Land Party Supports First Step Towards Banning Private Security

To: All media

From: Land Party National Spokesperson, Mandy Owens

Contact: landpartysa@gmail.com | https://www.landpartysa.co.za/contact | @LandPartySA | 082 336 4295

Date: 2019/05/23

Embargo: None

Credit: BBC News, AP

Government has gazetted proposed new regulations for security firms, which include a variety of new rules governing guns, guard dogs and uniforms. Security company owners face imprisonment if their uniforms resemble police, defence force or correctional services uniforms in any way. No uniforms in any shade of blue will be allowed, and neither will those with a camouflage design. Security workers will also only be allowed to use their employer's guns.

The Land Party supports these new regulations, but we also call for the complete disbandment of all forms of private security.

Private security firms are being used in South Africa by the likes of Afriforum to make money through race-based fear. Their outrageous and unnecessary use of violence and force unleashed particularly on people of colour is a serious cause for concern in an already sensitive racial environment in South Africa.

The Land Party believes that resources should rather be used to strengthen and support the South African Police Services and the South African Defense Force as trustworthy and dependable representatives of safety and security in South Africa, making it completely unnecessary and impossible for racist private security firms to survive.

We have been vocal about banning private security since our inception as a political party and it is something we will continue to fight for. See our other press releases on the issue: #PrivateSecurityMustFall in Hermanus and #PrivateSecurityMustFall