Rural security 'a priority'

2003-08-08 22:51

Jan-Jan Joubert

Pretoria - The commando system for urban protection in its present form will be amalgamated with the police's special units for rural protection over the next six years and the commando members will be given the opportunity to get involved in the new structures.

The Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula, gave more details of the proposed scheme following the recent cabinet session.

The commando system became a controversial issue after President Thabo Mbeki said in his state-of-the-nation address in February that the system had to be abolished.

This led to discontent in rural areas, where commando members were seen by the farming community as their closest source of protection amid farm attacks and other acts of lawlessness.

Nqakula gave the assurance on Friday that a vacuum won't be left in rural protection and that peace in rural areas was a priority for the government.

He pointed out that the Defence Force, which co-ordinates the commando system, did not really have crime prevention as one of its primary goals and that the police had to play that role.

"Commandos were actually not in the right place", Nqakula said.

He reiterated that the security of rural and farming communities was a matter of priority for the government and said the police's area crime prevention units would tackle safety in poor rural areas.

"The new units will specifically be responsible for the safety of rural and farming communities and commando members may choose to become involved."

- Beeld