The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA), a body meant to oversee the private security industry, told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police that six years later, PSIRA is still investigating who to hold responsible for a massively flawed contractual agreement worth R129 million.
The DA supports the committee’s recommendation that the Director and CFO of PSIRA must be suspended, as a step in the right direction, however, considering the failures of PSIRA to do anything to correct this situation, we call on the Director and CFO to step down – the buck stops with them.
In 2019 PSIRA and the Unemployment Insurance Fund entered into a contractual agreement to provide training to security officers. Of the 6507 people who undertook the training only 118 received accreditation. The AG noted that PSIRA, as a regulatory body, has no authority to enter into these agreements as a service provider.
Not only this, but the Auditor General found that R30 million was paid in advance before services were even rendered – a complete disregard of the laws that ensure the sound financial management of taxpayer’s money.
Six years later, no steps have been taken to recover the funds, nor has anyone responsible for this mess been held accountable. Not even basic steps to suspend the Director or the CFO have been taken.
The DA fully supports the committee call for the Director and CFO to be suspended, at the very least, while a swift investigation is completed. But, considering the seriousness of the AG report, and the complete lack of steps taken to correct this failing, we call on the Director and CFO to step down.