Staff Reporter
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) searched the Pretoria offices of the private security regulator on Tuesday as part of an investigation into a training contract worth about R130 million.
The search and seizure operation at the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) premises was carried out with assistance from the Hawks after the Special Tribunal granted a warrant on 17 September.
The investigation relates to the procurement or contracting of training services by or on behalf of PSIRA and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
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The training included Election Observer Training, End-User Computing Training and “PSIRA Grade E to C” Training for 7,071 targeted learners across all nine provinces.
The investigation follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing of Proclamation 316 of 2026 on 3 June, which authorised the SIU investigation.
The SIU said it had requested documents from PSIRA relating to the training programme but had not received everything it required.
“The SIU’s request for documents was only partially complied with, and the bundles sent to the Unit omitted a year’s worth of documents necessary for the investigation,” the unit said.
“The SIU deemed it necessary to seek a search warrant from the Special Tribunal to seize documents and electronic devices, such as cell phones and computers, to assist an ongoing investigation.”
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The SIU said search and seizure operations were used only after attempts to obtain the information through cooperation had failed.
Under the SIU and Special Tribunals Act, the SIU can subpoena bank statements and cellphone records, search for and seize evidence and question witnesses under oath.
It can also institute civil proceedings in the High Court or Special Tribunal to recover losses or address wrongdoing uncovered during its investigations.
The SIU said any evidence of possible criminal conduct uncovered during the investigation would be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action.
