The draft amendments to the Private Security Industry Regulations reflect something of a shotgun approach to the broad issue of the use and possession of firearms and other weapons by the private security industry.
That is according to David Bruce, a consultant on policing at the Institute for Security Studies, who added that the draft regulations may have been circulated prematurely.
The Parliamentary Monitoring Group issued a notice to proposals for amendments to regulations under the 2001 Private Security Industry Regulation Act (PSIRA).
Gazetted on March 28, the changes envisaged are open until April 25 for public comment.
The amendments relate to the issuing of firearms and ammunition to security officers.
Among the amendments is that a security business may only issue a firearm if such issuing does not include security officers possessing firearms in public spaces such as taxi rank, cemetery, shopping malls, schools, stadium or any public establishment.
It further states that a security officer is provided with no more than a reasonable quantity of ammunition for the purposes of rendering the relevant security service.
In respect of prohibited weapons, it states: "Notwithstanding the provisions of regulation 13B, security service providers may not use tasers, teargas, water cannons, sponge grenades, rubber/plastic bullets in the rendering of security services."
Bruce said, "There are several aspects that clearly have not been thoroughly considered and far more thought needs to be given to the issues that it raises.
"The critical issue is to ensure much better compliance by the private security industry with the Firearms Control Act, particularly in relation to ensuring that weapons under the control of private security companies are fully accounted for at all times," said Bruce.
The South African Gunowners' Association (SAGA) has called for the scrapping of the draft amendments to the Private Security Industry Regulations claiming it could severely harm South Africa's private security sector, its officers, clients and public safety.
Gideon Joubert of SAGA said there were numerous serious and debilitating flaws in the amendments.
He said with over 580 000 security officers serving millions of clients, the industry was a cornerstone of national safety.
Joubert said it appears that if a security firm is simply under investigation for an alleged or suspected offence or violation, it will be prohibited from issuing firearms to any of its armed officers.
"Therefore, a security firm can effectively be prevented from conducting business and servicing its contracted clients without being officially suspended, and simply by being subjected to an investigation," said Joubert.
He questioned what constituted no more than a reasonable quantity of ammunition and how it was determined and quantified.
Joubert said the PSIRA proposals threaten to ban armed guards from working if their company is merely under investigation—not convicted, just accused, restrict firearm use in public spaces like malls, stadiums, churches, taxi rank, and impose undefined limits on ammunition.
He added that it outlaws vital tools like rubber bullets, water cannons, and even Tasers and clamps down on semi-auto rifles, crippling high-risk units and mine security.
"This is bureaucratic overreach masquerading as reform. Instead of targeting rogue firms and fake contractors exploiting PSIRA and SAPS inefficiencies, the proposals kneecap legitimate companies trying to keep South Africans safe," said Joubert.
Kamogelo Mogotsi, spokesperson for the Minister of Police, directed the Sunday Tribune to PSIRA.
Azwifaneli Tshisikamulilo, PSIRA's senior manager for training and communication, said they would not be responding to this matter directly, and a media statement will be issued in due course.