“This is not just about regulatory overreach—it’s about people’s lives,” Reuben Coetzer, Spokesperson of Free SA.
The Foundation for Rights of Expression and Equality (Free SA) has submitted a formal objection to the proposed amendments to the regulations under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act, warning that the draft regulations could have devastating consequences for public safety, economic livelihoods, and constitutional rights across the country.
Following its submission, Free SA is calling for the immediate withdrawal of the draft regulations and urges the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) to restart the process through transparent, inclusive consultations that reflect the lived realities of South Africans. The organisation also calls for a regulatory framework that is clear, enforceable, and supportive of ethical, community-based safety partnerships.
In its submission to PSIRA, Free SA highlights that 28 395 individual objections were received via its public participation platform—each voicing opposition to the proposed changes. These submissions, drawn from communities most affected by crime and violence, reflect a groundswell of democratic resistance to a regulatory framework seen as dangerously out of touch with the realities of everyday South Africans.
Some supporters of Free SA noted in the public participation process:
“We don’t see SAPS in our community. If you take away our security patrols’ tools, who will protect us?” wrote one community member.
“Private security came when my wife was attacked. SAPS came three hours later. If these rules pass, who do I call next time?” asked another.
Free SA’s submission raises several key objections:
• The regulations may violate the rights to security, trade, and procedural fairness by curtailing private security capabilities while the state continues to fail in providing effective policing.
• Undefined terms like “reasonable quantity of ammunition” and impractical mandates such as tracking devices on firearms create legal uncertainty and risk arbitrary enforcement.
• The proposed disarmament of tactical units and sanctions without due process threaten the operational viability of an industry that has become a vital lifeline for many communities.
• The regulations ignore successful local safety models, such as the Western Cape’s LEAP programme, and impose a one-size-fits-all national standard that undermines regional solutions.
• A flawed public participation process—including a dysfunctional email submission system and the lack of a Socio-Economic Impact Assessment—renders the process legally and democratically deficient.
“This is not just about regulatory overreach—it’s about people’s lives,” said Reuben Coetzer, Spokesperson of Free SA. “The draft regulations are disconnected from the reality of crime in our country. They disarm the very people who are protecting our communities while offering no credible alternative.”
As the voice of nearly 30 000 concerned citizens, Free SA stands ready to support the co-creation of a constitutionally sound and practically effective framework that protects both lives and rights.
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Anneke Burns
071 423 0079
Free SA Publicist
media@freesa.org.za
About FREE SA:
At the Foundation for Rights of Expression and Equality (Free SA) we are committed to empowering South Africans to have their voices heard. In a true democracy, every opinion counts, and we ensure your voice resonates where it matters most: in Parliament, in public policy, and in the laws that shape our country. From advocating for democracy and equality to holding the government to account, we stand with you to demand transparent, responsive, and fair governance that serves its people.
To learn more, visit: https://www.freesa.org.za/