The state spent R269,5-million on private security companies last year — up R118,5-million (78,5%) from R151-million in 2005.
According to ministerial replies to a number of questions put forward by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Parliament, the money was spent by 20 national departments.
Eighteen departments increased their spending, some dramatically, and all 18 by more than inflation (6,3%).
The criminal justice cluster — justice and constitutional development, safety and security and correctional services — was responsible for both a substantial proportion of the total spend (R224-million or 83%) and the increase (R94,5-million or 80%).
Commenting on the replies, DA spokesperson Dianne Kohler-Barnard said it was DA policy that non-core functions in departments, such as safety and security and justice and constitutional development, be outsourced, so that police could focus their attention on priorities elsewhere.
Therefore, the DA had no in-principle opposition to either of these two departments using private security firms.
”However, it still needs to be established whether or not the increase in expenditure on private security firms by these three departments is, in fact, freeing up more [police officers] to fight crime on the streets,” she said.
Other departments, at first glance, would be harder pressed to provide justification for their substantial increases on private security.
Home affairs (up 729% to R12-million), labour (129% to R14-million) and land affairs (89% to R4-million) were three such examples.
”If one considers that some departments haven’t spent a cent on private security in two years, it is difficult to understand why labour, for example, needs to spend R14-million,” she said.
Four departments — environmental affairs and tourism, foreign affairs, housing and public service and administration — did not spend any money on private security firms in either 2005 or 2006.
Trade and industry and science and technology were the only two departments to reduce spending.
Kohler-Barnard said ultimately the problem underlying all of this expenditure was the high level of crime now permeating all levels of South African society.
”And until that basic problem is solved, the government will increasingly be forced to supplement its existing police force with private security, at the tax-payers’ expense,” she said. — Sapa