Private security industry in South Africa

The private security industry in South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

is an industry that provides security, guarding and related services to private individuals and companies. South Africa's private security industry is one of the largest in the world. This is often attributed to the country's high levels of crime

Crime in South Africa

Crime is a prominent issue in South Africa. South Africa has a high rate of murders, assaults, rapes, and other crimes compared to most countries. Many emigrants from South Africa state that crime was a big factor in their decision to leave...

or to a lack of public confidence in the South African Police Service

South African Police Service

The South African Police Service is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. Its 1116 police stations in South Africa are divided according to the provincial borders, and a Provincial Commissioner is appointed in each province...

(SAPS). However , due to the success of the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup, watched by over a billion international television viewers from around the globe , and reported on widely in the international printed
press, public confidence levels in both the SAPS and in private security companies have improved.

Because of a widespread lack of compliance with registration requirements, it is difficult to determine the number of workers in the industry. However, some estimate that it employs as many as 400,000 individuals.

Services offered

Security companies in South Africa provide services in several disciplines. Most security companies specialise in just one of them.
According to the Beeld Newspaper has there been on the Friday 22 October 2010 7459 Registered at P.S.I.R.A. Security
Companies employeeing 387 273 Security Officers.
Of these Security Companies is 2722 and 151 991 Security Guards in the Province of Gauteng employed.
They reach the conclusion that an approximate ratio of one police for every three Security Officers privately an/or
on contract is the De Facto situation in the Republic of South Africa.

Due to the fact that both training and registration at P.S.I.R.A. is an ongoing process , it is correct to state that
400 000 or more persons are employed in the Private Security Industry.

According to Beeld Newspaper dated Tuesday 4 October 2011 , P.S.I.R.A. has currently 411 109 registered Security Officers and 8828 Security Companies registered compared to about 160 000 Police Officers in the Republic of South Africa. Inspections by 47 P.S.I.R.A. Inspectors was done at 6611 Companies. About 12000
applications for registration by both Companies and Individuals due to reasons such as previous criminal activities was turned down between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011 , the last financial year.
According to the last year report as tabled in Parliament since 2001 the amount of Registered Companies has increased by 61 percent and the amount of Registers Security Officers by 111 percent.
The previous CEO Mr. Seth Mogapi was fired in July 2009 and the new CEO Mr. Manabela Chauke has been appointed as from 1 September 2010.

Manned guarding

Manned guarding a service where the presence of security guard ensures the safety of assets, premises or people. In terms of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Act, the grading that security guard has received determines the type of guarding he or she can perform. Many companies offer manned guarding services, and the majority of workers employed the industry are employed this discipline.

Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (P.S.I.R.A.) MINIMUM Training Standards for Security Personnel Grade E,D,C,B,A applicable in the Republic of South Africa

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

PRIVATE SECURITY INDUSTRY
REGULATORY AUTHORITY
(KNOWN AS)

P.S.I.R.A.

MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS

GRADE E :

General Appearance & Personal Hygiene

Basic Occupational Safety

Basic Public Relations

Role and Function of Security

Bombs, Explosive Devices and Firearms

Discipline

Basic Self Defence

Observation

Guarding and Patrolling

Use of Fire-extinguisher

Basic Radio/Telephone Communication

Basic Legal Aspects

Industrial Relations

GRADE D :

Public Relations

Self Defence I and Minimum Force

Basic Fire Fighting

Radio Communication

Legal Aspects 1

Access Control

Searching Procedure and Techniques

Pocket Books

Basic Occupational Safety

Practical Aspects of Theory

Revision Previous Grade E

GRADE C :

Self Defence 2

Written Reports

Occupational Safety

The Threat (The Risk)

Bomb Threats

Protection of Information

Role in Emergency

Fire Prevention and Protection

Legal Aspects 2

Practical Aspects of Theory

Revision Previous Grades E,D

GRADE B :

Physical Security and Technology

Planned Inspections

Role in Emergency

Statements

Communications

Orders/Instructions

On-the-job Training

Supervision

Group Relations

Handling Parades

Condensed Revision Grade E,D,C

GRADE A :

Basic Principles of Investigation

Action at the scene of an Incident

Questioning of Witnesses

Principles of Giving Evidence

Court and Court Procedures

Human Behaviour

Motivation and Gaining Co-operation

Report Writing

Registers

Interaction

Condensed Revision Grade E,D,C,B

Assets in transit (AIT)

AIT refers to the transportation of valuable assets under armed guard, and generally in specialised, armoured vehicles

Armored car (valuables)

A common meaning of armored car is as an armored van or truck, used in transporting valuables, such as large quantities of money . The armored car is a multifunctional vehicle designed to protect and ensure the well being of the transported individuals and/or contents...

. Most often, money is transported between business premises and banks, but other assets are also transported.

In the past, only a handful of large companies provided an AIT service, but smaller, regional companies have begun to emerge.

AIT operations are frequently the target of violent robberies, called cash-in-transit heists. Many security personnel are killed each year in these attacks, and they have substantially increased the cost of AIT services.

Recently, in the last couple of months, the South African Police Service together with other Law Enforcement agencies had tremendous success in bringing down violent crimes against business, especially during the 2010 Soccer World Cup in the Republic of South Africa. These facts are confirmed by Business Chambers throughout the Country including Business Chamber
South Africa.

One of the core reasons for this great success, compared to where the situation has been, is because of better training for security personnel. Security officers, working in the Assets in Transit Industry, also have to do extra specialization courses approved by P.S.I.R.A. such as Cash in Transit, Armed Response, National Key Points, Fire Arm Competency Course,
and recently , P.S.I.R.A. has become extremely strict about the registration of Security Personnel , the instructors who are authorised and judged competent to give Courses and the Security Companies and other Role Players who are able to do so.
Furthermore minimum training standards are strictly prescribed and inspected for every single specific course, and inspections by trained P.S.I.R.A. inspectors are done throughout the Republic of South Africa.

Although it can be said in all honesty that the former S.O.B. (before P.S.I.R.A.) did not have everything up to standard, recently in the last couple of years P.S.I.R.A. has done extensive work of a highly praiseworthy nature compared to best practice on Planet Earth putting thousands of man-hours of high quality effective efficient productive work in it.
This in turn has strengthened the hand of Security Personnel as a support to the South African Police Service in the fight against crime, which has turned a potential anarchy and criminal war situation around to a much more manageable one, which previously the Criminals was winning gradually, but now the Police and Security is slowly but surely turning everything brilliantly around.

Although the specialised task teams of the South African Police Service should get the larger part for the credit for this brilliant breakthroughs in the war against crime in the Republic of South Africa, the role of P.S.I.R.A. can in no ways not be underestimated.

Physical security

Physical security companies install security devices at premises and homes, and in cars. Devices include security fencing, motorised gates and garages, burglar proofing, security doors and gates, locks and safes, car alarms and vehicle tracking system

Vehicle tracking system

A vehicle tracking system combines the installation of an electronic device in a vehicle, or fleet of vehicles, with purpose-designed computer software at least at one operational base to enable the owner or a third party to track the vehicle's location, collecting data in the process from the...

Alarm monitoring and armed response

Alarm monitoring and armed response companies are employed to monitor burglar alarm

Burglar alarm

Burglar , alarms are systems designed to detect unauthorized entry into a building or area. They consist of an array of sensors, a control panel and alerting system, and interconnections...

systems. If an alarm is triggered, the company will dispatch armed security personnel to ensure the safety of property and people. IPSS Electronic Security and Chubb Security

Chubb Security

Chubb Security is an electronic security and fire safety business. It is owned by United Technologies Corporation.-History:The Company was founded by Charles and Jeremiah Chubb, who patented their Chubb detector lock in 1818. Apparently the Prince Regent accidentally sat on a Chubb lock complete...

are the largest providers of armed response services in South Africa.

Technology

Technology services include the installation of electronic security devices such as CCTV, electronic access control systems and related equipment.

Security consulting

Companies providing security consulting advise their clients on the security measures they need to take to protect their property, businesses or homes.

Security legislation

Since the late 1980s the security industry has been regulated according to the Security Officers Act of 1987. Before 1994, security companies had to comply with the requirements of the Security Officers Board (SOB). The SOB determined wages and accreditation, and established a code of behaviour for security companies and their employees.

Many considered the SOB an ineffective regulator, as it had too few staff, and many security companies did not comply with the regulation requiring them to register themselves and all of their employees with the board. It was therefore unable to compel companies to comply with minimum wage requirements, and prevent them from employing illegal immigrants.

Because of these concerns, the South African parliament enacted the Private Security Industry Regulatory Act, which established the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority. The authority has been more successful at regulating the industry than its predecessor had.
This is confirmed by the fact that the number of Registered Security Companies has increased from 5491 up to
7459 and the number of Registered Security Officers , each allocated a Grade E , or Grade D , or Grade C , or
Grade B or Grade A Official Security Registration AFTER a fingerprints and South African Police Criminal Bureau
thorough back ground check , in numbers from 194 525 till 387 273 and climbing , as per reported in the South African widely circulated Afrikaans Newspaper Beeld , dated Friday 22 October 2010.

A Grade A is higher than Grade B , C , D, E and the owners of a Close Corporation or a Company must all be Registered as Grade A at P.S.I.R.A. to run a Authorised Security Company as a Security Service Provider in the Republic of South Africa. If , for any reason whatsoever , if only one of the Members of a Close Corporation or one of the Directors of a Company (for e.g. due to a Conviction in a Court of Law on a Serious Criminal Offence) is
disqualified , then the entire Close Corporation and/or Company's Registration is immediately withdrawn by
P.S.I.R.A. and then that Close Corporation or Company may no longer provide Security Services in the Republic of South Africa.This rule is then immediately very strictly with no exceptions enforced by P.S.I.R.A..
Under the new rules no Registrations for a Grade is allowed without a Certificate Proof of a Course done by
a Security Company and/or Security Training Academy , which must be on the Approved list (with a specific Registration Authorization Number) and the specific Course
must be approved (with a specific P.S.I.R.A. approved Course Code)and inspected by P.S.I.R.A. as to the minimum requirements. Security Officers are also given
Assignments , a Test , and an Examination , which at most Training Academies must have a 70 % score for practical examinations and 60 % for theoretical examinations to pass , and a pass mark of at least 70 % in every single Module of the Courses.

The act also created a grading system for security personnel, which determined the duties they were qualified to perform.

Other acts, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the Labour Relations Act, the Skills Development Act and the Employment Equity Act have included measures to improve the working conditions of security workers.

Unlike many other industries in South Africa, the security industry has not had minimum wages and maximum working hours dictated by legislation. Instead, these regulations are determined by a sectoral determination by the labour minister.

Private security legislation does not apply to state law enforcement and security agencies.

Crime is defined in the Republic of South Africa as unlawful human conduct which is punishable by the State.
These unlawful human conduct , which is the breaking of laws / legislation applicable , is known as an Offence.

The most important Offences is taken up in the Official Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (P.S.I.R.A.)

TABLE OF OFFENCES.

These include in the Republic of South Africa the following :
High Treason.
Sedition.
Sabotage.
Terrorism.
Public violence.
Arson.
Malicious damage to property.
Intimidation.
Rape.
Murder.
Robbery.
Culpable homicide involving the use of a firearm or any form of intentional violence.
Kidnapping.
Assault with the intention to cause serious bodily harm.
Indecent assault.
Child stealing.
Fraud.
Forgery or uttering of a forged document knowing it to have been forged.
Breaking/entering premises, - common/statutory law, intentionally - commit offence.
Theft, whether in terms of common law or statutory law.
Receiving stolen property knowing it to have been stolen.
Extortion.
Defeating the ends of justice.
Perjury, whether in terms of common law or statutory law.
Corruption in terms of statutory law.
An offence involving the illicit dealing in dependence-producing substances.
Any offence in terms of statutory law involving an element of dishonesty.
Any offence in terms of the Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act No. 116 of 1998).
Any offence in terms of the Explosives Act, 1956 (Act No. 26 of 1956).
Offence - Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, 1998 (Act No. 15 of 1998).
Offence - legislation - pertaining to control - possession & use firearms/ammunition.
Offence - Interception and Monitoring Prohibition Act, 1992 (Act No. 127 of 1992).
Any offence in terms of the Intelligence Services Act, 1994 (Act No. 38 of 1994).
Any offence in terms of the Protection of Information Act, 1982 (Act No. 84 of 1982).

Industry bodies

In addition to the regulatory bodies established by the South African government, the security industry has established a number of bodies to regulate itself. Membership in these bodies is voluntary. They include:

Security Association of South Africa (SASA), whose membership is open to companies offering any type of security service
South African National Security Employers Association (SANSEA), an employers' organization
Employers' organization
An employers' organization, employers' association or employers' federation is an association of employers. A trade union, which organizes employees is the opposite of an employers' organization...

for companies in the security hawgs, barlow industry
Electronic Security Distributors Association (ESDA), an association of importers and distributors of electronic security equipment
South African Intruder Detection Services Association (SAIDSA), an association of companies providing alarm monitoring and armed response services
Safety & Security Sector Education & Training Authority (SASSETA)
Vehicle Security Association of South Africa (VESA)

The industry has no single trade union

Trade union

A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...

. Its members are represented by several unions, most of whom are members of the Congress of South African Trade Unions

Congress of South African Trade Unions

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is a trade union federation in South Africa. It was founded in 1985 and is the biggest of the country’s three main trade union federations, with 21 affiliated trade unions, altogether organising 1.8 million workers.-Establishment:COSATU was established in...

Involvement of foreign companies

Several multinational corporation

Multinational corporation

A multi national corporation or enterprise , is a corporation or an enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation...

s have invested in the South African security industry, and have come to dominate sections of it. These include Tyco International

Tyco International

Tyco International Ltd. is a highly diversified global manufacturing company incorporated in Switzerland, with United States operational headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey...

, United Technologies Corporation

United Technologies Corporation

United Technologies Corporation is an American multinational conglomerate headquartered in the United Technologies Building in Hartford, Connecticut...

, and Top Holdings, who operate the companies ADT, Chubb South Africa and Top Security, respectively.

Other multinational corporations that operated in South Africa have sold their local subsidiaries to South African companies, sometimes as part of Black Economic Empowerment deals. These deals include the absorption of Khuselani Springbok by Fidelity.

The South African security companies Fidelity and Coin Security, among others, have themselves established large overseas operations.

2006 strike action

In 2006, private security personnel went on strike

Strike action

Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...

across South Africa. The strike lasted 96 days and cost the industry more than a million working days. The strike was supported by the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union

South African Transport and Allied Workers Union

The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union is a trade union in South Africa. It was founded in May, 2000 and has a membership of 82,000....

and 15 other trade unions. The striking workers looted and damaged property, and committed violent crimes.

Active steps to improve prescribed minimum levels of pay as per grades, job specifications and areas has since being taken to try to prevent a re-occurrence of such an unfortunate period.

External links

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