Hidden costs of contracting non-compliant security providers

A SECURITY officer who is unable to perform his duties properly, or one who may be open to the temptation of bribery, collusion and crime. Is this the type of security officer you would want protecting some of your most valuable assets at your home or place of work?

According to the Security Association of South Africa (SASA), this in all likelihood, is what you’ll get if you hire a noncompliant security company. Not to mention the risk of heavy penalties or jail time for consumers who continue to transgress the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) Act.

Flouting the law

As the regulatory authority for the private security industry, PSIRA is responsible for putting in place statutory minimums and enforcing legislative requirements. According to a section of the PSIRA Act of 2001, any person who contracts a security service that goes against the provisions of the act is guilty of an offence.

However, many fly-by-night security companies that have identified the security industry as a quick and easy way to make money in a crime-ridden country, blatantly ignore the PSIRA Act. “These noncompliant companies do not comply with the law,” explains Costa Diavastos, chairman of SASA. “They use untrained, unscreened and unregistered individuals as security officers, and / or use a junior security officer to perform the duties of a higher grade officer. An underpaid and exploited security officer is more likely to accept a bribe or become involved in crime to make ends meet.

“These companies also do not pay minimum wages or even training costs, and are easily able to undercut compliant security companies in the tendering process.

“In a country where many consumers still view private security services as a grudge purchase or a token necessity at the work site, we’re seeing a significant and alarming number of individuals and companies still selecting those security companies who have submitted tenders at the lowest price.

“What these individuals don’t see are all the hidden costs no one pays attention to when consumers seek out a cheaper security service,” he stresses. “At best, the security will be significantly substandard.”

only the security industry as a whole, but also the consumers of security products and services.” Representing some 80 000 security employees and their employer companies, SSEO has been able to act with authority in its dealings with the Department of...

Chairman of SASA, Costa Diavastos addition, its recent merger with SSEO means that SASA is now also the largest employers’ association in the security sector, providing a range of services that benefit security employers, their employees – and...