PSIRA Under Fire – 500 000 Jobs Threatened

Dear Editor

The DA strongly opposes most of the latest proposed amendments to the private security industry by the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA).

It is concerning that the very organisation (PSIRA) that has quite recently received a qualified audit and continues to see material audit findings by the Auditor General of South Africa, would be allowed to conduct such overreach of power in such a critical industry.

We believe that these rules will jeopardise the safety of the very communities they are meant to protect, as well as the livelihoods of over 500 000 South Africans who work in the private security industry. It will undermine this crucial sector by restricting security firms’ access to tools like tasers and weapons, leaving them underarmed compared to criminal gangs. It will hinder responses to emergencies, putting vulnerable individuals at greater risk. It will destabilise the sector, encourage unregulated services, and ultimately make communities more vulnerable to crime.

Instead of punishing those who enforce the law and diligently work to protect our nation, these amendments should address the rogue elements that have infiltrated the private security sector. The excessive and unworkable amendments would make it impossible for the industry to respond to emergencies, particularly in high-risk areas, and expose communities to an increase in criminal activity.

These rules will have a major effect on the safety of the more than half a million people who rely on the private security industry for their jobs, as well as the private security companies themselves.

These men and women put their lives in danger every day to provide essential services that protect South Africa’s communities and infrastructure. Restricting their right to defend themselves and imposing arbitrary ammunition other tools of trade limits will jeopardise their safety and the security of South Africans.

It is also necessary to recognise the strategic role that private security companies play in protecting national entry points, critical infrastructure, and key national locations where the state itself relies on private security to improve safety. The proposed regulations may severely limit these security firms’ ability to operate.

We are calling on everyone to be fully involved in this conversation. South Africans have until April 25, 2025, to express their concerns and submit written objections to PSIRA. Your input is crucial to ensuring that the regulations are modified in a way that strikes a balance between public safety and the realities of law enforcement and private sector operations.

The DA will also comment publicly on these amendments and will publish our recommendations soon.

If we allow these amendments to pass in their current form, we risk diminishing our capacity to combat crime, protect communities at risk, and support those who sacrifice their lives to protect us.

The DA will continue to advocate for a more just regulatory environment that safeguards public safety, gives security professionals more authority, and ensures that every South African has the right to self-defence.

Regards

Ian Cameron MP
DA Spokesperson on Police