A 48-year-old KwaZulu-Natal VIP security guard has revealed that private security personnel are routinely handed firearms they are not legally competent to use and, in some cases, deployed to stage burglaries and robberies, according to new claims exposing practices inside parts of South Africa’s private security sector.
Undercover Allegations of Criminal Practices in KwaZulu-Natal
The unnamed 48-year-old guard, who cannot be identified due to fears of retaliation, stated that security personnel are also used to intimidate businesses and individuals who refuse to pay protection fees. According to the guard, some personnel are presented as debt collectors to provide cover for harassment and intimidation. Access to firearms and trained personnel has become a major incentive for criminals looking to establish front security companies, the guard claimed.
Criminals allegedly establish these front companies to obtain and stockpile firearms, including high-calibre rifles and automatic weapons. They reportedly use armed guards to enforce business interests and participate in extortion and turf wars. These allegations arrive as South Africa’s private security industry faces growing scrutiny regarding the movement of firearms, the vetting of security personnel, and the ability of regulators to identify companies infiltrated by organised crime.
Did You Know? Professional hitmen in KwaZulu-Natal are commonly known as izinkabi, according to details shared by the security guard regarding the region’s demand for armed close-protection.
The Lucrative Market for VIP Protection and Status Symbols
A booming market for executive protection was highlighted by the guard, particularly within KwaZulu-Natal, where targeted killings and taxi violence have driven up the need for armed close-protection.
Taxi owners, businesspeople, and celebrities are among those seeking protection after receiving threats or warnings that they could be targeted by professional hitmen. Many security companies in the province solely survive by providing close protection, the guard noted.
However, VIP protection has also evolved into a status symbol. According to the guard, some wealthy clients employ armed protection even when there is no identifiable threat to their lives. For certain companies, the primary attraction is not the security business itself, but rather access to firearms and personnel capable of carrying them.
Civic Organisation Demands Stronger Regulatory Vetting
The Forum For South Africa (Fosa), a civic organisation, has expressed deep concern regarding the possibility that legitimate security structures could be infiltrated, captured, or exploited by organised crime networks. Tebogo Mashilompane, the leader of Fosa, stated that private security cannot be allowed to become a backdoor into critical infrastructure and institutions.
Mashilompane called for the government and the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira) to strengthen vetting, inspections, firearm controls, ownership checks, financial scrutiny, and intelligence-led monitoring. Companies providing security services to the state must face the highest possible standards of accountability and integrity, according to Fosa. Greater collaboration was advocated by Mashilompane, who called on Psira, the South African Police Service, and other law-enforcement structures to work closely together in spotting and dismantling criminal outfits trying to infiltrate the sector.
Fosa emphasized that these measures are not aimed at attacking legitimate security companies or the thousands of honest security officers protecting South Africans daily, but rather at protecting them and the country. Mashilompane stated that this dangerous phenomenon must be tackled before criminal infiltration becomes institutionalised, demanding stricter firearm accountability, regular inspections, and greater scrutiny of beneficial ownership.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific criminal activities are private security guards allegedly involved in?
According to the 48-year-old guard, some security personnel are handed firearms they are not legally competent to use, deployed to stage burglaries and robberies, and used to intimidate businesses and individuals refusing to pay protection fees.
Why are criminals establishing front security companies?
The guard claimed that these illicit entities are set up by criminals to accumulate arsenals featuring automatic weapons and high-calibre rifles, while simultaneously deploying armed personnel to carry out turf wars, extortion, and the advancement of commercial objectives.
What actions are civic organisations demanding from regulators?
The Forum For South Africa (Fosa), led by Tebogo Mashilompane, is demanding stronger background and criminal vetting, strict firearm accountability and auditing, regular company inspections, greater scrutiny of beneficial ownership, and enhanced cooperation between Psira and law enforcement.
How can regulatory authorities effectively prevent criminal networks from exploiting private security structures in South Africa?
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