SASSETA has officially taken over responsibility from PSIRA, for all training within the security industry. This was made official as of the 1st November 2009.
This will have a significant impact on the security industry to both employers and employees, as existing PSIRA accreditations will fall away and be replaced by SASSETA accredited training programs. All training programs are aligned to the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and according to SASSETA accredited unit standards, Skills Programs and qualifications.
Download the Government Gazette here.
Conversion process
The process of converting from PSIRA to SASSETA accreditation will be phased in over a period of time. The phases are based on the various categories of security industry personnel.
However, any training conducted after the 1st November 2009 will inline with the SASSETA accreditations. So the old Grade E – A has fallen away and been replaced with Skills Programs 1 – 5. The details of which is supplied below.
The two points that are going to have the most significant and immediate effect is:
Phase 1
Every existing security officer who is a:
- reaction officer;
- assets in transit officer;
- assets in transit driver;
- port security officer;
- maritime security officer;
- event security officer;
- close protection officer;
- cabler, installer or technician of security equipment
- private investigator,
- dog handler
- training instructor,
- control room or surveillance operator or supervisor;
- key cutter, locksmith , locksmith equipment installer, safe technician and safe installer;
- armed security service provider; or
- advisor or consultant in any of the security services referred to in these regulations
must within a period of 180 days from the promulgation of these regulations, comply with the training requirements in terms of these regulations.
Phase 2
Every person who is required to handle a service dog to deter crime must complete and obtain from a training establishment the skills programme described and recognized as protection dog, within a period of 360 days from the date of promulgation of these regulations, comply with the training requirement contemplated in these regulations, or vacate the aforesaid position.
Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of these regulations is guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 6 months or to both a fine and imprisonment.
Comparison - PSIRA to SASSETA grading structure
This chart indicates the new training regulations which are equivalent to the old PSIRA grading structure:
| SKILLS PROGRAMME | PSIRA GRADE COMPARISON | UNIT STANDARD |
| Patrol Officer | Grade “E” |
|
Access control officer Patrol Officer | Grade “D” |
|
Asset Protection Officer Patrol Officer & Access Control Officer skills programme must be completed | Grade “C" |
|
Security first line Supervisor atrol Officer, | Grade “B" |
|
Security supervisor Patrol Officer, | Grade “A” |
|
As one can see these programs are significantly more intensive than the old PSIRA training standards. It will be impossible to complete any of the skills programs in a week as was the PSIRA norm.
As a number of the categories listed in Phase 1 & 2 above also require completing Skills Program 1 to 3, if you don’t act now and start this process you will no doubt fail to meet the deadline.
So What Now?
Be proactive and start to address the issue now. The period of 180 days is a very short time in which to ensure that all your staff complies with the new regulations.
To put it into context the full SASSETA Skills Programs 1 & 2 (old PSIRA grades E & D), if done for a new student entering the industry, will take a minimum of 20 full days. This is quite an intensive course and a lot of extra work is required from the student in the form of written assignments and projects done outside of the classroom.
The RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) process will be a minimum of 1 week for each student for each Skills Program. This depends on the suitability of the individual as an RPL candidate. Should you have in the region of 250 staff and send 20 per week for RPL on SKP 1 & 2 it will take at least 12 weeks to complete. Add the additional minimum 7 days to achieve, for example, the Reaction Officer Skills Program and you can quickly work out that time is of the essence.
The reason that the program duration is only estimated, is that SASSETA programs are aligned to the NQF. Students don’t pass traditional written tests. The courses are proficiency based and as such a student must be deemed to be competent in each unit standard.
If your conversion strategy is approached incorrectly this process will cost you time and money.
The RPL Solution
Zenzele will drive the RPL process for you in the following ways:
- Assist you with the RPL process so that your existing employees receive recognition for their prior training
- Implement a time sensitive and operationally acceptable RPL process
- Offer a process that is cost effective, within the guidelines whilst maintaining a high quality standard
- Recognize previous learning and provide information for the company’s workplace skills plan.
- Set your mind at ease, that the process is conducted by experts and subject matter experts in their field
- Assist your company to become compliant with the new statutory requirements
As a professional training company who has been registered with SASSETA for a number of years and have extensive experience with conducting these programs we will be able to assist employers and employees with meeting these requirements.
Contact our training department now and let us work with you to put a plan in place and ensure all your staff meets the requirements and your services to your clients are disrupted as little as possible.
