Paul Mente

Paul Sithembele Mente is an accomplished and highly decorated Security and Facilities Management professional with over 19 years of progressive experience spanning the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), State-Owned Enterprises, and Gauteng Provincial Government. He currently serves as Acting Director and substantively as Deputy Director: Security and Facilities Management at the Gauteng Department of Community Safety, where he exercises full strategic and operational authority over security governance, facilities management, and infrastructure protection across 18 departmental sites province-wide. Throughout his distinguished career, Paul has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, sound judgement under pressure, and the ability to navigate complex multi-stakeholder environments within both the public and private sectors.

His expertise spans physical, electronic, personnel and information security; facilities and infrastructure management; security risk and threat assessments; occupational health and safety compliance; vetting coordination; emergency preparedness; and the development of security governance frameworks aligned to national legislative requirements including the MISS, MPSS, OHS Act, GIAMA, and GPARS.

Acting Director: Security & Facilities Management at Gauteng Department of Community Safety (2024-09 – Present)

Assuming full strategic and operational responsibility for security and facilities across all 18 departmental sites.

• Provide strategic leadership for security, facilities, records management, and auxiliary services across 18 departmental sites province-wide.
• Drive compliance with OHS Act 85 of 1993, GIAMA, GPARS Act 5 of 2013, MISS, and MPSS frameworks.
• Oversee development and implementation of the User Immovable Asset Management Plan (UIAMP) and infrastructure maintenance projects.
• Chair departmental Security Committee meetings and deliver executive briefings to the Head of Department.
• Lead emergency preparedness planning, evacuation drills, and business continuity management.
• Manage property lease negotiations, acquisitions, and office accommodation planning.
• Optimise financial resources and oversee budget planning, overtime, and capacity building.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of security and facilities management services across departmental sites.
• Ensure compliance with applicable legislation, MISS, MPSS, occupational health and safety requirements, and government property-management frameworks.
• Direct the implementation of physical security, information security, vetting, investigations and emergency-preparedness measures.

Deputy Director: Security & Facilities Management at Gauteng Department of Community Safety (2022-05 – 2024-09)

Directed security operations and facilities management across 18 departmental sites with executive protection responsibilities to the office of the MEC.

• Coordinated all physical and information security operations including CCTV, X-ray machines, walk-through metal detectors, and integrated control rooms.
• Led security investigations, compiled reports, and implemented corrective recommendations.
• Facilitated executive protection services aligned to MEC security requirements.
• Monitored access control systems and ensured adherence to MISS and MPSS standards.
• Maintained strategic alliances with SAPS and law enforcement agencies to enhance security posture.
• Drove business planning for the directorate including resource prioritisation and project governance.
• Coordinated emergency evacuation plans in compliance with the Disaster Management Act No. 57 of 2002.
• Oversee departmental accommodation, leases, building maintenance, utilities and infrastructure projects.
• Manage budgets, procurement, contracts, personnel and service-provider performance, and provide strategic reports and advice to executive management.

Security & Risk Specialist (Deputy Director – Level) at National Prosecuting Authority (2022-01 – 2022-04)

As a Security and Risk Specialist at the NPA, I managed security risks associated with high-risk cases, ensuring the safety of prosecutors and witnesses. I also coordinated appropriate security measures to support the safe and uninterrupted conduct of court proceedings.

• Risk Assessment: Conduct comprehensive institutional risk analyses and maintain regional/departmental risk profiles.
• Compliance & Vetting: Monitor adherence to the NPA Code of Conduct, anti-corruption policies, and public service regulations.
• Security Management: Coordinate and oversee physical security, information security, and specialized operational risks within NPA offices and courts.
• Investigations & Reporting: Lead internal investigations into suspected non-compliance, fraud, or misconduct, and draft detailed reports for management.
• Stakeholder Liaison: Collaborate with external law enforcement such as SAPS, SSA, SIU and other government entities to streamline risk reduction.
• Oversees the identification, assessment, and mitigation of operational, legal, and financial risks within the criminal justice framework.
• Protect the integrity of the institution by enforcing compliance, managing security protocols, and advising executive management on risk strategies.

Regional Security Manager (Deputy Director – Level) at Transnet – Durban Container Terminals (Pier 1 & Pier 2) (2019-12 – 2022-04)

Led security operations for two high-throughput container terminals, managing physical, electronic, and personnel security at a critical national logistics hub.

• Directed security operations for Pier 1 and Pier 2, overseeing a comprehensive CCTV and access control infrastructure.
• Conducted regular threat and risk assessments, security audits, and compliance inspections.
• Managed outsourced security service providers and monitored SLA performance.
• Developed and implemented security policies, SOPs, and directives aligned with MISS and MPSS.
• Managed the security budget, controlled expenditure, and presented financial reports.
• Liaised with SAPS, SSA, and national law enforcement agencies to maintain a robust security environment.
• Coordinated vetting processes and delivered security awareness training to staff.

Assistant Director: Security Management at Department of Social Development – Eastern Cape Province (2018-07 – 2019-11)

Responsible for security oversight across 8 districts and 134 offices throughout the Eastern Cape Province.

• Conducted security audits, inspections, and threat and risk assessments (TRAs) across the provincial footprint.
• Investigated security breaches and submitted monthly security reports to senior management.
• Drafted access control directives and implemented security policies aligned to MISS and MPSS.
• Managed all electronic security systems and monitored contracted security companies against SLAs.
• Delivered safety awareness training and participated in OHS committee meetings.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness, evacuations and incident-response measures.
• Manage security services at departmental buildings, events and other identified sites.
• Monitor security contracts, budgets, procurement processes and service-level performance.
• Maintain liaison with SAPS, SSA, PSIRA and other relevant law-enforcement and security agencies.
• Promote security awareness among employees and provide regular performance and compliance reports to management.

Security Manager (Assistant Director Level) | SANDF Intelligence Corps at South African National Defence Force – Special Forces Headquarters (2007-01 – 2018-06)

Served as Security Manager at Special Forces HQ, Pretoria, with oversight of three elite units: School of Special Forces, 4 SF Regiment, and 5 SF Regiment.

• Drafted and implemented security policies; conducted quarterly security assessments across all three units.
• Conducted security threat and risk assessments (TRAs) and reported findings to the Officer Commanding.
• Investigated security breaches and liaised with SAPS, SSA, and Defence Intelligence.
• Presented the annual security budget to the Officer Commanding and managed expenditure.
• Delivered security awareness sessions to unit members and ensured ongoing compliance.
• Completed Officer Cadet Course (Botswana Defence Force) – awarded Leadership Award and Best International Student.
• Completed Officer Formative Course (SANDF); awarded Silver Leadership Commendation Certificate.
• Develop, implement and monitor military security policies, plans and procedures.
• Conduct security threat, vulnerability and risk assessments at military facilities.
• Manage physical security, access control, guarding, CCTV, alarms and perimeter protection.
• Protect classified information, military assets, personnel, weapons and sensitive installations.
• Coordinate personnel security screening, vetting and security-clearance processes.
• Investigate security breaches, theft, fraud, information leaks and other security incidents.
• Implement counterintelligence and operational security measures in collaboration with relevant military intelligence structures.
• Conduct security inspections, audits and compliance assessments.

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice – University of South Africa (UNISA) (2026)

B-Tech in Forensic Investigation – University of South Africa (UNISA) (2020)

National Diploma in Security Risk Management – University of South Africa (UNISA) (2015)

Grade 12 in National Senior Certificate – Matric – Masikanyise High School (2004)