Companies slam insourcing plan

THE DECISION by Northern

Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul to insource security services at the various provincial departments in the Province was not met with a standing ovation by the majority of private security companies.

A number of security companies who have or who still are providing security services at provincial departments, have labelled the decision to insource security services as a political move by Saul.

“From the onset, this decision appears like a wonderful idea to the average person. There are many promises, like the increase in salaries and the provision of additional benefits that are being dangled in front of the security personnel. However, there are many aspects to this decision that the provincial government is not revealing to the public or even the personnel they are planning on insourcing,” the companies said.

“Many people have the view that security companies are exploiting their employees and that employees are made to work under harsh conditions.

The provincial government now comes with the angle where they promise security officials a life of luxury. They then make it look to the public as if they have ‘provided’ many people with better employment conditions.

“What is unknown to the public, and not often reported on, is that there are several regulations and laws that security companies have to abide by, as well as uphold, in order to operate. There is the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) and the new security personnel wage bill, as well as several labour regulations, that all security companies must abide by.

“Private security companies also have to ensure that their employees are adequately trained in order to perform their duties. There are other administrative regulations, such as the allocation of staff, as well as the regulation on the shifts a security official has to work. There are also resources and equipment, such as transport, that security companies have to provide to the security personnel at times.

“It is not a matter that security companies merely took someone off the street and made them work.”

They said the provincial government’s decision will have crippling financial repercussions for some security companies.

Others said the decision also had repercussions for security personnel.

Many said that a possible element of “corruption” and an “attempt to win over voters” cannot be ruled out as being behind this decision.