Issues at Hand
The Association is committed to and is currently dealing with the following important issues:
 Licences
The Association has committed itself to the licensing of all security officers and security companies in the industry. This is a major operation, which involves the submission of fingerprints of every member of the industry for checking to verify if any such person should have a criminal record. This system was adapted to cater for the public, who will be ensured of getting a satisfactory service from a person who has been vetted correctly and has no criminal record.
This Licensing operation is headed by the Security Officers’ Board in Pretoria, whose sole function is to ensure that security practitioners operate to a Code of Ethics and that no security company or individual operates without being registered. The object of this is to ensure that smaller, under-financed companies, with inadequately trained personnel, will become a thing of the past. Furthermore, properly trained registered staff will be able to monitor compliance by the particular trade organizations with licensing requirements.
Security companies and each person operating in a security company are required by law to register with the Security Officers’ Board as from 1 April 1991. At a later stage, every person who has paid their annual license fee will be required to carry an ID card, which will be issued by the Security Officers’ Board.
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Training
The Association is committed to the improvement of training facilities, and to this end the Security Officers’ Board has set up a training committee. All training centres throughout the country will be required to follow certain criteria for each lever of security officer. Companies are also encouraged to send their staff on refresher courses, and employees who are ready for promotion should be sent on courses qualifying them for promotion to the next grade.
Training courses will involve the use of fire fighting equipment, what to do in emergencies, basic first aid and occupational safety, as well as basic to advanced security duties.
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Legislation
SANSEA has a permanent sub-committee dealing with legislation effect in the security industry. Of particular importance at present is the Security Officers’ Act, which has received minimal press coverage notwithstanding the fact that this has been in existence since 1987.
The Act is an ongoing issue, with SANSEA making representations aimed at ensuring that the legislation is suitable and acceptable, not only to the industry but to users of security services. The Association’s representations are aimed at ensuring that the quality of service provided is improved and that every assistance is given to ensure that security checks are done on the personnel of organizations in the industry.
The sub-committee also deals with other forms of legislation which have a direct and indirect bearing on the industry such as the current wage determination, the Key Point Act etc, and rules and regulations. This information is disseminated to its members for their use and information, the object being to assist members in bringing their clients’ attention to the existence of legislation that will assist them and their clients in obtaining the best possible security service.
The Association also has a Dispute Resolution Committee which hears disputes and complaints against members of the Association and the manner in which they have performed their services may be dealt with by the Association after representations are made to it in writing by the complainant. The result and decision of the Dispute Resolution Committee of the Association may result in the expulsion of the member from the Association and will greatly assist the aggrieved party in the recovery of damages and/or reinstatement of lost property as the case may be. The existence of the Dispute Resolution Committee is a bonus to all users of security who wish to air certain grievances against their contractors. This can obviously not be done in a case where the contractor is not a member of the Association and this situation is greatly to the disadvantage of the client whose contractor is not a member of SANSEA.
The Association is committed to fair labour practice and has had extensive discussions with various employee representatives in the industry. SANSEA is recognized by the Department of Manpower as an employers’ association and is registered in terms of the Labour Relations Act, and has representation on various Government Boards and Committees.
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Liaison with SAP and Trade Organisations
The Association is represented on the various Chamber of Commerce Security Committees where it endeavors to ensure that any information in its possession, which can be of assistance to the general public and the South African Police, is disseminated. Likewise, information of a useful nature that can be passed on to clients or members of the Association is distributed to the Association’s members by way of minutes.
SANSEA strives to cultivate a good relationship with the South African Police and to this end had regular meetings with them. SANSEA aims at doing its utmost to assist the police where and when possible.
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