More investigations are needed to ensure that private security firms operate within the law, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said on Tuesday.
Nqakula told the South African Broadcasting Corporation at the opening of the new office of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Pira) in Johannesburg, that a report — to be released soon — will advise the government on how to deal with problems in the private security industry.
”We need to do more exhaustive investigations to ensure that everything is above board,” Nqakula said.
”As you will recall a couple of years ago government executed a commission, which deals with the broad aspects relating to private security companies. That report will be soon tabled in Cabinet.”
The commission was appointed two years ago.
Nqakula said while the government encouraged the growth of the private security industry, existing measures would be strengthened to ensure that companies operated within the law.
He said security companies would in future be forced to register at Pira.
According to a 1999 report by the Institute for Security Studies, there were then around four guards for every uniformed member of the police engaged in visible policing. – Sapa