"The Evolution of Close Protection in South Africa"

The evolution of close protection services in South Africa has been influenced by various factors, including key figures, legislation, challenges, and training. Over the years, the industry has seen significant growth and development, with a focus on enhancing professionalism and meeting the demand for high-quality protection services.

History and Development

The practice of Close Protection (bodyguarding, as it was known) or providing protection for individuals in South Africa can be traced back centuries, although it may not have been formalized as it is today. Throughout history, various communities and leaders in South Africa employed individuals or groups to protect themselves and their assets from external threats.

During the colonial period, European settlers in South Africa often employed armed guards or mercenaries to protect their property and interests against indigenous peoples and rival colonial powers. These guards would protect homesteads, farms, trading posts, and other valuable assets.

Similarly, indigenous leaders and communities had their own methods of protection, which could include warriors or fighters tasked with safeguarding their leaders, territories, and resources. These practices varied widely depending on the specific cultural and historical context of each community.

As South Africa's history progressed through periods of colonialism, apartheid, and into the modern era, the demand for protection services evolved alongside changing political, social, and economic dynamics. The formalization of Close Protection as a profession with specialized training and techniques emerged more prominently in the 20th century, particularly during periods of political upheaval such as the struggle against apartheid and the transition to democracy.

The close protection industry in South Africa that falls under the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA), that was established by the Private Security Industry Regulation Act, 2001 and commenced operations in 2002 has experienced substantial growth, with nearly 10 380 (estimate) companies and 556,000 (estimate) registered active private security guards (2 million inactive security officers), outnumbering the police and army combined. It must be mentioned that the first statutory body with responsibility for exercising control over the occupation of security officers was the Security Officers Board that started in 1992, a year after the SOB became operational, the board recognized 17 training centers and by 1998 there where 470 000 active registered security officers and 5600 registered security business to include training centers. There was at that time also 188 000 inactive security officers. The inactive officers was due to market fluctuation for demand, that is the case today as well.

This growth from 1992 to current date can be attributed to factors such as the demand for private individuals to move into the market due to weak or ineffective policing. The industry has also seen efforts to tackle crime, leading to increased demand for security services.

There is currently in the industry very few service providers that only focus on Close Protection Service, most companies will have this as a supplementary service to other security services such as guarding or armed response that are their core function. Thus not always have the expertise as required for Close Protection Operations.

Key Figures

The industry has seen the emergence of key figures and professionals who have played a significant role in the development of close protection services in South Africa. For instance, there are individuals such as Rory Steyn, Bob Nicholls (past away on 27/02/2023), Adv. Timm Smith, Dr. Gavriel Schneider, Dean Clark, Marius van den Berg and Ryan Brotherton to name a few and companies such as TSU, Arcfire, BGA, Gaboon, Executive Protection Service, Ipeleng Risk Management and NSA to name a few, that provide executive protection and close protection services, specializing in watching over high net worth individuals, actors, musicians, and corporate titans.

Legislation

The close protection industry in South Africa is subject to regulation and oversight. The Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA) and the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) are involved in accrediting and regulating training providers and security personnel. Efforts have been made to formalize close protection as a credible profession in South Africa, with the introduction of qualifications aimed at providing learners with the necessary competencies within the prevailing regulations and legal prescripts.

Unfortunately failure to enforce compliance and regulate the Close Protection Industry by ensuring that all Close Protections Officers are trained accordingly to the regulations as set out by PSIRA, SASSETA and SAQA to ensure the completion of either the Skills Program in Close Protection or the National Qualification in Close Protection (that is a Higher Certificate on the NQF and set at Level 5) is not done.

The Close Protection Qualifications is being moved to the Quality Council For Trades & Occupations (QCTO) with SASSETA being the AQP. The industry is moving to make the qualification a trade with inception by 2027 and start phasing out the SASSETA Unit Standards. This in itself has some hurdles to cross and will get some serious push back from the industry that see the training as a money maker by only training part of the required approved qualifications and putting under qualified Officers out in the industry. Without stricter regulation on companies, training providers and close protection officers, this might also go the way of SASSETA on the end.

Challenges

The industry faces various challenges, including the high cost of training and the difficulty in obtaining funding from the private sector. There are also concerns about over-regulation and the need for harmonization between different accreditation bodies, which can hinder the development and accreditation of new training material. Additionally, security professionals face the challenge of ensuring the safety of their personnel, as the industry is not without risks, with incidents of violence and crime posing a constant threat.

The key challenges facing the close protection industry in South Africa include:

1. Regulatory Aspects: The industry is subject to regulation and oversight, and there are concerns about the infrastructure for regulation, which may not adequately separate qualified persons in close protection from the rest of the private security industry operatives. This can been seen by the quality that is currently available in the industry as well as incidents that has happened over the years.
2. Training Standards: There is a need to ensure that the training standards for close protection operatives are in line with the required operational market demand. Efforts have been made to formalize close protection as a credible profession in South Africa, but there are challenges related to the highest level of training being offered and the comparability of training environments. This is currently why the move is being made from SASSETA to QCTO. Will this be successful? Lets hope so!
3. Demand and Security Risks: The rising crime rate and the need to safeguard people, investors, and assets have led to a growing demand for close protection security. However, the industry is not without risks, and security professionals face the challenge of ensuring the safety of their personnel in a country with noticeable security issues and an unstable political climate.
4. Infrastructure and Resources: The industry faces challenges related to over-regulation, the difficulty in obtaining funding from the private sector, and the limited scope of career development for close protection officers, particularly in comparison to other countries.

In summary, the close protection industry in South Africa grapples with regulatory, training, security, and resource-related challenges as it seeks to meet the demand for high-quality protection services in a complex and dynamic environment.

Training

Training in the close protection industry is essential for ensuring that security personnel are adequately equipped to provide high-quality protection services. Most training providers in South Africa offer Unit Standard base training that form part of a qualification but not necessary the full qualifications as prescribed by SASSETA and PSIRA. There are only a few that present the full qualification and only a few that will attend these programs due to the cost and duration of the programs.

The close protection courses as per SASSETA and PSIRA (Skills Program or National Qualification) in South Africa are primarily offered in an in-person format. The training programs typically include a combination of classroom lectures and practical field training exercises to provide a full understanding of close protection operations. The courses cover a broad spectrum of skills, including pre-hospital emergency care, pedestrian escort, venue security, protective driving, conflict management, firearms, and operational preparedness. The duration of these courses varies, ranging from 15 days to 31 days, excluding Sundays and public holidays. The training is intensive and physically demanding, focusing on practical skills such as defensive driving, first aid, firearms competency, physical fitness, and unarmed combat. Therefore, the close protection courses in South Africa are predominantly conducted in an in-person format, providing comprehensive and practical training to individuals seeking to become close protection officers.

Unfortunately as the Close Protection training industry is not effectively regulated, individuals only receive training in just 4 SAQA Unit Standards (244317, 244319, 244327, 244334), and this type of training due to the fact that it ticks industry boxes are accepted over the years

The industry however lacks to emphasize the importance of continuous training and the adoption of modern trends and country-specific protection techniques to ensure the professionalism of Close Protection Officers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the "Evolution of Close Protection Services in South Africa" has been shaped by the contributions of key figures, the impact of legislation and the lack there of, the need to address various challenges, and the emphasis on high-quality training. The industry continues to grow and adapt to meet the demand but professional and effective protection services in the country is in crisis and need to be addressed with better regulations of Competent Providers and fully qualified Close Protection Officers by a industry specific regulatory body.

Research

https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNACK643.pdf

https://uir.unisa.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10500/734/dissertation.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

https://allqs.saqa.org.za/showQualification.php?id=58696#:~:text=The%20National%20Certificate%3A%20Close%20Protection,currently%20registered%20on%20the%20NQF.