Mbeki calls in the military

2008-05-21 19:27

Johannesburg - The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is mobilising to help end the xenophobic clashes in Gauteng.

SANDF and SAPS operations members were in a planning session on Wednesday night on when to deploy, said Director Sally de Beer of the Office of the National Police Commissioner.

Defence ministry spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi said there would be a military presence in the strife-hit areas "as soon as all that needs to be done is complete".

Asked whether troops would be on the ground by Wednesday night, Mkhwanazi said: "No".

"There isn't a specific time, but it will be as soon as possible," added De Beer.

President Thabo Mbeki gave the nod for the SANDF "involvement" in the fight to the stop attacks on foreigners on Wednesday.

His office said in a statement: "(Mbeki) has approved a request from the South African Police Service for the involvement of the SANDF in stopping ongoing attacks on foreign nationals in Gauteng province."

Mkhwanazi said the defence ministry received the request from the police on Tuesday and "complied with due process" in conveying it to the "Commander-in-Chief", Mbeki.

"The president just approved it," he said.

Asked for equipment, too

Mkhwanazi said that, under normal circumstances, the defence force did not discuss issues pertaining to deployment.

The SANDF would issue a statement on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the SAPS said it had asked the SANDF to provide support in the form of "equipment and personnel".

However, troops would not generally be deployed with police, said De Beer, adding: "You won't see troops taking over the police role."

When there were specific operations where the police needed more manpower, "then we will request their assistance", she said.

In terms of equipment requested, De Beer said there was certain equipment the SANDF had, but to which the police did not have access.

In the past, the police had asked the SANDF for the use of Oryx helicopters which it could use to move a lot of people in a small amount of time.

Cops still in charge

She did not want to specify exactly which equipment had been requested, but said it was equipment "they (the SANDF) have at their disposal that we might need for special operations".

Despite the involvement of the SANDF, the police would "still be in charge" of the operation, said De Beer.

There was continuous liaison between the police and the SANDF and it had supported the police on numerous occasions, including during local and general elections, she added.

"We have a very good relationship with them," said De Beer. "That will be maintained.

"There have been talks already... The finer details we wouldn't want to give out."

Mbeki's decision followed a call by the Democratic Alliance to deploy the army to help the police.

The Helen Suzman Foundation also had urged the government not to shy away from deploying further special units and military forces to quell the violence if it continued.

'A spectre to eradicate'

It said the attacks, which included "images of necklacing, violent beatings and the sight of frightened children caught between marauding mobs and police firing rubber bullets," belonged to a troubled period in the country's history.

"It has no place in our present democracy. It is a spectre that great men and women from all walks of life fought against - with great sacrifice - to eradicate from our country's soul forever," it said.

However, Lawyers for Human Rights cautioned that this approach risked "exacerbating the situation and creating a security environment similar to that continuously used prior to 1994".

- SAPA