PSIRA plans to expand oversight as private security sector grows

The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) outlined its ambitious growth and regulatory strategy before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police this week, as it presented its Annual Performance Plan for 2025/26 and Strategic Plan for 2025–2030. With South Africa’s private security sector continuing to grow in both size and complexity, the regulator detailed plans to strengthen compliance, modernise operations, and improve stakeholder engagement.

Expanding a Vital Sector

PSIRA estimates that over 250,000 new security officers and more than 3,000 new security businesses will be registered across the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) period. To manage this, it plans to open three new provincial offices in the Northern Cape, North West, and Limpopo, thereby increasing its national footprint.

PSIRA Director Manabela Chauke explained that the regulatory body aims to professionalise the sector while safeguarding public interest. “Our mandate is to ensure transparency, public safety, and lawful conduct in one of the largest security sectors on the continent,” Chauke told the Committee.

Strategic Focus Areas

PSIRA’s five-year strategy focuses on:

Strengthening law enforcement capacity, including the creation of a K9 unit and enhancing firearm compliance
Introducing a business intelligence unit to support enforcement and risk management
Upgrading training standards across the industry
Promoting public awareness and community engagement
Digitising vetting processes, including fingerprint verification
Establishing a Guarantee Fund for public liability insurance

To support these objectives, PSIRA is also investing in infrastructure, including the procurement of drones, vehicles, mobile offices, and the refurbishment of its multipurpose centre.

Budget and Operational Expansion

PSIRA’s expenditure is projected to grow by an average of 34% between 2024/25 and 2025/26, largely due to increased personnel costs, digital infrastructure upgrades, and operational expansion. Employee costs alone will rise 26%, with substantial additional spending forecast for communication systems, printing (ID cards and training certificates), background checks, and stakeholder workshops.

Key operational cost drivers include:

45% of the budget for personnel
10% for bad debt
7% for consultancy fees
Increases in travel and accommodation, cleaning, and digital communication costs

A notable increase in legal and vetting costs was also recorded, reflecting the sector’s growing complexity and the need for regulatory enforcement.

Committee Feedback and Outlook

Committee members largely welcomed PSIRA’s modernisation plans and proactive posture. However, questions were raised about how the authority intends to ensure compliance across such a large and diverse industry, especially as many security operations operate in semi-regulated or informal environments.

In response, PSIRA reiterated its commitment to stronger law enforcement and inter-agency cooperation, as well as its drive to build trust with both the public and private clients of the industry.

The Committee is expected to follow up with PSIRA in future sessions to evaluate progress, particularly on its enforcement metrics and public engagement outcomes.