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The private security industry in South Africa is an industry that provides security, guarding and related services to private individuals and companies. South Africa's private security industry is one of the largest in the world.[citation needed] This is often attributed[by whom?] to the country's high levels of crime or to a lack of public confidence in the South African Police Service (SAPS). However , due to the success of the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup, watched by over a billion international television viewers from around the globe , and reported on widely in the international printed press, public confidence levels in both the SAPS and in private security companies have improved.

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 guard has received determines the type of guarding he or she can perform. Many companies offer manned guarding services, and the majority of workers employed the industry are employed this discipline.[citation needed]

[edit] Assets in transit (AIT)

AIT refers to the transportation of valuable assets under armed guard, and generally in specialised, armoured vehicles. Most often, money is transported between business premises and banks, but other assets are also transported.

In the past, only a handful of large companies provided an AIT service, but smaller, regional companies have begun to emerge.

AIT operations are frequently the target of violent robberies, called cash-in-transit heists. Many security personnel are killed each year in these attacks, and they have substantially increased the cost of AIT services.[citation needed]

Recently, in the last couple of months[when?], the South African Police Service together with other Law Enforcement agencies had tremendous success in bringing down violent crimes against business, especially during the 2010 Soccer World Cup in the Republic of South Africa. These facts are confirmed by Business Chambers throughout the Country including Business Chamber South Africa.

One of the core reasons for this great success, compared to where the situation has been, is because of better training for security personnel. Security officers, working in the Assets in Transit Industry, also have to do extra specialization 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Alarm monitoring and armed response

Alarm monitoring and armed response companies are employed to monitor burglar alarm systems. If an alarm is triggered, the company will dispatch armed security personnel to ensure the safety of property and people. IPSS Electronic Security and Chubb Security are the largest providers of armed response services in South Africa.[citation needed]

[edit] Technology

adt is the largest

[edit] Security consulting

Companies providing security consulting advise their clients on the security measures they need to take to protect their property, businesses or homes.

[edit] Security legislation

Since the late 1980s the security industry has been regulated according to the Security Officers Act of 1987.[1] Before 1994[citation needed], 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[who?] 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.[citation needed]

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 had.[citation needed] This is confirmed by the fact that the number of Registered Security Companies has increased from 5491 up to 7459 and the number of Registered Security Officers , each allocated a Grade E , or Grade D , or Grade C , or Grade B or Grade A Official Security Registration AFTER a fingerprints and South African Police Criminal Bureau thorough back ground check , in numbers from 194 525 till 387 273 and climbing , as per reported in the South African widely circulated Afrikaans Newspaper Beeld , dated Friday 22 October 2010.

A Grade A is higher than Grade B , C , D, E and the owners of a Close Corporation or a Company must all be Registered as Grade A at P.S.I.R.A. to run a Authorised Security Company as a Security Service Provider in the Republic of South Africa. If , for any reason whatsoever , if only one of the Members of a Close Corporation or one of the Directors of a Company (for e.g. due to a Conviction in a Court of Law on a Serious Criminal Offence) is disqualified , then the entire Close Corporation and/or Company's Registration is immediately withdrawn by P.S.I.R.A. and then that Close Corporation or Company may no longer provide Security Services in the Republic of South Africa.This rule is then immediately very strictly with no exceptions enforced by P.S.I.R.A.. Under the new rules no Registrations for a Grade is allowed without a Certificate Proof of a Course done by a Security Company and/or Security Training Academy , which must be on the Approved list (with a specific Registration Authorization Number) and the specific Course must be approved (with a specific P.S.I.R.A. approved Course Code)and inspected by P.S.I.R.A. as to the minimum requirements. Security Officers are also given Assignments , a Test , and an Examination , which at most Training Academies must have a 70 % score for practical examinations and 60 % for theoretical examinations to pass , and a pass mark of at least 70 % in every single Module of the Courses.

The act also created a grading system for security personnel, which determined the duties they were qualified to perform.

Other acts, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the Labour Relations Act, the Skills Development Act and the Employment Equity Act have included measures to improve the working conditions of security workers.

Unlike many other industries in South Africa, the security industry has not had minimum wages and maximum working hours dictated by legislation. Instead, these regulations are determined by a sectoral determination by the labour minister.

Private security legislation does not apply to state law enforcement and security agencies.

Crime is defined in the Republic of South Africa as unlawful human conduct which is punishable by the State. These unlawful human conduct , which is the breaking of laws / legislation applicable , is known as an Offence.

The most important Offences is taken up in the Official Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (P.S.I.R.A.)

[edit] 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 in these bodies is voluntary. They include:

  • Security Association of South Africa (SASA), whose membership is open to companies offering any type of security service
  • South African National Security Employers Association (SANSEA), an employers' organization for companies in the security hawgs, barlow[clarification needed] industry
  • Electronic Security Distributors Association (ESDA), an association of importers and distributors of electronic security equipment
  • South African Intruder Detection Services Association (SAIDSA), an association of companies providing alarm monitoring and armed response services
  • Safety & Security Sector Education & Training Authority (SASSETA)
  • Vehicle Security Association of South Africa (VESA)

The industry has no single trade union. Its members are represented by several unions, most of whom are members of the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

[edit] Involvement of foreign companies

Several multinational corporations have invested in the South African security industry, and have come to dominate sections of it.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]

The South African security companies Fidelity and Coin Security, among 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).

[edit] 2006 strike action

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.[2] The strike was supported by the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union and 15 other trade unions.[3] The striking workers looted and damaged property, and committed violent crimes.[4][5]

Active steps to improve prescribed minimum levels of pay as per grades, job specifications and areas has since being taken to try to prevent a re-occurrence of such an unfortunate period.