When the draft Private Security Industry Regulation Amendment Bill was published in 2012 we commented that the proposed limitation on foreign ownership may violate South Africa's GATS (General Agreement on Trade in services) commitments at the WTO (World Trade Organisation). To read that story please click here.

It has now transpired that the Bill was in fact adopted by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police. As such the National Assembly had to finally approve the Bill. The National Assembly however did not approve the Bill and sent it back to the relevant Portfolio Committee for reconsideration in 2014. We therefore wait to see whether the Portfolio Committee will take into consideration South Africa's GATS commitments. The private sector is encouraged to participate in this process.

Rian Geldenhuys
© Trade Law Chambers 2013

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