Five trade unions have called on the South African government to terminate contracts with private security companies accused of defrauding workers on state tenders. At a recent march to the National Treasury in Pretoria, union leaders and affected security officers highlighted cases of missing benefits, and non-compliance with labor laws.

The National Bargaining Council for the Private Security Sector (NBCPSS), which oversees wage agreements and working conditions in the industry, plays a critical role in ensuring that contracted companies adhere to sectoral standards. Using a report released in March by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, Ntshangase emphasized the severity of the issue: “Of the 11,372 registered private security companies operating in South Africa, fewer than 2,000 are fully compliant. PSIRA has identified 2,224 companies that failed to pay over retirement fund contributions.”

The unions are urging the government to take decisive action by enforcing NBCPSS regulations to protect workers’ rights and ensuring that only companies meeting legal and ethical standards remain eligible for government contracts.

Watch the Newzroom Afrika report here.