Want to become a security officer?

According to Takalani Nkanyane, area manager of Rainbow Security Springs, becoming a security officer is not only about the safety of the institution that one works at but is also more about meeting different people and being the first person that they talk to when they arrive at their place of work.

He says, unlike most careers that need higher education qualifications in order to get into the field, the minimum requirements of admission to a training school is the ability to read and write.

Nkanyane explains that there are A to E grades that one can study towards. “You need to at least complete grade D to acquire a Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) certificate. He says one can do the training at any of the training schools accredited and recognised by PSIRA. The training course for obtaining grade E-A can take one week to complete but it differs from school to school.

After completing the training

• Complete and sign the SIRA-1 application form.
• Submit a clear, certified and complete set of your fingerprints.
• Provide SIRA with a certified copy of the first page of your official identity document or proof of your permanent resident status in South Africa.
• Hand in a recent, clear and certified passport-sized photograph of yourself.
• Submit your original training certificate or other proof, acceptable to SIRA, that you have complied with the applicable training requirements.
• Pay SIRA an application fee of R48.10 for registration as a security officer, R28.50 for identification cards as well as R7.98, and a monthly fee of R7.98.

Requirements for registration

• Any person who wants to become a security officer, may be registered as a security service provider if the applicant is a fit and proper person to render a security service.
• You need to be a citizen of or have permanent resident status in South Africa and at least 18 years of age.
• Have done the relevant training for registration as a security service provider.
• Have not been found guilty of a criminal offence specified in the schedule within 10 years before the submission of application for registration.
• Have not been found guilty of improper conduct in terms of the Private Security Industry Regulations Act, 2001 (act No 56 of 2001) within five years before the submission of the application to SIRA.
• Hand in a clearance certificate, if the applicant is a former member of any official military, security, police or intelligence force or service in South Africa or elsewhere.
• You must be not mentally disturbed.
• Not currently employed in the public service and have paid the relevant application fee.

Speaking about the challenges that security officers encounter every day, Nkanyane says some of them suddenly lose their jobs because the company was not registered and does not pay them their salaries or at times the company closes its offices and leaves the town without giving a notice to its employees.

He says other security guards are not being paid in accordance to PSIRA regulations.

Nkonaye concludes by encouraging those who want to become security officers to ensure that they go to proper training schools and do everything that is required of them to become recognised security guards.