If you are appointing a security company in South Africa, you will quickly come across PSIRA grades. They are more than jargon: the grade of the officers at your site affects what they are trained to do, what they must be paid, and whether your provider is complying with the law.
What is PSIRA?
The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) regulates the private security industry under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act, 56 of 2001. Every security business and every individual security officer must be registered with PSIRA. Using an unregistered provider or unregistered officers is an offence and can leave you exposed if something goes wrong.
The PSIRA grades at a glance
Security officers are graded from E (entry level) to A (the most senior), based on the training they have completed. In broad terms:
- Grade E — entry-level security officer, typically used for basic guarding and observation posts.
- Grade D — security officer able to perform access control and patrol duties, common at gates and in buildings.
- Grade C — more experienced officer, often used for armed response, control-room work or supervising a small team.
- Grade B — supervisory level, responsible for managing officers and sites.
- Grade A — senior management level, responsible for planning and overseeing security operations.
Minimum wages under the private security sectoral determination differ by grade and area, so a quote that seems too cheap for the grade you need is a red flag.
Which grade does my site need?
That depends on your risk profile and the duties involved. A residential complex gate may need Grade D officers for access control, with a Grade C or B supervisor. An industrial site with armed response or control-room functions will need higher grades. A professional provider will recommend grades as part of a site survey and risk assessment, rather than simply supplying the cheapest option.
How to check your provider is compliant
- Ask for the company’s PSIRA registration certificate and check that it is current.
- Ask for each officer’s PSIRA registration and grade — officers should carry proof of registration on duty.
- Confirm that rates comply with the sectoral minimum wage for the grade and area.
- Ask how the provider vets, trains and supervises its officers.
How Cyborg Security handles grading
At Cyborg Security every officer is PSIRA-registered, graded for the post they fill and screened through PSIRA and SAPS before employment. We recommend the right grades for each post during our free site survey and are happy to share registration certificates with clients. Request a quote or read more about our compliance and accreditations.