After the Resident Action Group (RAG) became aware of unregistered security guards in Bedfordview, the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira) will be conducting investigations in the area.
Siziwe Zuma, spokesperson for Psira, said the operations with SAPS and Psira to enforce the law was conducted from April to July in the Ekurhuleni cluster, Kempton Park, Boksburg, and Johannesburg.
“These operations entailed working with our stakeholder, which is the SAPS, to deal with the deploying of unregistered security officers, as well as unregistered security businesses, who are operating in the private security industry,” said Zuma.
She said if found guilty for not being registered, the SAPS will arrest the offenders and Psira will compile criminal case dockets which will be handed over to the SAPS and the NPA for prosecution.
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“It is a criminal offence to render a security service while a person is not registered with Psira,” said Zuma.
Zuma said that complaints were generally received by the help desk, information office and hotline system.
“Information is also received from the SAPS. Psira inspectorates also conduct site inspections that may reveal the deploying of unregistered security officers or unregistered security businesses” said Zuma.
Zuma said there are 199 324 security officers in the Gauteng province.
“Psira does not condone the deployment of unregistered security officers, or the use of unregistered security businesses operating while not registered with the regulator.
“The law enforcement division works regularly with the SAPS to eradicate this type of behaviour in the industry,” said Zuma.
She said the prevalence of unregistered security guards in Bedfordview would be investigated.
Zuma urges the public with information of unregistered security guards or businesses to report this to Psira.
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She said by becoming registered, a security guard adheres to the statutory act, Psira Act 56/2001.
The act prescribes that all persons who render a security service must be registered with the authority. It further outlines the requirements for registration as prescribed in the act, including the following:
• Must be a citizen of or have permanent resident status in South Africa.
• Is at least 18 years of age.
• Has complied with the relevant training requirements prescribed for registration as a security service provider.
• Not found guilty of an offence specified in the schedule within a period of 10 years immediately before the submission of the application to the authority.
• Was not found guilty of improper conduct in terms of the act within a period of five years immediately before the submission of the application to the authority.
• Submits a prescribed clearance certificate, together with such other information as the authority may reasonably require, if the applicant is a former member of any official military, security, police or intelligence force or service in South Africa or elsewhere.
• Is mentally sound.
• Is not currently employed in the public service in circumstances where such registration may conflict with a legislative provision applicable to the applicant.
• Has paid the relevant application fee; and
• Is not a person referred to in subsection (5).
