Consumers of private security services are advised to use legitimate and registered security service providers or face criminal charges.
The Security Industry Alliance (SIA), which represents the interests of all registered private security companies in South Africa, said industry regulations place an explicit legal onus on the consumer of private security services to use only legitimate and registered security service providers.
SIA’s Steve Conradie said that consumers can in fact be found guilty of a criminal offence and can be prosecuted for intentionally or negligently using the services of a security business which is non-compliant with the Private Security Industry Regulatory (PSIR) Act 56 of 2000.
ADT’s inland region general manager, Theunis Kotzé, explained that average consumers are perhaps unaware of the legislation and they should check important criteria.
“Obviously the most important first check is whether the company is registered with PSIRA (Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority),” said Kotzé.
This means consumers need to check a registration certificate, and if all their security services providers employees are registered with the authority; the registration certificates as well as the last PSIRA audit inspection report.
A registration certificate to this effect is made available on request.
Kotzé said consumers also need to check if the company they have selected has a code of conduct which supports the statutory code of conduct applicable to all security service providers.
“This is an important protection for you as a consumer,” he said.
Finally, it is important to check whether your security provider runs a legitimate business.
“You can confirm whether the security business registers for tax and that they can provide their tax clearance certificate and up-to-date contribution,” concluded Kotzé.
