AgriSA upset about commandos
2003-02-18 22:56
Bloemfontein - President Thabo Mbeki's announcement that the commando system would be phased out, was "extremely disappointing", "unacceptable" and "unilateral", AgriSA said on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Kiewiet Ferreira said rural communities would have to rely mainly on themselves for protection once the commandos were phased out.
Mbeki made the announcement on Friday during his state of nation address.
"The police are currently overburdened and cannot give effective attention to all matters reported to police stations on a daily basis. If commandos are phased out it will place an even greater burden on the police," Ferreira said.
"It creates an opportunity for criminal elements to destabilise rural areas, with accompanying negative effects for continued sustainable food production."
Safety and security minister Charles Nqakula said it was envisaged that commando functions would be taken over by a new police unit.
However, Ferreira said a vacuum would be left in rural security.
"For this reason AgriSA finds it unacceptable."
He also said that, according to his knowledge, some police stations in rural areas would also only be open during office hours as part of a restructuring plan.
"The commando system is one of the few structures in rural areas that have the capacity to bring stability and to be activated immediately in the event of disaster.
"With the withdrawal of the defence force from the Lesotho border, the police were unable to take over the task of border control and commandos were used to perform that function," Ferreira said.
- SAPA