The people have spoken…

A new report released this week indicates a worrying trend in security conscious South Africa: people by and large prefer relying on private security companies to keep them safe, which is bad news for our official protectors, the South African Polic Service.

This trend is borne out by the massive growth of companies in the private security industry in South Africa since 2005, which saw a 61% surge up until 2010 with 7500 companies registered. Likewise, the cohort of employed security personnel increased by 236% in the same period.

Says an expert from the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, Dr. Johan Berger:

There is a need for armed response because of an increase in crimes targeting homes and businesses, such as robberies and hijackings. However, the ideal situation is that security companies should work hand-in-hand with the police rather than replace them.

There was no comment from the SAPS on the trends emerging in the report.

[Source: TIMES Live]