication and vehicle delivery processes. The process of assessment is similar in some respects to the ISO 9001 Quality Management programme that Armormax has been certified for in the past.

Armormax has built several Ford Ranger examples in both B4 and B6 guise. Their approach to vehicle armouring of using the lightest, highest grade ballistic materials available globally means that even the B6 package on the Ranger is only fractionally heavier than B4 packages offered.

Bids close on 10 December 2024.

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Bid ENLS/2024/103 calls for ten boats, six road transport trailers, ten launching dollies, ten cradles, and four sets of boarding equipment. It is also seeking training and documentation as well as support for 24 months.

The boats, with a length no greater than nine metres, need to be built in South Africa and adhere to South African Maritime Safety Authority and other regulations. The successful bidder needs to have build similar vessels within the last ten years and supply a boat for testing (the boats need to be based on a proven existing design).

The ender said the boats will be deployed for coastline protection and boarding missions within the territorial zone of South Africa (12 nautical miles offshore). “The only threat identified and addressed in this specification is the environmental conditions which the RB/BB will be exposed to.”

The boats will be deployed around places like Saldanha Bay, Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Gqeberha, East London, Durban, Richards Bay, Gansbaai, Coffee Bay, and Hermanus. As such, they will need to conduct operations in sea states up to 4, in day and night conditions.

Sprint speed is specified as 40 knots in sea state 2 when fully fuelled and loaded with two crew and six passengers. Endurance needs to be at least four hours, and the boats need to return home safely on one engine. Full load displacement should not exceed four tons, excluding crew.

Operational life expectancy needs to be at least 15 years, with a hull of glass reinforced plastic/composite or marine grade aluminium. Other requirements are the six passenger seats need to be removeable for additional deck space; be powered by two Yamaha outboard engines; and be fitted with a searchlight, electronic chart display system, VHF radios, GPS and Furuno radar. Boarding equipment will comprise a boarding ladder and a telescoping placing pole for boarding.

Tender ENLS/2024/103 opened on 19 September, with bids closing on 18 November 2024.

BMA Commissioner Dr Mike Masiapato said earlier this year that BMA Coastal Guard units have been deployed to eight sites along the South African coastline, with an initial personnel strength of 50.

The Coast Guards have been deployed at the various maritime ports of entry (main harbours like Durban, Cape Town and Gqeberha) and are also protecting marine resources. “Coast Guards conduct maritime border law enforcement functions such as preventing and combating of human trafficking and the illegal movement of vessels,” the BMA said

The BMA added that, “the role of the Maritime Border Guards will not clash with that of the SA Navy of border safeguarding and defending the territorial integrity of South Africa.”

The BMA has cooperation agreements in place with the South African National Defence Force, South African Police Service (SAPS) and SA Revenue Service (SARS) to strengthen the safeguarding of the country’s borders, with the SANDF responsible for monitoring vulnerable sections of the borderline.

The Border Management Authority is getting a range of new equipment for its border guards. Funding from the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA) is being used to acquire “critical security and ICT equipment,” which includes unmanned aerial systems, body cameras, and speed boats, with procurement being done through Armscor. Tenders have already been issued for gloves, body armour, and other kit.

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The mid-August tender specified that the vehicle should have an ergo-metric internal height of minimum 1.8 m, not exceeding 2 m.

The vehicle shell must be a monohull and be powered by an engine with a minimum displacement of 6.5 litres and minimum output of 240 hp. The gearbox must be fully automatic 6-speed. Further, power steering, permanent 4×4 mobility and a top speed of 120 km/h is specified, with fuel capacity to allow for minimum 600 km range.

The vehicle must be able to give ballistic protection against AK-47 rifles (7.62×39 mm FMJ at 10 m) and be upgradable to STANAG Level 1 on all vertical sides. Euro norm standard B6, protecting the vehicle 360 degrees, with the roof and floor able to withstand 7.62×39 mm at an angle of 30 degrees from horizontal is required. Alternatively, equivalent levels such as BR-6 and US NIJ III Plus for vehicles for the Middle East and Europe need to be met.

The vehicle’s structure should be designed to prevent shrapnel and blasts from anti-personal munitions on the roof and underfloor. Resistance to grenade explosions at close range is required, however the document notes the vehicles do not need to be resistant to artillery shells, anti-tank mines or rockets. Additionally, provision for add-on armour to increase protection is required.

Two emergency escape hatches must be provided, one above the commander’s seat, the other at the rear of the vehicle. These hatches must allow personnel to exit with their equipment and be manually lockable from the inside. Further, the roof should be reinforced. A large window must be provided to allow for situational awareness and should have the same level of protection as the vehicle body. Gun ports must be installed, with a minimum of 4 per side, one in front of the commander’s seat, and an additional gun port in the rear.

Seating layout should include two front seats, with eight outward facing seats in the middle, with a rear area including multipurpose layout to allow for cargo storage or two additional seats. The vehicle should include two front doors, two side doors and a rear door. All doors must be internally lockable, to prevent outside access. Driver should be able to lock all doors at once from driver’s seat. Driver, Commander and crew doors must be hydraulically or pneumatically operable in case of emergency.

Two unique requirements for the vehicle include a camera system, and a bulbar/scraper. An on-board camera system with recording storage for 24 hours must be installed, with a minimum of four externally mounted on all four sides and covered with mesh type protection. As for the scraper, it must be capable of lowering and raising from the driver’s position, presumably using a switch. The scraper must be able to move obstructions from the vehicle’s path. A “V” shaped dozer/bullbar must be easily removeable in case of damage, to ensure mobility. The dozer must be capable of moving a 3-ton obstacle.

The vehicle must be supplied with a Mobile Adjustable Rescue/Assault System (MARS), which must be mounted on the vehicle’s roof, and allow for two personnel to access structures at a minimum of 8 metres in height, with the tender listing the height of an Airbus A380 top door as a minimum reachable point.

Further, there must be a camera mounted to the front of the breaching platform, with a display mounted close to the driver to enable precise positioning of the vehicle and the MARS.

The bid stated that quantities cannot be guaranteed and order/s will be placed as and when required. The contract period will be for two years.

While the bid window closed on 02 October 2024, several vehicles displayed at the recent Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition in September met these requirements and could be potential bidders. Notably, the SVI Max SWAT, and Paramount’s Maverick.

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According to Macpherson, the report should detail who is to blame and what will be the best solution moving forward for the Telkom Towers to limit further wastage of taxpayer money.

Earlier this month, the Minister conducted an oversight inspection at the Telkom Towers.

The building was procured to serve as the South African Police headquarters in 2016 to the tune of nearly R700 million. Officials say to date, over R200 million has been spent on renovations and other services but the building remains empty due to lapses.

Addressing the media in Cape Town on Wednesday, Macpherson said in the coming weeks, a tender for a second independent investigation will be released to investigate leases which have been established by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to ensure that these leases were completed within the confines of the law and that the state is paying market-related prices for each.

“Shortly after my appointment, we initiated an investigation into an R300 million IT security breach that spans a decade. The investigation builds on the work Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala started earlier this year when vulnerabilities were discovered in the department’s Information and Technology Systems,” the Minister said.

Macpherson said preliminary reports since the extent of the security breach was found suggest that the amount of money stolen over the period confirms the seriousness of the matter.

Macpherson has further authorised the department’s legal services to assist the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) with litigation at the Special Tribunal to recover up to R20 million against Kroucamp Plumbers.

“This case involves tenders received by Kroucamp Plumbers in 2015 and 2018, where procurement processes were found to be unlawful and unconstitutional.

“The SIU discovered that payments were made to officials in our department amounting to over R300 000, and these actions are indicative of corruption that we are determined to root out,” the Minister said.

Macpherson said his goal is to make the department play a central role in using public assets for the public good and to help turn South Africa into a construction site which will ignite economic growth and create jobs.

“Over the past eight weeks, I believe we have started to lay the foundation for the work to begin to see cranes in the sky all over South Africa,” Macpherson said.

Central to the department’s strategy for increased infrastructure investment is to see the expansion and the capacitation of Infrastructure South Africa (ISA).

“We want to ensure that ISA functions as the single point of entry for all priority infrastructure projects, streamlining processes and reducing inefficiencies that have previously hampered project delivery,” Macpherson said.

This will not only improve efficiency but also ensure that the department prioritise projects with the greatest economic and social impact.

“And, this will increase investor confidence in public infrastructure projects, knowing that where Infrastructure South Africa is involved, construction projects are completed on time and within budget.

“We are accelerating broader budget reforms by collaborating with the National Treasury to streamline the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) process and establish an Infrastructure Fund that reports directly to the National Treasury.

“We are diversifying funding sources for infrastructure projects by focusing on PPPs, blended finance, and social infrastructure programmes. ISA will work closely with the National Treasury to direct investments toward projects with the highest GDP [gross domestic product] impact and job creation potential,” the Minister said.

The Minister said as the department pushes forward with reforms to ignite infrastructure investment, it was important that the department get its own house in order to ensure that it delivers on the core mandate.

“Accountability and transparency should be at the core of everything we do, while we work to eliminate corruption and abuse in all spheres of our organisation.”

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Through the tender, the SAPS intends to establish a network of Local Security Control Rooms through various police precincts, each observing not only internal secure areas at police stations, including evidence rooms and equipment rooms. These control rooms will then create a larger security network, in which selected incidents can be escalated to a National Security Control Centre (NSCC). The tender document notes in respect to network requirements that it “must be possible to escalate from Local Security Control Centre to [NSCC].”

The tender document notes that bidders must “ensure that all equipment offered is of the latest technology and the latest available model and software release.” Other requirements listed include infrared (IR) illumination, “for both indoor as well as outdoor use in conjunction with the cameras offered such that supplementary IR illumination can be deployed where required.”

In locations where existing backup power generation is needed, or current backups are inadequate, “suppliers are required to provide backup power solutions in several forms, including diesel-powered generators, hybrid inverters with lithium-ion batteries, UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) and solar panels for the CCTV and access control systems.”

CCTV Quality Levels

A minimum of 12 frames per second is required to monitor, “with at least 250 pixels in height over the average length of a person, given as 1.6 meters.”

Recognition quality must achieve facial recognition on the standard test faces of ROTAKIN CCTV evaluation target, “with adequate fidelity to 97% recognition.” (The ROTAKIn target was developed by the UK Home Office Scientific Development Branch as a means of auditing the efficiency of a CCTV system.)

Forensic identification quality specifications require the system to have the capability to define micro level features like scars, moles and wrinkles. This level of quality “should enable identification beyond degree of reasonable doubt.”

Identification of specific items is another requirement, to allow for the capture of “numbering and writing on sealed evidence containers.”

Data storage is required to facilitate investigation of incidents that occur within SAPS facilities. Storage of data is required for a minimum of six weeks.

All potential bidders will be required to demonstrate all CCTV cameras, access control systems and all sub-systems defined within the specifications. Bidders will be required to demonstrate equipment quality, camera picture quality over different distances and conditions along with a degree of technical competence.

Detailed technical training is another stringent requirement, to be provided for selected SAPS personnel, at either a SAPS training facility or a convenient and suitable location for the bidder at their cost.

Each system must include a detailed user manual upon installation and sign off, with the bidder providing additional remote telephonic assistance to users.

Further, elements of the system must be operable in the full range of South African natural environments, including thermal range from -20 degrees to +60 degrees. Any outdoor components must be resistant to water and any corrosive atmospheres.

Bidders are to take note that the provided systems must be scalable and expandable, as future requirements could be needed. Equipment housing must be lockable and with tamper alarms generated when unauthorized entry is attempted.

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The bid, 19/1/9/1/124 TV (23), has a closing date of 10 June.

According to the particulars in the tender document, the contract is for two years and the SAPS will provide the vehicle.

“The armouring must be as light as possible but be B6 compliant and be upgradable to STANAG level 1 on all vertical sides to stop the following calibre bullets and all 1 lesser threats: a) 5,56 x 45 mm Nato Ball Lead core (R4, RS); b) 7,62 x 39 mm Ball Mild Steel Core (AK-47); c) 7,62 x 51 mm Nato Ball Lead Core (R1); d) 7,62 x 39 mm API (AK-47).”

The floor and roof must be armoured.

There must be a multilayer transparent armoured windshield with a no-spall; an inner layer to protect occupants against glass spatter to windows, doors and roof, and multilayer transparent armoured windows and doors.

“The side windows must be able to slide down halfway into the door. Hinges and lifters must be custom made and reinforced for all doors. Fuel tank, radiator, battery, and firewall must be ballistic protected. Communication jacks for intercom system must be installed. Three fire extinguishers to be provided and fitted in easily to reach places.”

The armouring must give a good ergo-metric internal height.

“The armoured conversion must not hamper nor impair the driver’s ability to handle the vehicle safely and with ease. Heavy-duty shocks and adjustable air-suspension system must be fitted. Heavy-duty torsion bars/ shafts must be fitted. Reinforced front sway bars must be fitted.”

The tender document states that there must be a high-performance brake – custom-made brake rotors to disperse heat effectively and to accommodate the additional weight of the armour; and high-performance brake pads to maintain brake performance with high heat at high speed.

The SAPS said it will not provide any materials for the conversion and that all spare parts must be readily available in the country.

The first completed unit will be considered a prototype.

“Members of Division Supply Chain Management, Vehicle Fleet Management and · Division Visible Policing and Operations of the South African Police Service will subject all materials, workmanship, and construction to inspection and acceptance.”

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