Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority
PSiRA is the sole statutory regulator of South Africa's private security industry, registering and overseeing security officers, businesses, and training providers through its e-PSiRA digital platform and 10 regional branch offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersCenturion, South Africa
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority does
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) is the sole statutory regulator of South Africa's private security industry, established under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act 56 of 2001 and headquartered in Centurion, Gauteng. The authority registers and oversees individual security officers, security businesses, and accredited training providers, enforcing minimum training, competency, and conduct standards across the sector. It serves a fragmented customer base comprising private security officers, security companies (ranging from SMBs to larger enterprises), training institutions, and government entities that operate in-house security, with no single customer representing meaningful revenue concentration.
PSiRA's operational core is the e-PSiRA digital platform (digitalservices.psira.co.za), which provides online registration, certificate renewal, individual and business verification, accredited training provider lookup, branch visit booking, and an online wages simulator. Supporting infrastructure includes a mobile application with QR-code verification, ten regional branch offices across all major South African provinces, mobile service points such as the Umlazi Kiosk for underserved areas, and a partnership with South African Police Service stations for fingerprint capture. A new Competency Certificate system is scheduled for launch in April 2026.
PSiRA generates revenue through statutory regulatory fees, including initial security officer registration (R310), annual fees (R110), certificate renewals (R75), and tiered competency certificate printing fees. Digital certificates are provided free of charge, with optional printed ink certificates at additional cost. Beyond fee revenue, PSiRA operates as a state entity under South African government oversight, with a headcount of 251-500 employees and no private equity, venture, or public shareholding.
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority
- Legal name
- Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority
- Website
- https://psira.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- PSiRA is the sole statutory regulator of South Africa's private security industry, registering and overseeing security officers, businesses, and training providers through its e-PSiRA digital platform and 10 regional branch offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Security Industry Regulation
- NAICS
- Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Security Officer (Unarmed) Training & Certification (BPAKAOAA)
Keywords
Where Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Centurion
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices10 records
Markets served
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Regulatory Fees and Charges: PSiRA generates revenue through statutory fees mandated under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act and Levies Act. These include registration fees for security officers and businesses, annual fees, certificate issuance fees, and various service charges. Annual fees are due on the 7th of each month following billing and are critical for intensifying compliance, law enforcement capacity, and operational improvements.
- Certificate and Printing Fees: Revenue generated from issuance of ink certificates (R75), reprint fees, and competency certificate printing fees. Digital certificates are provided free of charge.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Security Officer Registration - R310 initial fee |
| Subscription | Annual | Certificate Renewal - R75 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Ink Certificate - R75 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Competency Certificate Printing - Tiered Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PSiRA is the statutory regulator of South Africa's private security industry, established under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act 56 of 2001. It provides mandatory registration, accreditation, and certification services for security businesses, individual security officers, and training providers, supported by the e-PSiRA online portal, a mobile application, and ten regional offices for compliance, inspections, and enforcement.
Product overview
PSiRA operates as a regulatory authority governed by the Private Security Industry Regulation Act 56 of 2001, offering a unified digital platform called e-PSiRA for regulating the private security industry in South Africa. The core platform encompasses multiple integrated modules: the Online Registration Portal for security officers and businesses, a Training Provider Management System for course accreditation and instructor certification, and a Certificate Management System providing both digital and ink certificates with QR verification. Supporting modules include Branch Visit Booking for scheduling in-person services, Course Report Submission for training providers, and a Wages Per Hour Simulator tool. A new Competency Certificate System is scheduled for launch in April 2026. The PSiRA Mobile Application complements the portal with mobile access to verification and registration services. The platform serves registration, compliance monitoring, law enforcement, and public awareness functions across multiple regional offices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Security Officer Registration Mandatory registration service for individual private security officers in South Africa, enabling them to legally work in the industry. Includes an initial registration fee (e.g., R310) and ongoing annual renewal.
Companies that use Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- DCAF - OEARSE-DGCPcoreDCAF (Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance) through its OEARSE-DGCP program conducted a benchmarking session with PSiRA, indicating international cooperation in security sector governance and best practices sharing.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- ASIS International: Global professional association for security management, providing standards, certifications (CPP, PSP), and educational resources. Adjacent ecosystem participant supporting the security industry that PSiRA regulates.
- South African Police Service (SAPS): National police service that partners with PSiRA by capturing fingerprints (SAP91 forms) required for security officer registration. PSiRA depends on SAPS infrastructure to fulfill its registration mandate.
- Department of Employment and Labour: South African national regulator overseeing labor standards, employment equity, and workplace conditions. Complementary regulator affecting wages and conditions in the security industry that PSiRA also engages with.
- Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA): South African financial sector regulator that licenses and supervises financial institutions. Comparable in statutory role as a national licensing and conduct regulator, though operating in a different sector.
- Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC): South African regulator responsible for company registration and intellectual property. Required documentation for PSiRA business registration references CIPC registration, making it a complementary regulatory dependency.
Direct peers
- Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA): Kenya's statutory regulator for the private security industry, responsible for licensing security service providers and enforcing compliance. Direct functional peer to PSiRA in a comparable African regulatory context.
- Private Security Authority (PSA) Victoria: Australian state-level regulator licensing private security personnel and businesses, conducting compliance inspections, and enforcing industry standards. Comparable in mandate and licensing framework to PSiRA.
- Security Industry Authority (SIA): The UK's statutory regulator for the private security industry, licensing individuals and businesses and enforcing compliance. Closest functional analogue to PSiRA, operating under similar mandate to regulate licensing and competency in private security.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority social profiles
Digital presencePrivate Security Industry Regulatory Authority financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority
What does Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority do?
PSiRA is the statutory regulator of South Africa's private security industry, established under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act 56 of 2001. It provides mandatory registration, accreditation, and certification services for security businesses, individual security officers, and training providers, supported by the e-PSiRA online portal, a mobile application, and ten regional offices for compliance, inspections, and enforcement.
Is Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority a public or private company?
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority founded?
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority was founded in 2001. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority based?
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority is headquartered in Centurion, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Regulatory Fees and Charges are the primary driver. The others are certificate and Printing Fees.
Who are Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority's main competitors?
Others on record are ASIS International, South African Police Service (SAPS), Department of Employment and Labour, Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) and Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). Direct peers are Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA), Private Security Authority (PSA) Victoria and Security Industry Authority (SIA).
Does Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority have an API?
No public API is recorded for Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority.
What industry is Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority in?
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority's product category is Private Security Industry Regulation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKAOAA, General Security Officer (Unarmed) Training & Certification. Its NAICS code is 92615.