The distribution of licensed firearms among private security companies varies considerably by province. Gauteng, the economic hub of South Africa, holds the highest share, with a staggering 77 089 firearms. KwaZulu-Natal follows with 26 792, while Limpopo reported over 8,000 firearms in the possession of private security firms. In contrast, provinces like the Northern Cape and Free State have fewer firearms, with the Northern Cape reporting just 210 licensed firearms.

Private security companies are permitted to acquire firearms under the South African Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000). According to Section 20(1)(a) of the Act, security companies may be licensed to purchase any firearm, provided it is not classified as a prohibited firearm. This provision allows private security firms a broad selection of weapons to meet the diverse needs of protecting individuals and property.

In response to concerns about the potential misuse of firearms by private security companies, the Minister of Police confirmed that, as of the latest update, no security company has been flagged for purchasing unauthorized firearms. This suggests that the regulatory framework surrounding firearm licensing and purchases for security companies is being adhered to, at least in this regard.

However, not all aspects of firearm management within the private security sector are positive. A worrying trend is the number of firearms reported lost or stolen. In the 2023/24 financial year, a total of 1 648 firearms were reported as either lost or stolen by security companies. This number continues to rise, with 847 firearms reported lost or stolen in the first half of the 2024/25 financial year. This is a matter of concern, as lost or stolen firearms can easily end up in the wrong hands, posing a potential public safety risk.

The loss of firearms underscores the importance of stringent controls and oversight in the security sector, particularly regarding the safekeeping of firearms and the investigation of any incidents of theft or misplacement.

The substantial number of firearms in the hands of private security companies across South Africa highlights the critical role these firms play in the country’s security landscape. However, concerns regarding firearm losses and the potential for misuse or criminal activity are not negligible. While no companies have been flagged for unauthorized purchases, the reported losses reflect ongoing challenges in ensuring the secure handling of firearms.

With a total of 126 529 firearms licensed to private security companies, the need for robust oversight and accountability remains pressing, particularly given the increasing number of firearms reported as lost or stolen. As South Africa continues to grapple with high levels of crime, the role of private security companies and their firearms will remain under scrutiny.

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The payments were revealed in a parliamentary reply from Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu to Rise Mzansi Chief Whip Makashule Gana, who additionally enquired which Ministers or Ministries had officers claiming the most overtime. Mchunu did not respond to the second question, but did reveal that Close Protection officers “are claiming the same number of hours for overtime, per month, which is 100 hours, due to the extra-ordinary working hours.”

The total amount in overtime paid by SAPS to VIP protection officers for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 financial years is R 198 045 844.00 and R 161 885 074.00, respectively.

In a statement released by Gana, he stated that with the current size of cabinet, which includes 34 Ministers and 38 Deputy Ministers, “it is inevitable that during the current term of office, the SAPS VIP Protection Unit overtime bill will increase sharply.”

Gana further called on Mchunu to “work with his Public Service and Administration, and Treasury colleagues to find a remuneration model that does not revolve around overtime.”

“The primary role of the State and the SAPS is to keep the people of South Africa safe, therefore, resources should be used to achieve this; but seemingly, keeping politicians safe is prioritised at the expense of keeping the people safe.”

In a social media post, Gana commented on the overtime payments, saying “R360 million paid for overtime to keep politicians safe whilst South Africans have to fend for themselves.”

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Responding to the decision, saying it “will do well in improving visible policing,” Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana called for “a whole of society approach.” Gana has called for an expanded deployment, with more members of CI, “working with the Hawks and the newly empowered Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).”

“The community of Mthatha and others across the country have been infiltrated by these gangs, which have seemingly outsmarted the police, therefore the necessary response is for intelligent and specialized policing, not just brute force, so as to untangle the captured community structures from these rings.”

The SAPS has further deployed three senior officers, the head of organised crime, specialised operations and intelligence from SAPS National Headquarters. These officers have been deployed to the province, each with dedicated teams under their command.

The National Commissioner stated the SAPS had been experiencing challenges, with community members being reluctant to report incidents of extortion. With this hindering their ability to carry out arrests, the Commissioner urged “communities to when called upon, come forward and report all forms of criminality to us and who these people are, to enable us to effect more arrests and ensure we build watertight cases that will be able to stand in court. For us to pin down these extortionists, we need witnesses.

“We urge the community’s cooperation in this regard. We have dedicated teams that are assigned to these cases. We are also looking at increasing capacity to register more cases and ensure takedowns”, said General Masemola.

Further noting the National Commissioner’s statement, Gana called for communities to work with authorities, “so that stability can be brought to these communities, allowing for normal social, cultural and economic activities to continue.”

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This is according to Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana, who sits on the Portfolio Committee on Police. He was commenting in response to a written parliamentary reply by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, that the SA Police Service (SAPS) has a detective vacancy rate of just over 8500.

Gana noted “that there are 8594 vacancies that remain open for detectives should be a big concern for all of us considering that we’ve got a high crime rate in the country and that many cases go unsolved.” Earlier this year, former Police Minister Bheki Cele revealed that in the previous five years, 5.4 million case dockets were closed without result.

Gana further noted that the high case load is placing strain on detectives, saying “the detectives that are in the employ of the South African Police Service say they are overwhelmed by the number of cases that they have to attend to.”

The vacancies are set to increase, with Gana adding that “on average 50 detectives leave the employ of SAPS [annually], pursuing other opportunities, mostly in the private sector, which in itself is a big worry.”

Further detail on the vacancies indicates the highest number of vacancies is in KwaZulu-Natal, followed by the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, areas where Gana noted “are crime hotspots.”

Regarding possible solutions to address the vacancies, Gana called on SAPS leadership “to ensure there is a plan to fill these positions. There has to be a training plan, and there has to be a recruitment plan.”

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