A resident of Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, Mphithizeli Diko, says private security companies respond to crime swiftly and effectively.
Diko says, “I came across a man gruesomely beating up his girlfriend on the street, the police station is just a kilometre away but I failed to get a police van to come. Upon calling the private security company, they responded quickly and assisted in taking the offender to the police.” There are more than 2.5 million registered private security officers in South Africa compared to the less than 200 000 police officers.
National Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says they are working in partnership with private security operators. Mathe says, “The SAPS has a signed memorandum of understanding and a partnership with business against crime which includes private security. The private security plays a major role in ensuring that jointly with the SAPS, we fight crime and share resources together and conduct joint operations. Private companies are used as force multipliers to ensure that they are our eyes and ears on the ground to help us make our communities safe.