Key takeaways
- 01Plan your festive security before staff go on leave. Early December is too late to arrange extra guards.
- 02Empty buildings need more attention, not less: lock up, clear out valuables and check alarms and lights.
- 03Give your guards an updated contact list and clear instructions for the shutdown.
- 04Public holidays cost more: an officer working one must be paid at least double that day's pay, which adds roughly one extra day's pay per holiday to the staffing cost.
The festive season is a happy time, but it is also when many sites are at their most exposed. Businesses close for two or three weeks, offices and warehouses stand empty, estates are quieter because residents are away, and key people are on leave and hard to reach. This simple checklist helps you get your business or estate ready before everyone leaves.
It is written for business owners, facility managers, estate managers and body corporates in the Western Cape and Gauteng.
Why December is different
Three things change over the holidays:
- Fewer people around. Empty offices, warehouses and building sites have nobody to notice something is wrong.
- Normal routines stop. Deliveries, cleaners and contractors come and go less, so unusual activity is easier to miss.
- Decision-makers are away. If something happens, it can take longer to reach the person who can make a call.
Empty buildings need more attention over the holidays, not less.
Before you close: the business checklist
Work through this list in the weeks before your shutdown:
- Decide what cover you need. Will your normal guards be enough, or do you need extra guards, more patrols or longer hours while the site is empty?
- Book extra cover early. Security companies get busy in December. Ask for extra guards in early November, not the week before you close.
- Clear out valuables. Take laptops, cash, keys and stock that is easy to carry home or lock them away.
- Check locks, gates and fences. Fix broken locks, gaps in fences and gates that do not close properly.
- Test alarms, lights and cameras. Make sure they work, and that the right people get the alerts.
- Leave lights on a timer. A completely dark building is an easy target.
- Stop deliveries. Pause regular deliveries, or tell your guards exactly who is allowed on site and when.
- Update your contact list. Give your security company the names and numbers of people who can make decisions while you are away.
Briefing your guards for the shutdown
Your guards can only protect what they know about. Before you close, give them clear written instructions:
- Who may come onto the site, and on which days. For example, a cleaner on Tuesdays or a contractor fixing the roof.
- What to check on each patrol: doors, windows, gates, fences, the storeroom and the parking area.
- Who to call, and in what order, if something happens. Give at least two people who will answer their phones.
- What to do with deliveries if one arrives unexpectedly.
For estates and complexes
Estates get quieter in December, but they also have more visitors, contractors and holiday guests coming and going. Ask your managing agent or HOA to:
- Remind residents to tell the gate about guests and contractors in advance.
- Ask residents who are going away to let the estate know, so patrols can keep an eye on empty homes.
- Check that visitor records are kept properly at the gatehouse.
- Make sure the boom gates, intercoms and access systems work, and that there is a plan if the power goes off.
- Brief guards on how to handle holiday parties, noise and extra traffic politely but firmly.
A simple shutdown timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks before | Decide what extra cover you need and ask for a quote |
| 2 weeks before | Fix locks, fences and lights. Test alarms and cameras |
| 1 week before | Update your contact list and brief your guards in writing |
| Last day | Walk the site with your guard, lock up and clear out valuables |
| During the shutdown | Ask for short updates, and check in once or twice yourself |
| First day back | Walk the site again and read the guards' reports |
Short-term guards for the holidays
If you only need extra security for a few weeks, ask about short-term or temporary guarding. A good security company can add guards for your shutdown period, or increase patrols, without a long contract. Ask for the same things you would on a permanent contract: the roster, the grades, who supervises, and what is excluded.
Temporary officers must be registered with PSIRA exactly like permanent ones. Verify the business and the individual officers directly with PSIRA rather than relying on a certificate you have been handed — our guide to verifying PSIRA registration shows you how, and choosing a security company covers the wider set of checks.
How JBA Security can help
JBA Security has been protecting estates, business parks, warehouses and development sites across the Western Cape and Gauteng since 2008. We are registered with PSIRA (1685942), and we work 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including over the festive season.
We can help you plan your shutdown, add security guards or patrols for the holiday period, and give you digital patrol reports so you can see your site is being looked after while you are away. We do not offer armed response or alarm monitoring ourselves.
Sources
Reviewed on 27 October 2026. The public-holiday pay position comes from the NBCPSS Main Collective Agreement as gazetted (Government Gazette 50065 of 2 February 2024, in operation until 28 February 2027), clause 8. Public holiday dates are those fixed by the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. This page is general guidance, not legal advice.
Get your site ready for December
Talk to us now, before the December rush. Request a quote or book a free site assessment, or call 082 765 0908.
Frequently asked questions
When should I book extra security for December?
As early as possible, ideally in early November. Security companies plan their December rosters well ahead, and guards get booked up quickly.
Do I need more guards while my business is closed?
Often, yes. An empty site has nobody else to notice a problem, so many businesses add a guard, extend hours or increase patrols during the shutdown. A site visit will show what your site actually needs.
Why does security cost more over public holidays?
An officer who works on a public holiday must be paid at least double that day's pay (Main Collective Agreement, clause 8(2)). Because the ordinary day's pay is already part of the monthly salary, the additional staffing cost works out at roughly one extra day's pay per holiday worked. Over this period there are four: 16, 25 and 26 December 2026, and 1 January 2027.
Can I get security guards for only a few weeks?
Yes. Ask for short-term guarding for your shutdown period. Make sure the company and every guard are registered with PSIRA.
About JBA Security
JBA Security is a locally owned, PSIRA-registered (1685942) security company protecting estates, business parks, industrial and development sites across the Western Cape and Gauteng since 2008. The business is led by director Johan Brits, who served 23 years in the South African Police Service.
Old-school discipline. Modern security technology.
