Scrapping commandos 'ill-timed'

2003-03-17 21:57

Cape Town - The focus of the military on their primary function and the phasing out of the commando system ignored present realities in South Africa, and is ill-timed, according to the Institute for Security Studies (ISS).

In a document distributed during a New National Party seminar on the commandos on Monday, the ISS said the police lacked the capability to take on the role played by the commandos in rural areas.

"The territorial reserves provide the potential for the rapid expansion of the South African National Defence Force in times of crisis.

"They also complement the police in that they bring their own specialised expertise and capabilities into rural protection. These specialised capabilities may be lost."

The closure of the commandos would leave two gaps that had to be addressed urgently, the ISS said.

The first was a lack of a system to provide rear area protection during times of war and external conflict.

The second was the capacity of the SANDF to support the SA Police Service in rural safety and protection during peacetime.

The commandos also played an important role in disaster management and the maintenance of essential services.

The announcement came at a time when the general crime situation in the country would seem to call for more, rather than less, involvement of the SANDF in support of the SAPS.

The police's sector policing strategy could not in itself be a complete replacement for the commandos.

The SAPS was currently not planning to be able to execute all the functions of the commandos.

"It is only addressing the issue of rural safety. This is currently addressed within the Rural Protection Plan, with a partnership between the SAPS, commandos, and agricultural organisations.

"The commandos provide the bulk of the resources for this plan," the ISS said.

"The SAPS is already struggling to fulfil its obligation to fight crime in the country. The SAPS does not at present have the capacity to take on more tasks, as it is already stretched to the limit," the ISS said.

- SAPA