Our Directors and Shareholders
The principle driving force of our business is integrity and reliability. Our directors, all drawn from the law enforcement sector, entered the business with extensive Crime Prevention experience. Using this experience as a base they have perfected their skills into two decades of identifying and solving client’s operational problems.
Neil Nortje
Operational responsibility: IBI Shoprite Northern Division, IBI Shoprite Gauteng Division, Western Cape Division and Group Finance Department.
Neil was in the South African Police Service for 10 years. He worked as a detective in the Organised Crime Intelligence Unit where he specialised in crime intelligence, gathering and investigating crime syndicates.
He left the SAPS in 1996 and started a company namely IBI specialising in Retail Loss Prevention and Investigations. In February 2001, Neil was part of a team of shareholders who developed and established the SIT Group of Companies. He is the Managing Director of the company responsible for Finances. He also has operational responsibilities in Gauteng, North West Province, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Western Cape and Mozambique.
Neil is highly energetic and customer-focused individual with excellent development skills and hands on knowledge of directing people, projects and the overall strategic objectives of the company.
Jaco Mynhardt
Jaco was a Captain in the South African Police Service for 15 years. He worked as a detective in the SAPS and specialised in the investigation of crime. Due to the nature of the position he held in the SAPS, he has extensive experience and knowledge of various crime related matters as well as the prevention of crime.
In February 2001, after leaving the SAPS, Jaco was part of the team of Shareholders who develop and established the SIT Group of Companies. With his skill and experience he contributed to the company becoming the leading Retail Loss Prevention group in Africa and a successful competitor in the security industry.
Jaco is the SIT Group Payroll, Human Resources, Recruitment, Training Department and Admin Director with particular operational responsibilities in the Gauteng province as well as the company’s Investigations Department. He is a results driven, self-motivated and resourceful director with a proven ability to develop and strengthen management teams in order to maximise company profitability and efficiency. He is a strong leader with excellent communication skills and has proven to establish sustainable and profitable relationships with customers and stakeholders.
Johann De Jager
Johann was a Sergeant in the South African Police Service and after 15 years in the Detective Branch, he ventured into the private sector in 1987. He joined the McCarthy Retail Group as a Security Manager looking after their respective truck and fleet retail operations, overseeing security and loss prevention. In 1989 he was promoted to regional loss prevention manager reporting to the McCarthy Retail Group Secretary and responsible for security, loss prevention, investigations, OHS and claims handling. During this time until 1991 he managed 98 motor retailers and trucking subsidiaries for the group.
In 1991 Johann worked as an operations manager at Investment Surveys & Business Risk Consultancy and completed his security management diploma with Damelin College. In 1992 he started his own risk consultancy business and delivered various services within a wide spectrum of industrial and commercial business environments.
In 1996 Johann was the founder member of a business risk consultancy company and by joining forces with his current fellow directors and shareholders, started SIT Investment Holdings in 2001, which became a leading company within the field of business risk and retail loss prevention. He also has operational responsibilities for the for contracts in Eastern Cape,
Johann has a wealth of experience within this industry. With his good communication skills and business acumen, he has contributed to the ongoing success of the company, its subsidiaries and stakeholders.
Theo Burger
Theo served in the SAPS from 1984-88 in various positions in both RSA and Namibia.
In December 1988, he joined Investment Surveys as Agent Handler and investigator. During this time, he obtained a national diploma in Security Management from Damelin College. In 1996, he left Investment Surveys to start Trio Data Business Risk Consultants with Johann de Jager.
At the time of departure, he served as both National Marketing Director and Operational General Manager in Gauteng. Theo has spearheaded numerous Security and Risk Projects in and outside RSA. Theo is actively involved in marketing and operational structures within the company.
As a specialist in the security community, he also consults on all aspects of security and risk environments for multinational organisations. He also has operational responsibilities for the for contracts in Free State, Namibia and the responsible Director for Marketing.
Chris Benade
Chris started his career in 1986 in the South African Police Service. He was a Warrant Officer in the Dog Unit where he gained extensive experienced in the field of investigations and crime prevention.
After serving his country for 19 years he left the SAPS and joined the SIT Group in 2005 as an Area Manager. The position entailed the responsibility for loss control with one of the largest retail businesses in Africa as major client. His duties and responsibilities as an Area Manager included the recruitment and overall management of personnel, prevention of all retail losses, problem solving with the implementation of solutions and developing and maintaining positive relationships with all clients.
Chris demonstrated strong leadership skills with excellent client relationships with a positive outlook and a clear focus on high quality services and business profit. He cultivated the company’s reputation in the market and with our clients. After 4 years in this position, he was promoted to General Manager in 2010.
During his time as General Manager, he further used his skills, experience and knowledge to support the company’s strategic plans within the field of Security and Retail Loss Control. He was responsible for Area Managers and other personnel and with his exceptional people and communication skills, he also contributed to business growth by way of developing new clients whilst maintaining existing clients.
In 2012, Chris was successfully promoted to a Director of the SIT Group. He is operationally responsible for a large number of clients in the Gauteng Northern Province, Mpumalanga, North West Province, Limpopo as well as Mozambique.
Gerhard Bam
Gerhard started his career in the South African Police Service where he worked for 18 years. By the time he left the SAPS he held the rank of Captain. After he left the SAPS he started his career in the retail sector and was employed by the Shoprite Checkers Group. With his SAPS background and experience to his advantage, he worked as a Divisional Loss Control Manager for 8 years.
In 2011 Gerhard moved to Cape Town and left the Shoprite Checkers Group to become part of the team at SIT Investment Holdings. He is one of the SIT Group Directors and is operationally responsible for the Western Cape. Gerhard is a capable, results orientated individual with the ability to evaluate opportunities and risks and deliver innovative solutions to challenges. He possesses excellent client facing and configurations skills and provides clear leadership and management within the company.
Jan Bester
Jan served in the South African Police Service for 22 years mostly as a Detective, focusing on investigations into fraud and internal cases. He left the SAPS in 2010 and joined IBI as an Area Manager in September 2011.
After tremendous service and dedication he was promoted to General Manager of the Checkers Gauteng Northern Division in 2018. Four years later in November 2022, Jan was appointed as a Director, overseeing Checkers and Hypers in Gauteng Northern Division. Jan is an integral part of the executive team who contributes greatly to our success on a daily basis.
