The Telegraph
The country’s private security industry is witnessing remarkable expansion.
In the weeks preceding his murder on November 3, 2024, Mark Lifman’s name frequently emerged in conversations surrounding this sector due to his influential connections.
According to a report from Daily Maverick, there are currently over three times as many active private security personnel in South Africa compared to police service staff.
As of 2024, the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira) has registered more than 2.8 million security officers.
Of this number, over 577,444 individuals are actively employed in the field.
In comparison, the latest annual report from the South African Police Service indicates a workforce of 184,106.
A Psira report presented to Parliament in September 2024 pointed out various challenges in regulating the sector.
The report noted: “While regular inspections are conducted, they are impeded by inadequate capacity.
“Currently, Psira operates with one inspector for every 200 security firms (1:200), whereas the ideal ratio should be 1:110.”
Following Lifman’s murder in George in November 2024, he was known to have significant connections with private security operations in Cape Town.
The two suspects arrested in connection with his murder, Johannes Jacobs and Gert Bezuidenhout, also have affiliations within the security industry.
Both individuals had provided services for Professional Protection Alternatives, commonly referred to as PPA Security or PPA.
This firm is well-established within Cape Town’s affluent Atlantic Seaboard and had previous associations with Lifman.
On Thursday, December 5, 2024, authorities executed a raid on PPA’s headquarters in Cape Town, with attorney Martin Hood stating that this action was part of the ongoing investigation into Lifman’s murder.
Hood confirmed that firearms were seized for ballistic testing.
He further stated that PPA is fully cooperating with the investigation and reassured that their operations remain unaffected.
