Joburg’s ‘ninja school’ is producing security professionals and building leaders

The cold air wraps around the city, adding a dreary hue to Joburg. Despite this, the quiet, tree-lined parts of the CBD hum with life, embracing the chilly bite with a resilient spirit. Inside the historic Anglo American building at 45 Main Street, young people from Soweto, Vaal, Alex, Klipfontein and even Queenstown in the Eastern Cape gather for an intense session.

It looks like a hardcore gym workout. Ama­piano pulses through the speakers as the people dance around the hall before diving into push-ups, their bright yellow-and-orange reflector vests gleaming under the harsh lighting. But these are not just any students: they are training to be security professionals at the first-of-its-kind Security Mastery Academy (SMA), powered by the Maharishi Invincibility Institute (MII) in partnership with Community Active Protection (CAP).

When Anglo American relocated its offices to Rosebank, the mining company decided to donate its head office building to the MII.

One of the MII’s first academies to move into 45 Main was its newly launched SMA, the brainchild of CEO Dr Taddy Blecher, who recruited security expert Jason Mordecai to head up the three-year course.

“This is no run-of-the-mill security course, many of which comprise between three to six weeks of training and declare the incumbents to be security officers. This is a ‘ninja’ training course,” says Blecher. “Of the 785 applicants who came to our first open day, we have selected 150 incredible young students to complete the three years of study, following an intensive physical and mental three-week boot camp.”

The academy emphasises self-mastery, both in the security industry and in personal self-development. The latter curriculum includes a wholefood plant-based diet, yoga, transcendental meditation, physical and drill training, jiu jitsu and other disciplines.

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Mordecai explains: “Our ultimate vision is to empower individuals to build a safer, stronger city where opportunity abounds for all. Of the graduates at MII, 90% are being employed. They’re contributing to the economy. There’s an opportunity now to put a young person through a stringent three-year programme where they attain mastery in security knowledge.

“But also, self-mastery. So, they learn to meditate, do yoga and participate in self-­defence classes, among other disciplines.”

The SMA aims to produce future leaders in South Africa’s security sector, professionals trained through rigorous discipline and a focus on excellence over the three years of study. The first year focuses on security officer training, year two on supervisor training, and commander-level training with various specialisations in the final year.

Throughout the programme, students integrate their learning with practical security shifts on Johannesburg’s streets to gain real-world experience and contribute to the city’s safety. Since it’s a learnership, the only fee the students pay is the initial registration fee.

“Our partnership with CAP has also been extremely successful. Apart from their support in setting up the infrastructure for the course, the company has also committed to giving employment to the graduates, which is an incredible undertaking and a vital cog in the MII wheel, to guarantee jobs for our students,” says Mordecai.

Each day starts with yoga and meditation classes for the students’ self-development. (Photo: Robyn Smookler)

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.