Gun Owners Association slams proposed crackdown on private security firearms

The South African Gun Owners Association (SAGOA) has raised serious concerns over newly proposed amendments to firearm regulations in the private security sector, saying that the changes could destabilize the industry and worsen the country’s already fragile security situation.

These proposals were introduced last week by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who reportedly made the move after a series of consultations with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) — the statutory body responsible for overseeing private security operations in South Africa.

Tougher Gun Laws on the Table

Minister Mchunu’s proposed changes, which were quietly drafted and have yet to be widely debated in public, seek to impose stricter gun ownership and usage rules for private security companies. The exact details of the regulations are still emerging, but insiders suggest that the revisions could include tighter licensing conditions, limitations on the number of firearms a company may own, and more rigorous checks on personnel.

Gun Owners Association

The intention, according to sources close to the minister, is to weed out rogue elements within the private security sector — individuals or firms operating unlawfully or unethically, and who may pose a risk to public safety.

Criticism From the Firearms Community

However, Gideon Joubert, spokesperson for the South African Gun Owners Association, believes the new measures are misdirected and could end up punishing law-abiding companies and professionals rather than targeting actual wrongdoers.

“If they are looking to disarm rogue elements in the private sector,” said Joubert, “they should be going after these companies or individuals directly, rather than introducing blanket regulations that threaten the entire industry.”

He warned that the assumption that tighter laws would impact bad actors is flawed, because those operating illegally already ignore regulations.

“There’s this idea that if we just make the regulation tougher, then it’s going to affect the rogue players,” Joubert said. “But these are people who already operate outside the law, so why would more rules change anything for them?”

Unintended Consequences

Joubert went on to caution that the unintended consequence of overregulating the sector could be the collapse of legitimate businesses—the very companies committed to upholding the law and keeping communities safe.

“What they’re doing,” he explained, “is selling the legitimate role-players in the industry — the ones who actually want the rogue guys out — a set of impossible restrictions. Meanwhile, the rogue players will continue to do what they do, and may even expand their reach in the absence of proper security services.”

According to Joubert, this could lead to a dangerous vacuum, as reputable firms struggle to remain operational under the weight of new compliance burdens. If professional companies are driven out, criminal activity could spike due to weakened security infrastructure across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

Security Industry at Risk

The private security industry in South Africa is one of the largest in the world, employing hundreds of thousands of people and playing a key role in a country plagued by high levels of violent crime. With SAPS (South African Police Service) often under-resourced and overstretched, many communities and businesses rely heavily on private security personnel to fill the gap.

Critics of the proposed changes argue that overregulation could reduce public safety by limiting the capacity of private security to respond to threats effectively.

Call for Balanced Reform

While SAGOA agrees that cleaning up the industry is important, they are calling for a more targeted and strategic approach. Rather than blanket restrictions, Joubert suggests the government work with industry leaders to identify and eliminate bad actors through investigations, audits, and stricter enforcement of existing laws.

“Fixing the problem requires precision, not overreach,” said Joubert. “Otherwise, we risk dismantling one of the few sectors still functioning effectively to protect South Africans.”

The proposed amendments are expected to be tabled for further discussion in the coming weeks, and stakeholders across the security, business, and firearms sectors will be watching closely as the debate unfolds.