Protection and Security Services

The Component: Government Security Regulator

Major shortfalls in the security environment was identified by Government and the following recommendations was made:

• To locate functions related to security in the SAPS.
• To provide standards for security provisioning and physical security.
• To provide a security regulatory service to all identified strategic installations, including National Key Points.
• Administer the NKP Act as transferred to SAPS in 2004.

Hence the formation of the Government Security Regulator.

The purpose of the Government Security Regulator is to provide security standards for physical security, training and compliance to standards and legislation in the Government sphere, Strategic Installations and National Key Points.

Role of SAPS: Government Security Regulator

• Issue physical security directives and regulations.
• Conduct physical security evaluations and audits.
• Develop and issue security training standards.
• Assess contingency plans and audit CP exercises.
• Provide technical support and specifications on physical security products and devices.
• Enforce adherence to NKP legislation.
• Record and report physical security deficiencies.
• Manage and monitor security incidents and breaches.
• Ensure coordination of physical security.

Role of Institutions/Departments:

• Comply with the Acts, regulations and directives related to security.
• Resource physical security improvements and ensure maintenance.
• Adhere to security training standards.
• Adhere to contingency planning and exercises.
• Conduct security risk assessments.
• Request physical security support.

Strategic Partners:

• Regulatory Authorities.
• Government Departments.
• Public Works.
• Parastatal Institutions.
• South African National Roads Agency.
• Major Metros.
• National Intelligence Agency.
• National Key Points.

Government Security Regulator is mandated:

• To regulate physical security in the Government, Parastatals and Strategic Installations.
• Administer and review the National Key Points Act.
• Establish capacity to control, enforce, evaluate and monitor physical security.
• Manage operational incidents and contingency readiness of the Division.

The Component Government Security Regulator consists of the following Sections:

Strategic Installations:

Objectives:

• Manage and co-ordinate physical security within Government.
• Align functions with the PSIRA Act.
• Establish and manage the GSSC in the Component GSR.

National Key Points:

The transfer of functions from the Department of Defense to the Department of Safety and Security was signed by the State President on the 10th of February 2004.

Categories of National Key Points:

• Electricity.
• Petro Chemical.
• Munitions.
• Air transport.
• Water supply.
• State Administration.
• Fiscal.
• Chemical Industries.
• Data Processing.
• Research.
• Communications.
• Heavy Industries

Incident Management:

The focus is on limiting the impact of incidents, thereby reducing protection
embarrassment and harm.

Security Advisory Services:

The Government Sector Security Council Framework:

Purpose:

• Consultative structure to address physical security provisioning and training.
• To address physical security concerns, incidents and compliance to standards.
• Information sharing platform to enhance crime combating and crime prevention.

The GSSC shall be a decision making Council for all physical regulations and
standards.

Background

Government Security Regulator has been seen as the central element in the implementation of initiatives to reduce crime, ensure management of security and dealing with corruption within the sector. The Division, Protection and Security Services‘s mandate is to co-ordinate, monitor and evaluate the provision of security within the government sector.

Cabinet approved the mandate of this Division and further mandated all departments to employ security managers and also to provide the security function in the respective departments. The protection and security function within departments nationally and provincially is presently ad hoc and not co-ordinated, moreover there is lack of mutual functioning between members of the different departments.

In order to ensure appropriate implementation of this Cabinet decision and execution of the government sector security, it is essential that a framework agreement is designed and a regulatory framework is concluded by all parties.

Three separate Conferences where held for Government Departments, National Key Points and Parastatal Institutions, the envisaged outcome of the Conferences were:

To introduce the Division and provide a guide towards consolidating the monitoring and evaluation initiatives of protection and security in the government sector.

To share best practices within the protection and security sector.

Information sharing and awareness with respect to the management of security and risk management.

Nomination of representatives from National Government Departments, National Key Points and Parastatal Institutions to form part of the Government Sector Security Council.

The objectives of the GSSC are:

• Consolidate the implementation of government sector security through co-ordination of the functions and activities that relates to protection and security.
   
• Enhance the monitoring and evaluation initiatives of protection and security in the government sector.
   
• Facilitate proper and effective protection of government sector buildings and co-operation between members of the public and private sector.
   
• Co-ordinate contingency planning exercises and create a platform for communication management of security incidents and breaches.
   
• Integration and co-ordination of functions, inspections and audits of the different security agencies i.e. NIA, SAPS, PSIRA.
   
• Clear understanding of the role of different security cluster members i.e. PSIRA, NIA, SAPS to facilitate the inspections and security audit function. It is also envisaged that the Government Sector Security Council (GSSC) will create an appropriate platform for the liaison of all Security Managers in the Public Sector and National Key Point Committee.

Representation:

• 6-SAPS members.
• 6-Regulatory Authorities
  • National Intelligence Agency.
  • Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority.
  • Safety and Security, Sector Education & Training Authority (SASSETA).
  • National Energy Regulator of SA (NERSA).
  • National Nuclear Regulator (NNR).
  • Rail Regulator
• 5-Representatives from National Government Clusters.
• 9-Provincial Government Departments.
• 6-Major Metro Councils.
• 8-Representatives of Parastatal Institutions.
• 10-Representatives of National Key Points.
• 1-Representative of National and Provincial Legislature.
• 1-Representative Security Managers Forum.

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