SAPS Lapses Drain State Coffers, Boost Private Security Industry
Every year, South Africans are paying the price for police inefficiency—and not just in peace of mind. A deep dive by the Democratic Alliance has uncovered a staggering figure: government and ordinary citizens pay about R11.8 billion out of pocket for private security services, despite already pouring nearly R100 billion a year into the SAPS. So what’s going wrong?
The issue isn't just about numbers, but real-world impact. Over the last ten years, South Africa’s murder rate shot up by 37%. At the same time, the police budget ballooned by more than 60%. If you thought that would mean more cops on the street or better protection, think again. Instead, state infrastructure—everything from communications hubs to water pumps—has grown so vulnerable that government departments have had to hire security companies on a massive scale just to keep the lights on and the water running.
Take the Department of Communications, for instance. Last year it spent R2.29 billion on private security. Public Enterprises, responsible for strategic state assets, paid out R3.6 billion. Water and Sanitation spent R1.5 billion, and Transport forked out R1.6 billion. That’s billions just to safeguard public infrastructure from criminals or vandals—on top of what the police are already meant to be doing. In total, all these departments and others together are now some of the country’s biggest clients for private guards and patrols.
Meanwhile, ordinary South Africans aren’t immune to this double-whammy. Many households, small businesses, and even community groups have joined the rush, hiring alarms, armed response, and 24/7 patrols to fill the vacuum left by SAPS. The government's inability to keep crime in check isn’t just a public safety issue anymore—it's become a serious financial headache, draining billions that could be spent on social needs.
VIP Protection and Public Outcry
There's another twist. As worry over crime deepens, so does spending—except this time it’s to cover the backs of politicians. VIP Protection, mostly for high-ranking ANC officials and their families, now eats up nearly R1.8 billion every year. It’s a number that doesn’t sit comfortably with many South Africans trying to stretch their rand in the face of soaring food and fuel prices. The optics are hard to ignore: while schools and hospitals struggle to stay secure, political elites boost their safety at public expense.
So, what’s the plan? The DA isn’t letting this slide. They’re preparing for a heated exchange in Parliament, pressing Police Minister Bheki Cele to explain why the country is effectively paying for two police forces—one public, one private—and still living with rising crime. Their argument is blunt: those billions could be slashing the cost of petrol, easing power cuts, or helping families manage costs—not disappearing into overlapping security contracts.
As frustration grows, the spotlight is set to intensify on the real-world consequences of failing public policing, and who will finally be held to account for South Africa's escalating security spend.
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