Private security industry in South Africa

The private security industry in South Africa is an industry providing guarding, monitoring, armed reaction, escorting, investigating and other security-related services to private individuals and companies in the country. The private security industry in South Africa is the largest in the world,[1] with nearly 9,000 registered companies and 400,000 registered active private security guards, more than the South African police and army combined.[2] This is attributed by some to the country's former high levels of crime to a lack of public funds from Parliament towards the South African Police Service (SAPS) or to an increasing trend in many countries towards government outsourcing of certain security functions.[3]

Services offered

Security companies in South Africa provide services in several disciplines, most smaller companies specialising in just one or two. According to the Beeld Newspaper (Friday 22 October 2010) there were 2722 Security Companies with 151 991 Security Guards employed in Gauteng province alone. (JHB/ PTA Area) Thus, an approximate ratio of one police for every two-point six Private Security Officers is estimated in the country, although in the Private Security Sector the ratio of 'admin' to 'active operations' is much higher (in favour of 'Active').

P.S.I.R.A. also comments that there are 9,320 (Active) Security Companies registered compared to about 1127 Police Stations, 190 000 Police Officers (of which about 35,000 are Reservists) in South Africa. Inspections by 47 P.S.I.R.A. Inspectors were performed at 6611 Companies. About 12000 applications for registration by both Companies and Individuals were turned down between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011 due to reasons such as previous criminal activities.

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.

According to the Sunday Independent Newspaper dated 16 March 2014 page 7, using P.S.I.R.A. as a source, there is in 2014 (March) 445 507 Registered (active and currently employed) Security Officers (guards) in South Africa, for the 2012/2013 year there is 1 953 605 Registered (active and currently employed plus inactive) Security Officers on their system, up from the 2012/2011 year with 1 678 027 Registered (active and currently employed plus inactive) Security Officers, an increase of nearly 25 percent.

Overview of Strength Levels and Successes in the War against Crime in the Republic of South Africa in the last Decade (10 years)

According to the site africacheck.com there was in June 2014 in the service of the Central National Government 455 701 persons employed, also 1 118 748 for the 9 Provincial Governments, plus 275 851 for additionaql other services such as Libraries and Zoos and 311 361 persons worked for 278 Municipalities across the Republic of South Africa for a Net Total of 2,161 Million State Employees in the Republic of South Africa. This means that between 2005 and 2012 there has been a 145,6 percent growth.

According to Afrikaans Newspaper Beeld, dated Thursday 30 October 2014 the P.S.I.R.A. Registered Personnel was 115 331 in 1997 with the South African Police Service at 110 177 members, 1999 Security 155 818 Police 109 104, 2001 Security 194 525 Police 102 000, 2003 Security 248 025 Police 102 737, 2005 Security 288 686 Police 107 791, 2007 Security 307 343 Police 129 864, 2009 Security 375 315 Police 145 170, 2011 Security 411 109 Police 150 373 and 2013 Security 445 407 Police 156 859. This means that from 1997 until 2013 the South African Police has grown in numbers by 42,4 percent and P.S.I.R.A. Registered Security Personnel by 286,2 percent.

In the same article in Beeld it is stated that in 2003 there has been 1 092 689 Arrests of suspected Criminals leading to 332 056 Convictions and Sentencing in a Court of Law. 2004 Arrests 1 009 801 Convictions 330 146, 2005 Arrests 1 148 753 Convictions 322 147, 2006 Arrests 1 132 606 Convictions 322 687, 2007 Arrests 1 227 751 Convictions 286 861, 2008 Arrests 1 247 602 Convictions 284 620, 2009 Arrests 1 223 505 Convictions 307 089, 2010 Arrests 1 361 504 Convictions 310 951, 2011 Arrests 1 452 600 Convictions 293 673, 2012 Arrests 1 613 254 Convictions 280 658, 2013 Arrests 1 682 763 Convictions 290 834 and 2014 Arrests 1 392 856 Convictions 301 798. This means that from 2003 until 2014 Arrests has gone up by 54,0 percent and Criminal Convictions and Criminal Sentencing in a Court of Law by 9,1 percent.

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 guards receive determines the type of guarding he or she can perform. (as well as the scale of pay). Many companies offer fixed (i.e. static) guarding services but the majority of workers employed in this respect are employed for unarmed duties, i.e. recording ingress/ egress movement, calling armed response if necessary. OGM International is the largest provider of armed response services in South Africa.

Assets in transit (AIT)

AIT refers to the transportation of valuable assets under armed guard, and generally in specialised, armoured vehicles. Mostly, currency is transported between business premises and banks, but other high value assets are also occasionally transported such as bullion & precious stones.

In the past, relatively few, (usually large) companies provided AIT services but recently smaller, more localised and specialised companies have begun to emerge in the sector.

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

Recently, , the South African Police Service together with other Law Enforcement agencies had tremendous success in reducing violent crimes against business, especially during the 2010 Soccer World Cup. These facts are confirmed by Chambers of Business throughout the Country.

One of the primary reasons for this success is improved training for security personnel. Security officers working in the Assets in Transit Industry also have to do extra specialisation 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.

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 systems.

Armed response

Alarm monitoring and armed response companies are employed to monitor burglar alarm systems. If an alarm is triggered, the company dispatches mobile armed security personnel to ensure the safety of property and people.ADT Security, IPSS Electronic Security and OGM International 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, OGM international advise their clients on the security measures they need to take to protect their property, businesses or homes -following a procedure referred to as 'threat assessment'.

Security legislation

Since the late 1980s the security industry has been regulated according to the Security Officers Act of 1987.[4] 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. This is borne out by the number of Registered Security Companies increasing from 5491 to 9320 and the number of Registered Security Officers, Graded from A to E respectively in descending order of qualifications. This, following a PSIRA and SAPS fingerprints background check.

Grade A is the most senior Security Officer, owners of a CC or PTY must be Registered as at least PSIRA Grade B to run a Security Service Provider in South Africa. If for any reason whatsoever, solely one Member of a Close Corporation or one of the Directors of a Company is disqualified (e.g. due to a criminal Conviction on a Serious Criminal Offence), then the entire Close Corporation and/or Company's Registration is immediately withdrawn by P.S.I.R.A. Then the Entity may no longer provide Security Services. This rule is very strictly enforced by P.S.I.R.A.. Under new (SASSETA-based) rules, no Registrations for a Grade is permitted without a Certificate Proof of a Course performed by a SASSETA-accredited Security Training Provider and Academy, all Training Providers must be on the SASSETA list with a dedicated Registration Authorization Number. Specific Courses -known as Unit Standards, (now compiled by FET Colleges and SAQA, SA Qualifications Authority). Security Officers are given Learner Guides, written and oral assignments in 'Learner Workbooks', then finally a Summative Assessment (Written Test). Most Service Training Providers have a 70% pass mark for examinations, overseen by SASSETA-accredited 'Assessors' and 'Moderators'.

During March 2014 the Private Security Independent Regulation Amendment Bill has been passed by Parliament, awaiting the signature of the State President to sign it into law. This new law will prohibit foreign ownership of South African Registered Security companies to a maximum of 49 percent. Currently between 40 000 and 45 000 Security Officers are employed by foreign owned Companies such as ADT, a subsidiary of Tyco International of Switzerland, and G4S, a British owned Security Company. According to the South African Sunday Newspaper Rapport dated Sunday 23 March 2014 the two biggest in size Security Armed Response and Security Technology Companies for services to Residential Units and Small Businesses, ADT and Chubb is both in a similar situation. ADT and Chubb are both Stock Exchange listed in the USA with ADT with 10 500 employees and Chubb with 2358 employees.

Many Acts of Parliament such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the Labour Relations Act, the Skills Development Act the Employment Equity Act and the Protected Disclosures Act have improved the working conditions of Security Officers.

Until quite recently, the SA security industry has not enjoyed minimum wage or maximum working hours specified by legislation. Instead, these regulations were determined by sectoral determinations issued by the labour Minister. (i.e. Amendments)

Private Security legislation does not apply to the National Defense Force (Army, Navy Etc.) the National Intelligence Agency nor the Secret Service.

Crime is defined in the Republic of South Africa as unlawful human conduct, known as an Offence. The most serious Offences referred to as 'Schedule One Offences' as set down by the National Prosecuting Authority, (NPA)

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 of these bodies being voluntary. They include:

Of the 197 Registered Trade Unions trade union in South Africa, Security industry personnel have many options, SATAWU www.satawu.org.za/, SCMAWU, SAPSWU, SAWTUSA, FOCSWU, NSWU, SOCRAWU and others, most of whom are members of COSATU Congress of South African Trade Unions.

Involvement of foreign companies

Several multinational corporations have invested in the South African security industry, and have come to dominate sections of it. These include Tyco International, United Technologies Corporation, 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, amongst others, have themselves established large overseas operations.

Recently Coin and Protea has joined forces to from Protea Coin Security, which is actively involved together with Fidelity in Cash Transport Management Services, known in the Industry in the Republic of South Africa as Assets in Transit (AIT).

2006 Strike and Looting

Street violence occurred during the 2006 security strike

In 2006, private security personnel went on strike across South Africa. The strike lasted 96 days and cost the industry more than a million working days.[5] The strike was supported by the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union and 15 other trade unions.[6] The striking workers looted and damaged property, and committed violent crimes.[7][8]

Active steps to improve prescribed minimum levels of pay as per grades, job specifications and areas have since been taken in an attempt to prevent the re-occurrence of such unfortunate and embarrassing occurrences.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "South Africa has world's largest private security industry; needs regulation – Mthethwa". DefenceWeb. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "Bigger than the army: South Africa's private security forces". CNN. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ "Regulation in South Africa". Monograph No 39: Policing for Profit. South African Institute for Security Studies. August 1999. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  5. ↑ http://www.labour.gov.za/downloads/documents/annual-reports/industrial-action-annual-report/2006/Annual Report - Industrial Action Report 2006 - Introduction.pdf, Industrial Action – Annual Report 2006. Department of Labour. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-9802645-6-2. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ http://www.labour.gov.za/downloads/documents/annual-reports/industrial-action-annual-report/2006/Annual Report - Industrial Action Report 2006 - Introduction.pdf, Industrial Action – Annual Report 2006. Department of Labour. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-9802645-6-2. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ Schroeder, Fatima (18 April 2006). "Shops looted as security strike continues". Cape Times. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  8. ↑ "Strike Actions of Security Workers – QUESTIONS TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA". Department of International Relations and Cooperation. 18 May 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2009.

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