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Bring back the commandos - DA
12/10/2006 20:16 - (SA)
Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane
Nelspruit - Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula has been urged to re-introduce the commando system in rural areas to bring down crime before the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
The Democratic Alliance's leader in the national council of provinces, Watty Watson, said on Thursday that the DA agreed with recent warnings by police that Mpumalanga would experience an increase in violent attacks and cash-in-transit heists.
On October 9, a Barberton woman was shot in the chest by burglars, a farm worker was killed on a farm near Malelane the next day and, three days later, a child was held hostage on a farm near Mashishing, formerly Lydenburg, while her parents were robbed.
Easy targets for criminals
Watson said: "These horrible incidents prove the disbanding of the rural commandos was not thoroughly reviewed.
"This leaves all farmers and farm workers defenceless and easy targets for criminals.
"We have constantly warned that the phasing-out of rural commandos will leave a dangerous vacuum in the safety network of all rural areas."
He urged the government to dispatch commandos with immediate effect until trained units were introduced.
Watson said it would be easier to put commandos in place because their members were volunteers, while police were paid officials.
He said commando members were also citizens concerned about crime.
"These commandos are registered, given uniforms and they account for every bullet they use," he said.
Watson said the DA believed that even people living in townships would volunteer for the commandos so they could deal with criminals on a personal level instead of trusting in a failing policing system.
Phased out by 2009
Commandos were established in 1715 to protect farmers and consisted of part-time law enforcers.
In 2004, President Thabo Mbeki announced a programme to phase them out by 2009 after some units were found to have been used to abuse farm dwellers, particularly in Mpumalanga.
Commando members were trained by the army and provided with camouflage uniforms, radios, and R-4 rifles, which were now being returned to the state.
- African Eye
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