As night falls on the streets of Johannesburg’s wealthiest district, the darkness is pierced by the flashing lights of high-powered patrol vehicles. Inside, armed men keep watch over the streets. But they haven’t been dispatched by the police, the military, or any official body. They are part of a growing industry in South Africa: private security services.
For decades, the country has been plagued by rising rates of carjackings, armed robberies, and murders. With murders at a 20-year high and the increase in kidnappings for ransom targeting wealthier businesses, those who can afford it are increasingly employing private security. At the same time, more police officers are leaving the force to work for private companies, reflecting the decline of the state’s monopoly on law enforcement.
While there are 150,000 police officers, there are 2.7 million registered private security employees—five times more than in 2017. Private security companies provide the full spectrum of protection. Wealthy clients are willing to pay up to 100,000 rand ($5,535 USD) per month for bodyguards, which is more than three times the national average salary. Johannesburg’s “Rand Water” hires private security companies to protect its pipelines from illegal gold miners. Some private firms possess more firearms than the police, and a trained employee is better equipped than a soldier in the South African army.
Translated and edited by Alex Kada