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When does a private investigator, forensic investigator or commercial intelligence operator need to register with PSIRA in South Africa? The Private Security Industry Regulation Act casts a wide net, and businesses providing investigative, verification, forensic or intelligence services may fall within its definition of a “security service” without realising it. This article examines the PSIRA registration requirements for private and commercial investigators, the exclusions available to certain professionals and internal investigators, and the serious legal risks for both service providers and their clients when investigative services are conducted without the required registration.