The Democratic Alliance (DA) in South Africa has called on the government to withdraw and reconsider, in full, the proposed amendments to the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) regulations and the Firearms Control Amendment Bill.
The party argues that the state cannot afford to weaken the very security partners it relied on during the volatile events of June 30, when law enforcement agencies faced heightened pressure to maintain public safety.
DA Deputy Spokesperson on Police, Ian Cameron MP, said the unrest had highlighted a reality that communities had long experienced. “The events around 30 June again showed what communities already know: SAPS cannot fight violent crime alone,” Cameron said.
According to Cameron, the government reportedly allocated close to R600 million towards security measures linked to June 30, while also relying on metro police departments, private security companies, Community Police Forums (CPFs), neighbourhood watches, farm watches and ordinary citizens to help maintain order.
“That should tell the government something,” he said. “South Africa needs every lawful partner in the fight against crime. Yet the government is still pushing policies that could weaken the very people and industries it depends on when the pressure is on.”
The DA’s concerns focus on proposed amendments to the PSIRA regulations gazetted on March 28, 2025, which would introduce additional requirements for private security providers relating to the issuing, carrying, storage, tracking, and use of firearms and other weapons.
Cameron warned that the amendments could create unnecessary duplication of existing firearm controls, increase compliance costs, introduce regulatory uncertainty and weaken armed response capacity in high-risk areas. He said these concerns were amplified by what he described as ongoing challenges within PSIRA itself.
“This is especially concerning when PSIRA itself faces serious questions around governance, corruption allegations, leadership instability and regulatory overreach,” Cameron said. Cameron also criticised the Firearms Control Amendment Bill, saying it was rejected by the majority of participants during the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) consultation process. He added that the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service had acknowledged in Parliament that the Bill may require further reconsideration.
“The Bill targets lawful firearm owners while criminals continue to use illegal firearms,” Cameron said. “It undermines lawful self-defence, adds pressure to the already struggling Central Firearms Register, and punishes compliant citizens, hunters, sport shooters, collectors and security companies instead of focusing on illegal firearms and violent criminals.” Cameron said South Africa’s crime crisis would not be solved by imposing further restrictions on lawful firearm owners and the private security industry.
