|
Executive Summary
The private security industry is one of the fastest growing economic sectors in South Africa. Since 1970, the industry has expanded at an average annual rate of thirty per cent. At the beginning of 1999 there were some 350 000 registered private security guards, of which 147 000 were active in the private security industry. Moreover, there are an estimated 60 000 security guards working in an ‘in-house security’ capacity who are not registered as private security guards.1
There are approximately two private security guards for every employee of the South African Police Service (SAPS). It is estimated that there are more than four private security guards for every uniformed member of the SAPS engaged in visible policing work. The public are therefore more likely to come into contact with private security guards than with police officers.
Many private security company executives claim that crime does not necessarily lead to an increase in business. However, unlike other industries which have been adversely affected by high crime levels, the security industry has grown considerably over the last two decades. The value of the industry was estimated to be close to R9 billion in 1997. In 1998/99, the industry’s value could be as high as R11 billion.2
Graph 1: Growth in the value of the private security industry, 1990 to 1997 (excluding vehicle security and in-house security)
Graph 2: The contribution by different categories to the overall value of the private security industry, 1997
|
|
|
