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BL Premium reports that police minister Senzo Mchunu has called for greater collaboration between the police and private security firms in confronting SA’s rapidly evolving crime situation.
A more formal partnership between the SA Police Service (SAPS) and the private security industry would signify a shift in government policy. Previous police ministers regarded the private security sector with suspicion, viewing their involvement in crime fighting as a threat to national security. This stance softened in the last term, with former police minister Bheki Cele roping in private security to help maintain order in the run-up to the 2024 election. In an interview with Business Day, Mchunu said he had met the umbrella Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority and intended to engage big players in the sector soon “to get things moving”. The response so far had been positive, he said. “The effort of the SAPS and private security forces will be bolstered by specialised units that will lead and co-ordinate the focus on hot spots. In particular in metros we are concerned about the surge in kidnappings and extortions but we are confident we will get the upper hand,” Mchunu elaborated. Extortion syndicates have caused disruptions in crucial sectors of the economy including construction, transport, security, mining, informal businesses, municipalities and vulnerable communities. SA has also experienced a rise in kidnappings for ransom. The involvement of private security would greatly bolster government crime prevention strategies by using the vast workforce of private security personnel to increase the visibility of law enforcement in urban centres. Mchunu has also committed to have the SAPS work with metro police in Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal to do “far more” than just traffic policing. To that end he will be signing memorandums of understanding with provincial governments.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Hajra Omarjee at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
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