NGO not on border duty

SANDF CLARIFIES: AFRIFORUM MEMBERS PATROL PRIVATE LAND IN AREA

In terms of constitution, defence force secures the country.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has clarified reports stating civil organisation AfriForum has “taken over” border patrol at Musina in Limpopo.

“To reiterate what the department of home affairs said: it would be illegal for any civil organisation or NGO, including business, to conduct patrols at any border of South Africa,” said SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini.

“SANDF wants to assure all South Africans, in particular those living along the borders, it will continue to secure the border line and will work with those communities, namely farmers, traditional leaders, businesses and community in general, to ensure there is a coordinated effort to curb cross-border crime.”

Dlamini was also at pains to emphasise the SANDF would not shirk its responsibility given by the constitution to secure the integrity of the republic.

“The constitution of the republic mandates the SANDF to protect and secure the territorial integrity of the republic and will do so by making sure the country’s land, air and sea borders are protected and secured,” Dlamini said.

“It is the responsibility of the SANDF to maintain all borderline integrity of the country and not any other non-state grouping or groups.”

Earlier this month, home affairs said that if AfriForum was patrolling the country’s border, it would be viewed as illegal.

“Members of AfriForum in Musina are patrolling their own farms, which are neighbouring the border line.

“They are certainly not patrolling the general border line outside their farms. If they were doing so, it would have been illegal,” said the home affairs minister’s spokesperson, Siya Qoza.

Two weeks ago, AfriForum released a statement saying it had launched a new border patrol initiative in Musina to help police dense farmlands near the border.

“The Border Watch Initiative was established following the enormous support the organisation received after the premiere of the documentary film Open Borders,” said AfriForum’s Jacques Broodryk in a statement.

The documentary alleged there is poor border control between South Africa and Zimbabwe and that AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches helped to safeguard the community.

“The Border Watch Initiative’s first course of action was to donate two sniffer dogs to AfriForum’s neighbourhood watch in Musina.

“Both these dogs, Duke and Hailey, are trained trackers and Duke is specifically trained to sniff out firearms and drugs.

“Between June and September last year alone, AfriForum’s neighbourhood watch in Musina helped to seize smuggled goods with a total value of more than R12 million,” said Broodryk.

“This has a substantial impact on the illegal activities and, according to information we have received, some of these smugglers have thrown in the towel because of the resilience of our volunteers.

“This is an enormous success,” he added.

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