Johannesburg – The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA), whose primary objective is to regulate the private security industry, has weighed in on the arrest of nine security officers for cable theft.
“The authority has learned with dissatisfaction regarding the involvement of security officers contracted to City Power in a cable theft scheme,” PSiRA said in a statement on Sunday morning.
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“The authority will be investigating the involvement of security officers and reviewing their registration status for their involvement in such heinous crimes.
“PSiRA will not tolerate any violation of the Code of Ethics by security officers or security service providers.”
PSiRA said it remains committed to rooting out criminal elements within the private security industry.
“The industry does not have room for criminals, and anyone involved in criminal activities will be dealt with harshly,” PSiRA said.
“We condemn these acts of sabotage and criminality with the contempt it deserves.
“The Authority will continue to conduct operations and inspections to ensure compliance with the Private Security Industry Regulation Act.
“We will not hesitate to revoke registration status of security officers or service providers involved in illegal activities.
“We urge members of the public to report officers or service providers involved in suspicious activities to our complaints helpdesk, complaints@psira.co.za or 0860 333 036.”
PSiRA was established in 2002 in terms of Section 2 of the Private Security Industry Regulation Act (Act No 56 of 2001).
The primary objectives of PSiRA are to regulate the private security industry and to exercise effective control over the practice of the occupation of security service providers in the public and national interest and the interest of the private security industry itself, and for that purpose, subject to the Act, to:
(a) promote a legitimate private security industry that acts in terms of the principles contained in the Constitution and other applicable law;
(b) ensure that all security service providers act in the public and national interest in the rendering of security services;
(c) promote a private security industry that is characterised by professionalism, transparency, accountability, equity, and accessibility;
(d) promote stability of the private security industry;
(e) promote and encourage trustworthiness of security service providers;
(f) determine and enforce minimum standards of occupational conduct with respect of security service providers;
(g) encourage and promote efficiency in and responsibility with regard to the rendering of security services;
(h) promote, maintain and protect the status and interests of the occupation of security service provider;
(i) ensure that the process of registration of security service providers is transparent, fair, objective and concluded timeously;
(j) promote high standards in the training of security service providers and prospective security service providers;
(k) encourage ownership and control of security businesses by persons historically disadvantaged through unfair discrimination;
(l) encourage equal opportunity employment practices in the private security industry, and
(m) promote the protection and enforcement of the rights of security officers and other employees in the private security industry.
