I’m part of the problem – VIP guard lifts lid on criminal practices

A KwaZulu-Natal-based private security guard has exposed alleged criminal activities within South Africa's private security sector. The guard, 48, claims guards are given firearms despite lacking legal competence and are sometimes used to stage robberies and intimidate non-paying clients. He asserts that criminals exploit access to firearms and trained personnel to establish front security companies, and use armed guards to enforce business interests and engage in extortion and turf wars.

The revelations come as the country's private security industry faces heightened scrutiny over firearm movement, personnel vetting, and regulator capacity to identify potential infiltration by organized crime. The guard highlighted the lucrative market for VIP protection in KwaZulu-Natal, where taxi violence and targeted killings have driven demand for armed close-protection.

Some clients employ armed protection even when there's no apparent threat, considering it a status symbol. Civic organization Forum For South Africa raised concerns about potential infiltration of legitimate security structures by organized crime networks. They urged stronger vetting, inspections, firearm controls, ownership checks, financial scrutiny, and intelligence-led monitoring of security companies and personnel.