In South Africa, the Square Kilometre Array, pictured, is an international effort to build a giant radio telescope, with a square kilometre (one million square metres) of collecting area. The desert region of Karoo provide a radio-quiet backdrop. The contractor Servest will provide security services to the area. An initial team of 16 Servest security staff will increase to 34 as the telescope grows and the as project takes up more ground area. The team will be responsible for protecting the site and the safety of international visitors.
Due to the sensitivity of the telescope’s radio signal receivers, cell phones, GPS and tracker systems are prohibited. The nearest towns are 200km away so availability of security is limited. Workers will encounter extreme weather, between minus 8 to plus 45 degrees Celsius. The area is also home to poisonous snakes, and antelope on the roads after dark can be a risk for drivers.
After a competitive tender process, Servest Security secured the contract, pointing among other things to its longstanding relationship with the client. Rob Legge, Servest Group CEO, said: “This is a very exciting project and we’re delighted to be part of it. “SKA is a major international venture and our association with the programme reiterates our standing as an international facilities management company, with the experience necessary to execute such a unique security contract. The win has extended Servest Security’s footprint in the Northern Cape Province where we are already involved with many solar farms.”
