Commandos: DA slams secrecy
2004-07-19 20:35
Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance criticised the government on Monday over secrecy regarding the disbanding of commandos in rural areas.
DA safety and security spokesperson Roy Jankielson said in a statement that his party was "disturbed to read reports that the government has a secret plan to disband the commandos".
"It beggars belief that while farm murders continue at an unacceptably high level, the government plans to remove thousands of commando members who are trained and equipped to help rural policing," he said.
The DA has expressed its concern when the abolition of the commandos was first mooted. One of the concerns was that a vacuum might be left in rural safety which police could not fill.
"Our concerns have been made more acute by the apparent secrecy that surrounds this move.
"Police have not still said how they will fill the gap created by the commandos disbanding.
"Government's failure to make the process transparent will fuel fears that the disbanding is being done in secret because the government does not have a credible plan to replace the services to rural safety that the commandos are currently providing."
Jankielson said commandos were an important part of rural policing.
He said it was time his party's policy of establishing a specialised rural protection service was entertained.
- SAPA