Durban – R140 billion – that’s how much South Africa forked out last year to prevent crime. But, if the latest crime statistics are anything to go by, we’re simply not getting value for money from either the police or security companies.
In the past financial year the government budgeted almost R70bn for the SAPS. That’s taxpayer’s money. But many South Africans don’t just rely on the police – they hire private security companies to protect their homes and businesses.
According to the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira), South Africans spent just under R70bn last year with security companies.
On Friday, while releasing the country’s latest crime statistics, Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega pointed out that South Africa’s private security industry was the largest in the world.
Psira has 9 000 registered security companies and over 400 000 security guards on their accredited data base. That’s more people than the police and army combined.
Despite this, South Africans are being robbed when they are in their homes.
This involves some level of violence and happens even though many homes are equipped with hi-tech alarm systems and an armed response service.
According to the latest crime stats countrywide robberies at home went up in one year by 7.4 percent…
South Africa Today – South Africa News
