Over the past decade, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has grappled with a troubling decline in its workforce, as the private alternative is booming, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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According to BusinessTech, Official statistics show a decline in SAPS members from 193 297 in 2011 to about 180 000 in 2023, a reduction of over 13 000 officers.
This drop has intensified the strain on an already overstretched force, facing high crime rates and limited resources.
Factors include budget constraints, which have curtailed recruitment and training, and the departure of experienced officers due to poor working conditions, low morale, and inadequate compensation.
Administrative inefficiencies and corruption have worsened the attrition rate within SAPS.
The decline in police numbers has significantly impaired the force’s ability to respond to and prevent crime, with increased response times and reduced visibility emboldening criminal activity.
The 2022/2023 crime statistics reveal a troubling rise in violent crimes, with murder rates up 8.6% from the previous year.
Armed robberies and sexual assaults have also surged.
The decline in police presence has weakened the deterrent effect, exacerbating the crisis and underscoring the need for urgent action.
The National Administrator at the Security Association of South Africa (SASA) Tony Botes, and the National Coordinator at the Association of Private Security Owners of South Africa (PSOSA), Jackson Simon, report that private security in South Africa is booming due to rising crime rates.
Active private security officers have surged from about 50,000 in 2001 to 675,000 in 2024—a 1,250% increase and nearly four times the SAPS workforce.
In your area alone, including inactive officers, the number totals around 2.8 million as of 2023.
‘Unfortunately, the SAPS does not have the capacity to be everywhere at once, and the need for security is the reason private officers outnumber SAPS members three to one,’ said Botes.
Botes highlighted that the private sector’s growth is due to private officers lacking the powers of SAPS members, so SAPS are still needed for arrests and investigations.
Simon added that the boom in private security also stems from a lack of trust in SAPS, driven by corruption. As a result, communities and businesses are increasingly turning to private security for protection.
The latest report from the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority reveals a 31% growth in the sector between 2022 and 2023.
The growth in the private security sector, driven by high demand and funding, has led to better benefits for officers, attracting them away from SAPS.
In May, Police Minister Bheki Cele reported that 58 members of the Special Task Force (STF) and National Intervention Unit (NIU)had recently resigned.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi highlighted that elite officers are resigning daily for private security roles.
There are now 15 113 registered private security businesses in South Africa, an 85.57% increase since 2014.
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Picture: Brenton Geach / Gallo
