The private security industry in South Africa provides various services, including guarding, monitoring, armed response, escorting, investigating, and other security-related services to private individuals and companies.
With feelings of insecurity rapidly rising, an increasing number of South Africans are using private security companies to protect themselves and their assets.
The broad private security industry employs over 200,000 security guards throughout the country, of which the guarding industry is the largest, with 125,000 guards working for approximately 3,200 security companies.
Experts have warned that the South African police are losing the battle against crime - and that has led those citizens who can afford it to turn to a booming private security industry.
Regulation and Oversight
The private security industry in South Africa is regulated by the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA), based in Centurion, Gauteng. The authority was established by the Private Security Industry Regulation Act, 2001 and commenced operations in 2002.
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The authority has wide-ranging powers relating to the operation of private security companies in South Africa.
In South Africa, private companies that make use of guards are regulated by a statutory body, the Security Officers' Board. The Board polices the regulations that govern the private security industry and sets minimum training standards for security guards.
Figures from PSIRA show that the number of security businesses in South Africa grew by 43% in the past decade, while the number of registered security officers has increased by 44%.
Challenges Facing the Industry
Several challenges impact the private security industry in South Africa:
- Under-resourcing of PSIRA
- Unregistered and illegal firearms
- Many "fly-by-night" security companies that provide a cheap but substandard service, thereby tarnishing the image and reputation of the industry as a whole.
Also, the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference criticised the private security industry in a 2012 briefing paper. The paper argued that the prevalence of private security in South Africa "perpetuates fear".
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Moreover, the police generally apprehend criminals after they have committed a crime; whereas, the private security industry seeks to prevent crimes.
Key Players and Services
Many of the larger South African private security companies have expanded their operations into other countries in Southern Africa. Private security companies have even involved themselves in political conflicts that are occurring on the subcontinent.
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South Africa Crime Statistics
South Africa Security Overview
South Africa, renowned for its diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers travelers a wealth of experiences. However, the country also presents a dynamic and complex security environment shaped by a combination of socio-economic challenges, organized crime, and regional disparities.
Urban centers such as Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and Cape Town are particularly affected by violent crime, including armed robbery, hijacking, and home invasions. Carjackings and follow-home robberies are a well-documented risk, especially for those using unvetted transportation or displaying visible signs of wealth.
Criminal activity is often organized and opportunistic, with foreign nationals and business travelers frequently targeted due to perceived affluence. In April 2022, Numbeo found that five of the top 20 most dangerous cities in the world were in South Africa.
Organized crime also poses a significant threat to South Africa’s national security and economic stability. Non violent crime, such as cybercrime and scams are also widespread.
Airport scams and theft of baggage are common at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Scams involving card skimming and credit card fraud are also prevalent.
Traveling by road in South Africa is medium to high risk. The standard of driving varies throughout the region and drivers can lack discipline and basic skills. Road traffic laws are not routinely enforced, and many rules are ignored, resulting in an increased risk of Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs).
Vehicle hi-jackings and robberies are common, especially during the hours of darkness. Criminal gangs operate in areas where traffic is likely to slow or stop, for example, at traffic lights and road traffic junctions. Armed violence will be used if not compliant with the attackers.
Urban public transport systems, including buses and commuter trains, are to be generally avoided.
FAQ’s for Secure Travel to South Africa
Is business travel to South Africa dangerous?
Overland travel in South Africa especially in Johannesburg and Cape Town requires security considerations. The vast majority of itineraries can be facilitated with secure transportation, basic safety precautions, and situational awareness.
Can security be armed in South Africa?
Yes, armed security operates in South Africa. The vast majority of executive protection officers and security drivers will be armed in South Africa.
Do I need private security when traveling in South Africa?
The vast majority of business travelers, non-local visitors, and high-net-worth travelers to Johannesburg utilize security drivers and Executive protection officers for airport transfers and if moving between locations within the CBD or greater Johannesburg locations.
Is the road to/from OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) safe?
The road from Tambo to Johannesburg, often Sandton, or other main business and tourist destinations is a target for criminals. Gangs have followed passengers from JNB and robbed them at their destination (hotel or residence) or while en route to their destination.
The Role of Private Security vs. Public Police
Although the South African private security industry is increasingly performing functions traditionally associated with the police, there are clear differences in the objectives of the two services.
Whereas the police are charged with protecting the public at large, the private security industry operates for profit and is accountable only to its clients.
Associated Press journalists accompanied private security officers on patrols around suburbs in east Johannesburg, where it was evident they were performing the role of the police in many circumstances.
Koen was armed with an assault rifle and wore a bulletproof vest as he patrolled in his response vehicle, which is fitted with cameras and has car registration identification technology that can pick up suspected stolen vehicles.
During one of the patrols, Koen sped to where two suspects had been apprehended by other private security personnel after a vehicle they were traveling in was linked to burglaries and armed robberies.
The suspects were handed over at a nearby police station, which typically happens to those apprehended by security firms.
Inequality and Access to Security
But staying safe and avoiding crime is another example of the stark inequality that afflicts South Africa, as only the wealthy few can afford private security services. The majority of South Africans must still rely on an under-resourced and struggling police force.
More than 580,000 private security guards are currently active and employed - more than the police and army combined - according to figures from PSIRA.
"People with money make up a very small percentage of South Africa. That means that the vast majority of South Africans don't really benefit from this security industry," said Chad Thomas, an organized crime expert who has worked more than 30 years in law enforcement and now in private security.
"If you live in a traditional township environment, or if you live in an informal settlement, it is few and far between that you will see security patrols in those areas because they don't have paying customers."
Even those who are lucky enough to have private protection can't always be sure of safety. In November, a South African government minister and her bodyguards were held up at gunpoint on a highway and robbed of money and their cellphones. The two bodyguards were made to lie on the ground while the robbers ransacked their vehicle and stole their police-issued guns.
Security guards on duty in Johannesburg
Crime Statistics and the Need for Security
It's an all-too-common story in South Africa, a country that in the past year has seen an average of 75 killings and 400 robberies with aggravating circumstances every day, according to official statistics.
While it may be Africa's most developed country, it also has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world.
"It's not getting better, it is getting worse," said Anton Koen, a former police officer who now runs a private security firm that specializes in tracking and recovering hijacked and stolen vehicles. "The murder rate is the highest in 20 years, violence is getting worse because our justice system seems to be failing us, the public of South Africa."
Violent crime in South Africa has spiked over the past decade after a period when it decreased substantially. There were 27,494 killings in South Africa in the year to February 2023, compared with 16,213 in 2012-2013.
South Africa's homicide rate in 2022-2023 was 45 per 100,000 people, compared with a rate of 6.3 in the United States and around 1 in most European countries.
The police say 10,000 new police officers are going into service from the start of 2024, in an effort to reverse the trend.
In an indication that police are overwhelmed, local government authorities in the Gauteng province that includes Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, have recently introduced their own crime wardens to help with law enforcement. The uniformed but unarmed wardens provide support to police operations, though they have faced questions over their legal status.
Thomas said that crime "can thrive in an environment where there is a disorganized police force." "We don't have a disorganized police force because they set out to be disorganized," he said.
Thomas, like many, ties the high levels of violent crime in South Africa to anger over the country's deep problems of poverty.
