DailySun
The private security industry in the country is witnessing remarkable expansion.
Prior to his murder on 3 November 2024, Mark Lifman was often mentioned in conversations surrounding this sector, largely due to his affiliations.
As reported by Daily Maverick, the number of private security personnel actively working in South Africa exceeds three times that of police service members.
In 2024, the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira) documented over 2.8 million licensed security officers.
Of these, more than 577,000 were employed, representing a significant portion of the workforce.
For context, the latest annual report from the South African Police Service indicated a total workforce of 184,106.
A Psira report presented to Parliament in September 2024 outlined the difficulties faced in regulating the industry.
It noted, “The Authority observed that while regular inspections occur, they are hampered by a lack of capacity.
“Currently, Psira operates with one inspector for every 200 security companies (1:200), whereas the ideal ratio is 1:110.”
When Lifman was killed in George in November 2024, he had strong connections with private security operations based in Cape Town.
The two suspects arrested in connection to his murder, Johannes Jacobs and Gert Bezuidenhout, are also linked to the security sector.
Both had previously offered services to Professional Protection Alternatives, commonly referred to as PPA Security or PPA.
This firm has a solid presence in the affluent areas of Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard and had previously collaborated with Lifman.
On Thursday, 5 December 2024, authorities executed a search warrant at PPA’s headquarters in Cape Town, with attorney Martin Hood stating that the operation was part of the investigation into Lifman’s murder.
He confirmed that firearms were seized for ballistic examinations.
Hood assured that PPA was fully cooperating with law enforcement and that their operations had not been disrupted.
