Question NW2278 to the Minister of Police

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10 October 2017 - NW2278

Profile picture: Mbatha, Mr MS

Mbatha, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Police

(a) How many security guards have lost their lives working for security companies, and (b) what is the average payment package as compensation to families?

Reply:

(a) In terms of the Private Security Industry Regulation Act, 2001 there is no statutory obligation by the private security industry to report any injuries or fatalities of security officers to PSiRA. However, all security businesses must be lawfully registered with the office of the Compensation Commissioner and report any workplace accidents to the Compensation Commissioner in terms of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Amendment Act, 1997 (Act No. 61 of 1997) and the circumstances relating to the injury, illness or death of an employee.

In view of the fact that security businesses are not required to report the above information to PSiRA, the security regulator liaises with the office of the Compensation Commissioner to obtain said information. The Compensation Commissioner’s gave the following information of workplace accidents within the private security industry from 1 April 2016 to 28 February 2017:

1.1 Injuries on duty - 5 705; and

1.2 Fatalities on duty - 14

In addition to the above, the PSiRA also liaises with the Private Security Sector Provident Fund (PSSPF), established in terms of Sectoral Determination 6 by the Minister of Labour. The PSSPF provides for, inter alia, retirement benefits, death benefits and permanent disability cover for security service providers in the guarding sector. Whilst the PSSPF is not in a position to differentiate between death and disability in or outside of the workplace, the following statistics in respect of claims received from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 were provided in respect of security officers:

1.1 Death claims - 1 213

1.2 Disability claims - 270

In view of the challenges in obtaining statistical information in respect of the foregoing and PSiRA’s reliance on the office of the Compensation Commissioner to provide said information, the Authority is in the process to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Labour. This agreement will include the sharing of information on injuries and fatalities of security officers on duty.

(b) Compensation for injuries on duty is provided for in terms of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Amendment Act, 1997 (Act No. 61 of 1997) and depends on the nature of the injury. The Private Security Sector Provident Fund established in terms of Sectoral Determination 6 by the Minister of Labour, also provides for death benefits and permanent disability cover for security service providers in the guarding sector. The benefits includes, inter alia, life cover for a member and spouse up to R30 000-00 as well as life cover for the member’s children.

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