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Overseas Focus:
South Africa & Security
»»ALAN JURRIUS is the
Chairman of The Locksmiths’
Association of South Africa
(LASA), the representative
body for the locksmithing
industry, with branches in
the Eastern Province, Free
State, Gauteng, KwaZulu
Natal, Northern Province and
Western Cape. He talked to
Group Editor Pat Gwynnette
about his involvement with
the industry and how LASA
works in the Republic of South
Africa.
Alan (56) is married with
two grown up children and
one grandson. In his spare
time he plays golf.
‘I fell in love with
the work and found
it very rewarding’
How did you become
a locksmith?
I started as an apprentice
locksmith working with a
friend who had locksmith
business. I worked in the shop
doing the bench work and
cutting keys. I fell in love with
the work and found it very
rewarding helping people with
lock problems, and still do.
Do you now run your
own business?
Yes. My wife and I own and
run Randburg Locksmiths
located on the corner of
Bram Fischer and Dalmeney
Street in Pine Park, Randburg,
Gauteng, RSA.
In what year was LASA
first established?
It was first established back
in 1975.
South Africa is a big and
diverse country. There are
clearly many advantages in
having a national Association
and an industry that is
regulated by an Act of
Parliament and which falls
under the auspices of the
Private Security Industry
Regulatory Authority. In the
UK there is no such regulation
although that is not the case
in Europe. Does this surprise
you? Do you think LASA’s
experience could teach the
UK some useful lessons?
Yes, definitely. Our members
are of the opinion that the proper
regulation of the locksmiths
industry can help in protecting
the industry and the public. We
are all aware that a lot of people
with minimal training and
experience will call themselves
locksmiths but are unqualified
and don’t do a professional
job, often resulting in shoddy
workmanship and inadequate
protection for customers.
South Africa is a large and
diverse country with its own
particular security issues.
With this in mind, how do
your members tackle the
many different layers of
security protection needed?
The cities is where most of the
locksmith work is done as this
is mainly where the majority of
crime occurs. Most business and
companies do have CCTV and
electric lock installations and
our work covers these as well as
general lock-outs, lost keys etc.
As you would imagine, we also
have a large security industry
that handles access control,
CCTV and electric fencing which
is extensively used in South
Africa.
In my own experience, most
South African residents
take security very seriously.
What is top of the list in
security terms for private
households and for
commercial organisations?
Top of the list for domestic
and commercial customers
would be electric fencingperimeter security, as well as
steel security gates protecting
entrance doors, often using
remotes. CCTV surveillance is
also increasing in popularity
here. Armed response is also big
business.
It is interesting that LASA
is able to give guidance to
the Insurance Surveyors’
technical sub-committee for
the grading of locks. Do you
believe that it is important to
work together with any other
organisation to safeguard
the integrity of the industry?
Yes we do. Locksmiths can
assist them in ensuring decent
quality locks are specified for
their clients. We find that a lot of
the products coming from the
Far East are of very poor quality
and a waste of people’s money.
Locksmithing and its
associated services are
changing all the time these
days. Is it relatively easy
in South Africa for your
members to keep ahead
of the game with new
developments and products?
Yes, I believe so. We are lucky
to have a good group of suppliers
who generally keep us up to date
- although being at “the bottom”
of Africa does provide some real
challenges for us. The world has
become smaller thanks to the
internet and air freight.
locksmithjournal.co.uk | MAY/JUN 2015
Sponsored by ASSA ABLOY
The UK has very fragmented
and unregulated training
for this industry. In contrast,
your website says that
the Unit Standards, which
form the framework for
the training of Locksmiths,
were registered by SAQA
in August 2006. The
courseware material
has been developed and
written. Assessors and
Moderators have been
trained and accredited
and training facilities
have been set-up and
accredited. Does this reflect
how seriously training
is taken by LASA and by
the industry as a whole in
South Africa? Again, do
you believe we in the UK
could learn from this?
Training for locksmiths
in South Africa is strictly
enforced by the regulat [ۜ]]ܚ] K