On March 28, Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, published draft amendments to regulations overseeing the Private Security Industry in the Government Gazette.
Despite the Minister stating that the proposed new regulations are published for public comment after "consultation with the Council of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority," the industry has responded with a sense of great concern at the published regulations.
While South Africans everywhere - from homes to schools to churches and big and small businesses – rely on the private security industry to protect them from the engulfing crime wave in South Africa, the proposed new regulations prohibit the carrying of guns by security officers in most public spaces. Most of us would want a gun-free South Africa, but we would, at this point, prefer a crime-free South Africa more.
The new regulations prohibit security officers from carrying guns at taxi ranks, cemeteries, stadiums, shopping malls, churches, restaurants, parks, hospitals, schools, and other similar establishments. One can understand that some disturbing developments over the last ten years, where pastors arrived at churches, in nauseating affluence, with arrogant bodyguards riding ‘shotgun’ and publicly displaying automatic weapons, might have partially influenced the Minister's views.
But malls, schools, restaurants, stadiums, taxi ranks, and religious centres that all collect money are now completely disarmed from protecting themselves, their patrons and their money from armed criminals. This increases the vulnerability of such places and, I suggest, will decrease their patronage and profitability.
The Minister certainly has the data on how many schools are burgled and how many churches and malls are robbed at gunpoint. How did he and his colleagues conclude that those appointed to secure these premises from armed robberies may not carry legal weapons? In addition, by disarming security guards in one of the most violent societies in the world, their lives are now at greater risk. An armed robbery at a mall will now become a casual outing for criminals.
To further destroy any sense of protection offered by the security industry, they may also not use non-lethal weapons such as tasers, tear gas or "any other weapon that may harm civilians." In a country where the police hardly respond to life-threatening criminal actions, South Africans are now more vulnerable. More individuals are now going to be owning guns because private gun ownership is not affected by these regulations. So instead of lessening the need for private gun ownership, these regulations now increase the need therefor.
The further significant effect on South Africa and its security industry is that in a country that is subject to weekly riots, looting and home invasions, no “other weapon that may harm civilians” may be used to protect civilians who are under attack without a laborious permission application process. Section 13.A (1) (u) (ii) states that "a firearm must not be used unless a risk assessment report has been submitted to the Authority." If you have ever been to a peaceful protest in South Africa and you witnessed how it became a violent riot within the last few minutes as people disperse, you will understand how impractical this particular regulation is.
Our public policing services, sadly, have become like a group of untrained security guards, and our security industry has become the actual police service in South Africa. Few of us will call the police when we have a home invasion. We call our local security company to rescue us. It pains me to make such a sad statement.
Police work should be a noble profession. Protecting our country and its people should be a job filled with pride. Minister Mchunu should deepen the professionalism, root out corruption, and expand the efficiency of the police services. It's a proud profession. But in its current poor state, he cannot put South African lives at risk by curtailing the protection services citizens, schools, and businesses desperately need against a violent and ruthless criminal culture.
Cape Argus