When the state fails to protect you, self-defence isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity
Amid a failure of state protection, disarming law-abiding citizens through the Firearms Control Amendment Bill and ignoring the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority’s governance crisis will fuel chaos rather than safety.
In a nation plagued by insufficient state protection, self-defense is not a luxury but a necessity, according to Ian Cameron, a member of Parliament for the Democratic Alliance and chair of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police. On August 2025, Cameron was ambushed while returning from an oversight visit in Nyanga. He was armed and used his firearm to protect himself and his colleagues, which underscored the importance of individual protection when the state fails.
This sentiment was echoed by an online video from Pinetown, showing a man and his family fleeing an attempted hijacking after armed men stopped their vehicle and opened fire. The driver, being armed, managed to defend himself and his loved ones, forcing the question: what if he had not been armed?
The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira) oversees a sector valued at R50-billion annually, employing over 600,000 people. Despite its significant economic contribution, Psira has been in crisis due to persistent governance failures. Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police has repeatedly condemned Psira's inability to function properly, yet the government expects it to regulate an industry that deploys armed personnel.
The economics of firearms are significant, with the lawful firearms sector supporting more than 1.8 million jobs and contributing between R150-billion and R160-billion to the national economy annually. The firearms trade alone generates R2-billion to R3-billion in direct retail revenue and employs more than 9,000 people.
However, the Firearms Control Amendment Bill, as currently drafted, would impose significant restrictions on lawful self-defense. It would require "exceptional circumstances" for firearms licenses, limit ammunition to 100 rounds per firearm, and grant ministerial discretion over who may be armed. This bill would also criminalize collectors and undermine dedicated sports shooters, the backbone of responsible firearm culture.
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