ASSOCIATION NEWS

Update from SASA

I can hardly believe that we’re almost half way into 2022 and that winter is around the corner! Here is a summary of what’s been happening in our industry and with SASA since the last issue.

From the desk of Tony Botes, SASA National Administrator.

Covid-19

The State of Disaster has been lifted after more than two years, but precautions are still being imposed for everyone’s safety. Who knows when – if ever – Covid will be a thing of the past? Perhaps we’ll just have to learn to forevermore live with wearing masks and sanitising.

National Bargaining Council for the Private Security Sector (NBCPSS)

The NBCPSS is still growing in capacity – maybe not fast enough – but a great improvement over what the case was when the Department of Employment and Labour was handling wage complaints.

To date, there have been a number of very successful wage prosecutions, some with significantly high restitution orders issued and served on non-compliant employers. Quite a few were settled in the process, and many have been rubber-stamped by the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration), delivered to the Sheriff of the High Court, and warrants of execution served on these (criminally, in many cases) non-compliant employers.

SASA will continue, as in the past, to support the NBCPSS in the drive to identify unscrupulous employers, and assist them and PSIRA (Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority) in bringing them to book. Unfortunately, they are still seriously under-resourced in respect of their numbers of agents (inspectors), but this is being attended to by the ongoing employment and upskilling of additional manpower, which will lead to more prosecutions and a greatly improved level of compliance. That said, stamping out the rife criminality in the industry is a huge challenge for these two regulatory bodies, which only have about 120 inspectors tasked with policing 100,000plus companies.

The Council is also in the process of taking over its administration and financial affairs – currently outsourced – which is another major step forward.

Wage negotiations

The process of three-yearly wage negotiations, for the period March 2023 to February 2026, has commenced, with a few explanatory meetings already behind us. It’s going to be an extremely difficult exercise to reach agreement, due to the current state of the economy, and having analysed what we believe to be impossible and unrealistic demands from ‘organised labour’ (participating trade unions).

Fortunately, the three employer parties – SASA, SANSEA (South African National Security Employers’ Association) and CEO (Consolidated Employer Organisation) –have a very strong and competent team, so we’re hoping that the outcome of this process will be both peaceful and successful. SASA will keep its members updated.

PSIRA

PSIRA responded to our objections to what we believe to be unreasonable and excessive increases in their annual fees (for both employers and employees) and monthly levies, after a number of interactions between them and the employer organisations, by reducing them — slightly. Not to our total satisfaction, but every bit helps.

On the other hand, PSIRA has not budged one iota on their uniform regulations and the prohibition of certain colours and branding. SASA, therefore, had to ‘go it alone’, serving legal papers on the Minister of Police and PSIRA to challenge this legislation, which has potentially devastating financial consequences for companies.

Although we support the initiative to prevent security businesses from wearing uniform styles, colours and emblems intended to confuse the public by closely resembling those of SAPS (South African Police Service), SANDF (South African National Defence Force), Correctional Services, Metro and Municipal Police, and any other law enforcement agencies, we strongly believe that the Minister and PSIRA have gone too far with this legislation. Let’s wait and see how an independent court views the respective arguments.

SECUREX

After a break of two years, we are pleased to confirm that this popular event will be taking place from 31 May to 2 June 2022. SASA will, as always, have a stand at Securex and we have also arranged a speaking slot in their Seminar Theatre. See you there!

Security Officers’ Day

Launched last year by SASA, Security Officers’ Day is designed for security companies to honour their officers. It will take place on 4 December 2022, and every year thereafter on the same date. We really need to recognise the difficult and dangerous work that security officers perform, so we are asking SASA members, as well as all other security employers and consumers, to celebrate this special day, as they see fit.

Benefits of SASA membership:

We are working on expanding membership benefits, which will be communicated to all members once finalised. Currently, these include:

• A strictly applied Code of Ethics

• Representation at national and local government level

• Industry exposure in the media as well as at major shows and exhibitions

• Contacts and networking opportunities

• Discounted training courses, events and seminars • Access to a security library managed by UNISA (University of South Africa)

• Updates on new legislation and other industry-relevant information • Access to security-related and affiliated associations in South Africa and overseas

• The SASA national website

• A central administration office

• Free digital subscription to Security Focus Africa magazine, the official journal of SASA

• A mentorship programme which is designed to guide and assist startup security companies with attaining the compliance standards required to qualify for Gold Membership

For more information about what SASA does and how it can assist you and your company, or to report any wrongdoings or concerns, please contact:

Tony Botes, SASA National Administrator, at:

Tel: 0861 100 680 / 083 650 4981

Cell: 083 272 1373

Email: info@sasecurity.co.za / tony@sasecurity.co.za

Website: www.sasecurity.co.za