People are increasingly relying more on armed response services than on the police to keep them safe, according to a report on Friday.
From 2005 to 2010 about 2 000 new security companies had entered the market as a result of the drop in confidence in the police by home owners and businesses, the Beeld reported.
Dr Johan Burger, from the Institute of Security Studies, told the daily newspaper there was a need for armed response because of an increase in crimes targeting homes and businesses, such as robberies and hijackings.
However, the ideal situation was that security companies should work hand-in-hand with the police rather than replace them.
According to the SA Institute of Race Relations, 4 600 security companies provided armed response service in 2005. This had increased to 7 500 (61 percent) by 2010.
The number of security guards employed had increased by 236 percent over the same period, the Beeld reported. - Sapa