State Security Minister David Mahlobo insists the government will continue to push for the finalisation of a bill that would limit the control of private security firms by foreigners.
Mahlobo said yesterday this would ensure the protection of the national interests and security.
The Private Security Industry Regulation Amendment Bill was necessary to curtail foreign ownership of the private security industry, he said.
The sector is one of the fastest-growing industries in the past few years, with almost 500 000 people employed by private security firms.
Mahlobo was responding to questions in Parliament on the involvement of former soldiers in the private security industry.
The bill proposes that South Africans must have 51% control of foreign-owned private security firms. President Jacob Zuma has said he was considering submissions against the signing of the bill into law. Some of the parties in Parliament have written to Zuma to object to the bill, saying it would kill thousands of jobs.
The legislation was tabled by then police minister Nathi Mthethwa in Parliament in 2013.The body responsible for the regulation of private security firms has said there were 9 000 private security companies registered in the country.These employed almost 500 000 people as security guardsThe bill proposes a cap of 49% ownership of the private security firms by foreign companies.