SA's security industry trembles under legal recourse

JOHANNESBURG - Private security industry in South Africa is up in arms following proposed amendments to the Private Security Industry Regulation Act that will radically impact how they operate.

The draft amendments were gazetted last week by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

Part of the amendments include regulating the type of weapons and ammunition private security in the country are allowed to possess and use.

The recent draft amendments to the Private Security Industry Regulation Act would require private security companies to make an application seven days before utilising any weapon which may cause harm to the public.

This includes weapons and ammunition such as rubber bullets, tear gas, tasers, sponge grenades and water canons.

For Martin Hood, specialist attorney in firearms and security law, the draft amendments are unworkable and impractical.

"First of all, they were drafted without any consultation from the industry or the public. They are, to put it mildly, divorced from the reality on the ground.

Hood believes the amendments would result in a substantial administrative burden on private security firms, which would fall on the public.

"That will mean in turn, that security companies will have to pass whatever the cost of that administration is on to the consumer, so it is going to have an inflationary effect.

The public has until the end of the month to comment on the draft amendments for consideration.