By Zohra Mohamed Teke
The number of illegal private security firms in operation is rising - in some cases with members of the police force being investigated for involvement in these companies, according to the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA).
The rapidly mushrooming industry - which is worth around R40-billion - has more than 800 criminal cases still waiting to be heard against security companies.
Gauteng is investigating 336 such cases, the Western Cape 150, and KwaZulu-Natal 137, according to the PSIRA.
"Unfortunately we are not in possession of statistics for crimes committed by individuals within the industry, but are investigating how many have been found guilty of an offence, and who is still operating within the industry," said the authority's spokesperson, Siziwe Zuma.
She added that they were investigating two cases in KZN involving police collusion with illegal security companies.
However, provincial police spokesperson, Superintendent Vincent Mdunge, has denied that there are any pending criminal cases against security companies in the province.
"I have gone through the system and we do not have any record of any cases against illegal security companies, or their involvement in criminal activities. I am also not aware of any members of the police force being investigated for collusion in such companies," he told the Daily News.
According to a police source, they are receiving an increasing number of tip-offs from the public about some members of security companies committing criminal acts.
"Nobody is prepared to come forward and provide a statement, out of fear, which unfortunately means there is little we can do at this stage," added the source.
There are concerns that while private security firms are crucial to fighting crime, there are insufficient checks and balances to vet their employees and the security companies themselves to ensure they are bona fide - leaving the way open for abuse.
The regulatory body says it is putting a new system in place to close loopholes.
"We are expanding our regulation of the industry and, by re-vetting all individuals and companies on our database, we hope it will assist in eliminating those with criminal records.
"However, as the authority, we encourage all security firms to do a thorough check before employing an individual - and to ensure that they comply with the Private Security Industry Act," said Zuma, who added that although the organisation had nearly 1.4-million security officers registered on its national database, only about 381 000 were active in the industry."
A concern affecting businesses is how criminals know when cash is being transported to or picked up from a site. Internal collusion has often been touted as a reason, and the South African National Security Employers Association (Sansea) has in the past called for better rewards for security guards who refuse bribery in return for information.
There is also growing concern that criminal syndicates are increasing their offers of substantial sums of money to entice guards to disclose vital security information.
However, Zuma has dismissed the suggestion that guards need to be rewarded for coming forward.
"As the authority, we ensure compliance in terms of enforcing labour laws, which is intended to make sure all security officers are paid prescribed salary scales and that they receive all benefits, including night shift allowances and cleaning allowances due," she said.
"Generally, crime is a negative element that needs to be reported - even in the absence of monetary reward. It is just good citizenship to report all such cases, as part of whistle-blowing."
