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Cops spend R100m on private security protection

Private security firms are used to guard police stations and some government buildings

The safety and security ministry has spent more than R100 million for private security to patrol premises of the South African Police Services (SAPS) in 2005 and 2006, the Saturday Star newspaper reported today.

In a written response to Donald Lee, the Democratic Alliance (DA) MP, Charles Nqakula, the minister of safety and security, said this was done to make it possible for police to fight and prevent crime. "The SAPS makes use of private security to free fully trained police officers to perform their core function -preventing and combating crime. Private security is employed for access control purposes and to safeguard property," he said.

Nqakula said that all security firms were hired on a contractual basis and that an internal investigation found that the outsourcing of staff was more cost effective.

Vishnu Naidoo, the spokesperson, said private security firms were contacted to help police at major events while they also guarded police stations and some government buildings. - Sapa