The Private Security Industry Regulation Amendment Bill is detrimental to the industry and may result in job losses
12 October 2021
The Private Security Industry Regulation Amendment Bill that was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday, is not well thought out and could deal the industry a severe blow. The amendments are based on unfounded information about, among other things, shares in the industry that are reportedly held by foreign companies and could result in great job losses.
Regarding the government's argument that foreign shareholding of more than 50% poses a threat to South Africa's state security, July's unrest and riots showed that the biggest threat to the state lies in its own ranks.
Even in the draft phase of the Bill, important information about the extent of foreign shareholding and how many job losses would result could not be provided to the Portfolio Committee on Police. No research had been conducted.
In addition, the fast-growing private security industry is of the ANC government's own making seeing as it failed to combat crime and ensure the public's safety effectively.