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ESDA to educate members about SIRA compliancy

ESDA is concerned about the implementation of the new Private Security Industry Regulation Act, 2001 (Act No 56 of 2001) and its effects on the members of the security distribution industry.

The Act has placed an explicit legal onus on consumers of private security services to only use legitimate and registered security service providers. ESDA is determined to educate the security services companies about the implications of the Act. In terms of section 38(3)(g) of the Act consumers can be criminally prosecuted for intentionally or negligently using the services of security businesses which are noncompliant with this Act that came into force on 14 February 2002.

In terms of this new legislation, a client of a security business will thus have to make a reasonable enquiry as to the legitimacy of the security business, its officials and persons deployed by it to provide a security service, before making use of its service.

In light of the above, the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority strongly recommends that consumers and clients of security service providers put the following questions to security businesses before concluding a contract with them:

1. Is your security business registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority? (A registration certificate to this effect must be made available on request).

2. Are all of your employees deployed to render a security service registered with the Authority? (Registration certificates to this effect must be made available on request).

3. Are all your security officers deployed to provide a security service, in possession of the necessary training certificates from accredited training establishments?

4. Are all your security officers deployed to provide a security service, paid at least the minimum statutory wage applicable in terms of the Sectoral Determination 6 for the private security industry issued by the Minister for Labour? (Copies of pay-slips of security officers that would be deployed must be made available on request).

5. Do you guarantee that all the security officers deployed on your premises will adhere to the statutory code of conduct applicable to all security service providers?

6. Do you guarantee that your security officers are specifically trained for the task that they have been allocated to do?

The Authority invites all users of security service providers to contact the Helpdesk on tel: 012 337 5530 or 337 5520 or 337 5510 for more information or to visit the Authority's website at www.sira-sa.co.za

ESDA Press Releases

May 2002

Page 1 of 2 Issued by Peace Profiles

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