Col (Ret) Gert Schoombie

Founder and Manager

Col (Ret) Gert Schoombie is the Founder and Manager of Watchmen Group, a security firm that originated in Kimberley and has since expanded to the Mossel Bay area. With a distinguished career in the South African Army spanning 28 years, Gert acquired extensive skills and emotional intelligence that have positioned him as a pioneer in the security field.

Gert's deep connection with the San people, forged over more than 20 years of collaboration, has given him a profound understanding of their cultural customs and traditions. Through his personnel agency, Bo Karoo Personnel Services, he has successfully employed San men in various rural regions, including game and stock farms across South Africa.

In addition to his role at Watchmen Group, Gert serves as the CEO of the non-profit organization School of the Conqueror. This organization embodies his commitment to his faith and his mission to assist those in need. Recognizing the critical issue of unemployment in the rural communities of the Northern Cape, Gert trains the San people, preparing them for employment while also addressing the problem of livestock theft.

SW Schoombie

After completing his schooling, SW followed in his father's footsteps by joining the army, where he worked diligently and acquired valuable skills. Through his rigorous training, he qualified as a tracking instructor. This qualification led him to join SANDA Security, where he trained security officers, trackers, and rangers deployed throughout the country to combat livestock theft and enhance rural safety.

SW then ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing his own business focused on land surveys and mapping for farmers and mines. He also collaborated with various specialists to conduct fieldwork for Environmental Impact Assessments. This venture expanded his horizons, providing opportunities to work abroad in various countries, where he trained security forces.

In 2016, SW returned home to pursue his passion for nature. With Watchmen Group, he became deeply involved with the Watchmen Area Protection Unit, leveraging his skills to implement the Rural Safety Plan and address crimes affecting surrounding communities.