University of the Witwatersrand is inviting applications for a Security Officer position within its Protection Services department in Johannesburg, Gauteng. The position is advertised under reference IRC106753 and is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for students, employees, visitors, clients, assets, information and university facilities.
The role is suitable for an experienced security professional who has strong access control, patrol, inspection, emergency response and security reporting skills. Candidates must meet the required security qualifications and be prepared to work shifts, including weekends and evenings when required.
Job Details
- Job Title: Security Officer
- Reference: IRC106753
- Department: Protection Services
- Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng
- Employment Type: Not specified in the advertisement
- Minimum Salary: Not specified
- Closing Date: 20 August 2026
Purpose of the Position
The Security Officer will provide access control, visitor management, security patrols, guarding and general security services across the university environment.
The successful candidate will help protect employees, students, stakeholders, clients, university assets, information, buildings and other facilities. The position requires a professional security officer who can identify risks, respond appropriately to security incidents and maintain effective communication with the control room, university personnel and law enforcement agencies.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be responsible for administering access control and ensuring that university access control procedures are followed.
Duties include using the Visitors Management System to register visitors and ensuring that the system is properly used when visitors leave the campus. Visitors identified through the system as not being permitted on campus must be prevented from entering.
The Security Officer will ensure that visitors are properly scanned and directed to the correct buildings or areas. Employees, students, staff, contractors and visitors must comply with established access control procedures.
The position also requires checking that only authorised members of the South African Police Service, South African National Defence Force or Metro Police in uniform enter the campus with official firearms.
Private property brought into university buildings must be declared in the relevant registers. Assets removed from university premises must be accompanied by the appropriate asset removal permits.
Security Patrols and Inspections
The Security Officer will conduct regular patrols at assigned sites and inspect buildings, surrounding areas and security systems.
Responsibilities include checking doors during patrols to ensure that they are properly locked and identifying faulty alarms or electronic security systems.
Security breaches and irregularities must be reported immediately. Building perimeters and electronic security systems must also be checked at the beginning and end of each shift.
The officer will conduct internal and external inspections and record any security breaches, hazards or irregularities discovered.
Where vulnerable university assets are found abandoned in unsafe areas, the officer may be required to remove them and place them in safe custody.
Vehicular searches may also be conducted where necessary and appropriate.
The role further involves inspecting fire equipment and identifying occupational health and safety risks and hazards.
Escort and Emergency Duties
The Security Officer may provide escorts to students, employees, contractors and visitors. Ad hoc escort duties may also be required depending on operational needs.
During emergencies and evacuation drills, the officer will provide security support as required.
Emergencies may include:
- Fire evacuations
- Student unrest
- Shooting incidents
- Bomb scares
- Medical emergencies
- Other security-related incidents
During an emergency, the officer may be required to place access control doors into emergency mode, verify the location of employees using the access control system and perform other duties as instructed.
First Responder Responsibilities
The successful candidate will serve as a first responder when security incidents or crimes occur.
Duties may include cordoning off crime scenes, communicating with the control room and preserving the scene until the appropriate authorities arrive.
The officer may also be required to record evidence, identify witnesses or suspects and hand over the crime scene to supervisors or law enforcement agencies.
Assistance may be provided to law enforcement agencies when required and within the officer’s duties and responsibilities.
Report Writing
The Security Officer must be able to prepare security reports that are:
- Clear
- Concise
- Accurate
- Complete
Good written communication and report-writing skills are therefore important for the position.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Matric
- Grade C PSIRA-accredited security certificate
- 2 to 3 years of experience in the security industry
- Knowledge of the Criminal Procedure Act
- Knowledge of relevant legal aspects
- Experience in access control
- Experience in security patrolling
- Experience in escorts and inspections
- Experience in ad hoc security duties
- Computer literacy
- A valid driver’s licence
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Good report-writing skills
Applicants must also be able to work weekends and evenings when operational requirements demand it.
The successful candidate must be able to pass the required background checks and screening processes and must not have a criminal record.
Skills and Competencies
Wits University is looking for a security professional who can communicate effectively and maintain good relationships with students, employees, visitors and members of the public.
The successful candidate should have strong interpersonal, communication and public relations skills and be able to work professionally in a university environment.
Discretion and professionalism are essential when dealing with sensitive information and situations involving staff, students and the public.
The candidate should also have a customer-service-oriented approach and be able to support university activities while maintaining appropriate security standards.
The position requires the ability to deal fairly and professionally with people who have different political and religious views.
Confidentiality must be maintained at all times, particularly when dealing with sensitive university information or incidents.
The ability to manage sensitive industrial relations matters and remain calm during stressful situations is also important.
Good judgement and decision-making skills are required, especially when responding to emergencies or security incidents.
The successful candidate should demonstrate honesty, trustworthiness, effective listening skills and good verbal and written communication.
A willingness to learn new skills and improve existing abilities will also be important.
Knowledge of Legislation
Applicants should have a good working knowledge of the Control of Access to Public Premises and Vehicles Act and other relevant legislation.
Knowledge of the Criminal Procedure Act is also required.
This knowledge will assist the Security Officer in performing access control, searches, security interventions and other duties within the applicable legal framework.
Closing Date
The closing date for applications is 20 August 2026.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline and ensure that all required documents and information are included.
Employment Equity
Wits University states that it is committed to employment equity. Preference may be given to appointable applicants from underrepresented designated groups in accordance with the university’s relevant employment equity plans and policies.
The university reserves the right not to make an appointment and may verify information provided by applicants.
Only shortlisted candidates will receive further correspondence. The university also reserves the right not to make an appointment or to re-advertise the position.
Important Information for Applicants
Candidates interested in this Security Officer opportunity should carefully check that they meet the minimum requirements before applying.
Particular attention should be given to the Grade C PSIRA accreditation, Matric qualification, 2 to 3 years of security industry experience, driver’s licence, computer literacy and knowledge of relevant legislation.
Applicants should also ensure that the CV clearly demonstrates experience in access control, security patrols, inspections, escorts, emergency response and security reporting where applicable.
The reference number IRC106753 should be clearly identified when preparing the application.
Closing date: 20 August 2026.
How to Apply
External applicants must register a profile on the Wits i-Recruitment platform and submit an application online.
Applicants should prepare a covering letter clearly stating the position being applied for, together with a detailed CV.
The CV must include the names, addresses, contact numbers and email addresses of three referees.
Applications must be submitted through the official Wits i-Recruitment platform: Wits i-Recruitment Platform.