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SIA annual conference a success

The Security Industry Alliance (SIA) Conference 2009 was held earlier this year at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg. This year the focus was on Quality in Security, a topic which drew top-drawer speakers and delegates.

The day was opened by Steve Conradie, CEO of SIA, who introduced Sibusiso Ncube the SIA chairman, to deliver the introduction to the conference. This was followed by the minister of Safety and Security, Nathi Mthethwa who officially opened the Conference.

Ex-SAIS chairman Francois Marais then took the helm as MC, first introducing assistant commissioner Ben Groenewald, Component Head Operational Support Services (SAPS) who spoke on the level of preparedness of the private security industry for 2010. Director Jacob Malatse from the Department of Labour followed, sharing a presentation on the Electrical Bargaining Council’s bid to integrate installers of security equipment.

The second session was started with Dr Craig Donald discussing control room design and appropriate staffing selection. He was followed by Bruce Robertson who delivered the presentation 'SABS and national standards – where should this industry fit?'

Costa Diavastos, chief negotiator within the Employers Group Wage Negotiations followed with a discussion on wage negotiations and how this process is likely to unfold. Snr Supt Allan Govender, section head: SAPS, Central Firearms Register then spoke about compliance to the Firearms Control Act.

Partnerships against crime was the focus of Dr Graham Wright, deputy CEO, Business Against Crime, after which Stefan Badenhorst from PSIRA spoke on the PSIRA/SASETA alignment process and the implications of this for the private security industry.

The conference was closed by Sibusiso Ncube, and the Security Industry Alliance’s annual general meeting was held at the same location.

The SIA Banquet followed at 19h30 the same evening where bravery awards were handed out to Samson Monareng (Gold) of ADT Security, Wellington Langa (Silver) from ProCoin Group, Anela Jonashe (Bronze) of Omega Risk Solutions, and Saliem Meyer (Bronze) of ADT Security. A special award was given to the family of Justice Kgaphola. He took conscious action to exercise his duty of care to help the neighbours and rescue people potentially trapped in a burning building. Justice has since died due to illness.

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