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BusinessTech reports that private security stakeholders and experts have warned that proposed amendments to the Private Security Industry Regulations threaten the security sector in SA, so risking public safety and thousands of jobs.
In March 2025, the Minister of Police published a Government Gazette notice after deliberations with the Council of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA). The proposed amendments aim to tighten firearm and weapon controls while increasing regulatory oversight. Other changes include mandatory annual physical and psychological assessments for security officers to evaluate their visual, neurological, and emotional condition; restrictions on semi-automatic rifles to limit their use to protecting valuables and critical infrastructure; mandatory tracking devices for all firearms used by security firms, with tracking service providers requiring government approval; and restriction on ammunition to limit it to a “reasonable quantity”. Security firms under investigation could be prohibited from issuing firearms to their officers, even if no charges have been laid. However, experts in the security sector argue that these amendments are unrealistic and will make their operations more expensive and less effective. Another concern is a ban on firearm possession in public spaces would hinder armed response officers from patrolling or assisting in places like malls, hospitals, and schools without meeting government compliance conditions. Meanwhile, Ian Cameron, chair of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, has warned that private security firms could be closed overnight if the amendments proposed by PSIRA are implemented. In his view, the amendments could jeopardise the R45 billion private security sector that employs over 500,000 guards.
- Read the full original of the informative report in the above regard by Malcolm Libera at BusinessTech
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