Private Security Industry Regulation Bill

Rev Dr Kenneth Meshoe MP

Tuesday, 23 October 2001


Speech given by Rev Dr Kenneth Meshoe MP, President of the African Christian Democratic Party on the Private Security Industry Regulation Bill in Parliament today:


Madam Speaker

The protection of every person’s right to life and security of the person, as well of the right not be deprived of property, is fundamental to the well being and to the social and economic development of every person. It is the responsibility of government to ensure that the rights to citizens to life, safety and security are protected and to punish those that undermine and violate such rights.

It is an indictment against any government for citizens to turn to private security companies for protection while they are paying taxes to a government that should be protecting them for criminals. The increase of private security companies in a country means that citizens have lost their confidence and faith in the police that should be protecting them. The escalating crime in this country is forcing concerned citizens to spend more on their security, because the government has failed them. Many private security companies are mushrooming throughout the country – hence the need to regulate this industry.

The ACDP fully supports the regulation of the private security industry in our country, and therefore supports this bill, albeit with some reservations. Although I was assured in the committee that sections 31 and 32 will not be abused, and will also not result in individuals using security officers being victimised by the inspectors, I nevertheless want to register my concerns about the inclusion of the words “any other person who employs a security officer” in clauses 31 and 32.

I believe sections 31 and 32 are too broad, open for abuse, and will be successfully challenged in the constitutional court.

I still maintain that it is not individuals who employ personal security officers or bodyguards who should be inspected, but security service providers. The aim of the bill is not to target any businessman or political leader who has a personal assistant looking after their security, or any other individual who may need that extra protection from a bodyguard.

I believe that it would be an infringement of our constitutional right to privacy for any inspector to enter and search any private home of any individual, whose only crime would be to use the services of a personal security officers (bodyguard), without prior notice, as section 32(a)(i) suggests.

It would be morally wrong and legally unjustifiable for private homes to be searched just because a security service is rendered at those homes as section 32(iii) suggests.


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For more information please call Rev Meshoe MP at 021- 4033521 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 478 1037