Published by Gideon Joubert, South African Gun Owners Association (SAGA) – 2 April 2025
On 28 March 2025, the South African government published draft amendments to the Private Security Industry Regulations in the Government Gazette. These proposed changes to PSIRA regulations could devastate the country’s private security industry, threatening over 580,000 security officers, their clients, and national safety.
If passed, the amendments will increase operational costs, limit access to essential tools, and cripple armed response capabilities—all while failing to address the real issue: criminal exploitation of weak state oversight.
Public Comment Closes 25 April 2025
📧 Submissions must be sent to: Regulations@psira.co.za
⚠️ Note: The email address listed in the Gazette is incorrect. Use the one above.
Key Dangers of the Draft PSIRA Amendments
1. Firearm Restrictions Based on Allegations
Sub-regulation 13A.(1)(j) and (k) prevents security companies under investigation from issuing firearms to officers—even without formal charges. This opens the door to abuse through unsubstantiated or malicious accusations, allowing firms to be shut down without due process.
2. Armed Response Banned in Public Spaces
Paragraph (q) restricts firearm use in public locations unless complex, unclear requirements are met under Paragraph (u). This would cripple armed response services in:
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Shopping malls
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Hospitals
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Restaurants
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Schools
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Residential areas
3. Vague Ammunition Limits
Paragraph (s) mandates only a “reasonable quantity of ammunition” without defining what that means. In practice:
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A mine security team may need 60–90 rounds per officer
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An urban patrol may require 45 rounds
This ambiguity creates legal risk, confusion, and subjective enforcement.
4. Costly and Unclear Medical Requirements
Sub-regulation 13A.(8)(f) requires annual medical, psychometric, and psychiatric evaluations for all armed officers. But it fails to specify:
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Who may conduct the tests
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What standards must be met
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How results are evaluated
These vague rules place an unreasonable financial burden on employers.
5. Restrictions on Semi-Automatic Rifles
Sub-regulations 13A.(12) and (13) severely restrict the use of semi-automatic rifles. Tactical and high-risk teams protecting:
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Mines and warehouses
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Retail centers and logistics hubs
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VIPs and high-value goods in transit
…would be rendered ineffective against armed criminals like Zama Zamas and hijacking syndicates.
6. Impossible Firearm Tracking Requirements
Sub-regulation 13A.(16) requires that each firearm be equipped with a “tracking device”—yet no such technology currently exists. This duplicates existing control measures and creates an impossible compliance standard.
7. Ban on Essential Less-Lethal Tools
Sub-regulation 13B.(17) prohibits the use of so-called “prohibited weapons,” including:
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Rubber bullets
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Water cannons
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TASER devices (confusing brand vs category)
Even handcuffs require registration. These are standard tools used worldwide to manage violent protests, riots, and non-lethal engagements—especially in crowd control and strike action scenarios.
Summary of SEO-Relevant Impacts
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Regulatory overreach with unclear, costly mandates
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Firearm access limited based on mere investigations
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Vague ammo limits with no objective benchmarks
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Annual psych tests for all armed officers—no structure provided
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Tracking devices required without viable tech
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Semi-automatic rifle bans will weaken high-risk protection
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Less-lethal tool restrictions will endanger both officers and the public
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Security firms at risk of collapse, especially smaller providers
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Criminal actors unaffected, while legitimate firms are punished
A Threat to Jobs, Public Safety, and the Economy
If these amendments are enacted:
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Private security firms may shut down under compliance costs
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Armed response coverage will decline, especially in high-crime areas
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More communities may turn to private firearm ownership for self-defense
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The entire sector—already heavily regulated—faces crippling red tape while actual criminal syndicates go unchecked
What Must Be Done
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Scrap the current amendments entirely
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Enforce existing laws against rogue operators
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Target corruption and inefficiency in SAPS and PSIRA
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Conduct open consultation with industry stakeholders
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Develop realistic, evidence-based regulation that balances public safety and operational viability
Act Now: Submit Your Comments
🗓 Deadline: 25 April 2025
📧 Email: Regulations@psira.co.za
🗣 Make your voice heard—this is a fight for the future of South Africa’s private security industry and for the safety of all citizens.
