Amendments to the Private Security Industry Regulatory Act has prompted the Sir Lowry’s Pass Farm Watch to issue a call for more people to join its ranks.
This as the watch believes the amendment to the act, gazetted by police minister Senzo Mchunu for public comment on Friday 28 March, will lead to an increase in the crime rate in the area. The period for public comment on the draft amendments closed on Friday 25 April.
The proposed amendments incorporate provisions in the Firearms Control Act into the Private Security Industry Regulatory Act, ultimately affecting how private security companies are permitted to issue firearms and ammunition to their officers, prohibiting the use of certain weapons, dictating how companies keep registers and documentation of weapons, and detailing the powers of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) inspectors.
The Sir Lowry’s Pass Farm Watch, which focuses on farm safety in Sir Lowry’s Pass, believes proposed amendments will render private security companies ineffective and residents will only be able to rely on themselves. Therefore, it is calling on locals to band together to protect their property by joining its structures.
“The criminals will know when a security company responds to emergency calls, they are toothless because there is nothing they can do without pepper spray or handcuffs,”
Madelein Andrews, watch chairperson.
The local organisation believes the police ministry should focus on policing hardened criminals, who will remain armed and informed of the law, instead of disarming civilians through the proposed amendments.
It further claimed both Somerset West police and the Sir Lowry’s Pass satellite police station is under-resourced and understaffed, which means they cannot effectively combat crime without the support of security companies.
“If the amendments come into effect, the police will be even more ineffectual; they will be running around not getting anywhere with preventing crime and, ultimately, they won’t be able to do anything about it,” said Vanessa Bam, operations manager of the watch.
“We will return to the ‘wild west’ of 14 years ago, when Sir Lowry’s Pass was rife with crime.”
Vanessa Bam
However, Somerset West police station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Jacolise Fleischmann denied these allegations. “Sir Lowry’s Pass is a satellite station supported by Somerset West Police Station with manpower and vehicle resources. It works within a larger integrated network of safety stakeholders, so our operational capacity allows us to respond effectively to incidents in the area,” Fleischmann pointed out.
She agreed that the community and security companies’ involvement is a cornerstone of successful crime prevention, adding that if all stakeholders work together, a safer and secure environment will be created.
Somerset West police has a strong working relationship with security companies operating in the precinct, Fleischmann said, with the Partnership Group meeting weekly to discuss crime trends and community safety concerns.
However, should the amendments be passed, officers of the local stations are capable of delivering effective and efficient policing services without security companies, she stressed. “While they are valuable support structures, they do not function as independent law enforcement entities,” Fleischmann explained.
Ryan Norris, managing director of SHS Security and Protection Services which extensively operates in Sir Lowry’s Pass, submitted several comments to PSiRA, denouncing the proposed amendments. “It’s just a way to overregulate the already regulated,” he said, adding that it would put his officers and clients at risk, as well as hamper the company’s operations.
The proposed changes requires security companies to ensure that officers are in a good stable mental health condition before they are issued firearms, while they also have to attend debriefing sessions every 12 months or within a shorter period when circumstances deem it necessary, at the cost of the company.
“We are contracted by a few churches in Sir Lowry’s Pass, and the amendments would not allow officers to use firearms at the churches and schools, which are common areas of theft,” Norris added.
“With these proposed amendments, it would be easier for a security company to operate outside of regulations as opposed to adhering to them, and putting their members at risk.”
Ryan Norris, managing director of SHS Security and Protection Services
Kamogelo Mogotsi, police ministry spokesperson, said if the draft amendments are passed, any violations would be dealt with as per the requisite legislative prescripts by PSiRA, adding that the changes came after engagements with PSiRA found gaps in the act. These stemmed from operations and oversight reporting requirements, as well as reports of incidents involving firearms and public complaints about the behaviour of security officers relating to the use of firearms.
“The intention of the amendments is to create a safer and more regulated environment within the private security sector, benefiting both service providers and the communities they protect,”
Kamogelo Mogotsi, police ministry spokesperson,
She refuted Norris’ claims that the changes are aimed at putting security companies at risk.
“Over 20 000 submissions have been received and PSiRA is currently engaging with stakeholders and will go through the inputs before PSiRA will advise on the way forward.”
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