An examination of security measures for the protection of museums in Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract

The historical and commercial value of museums underscore the significance of implementing adequate security. The historical value is represented by the cultural legacy in works of art, artefacts and books that are transferrable to future generations. The commercial value is reflected by the attractiveness of museums to local and foreign patrons. To preserve the identities, themes and value of museums strong security to mitigate risks should be implemented. The aim of this study was to examine the current security measures for the protection of museums in Gauteng, South Africa in order to develop a Security Model for Museums. To focus on this aim, the following specific objectives were pursued: (a) to evaluate the possible risk exposure of both visitors and museum assets in museums; (b) to discuss the impact of different types of security measures; and (c) to determine the implication of stolen artefacts on museums. To achieve the research objectives, a mixed methods study with an exploratory design was deployed to collect the field data. The purposive nonprobability sampling techniques was used to select the study sample size n=40 respondents comprising museum managers, security officers and curators. The response rate of the respondents was 63% which was adequate for producing valid results. The data collection methods used to gather data were interviews conducted with sampled respondents and observation using an audit checklist. The data was analysed using thematic data analysis and descriptive statistical analysis. The findings on museum risks that affected visitors and museum assets included theft, vandalism, burglary/robbery, fire and flooding. Regarding existing museum security measures, the following measures were identified: organisational factors such as a security plan, security policy, emergency plan, maintenance plan, access control procedures and security personnel. The non-technological security measures comprised security fences and lockable gates, fire equipment and security officers, while digital security technology included CCTV systems, intruder systems, biometric systems and scanning machines. Based on the findings, it was recommended that an integrated, multi-layered security system that should be designed and customised for museums according to their risk particular exposures.

Ho sumbedziswa u ḓo khwaṱhisedzwa tsireledzo kha ndeme ya ḓivhazwakale na vhubindudzi ha midziyamu. Ndeme ya ḓivhazwakale i sumbezwa nga kha ifa ḽa mvelele nga mishumo ya vhutsila, zwivhumbiwa na dzibugu dzine dza fhiriselwa na kha mirafho iḓaho. Ndeme ya vhubindudzi i vhonala nga kha ku kungele kwa midziyamu nga kha vharengi vhadzulaho tsini na vhabvannḓa. U itela u tsireledza vhune, ṱhimu na ndeme ya midziyamu, ho tea u vha na tsireledzo yo khwaṱhaho u fhungudza khombo ine ya nga itea. Tshipikwa tsha hei ngudo ho vha hu u sedzulusa maga a tsireledzo ane o no ḓi vha hone midziyamu ya Gauteng, South Afrika hu u itela u bveledza tsireledzo yo khwaṱhaho ya musalauno midziyamu. Kha ndavhelelo dza mawanwa, maga o khetheaho o dzhielwa nzhele (a) U sedzulusa arali hu na khonadzeo ya khombo ine i ngavha hone kha vhadali na ndaka ya midziyamu. (b) U haseledza nga ha maṅwe maga a tsireledzo o khetheaho. (c) U wana phendelo malugana na zwivhumbiwa zwine zwa tswiwa midziyamu. U swikelela ndavhelelo dza ṱhoḓisiso, ho shumiswa nḓila dzo fhambanaho u kuvhanganya mawanwa, ho shuma nḓila yo ḓoweleaho ya u kuvhanganya mawanwa fhethu ho vuleaho, mbalo ya vhathu vho dzhenelelaho N=40, ho angaredzwa vhalanguli, vha ofisiri vha tsireledzo na vhashumi vha u vhekana zwivhumbiwa. Dzi phindulo u bva kha vhathu vho fhindulaho ho vha 63% ine iya khwathisedza mvelelo dza vhukuma. Nḓila yo shumiswaho u kuvhanganya mawanwa ho vha nyambedzano dzo itwaho na vhafhinduli vho nangwaho na u tou sedza hu tshi khou shumiswa u tolwa ha ku shumisele kwa masheleni. Mawanwa o viselwa khagala nga nḓila ya u shumisa dzinomboro na maipfi o tou nwalwaho fhasi. Zwo wanalaho nga ha dzi khombo dza midziyamu zwine zwa kwama vhadaleli na zwivhumbiwa zwa midziyamu ho katela u tswa, u tshinyadza, u vunḓa/u homboka, mulilo na miḓalo. Malugana na maga a tsireledzo ane ono ḓivha hone, maga a tevhelaho o topoliwa, sa puḽane ya tsireledzo, phoḽisi ya tsireledzo, puḽane ya shishi, puḽane ya u vusuludza, vhulanguli hau dzhena tshifhaṱoni na tsireledzo ya vhune. Maga a tsireledzo a si a thekhinoḽodzhi ho katelwa ḓiraṱa ya tsireledzo, magethe ane a honela, zwishumiswa zwa u dzima mulilo na vha ofisiri vha tsireledzo hu uri tsireledzo ya didzhithala ya thekhinoḽodzhi yo katela sisiteme ya CCTV, sisiteme ya u fara tshigevhenga, sisiteme ya u biometric na mitshini ya u sikena. Uya nga ha mawanwa, zwo ombedzelwa uri tsireledzo ya sisiteme yo tanganelaho ya leyara dzo fhambanaho yo tea u olwa ya sikiwa ho sedzwa khombo dzine midziyamu ya nga ṱangana nayo. Maipfi a ndeme: U laulwa ha u dzhena kha tshifhaṱo, maga a thekhinoḽodzhi, Khombo dza midziyamu, maga asi a thekhinoḽodzhi, maga a tsireledzo ya guṱe, u tswiwa ha zwivhumbiwa zwa midziyamu, modeḽe wa u tshimbidza tsireledzo dza khombo, puḽane dza khombo midziyamu, maga au thivhela u tswiwa ha vhutsila midziyamu na u tandulula khombo midziyamu.

Matimu na vuxaviselo lebyi ringaneleke bya muziyamu swi tiyisisa nkoka wo humelerisa ku ringanela ka vusirhelelo. Nkoka wa matimu wu yimeriwile hi ndzhaka ya ndhavuko eka vuvumbi na tibuku leti ti nga ha hundziseriwaka eka rixaka leri taka. Nxaviso lowu ringaneleke wu kombisiwa hi vusaseko bya timuziyamu eka vaseketeri va kwala tikweni na va le handle. Ku hlayisa vuako, nkongomelo na nkoka wa timuziyamu vuhlayiseko lebyi tiyeke ku antswisa makhombo byi fanele byi humelerisiwa. Xikongomelo xa dyondzo leyi a ku ri ku xiyisisa mpimaniso wa vuhlayiseko lebyi nga kona eka nsirhelelo wa timuziyamu exifundzeninkulu xa Gauteng, eAfrika-Dzonga ku kota ku simeka nkombiso wa vuhlayiseko etimuziyamu. Ku landzelerisa xikongomelo lexi swiboho leswi landzelaka swi tekiwile: (a) Ku lavisisa makhombo lawa nga ha humelelaka eka vumbirhi bya vaendzi xikan’we na nhundzu ya muziyamu etimuziyamu; (b) Ku kanela switandzhaku leswi hambaneke swa mpimaniso wa vuhlayiseko; xikan’we na (c) Ku lavisisa mahlanganelo yo yiviwa ka swivumbiwa etimuziyamu. Ku fikela mbuyelo lowu, dyondzo yo katsakanya maendlelo lawa nga ni ndzavisiso wa nkhaviso yi vikiwile ku hlengeleta vuxokoxoko. Xikongomelo xa tithekiniki to sampula a xi tirhisiwile ku hlawula sampulu ya dyondzo sayizi ya n=40 ya lava ku burisaniweke na vona yi katsa timininjhere ta muziyamu, masekhuriti na valanguteri. Nhlayo ya tinhlamulo ta lava ku burisaniweke na vona a kuri makumentsevu-nharhu wa tiphesente leti a ti ringanela ku tswala mbuyelo lowu hanyaka. Maendlelo yo koleka vuxokoxoko lawa tirhisiweke ku hlengeleta byona vuxokoxoko lebyi a ku ri minkambelovutivi leyi nga endliwa swin’we na lava ku burisaniweke na vona lava nga sampuriwa na vuxiyisisi lebyi endliweke hi ku tirhisa nongoloko wa oditi. Vuxokoxoko lebyi byi hleriwile hi ku tirhisa thematic data analysis na descriptive statistical analysis. Leswi nga kumeka mayelana na makhombo ya muziyamu lawa nga khumbha vaendzi na nhundzu ya muziyamu swi katsa vuyivi, ku onha, vugevenga kumbe ku khutaza, ndzilo na ndhambi. Hikuya hi mpimo wa vusirhelelo bya muziyamu lebyi nga kona, mimpimo leyi landzelaka yi tekeriwile enhlokweni; mintlawa leyi fanaka na pulani ya vuhlayiseko, nawu wa vuhlayiseko, pulani ya swa xihantla, pulani ya nhlayiso na mafambiselo ya lava nga ni mpfumelelo wo nghena eka vuako xikan’we na lava thoriweke ku sirhelela ndhawu yoleyo. Mimpimo leyi nga riki ya thekinoloji ya vuhlayiseko yi katsa darata ya nsirhelelo na viii tikhoro to khiyeka, switirhisiwa swo timela ndzilo na vatirhi vo sirhelela, loko vusirhelelo bya thekinoloji byi katsa tisisiteme ta CCTV, tisisiteme ta vatluri va nawu, tisisiteme ta tibayometiriki na michini yo xiyaxiya swinene. Hikuya hi leswi kumiweke ku nyikiwile mavonelo ya leswaku sisiteme leyi vuriwaka integrated security system leyi nga na tileyara to tala yi fanele yi dirowiwa no tolovetiwa eka timuziyamu hikuya hi ku humelela ka makhombo.