2005 Volume 2
Commando Chaos
For centuries, South Africa’s rural and farming communities have been protected by the Commando system. Deriving its name from the old Boer military formation, the Commandos traditionally consisted of civilians with military training called up for service if and when necessary.
The number of commandos varies according to different sources, but it is estimated that there are between 50,000 and 70,000. Yet this efficient and vital system is to be phased out “because of the role it played in the apartheid era”, according to the Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula.
This is yet another counter productive move by a member of the ANC government to take South Africa down an ominous path to self-destruction. Not satisfied with the collapse of virtually every facet of South Africa’s public sector - transport, hospitals, education, the justice, police and prison services, the once-proud South African Defence Force, the government has made yet another ideological decision which defies logic and sanity.
President of TAU SA Paul van der Walt has declared that the closure of the Commandos, the shortage of sufficient and trained police officials, the lack of logistical support, the non-implementation of the sector policing system and the implementation of the Firearms Control Act seriously threaten the life of rural communities.
Yet a spokesman for the SA Police Service, one Inspector Dennis Adriao of the SAPS national communication office, declared on 8 March that the closure of the country’s commandos “will lead to better security in rural areas”. This is quite stunning propaganda, a direct assault on the truth. The SAPS itself cannot maintain law and order throughout the country, let alone take over the commandos’ vital role.
The Nelspruit Commando with its 110-strong voluntary soldier contingent was closed down on 4 March when the unit’s coat of arms was laid down. This commando is the first of 18 units countrywide that have been forced to close down. The SAPS told South Africa that the police reservist corps have been earmarked to take over the commandos’ role, but despite a recruitment campaign, the police could enlist only 13 reservists countrywide in 2004.
The police are clearly not ready or able to take up the slack.