28 Jun 2017

A young security entrepreneur, Mr Batanani Merapelo has developed a security app called ‘Red Zone Alert’ that provides information and security tips in the comfort of ones home.

Mr Merapelo, 35, said he realised that a security app was the best way to reach a wider community compared to traditional way of addressing people such as kgotla meetings.

“I had the idea of engaging the police to induct the community on issues of security and neighbourhood watch, but realised the old mode of communication will be time consuming,” he said.

Mr Merapelo hails from Moroka in the North East District and has been in the security industry for over 10 years.

He was a security personnel in the Botswana Defence Force from 2002 to 2011, and a lecturer at a local security company for a year. He has an advanced diploma in security management.

In 2012, Mr Merapelo became an entrepreneur and registered Red Zone Risk and Security Solutions in Francistown which he later relocated to Maun in 2014.

The ‘Red Zone Alert’ application, which can be downloaded for free, was introduced to the market in May.

Mr Merapelo said the app was created in association with an American company Appy Pie.

The app provides security information on residential and businesses as well as security needs around the world and allows users to check the security status in various countries.

Also available is a chart forum as well as a ‘one touch button’ which allows victims of crime to report if attacked and for people to report crime scenes happenings by ‘touching the button.’

“If Batswana welcome the ‘one touch button’ feature, it would be enrolled in other places,” Mr Merapelo said, adding that the feature was being piloted.

Red Zone Risk and Security Solutions was formed through his personal investments, but was later funded through the Youth Development Fund in 2016.

The youth fund, he said, helped in the expansion of the company by acquiring office furniture and communication equipment.

Mr Merapelo noted that the security industry in Botswana was saturated and that well-established international companies were giving upcoming companies  tough competition.

He commended the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development for marketing youth entities, but said the government’s purchase power was not enough as competition remained high.

Mr Merapelo aims to have an annual security expo to give a platform to local and international security personnel to network as well as to sensitise organisations and individuals.

Mr Merapelo noted that people tended to lack knowledge in security issues and that the expo would enlighten them.

Security personnel, he added, have a critical role in an organisation and ought to be respected by the public.

He said if people and employees had knowledge about security that would make the job of security personnel and organisations easier.

“Security like safety should be prioritised by organisations and individuals,” he said.

Mr Merapelo said knowledge in security was key as it would help individuals protect themselves and their properties especially those who could not afford engaging security companies.

“There are economic challenges and some people resort to getting people’s possessions by force, and therefore it’s important to have basic knowledge to protect oneself,” he said.

People, he said, should employ the concept of “extreme ownership” which means individuals and people at organisations taking responsibility at all costs to complement the role of security personnel and gadgets such as alarms.

He also noted the lack of security legislation in the country and the lack of proper training for security personnel, which he said negatively impacted the duty of security personnel.

Mr Merapelo, however, said he was happy that a security bill was underway, something he was proud to have played a role in its inception when he was still a manager at one security school.  ENDS