With an annual turnover of approximately R50 billion per year, the South African private security industry has made a significant mark on our country’s economy. However, with such a big industry the importance of continuously improving its standards is paramount.

On 18 July 2008, history was made when the first agreement between the European and South African private security was signed by the Security Industry Alliance (SIA) and the Confederation of European Security Services (CoESS). A similar agreement was also signed on the same day between SIA and the World Security Federation. The joint objectives of these organisations, included in the agreements are:

• Raising the quality of services.
• Improving the training and the work environment of staff of private security companies.
• Fighting against unfair competition.
• Guaranteeing sound competition between companies while respecting the rules and regulations.
• Educating the customer towards a better awareness of the specifics of private security services and therefore towards a better evaluation of price and quality.
• Giving the private security industry a much stronger voice at regional and global level.
• Influencing, in a proactive way, all decision-making processes which impact directly or indirectly on the industry.

  According to Hilde de Clerck who conducted a study tour to South Africa prior to the signing of the agreement, it was important for Europe to formalise their relationship with the South African security industry. She also wanted to take the good practices within the South African security industry back to Europe.

  The South African private security industry is developing very fast, and SIA is aiming to unite the fragmented industry. Hilde told SERVAMUS that their organisation, CoESS, is busy with the same process in Europe. During her visit to South Africa she met various role-players from the South African Police Service; Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and she also visited private security companies. Hilde said that it was important to have good alliances and that this industry must be strictly regulated as the role-players are providing services in the public domain. The importance of having the efforts of the private security industry coordinated with the police can not be emphasised enough.

  The European situation

  The Confederation of European Security Services (CoESS) represents 30 national federations from Europe, which in turn represent 50 000 companies and 1.7 million security guards. As in South Africa, there are many smaller security companies in Europe that have no representation on the association. Hilde said that although the European Union (EU) exists, some countries have limited, or even no regulations or legislation in terms of the private security industry, making it difficult to determine the actual number of security providers and employees in Europe.

  Europe and South Africa offer a similar range of security services, with the main focus in Europe on guarding, bodyguards and cash-in-transit security. In South Africa a lot more focus is placed on armed response companies. In Europe this type of service is much more discreet: it is not "advertised" as in South Africa, and many house alarms are linked directly to the local police station. This means that this industry is regulated in terms of national legislation, resulting in virtually no false alarms.                                                                                       

  Training within the European security industry is extremely important, as not just anybody can be enlisted off the street to become a security guard. For CoESS it is important to fill the gap between the public perception and the reality of the private security industry.

  The credibility of the industry must be improved and people must realise that the private security industry can offer a professional career option for individuals.

  What does the agreement mean?

  Some of the bigger South African security companies spend extensively on training, and have developed specific niches within this market. According to Hilde some of these best practices will be utilised by European companies, but the latter will also be able to assist with some of the training aspects.

  According to Steve Conradie, CEO: SIA, the agreement will make European security technology and training methods available to the South African security sector, and raise the quality of services offered in South Africa. It will also aim to improve the training and work conditions of private security staff. From the European side, CoESS is convinced that this agreement will enable the development of an intensive cooperation with the South African private security industry through the exchange of information, best practices, mutual assistance, joint meetings and exchange programmes.

  For more information, contact SIA at tel: (011) 498 7468.

  Captions:

  1. Hilde de Clerck (Secretary General: CoESS) and Sibusiso Ncube (Chairperson: SIA) after the formalities regarding the cooperation agreement were concluded in Johannesburg

  2. Sibusiso Ncube (Chairman: SIA) and Johan du Plooy (Secretary-General: WSF) signed an Agreement of Understanding on Mutual Recognition, Cooperation and Support in Johannesburg