SANDF is not the answer, say experts

DEFENCE experts and even some in Parliament have warned that deploying troops to gang-ridden areas in the Western Cape and Gauteng is not the answer to solve crime.

Police Minister Fikile Mbalula earlier this month appealed to the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) to support the police in combating crime in Gauteng and the Western Cape, “two of the most crime stubborn provinces”.

Mbalula emphasised that the troops would work with the police to strengthen its efforts to bring down crime in areas like Manenberg, Elsies River and Philippi.

But Professor Theo Neethling, head of the department of political studies and governance at the University of the Free State, said the SANDF was for fighting external enemies.

“We are putting a plaster on an injury that needs much more attention. Over the past two decades the police (force) has grown much faster and bigger than the SANDF. It will be a short-term plan, but it cannot be a long-term solution to the problems in Cape Town. Some people can say we should deploy the army, but we are pressing the wrong buttons,” he said.

Neethling said the SANDF did not “always enjoy” the financial support of the government.

“There are many problems and to just call up the army like that, without the necessary support, will be problematic,” he said.

Professor Abel Esterhuyse, associate professor of strategy in the faculty of military science at Stellenbosch University, said deploying troops to urban areas would send the wrong message to the international community.

“We need to look at strengthening the police with specialised units. There are some people who might say we need to deploy the army, but we need to remember that army is there to fight and kill the enemy. The army deployment would mean short-term stability, but why don’t we strengthen the police forces,” he said.

Esterhuyse said there were units like the elite Special Task Force and National Intervention Unit that deal with serious crimes and high-risk incidents.

“There is also the Tactical Response Teams (TRT) that can be used to help TUESDAY OCTOBER 24 2017

IF COPS ARE NOT YIELDING RESULTS WITH GANGS AND CRIME SYNDICATES, IT SHOULD BE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

the local police in the gang areas. The police are responsible for fighting crime. Deploying the army in our country goes against what exactly the army is suppose to do, and that is defend the country against external threats,” he said.

Chairperson of Parliament’s portfolio committee on police Francois Beukman said the fight against crime is a police function and cannot be delegated to other institutions.

“If current police strategies are not yielding results in certain areas where gangs and crime syndicates hold sway, it should be back to the drawing board and specialists in the field of data-gathering, IT and source recruitment should be brought in,” he said.

Beukman said the police should consider the assistance and input of experts from other jurisdictions and the appointment of an Anti-Gang Unit.

He proposed that officers in affected areas be rotated and re-deployed.

“We need an increased usage of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act to combat organised crime like money laundering and criminal gang activities, and the long-term deployment of specialised units such as the TRT and National Intervention Unit (NIU).

“More resources need to be made available for the crime investigation unit especially state-of-the-art technology,” he said.

On the possible deployment of troops, Beukman said this should be critically interrogated from a policy and operational perspective.

President Jacob Zuma has yet to give an executive order for the deployment of troops.