NOD FOR SECURITY SECTOR BILL
CABINET has approved amendments to the Private Security Industry Regulation Amendment Bill, which will regulate the security industry. The bill announcement was made by Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane on Friday following a Cabinet meeting.
Chabane said the private security industry was probably better armed than the police and that the government was concerned the sector is not properly regulated, which could pose a security threat.
The bill will seek to regulate foreign ownership and control of private security businesses in South Africa, operations of security firms outside the borders of the Republic, and provide for the role of the Regulatory Authority in promoting crime prevention partnerships with organs of state.
The bill will also provide for a separate database on firearms issued to security service providers, provide for limitations on the participation of certain persons with scheduled criminal records, and provide for the funding of the regulatory authority by the state.
The Cabinet decision comes after President Jacob Zuma raised a concern in 2010 that the security industry was not rigorously regulated. South Africa has about 1.3 million accredited security guards employed by more than 6 000 companies.
“As one of the most important elements of the security of the country … they are not governed by one institution, they belong to various companies. It’s unlike the police and the army, which are under the command of one person, but you’ve got a network of companies that are all over the place.
“We ’ ve got a vast network of the security industry. If not regulated properly, they may pose a threat. We are not looking only in terms of the current situation, we have to look forward. When you draft a law you are not drafting only in terms of conditions which prevail. You need to anticipate that should this happen, how are we going to respond and you need to try and close the gaps at all times,” Chabane said.
He said the bill, which will be submitted to Parliament, tries to close the gaps that have been identified by people who work in the industry.
“I hope that during the debates most of people are going to indicate why they think there should not be regulation in that area or why there should be regulation,” Chabane said.
The bill will now be taken to the police portfolio committee in Parliament, which will call for public comments before Zuma signs it into law.