They keep you secure but who keeps them safe?
The private security sector has mushroomed since the dawn of democracy

The private security sector has mushroomed since the dawn of democracy.
The space is governed by several legally binding documents and acts to ensure that those who work in the sector are sufficiently trained to do so and are looked after while carrying out their duties.
Customers of private security companies need to know that they can themselves be held criminally complicit in utilising the services of an unregistered security company or unregistered security officer.
Private security companies that cut corners by not paying minimum salaries to their employees, or who don’t cover them for the statutory provident fund and medical insurance, for example, create unfair competition with companies that do and deprive their employees of these important statutory benefits.
When shopping around for which one you choose to protect you or your home or business, here are a few questions to ask service providers. Any legitimate private security company must have the following minimum requirements to be compliant.
SCP Security’s Clive Maher said, “A lot of companies have been opening and because they are charging less, many people jump at the opportunity for cheaper security. But at what cost? The person responding to an emergency alert is probably not properly registered and doesn’t have the necessary training to respond should a dangerous situation happen, or the guard could lose his life.”
Maher said, “Companies that are visible in the community with branded vehicles does not mean they are compliant.”
André Aiton from Beagle Watch said, “Over the years in our footprint, several new security companies have started up and are not fully compliant.”
The Northcliff Melville Times approached several private security companies to check their compliance with the below.
Only two responded, who are fully compliant – SCP Security and Beagle Watch Armed Response.
Two others have indicated that they are partially compliant, one did not respond to enquiries at the time of going to print and one communicated with the newspaper via an attorney.
Christiaan Oelofse, the CEO of the National Bargaining Council Private Security Sector (NBCPSS), outlines the minimum legal requirements for a private security company to be legally compliant.
- NBCPSS: deals with labour issues specifically all matters relating to terms and conditions of employment in the sector like salaries, benefits and more. The NBCPSS is also dealing with all dispute resolution matters and complaints within the sector. The NBCPSS is funded by levies collected from its members- as set out in the Main Collective Agreement (MCA) and the levy agreement as published and promulgated and extended to non-parties. Companies that are not registered with the council are in contravention of the 2019 statutory obligations that came into effect in March 2020 and renewed for a period of a further four years as of March 2023.
The agreement is binding on all security service providers, as well as those consumers employing their own ‘in-house’ security officers, even for those who are not registered and contributing levies to the NBCPSS. In the years preceding this, progress made has meant there has been no strike action in the sector since 2006.
Under the NBCPSS are the following mandatory requirements:
- Salaries: Depending on the grade of the member, there are minimum salaries as set out in the MCA.
There can be some variables on earnings, but broadly, if there has been no absenteeism, and considering members must be paid against set-out monthly salaries (payment by the hour is no longer allowed, despite hours worked), here is a basic breakdown of some personnel – depending on qualifications and duties being performed, in urban areas:
- Grade A: R6 907
- Grade B: R6 330
- Grade C: R5 726
Tony Botes, who is the national administrator for the Security Association of South Africa (SASA), said, “Exploitation of employees is rampant in the industry, something we are trying to tackle.”
- Independent contractors: These are deemed to be full-time employees and are remunerated accordingly in terms of the MCA. Members must be South African and must be registered with PSIRA to which the company pays a small levy every month and the security officer annually.
- The Private Security Sector Provident Fund (PSSPF) membership is compulsory: In some circumstances, an exemption can be granted if a letter of exemption and proof of registration with another fund is provided and is available for scrutiny. This falls under the bargaining council as it pertains to terms of employment.
- Medical insurance: This is provided by Affinity Health and is not to be confused with workman’s compensation. This ensures that the member who contributes along with the employer has access to basic medical assistance, like visiting an optometrist, hospitalisation, cancer treatments, and more. If a member is with another medical scheme, an exemption may be sought if the benefits match or exceed the coverage of Anfinity Health.
- Training: Can the company guarantee that its members are deployed to only carry out activities in homes or businesses to which they have been specifically trained and expected to perform?
The Private Security Industry Regulating Authority (PSIRA) is the other main regulating body: It is the regulating authority that ensures standardised training requirements, firearms licences, uniforms, and other regulations are consistent.
Public liability: This covers the company from legal responsibility for injuries or property damage caused by its business activities. It is important to note that, in terms of the PSIRA legislation, no security service provider may contract out of vicarious liability or in any way limit such liability.
PSIRA or any individual can report a security business or in-house employer to the bargaining council if a company is not paying minimum salaries, for example. Likewise, if a company is found to not be operating legally by the council, they too can report them to PSIRA.
Spokesperson for PSIRA Bonang Kleinbooi said, “The person providing the security service should have identification in the form of a PSIRA ID card and a certificate of registration.”
Not adhering to stipulated codes of conduct is a criminal offence and users of non-compliant service providers can be held criminally liable.
- UIF and Workman’s Compensation: both statutory requirements in law for employees. The latter is for medical treatment as it relates to an injury sustained while on duty,
Botes adds, “A certificate of membership and good standing in respect of NBCPSS, provident fund, medical insurance and workers compensation, SARS and PSIRA should be available from the security company on request. This is also a requirement as standard practice in tender processes.”
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