The Portfolio Committee on Police is disappointed at the way that the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) handled its presentation on its strategic plan and annual report for 2013/14 to the Committee yesterday. The Committee had hoped for a better effective meeting as opposed to the one they had the last year.
The Committee is concerned about the fact that the Authority was unable to supply the exact number of registered security companies, or the number of firearms in the industry. “This is hugely concerning as this is the core objective of the authority and as such they should know”, said Acting Committee Chairperson, Ms Annelize van Wyk.
To this end the Committee has recommended that PSIRA report to the Committee on the number of registered companies soonest as well as the no of cases opened against these companies.
In the future the Authority must also develop measurable targets for investigations into these security companies. The Committee also wants the Authority to strengthen and reinforce some of its targets as the committee is also deeply concerned that there seems to be no contingency budget plans should courts rule against PSIRA in court cases.
The contradictions between the published figures, and program reflection in the Estimated National Expenditure and the Annual Performance Plan of PSIRA and their inability to explain these, is a matter of grave concern.
PSIRA regulates a huge and growing private security industry. It is important to the country's and the users of the services of these security companies that PSIRA gets its house in order and become a centre of excellence in the regulating environment.
However the Committee is pleased that PSIRA has extended its training of its employees to all employees as opposed to senior managers.
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Kanyisa Ndyondya (Ms)
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