PSIRA Grade A flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

PSIRA founding statute

The Private Security Industry Regulation Act, 2001 (Act 56 of 2001) establishes PSIRA and regulates the private security industry in South Africa.

Mandatory registration rule

Any person who renders a security service for reward must be registered with PSIRA; rendering such a service while unregistered is a criminal offence.

Registration certificate

A document issued by PSIRA to a registered security service provider, which must be produced on demand by an authorised officer such as an inspector.

Category-specific registration

Registration authorises the rendering of only the category or class of security service for which the provider is registered, not all categories.

Employer registration duty

A security business must be registered and may employ only registered security officers; employing an unregistered person is an offence under the Act.

Grounds for refusal

PSIRA may refuse, suspend or withdraw registration where the applicant is convicted of a scheduled offence or fails to meet prescribed requirements.

Notification of changes

A registered person must notify PSIRA of prescribed changes, such as a change of address, within the period set by the regulations.

NQF unit standards

Security training is delivered against unit standards registered on the National Qualifications Framework and quality-assured by the relevant SETA.

Grade E entry level

Grade E is the entry-level security officer grade; prescribed basic training must be completed before registration and deployment as a security officer.

Grade A highest officer grade

Grade A is the highest security officer grade and requires the most advanced prescribed training and experience among the officer grades.

Accredited training providers

Training must be presented by an accredited or approved provider; certificates from unaccredited providers do not satisfy PSIRA registration requirements.

Outcomes-based assessment

A learner must demonstrate competence against each unit standard, and achieved credits are recorded on the learner's training records.

Core basic training subjects

Basic security training includes first aid, fire fighting, health and safety, legal knowledge and security procedures alongside practical skills.

Refresher training

Periodic in-service or refresher training requirements apply to maintain competence and to retain a security officer's grade status.

Citizen's arrest power

A private person may arrest without a warrant a person reasonably suspected of committing an offence in their presence, and must deliver them to police without delay.

Section 42 CPA

Section 42 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 governs arrest by a private person and requires reasonable suspicion, not mere speculation.

Proportionate force

Force used in effecting an arrest must be reasonable and proportionate; deadly force may not be used merely to protect property.

Section 49 CPA limits

Section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act limits force used to effect an arrest, and deadly force is permissible only in limited circumstances.

Search authority

A security officer may search a person or premises only with consent or where a statute or lawful authority permits; unreasonable searches are unlawful.

Exclusion of evidence

Evidence obtained through unlawful search or seizure may be excluded if admission would render the trial unfair or harm the administration of justice.

Liability for excess

A security officer who exceeds lawful powers may face criminal prosecution, civil liability, and regulatory action by PSIRA against their registration.

Inspector appointment

PSIRA appoints inspectors authorised to monitor and enforce compliance with the Private Security Industry Regulation Act and its regulations.

Warrantless premises entry

An inspector may enter premises used for rendering a security service without a warrant where the inspector reasonably believes such a service is being rendered.

Document production demand

An inspector may demand production of a registration certificate, training records and other prescribed documentation from a security service provider.

Questioning and identification

An inspector may question any person on the premises about compliance and may require that person to identify themselves.

Seizure of evidence

An inspector may seize documents or items that are evidence of an offence, subject to prescribed procedures and record-keeping requirements.

Obstruction offence

Obstructing, hindering or failing to comply with a lawful instruction of an inspector is an offence under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act.

Proof of appointment

An inspector must produce proof of appointment or identification when exercising inspection powers and must act within the scope of conferred powers.

Complaint lodging

A complaint must be lodged in the prescribed manner and should identify the parties, the conduct complained of, and the supporting facts.

Own-initiative investigation

PSIRA may investigate a complaint on its own initiative, not only on receipt of a complaint from a member of the public.

Possible complaint outcomes

After investigation PSIRA may dismiss the complaint, issue a compliance notice, impose a sanction, or refer the matter for criminal prosecution.

Procedural fairness duty

PSIRA must observe procedural fairness in investigating and deciding complaints, including giving the affected provider an opportunity to respond.