Security companies in South Africa are also part of the sectors that are providing essential services. There are a lot of security companies that are operating around all 9 provinces in the country and mostly are privately owned so currently there a less than 10 percent of security companies owned by the government.
Security companies employ officers or guards that are registered under PSIRA which is the regulator of securities in South Africa. All security officers/guards who are working in the industry in the country pay a fee which protects their employment with PSIRA. The government had several meetings with PSIRA management to reach agreements regarding the way that the industry will be working in the country.
Government owned security companies are part of the companies that are taking care of most government buildings and institutions like clinics, hospitals, police stations and schools. They are under the government of South Africa and paid according to the standards set by the presidency with the department of safety and security. The security officers under the government are working as usual and all have been supplied with protective equipment to help them protect themselves and walk-in people to the facilities.
Private owned security companies are the ones operating mostly in shopping malls, shopping centres, local supermarkets, factories, warehouses, big firms and a lot many facilities available in the country. They are also regulated by PSIRA and the government where that also have their own payment structures and also contribute to the UIF which helps to pay them in situations like the current lockdown die to the outbreak of coronavirus. The security officers under private companies are allowed to work during lockdown as they are on guard to a lot of businesses.
Bodyguards are also working very hard during lockdowns as there are a number of people who cannot live without the protection by bodyguards. A lot of government officials are protected by state bodyguards and some high profile people have bodyguards of their own to protect them. They are also regulated by government and also received saftey mandatory regulations that are in place to fight the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
