MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – Government’s attitude towards South Africa’s Commando system is short-sighted and unwise. Its recent steps in this regard create a huge safety gap and contain disturbing resemblances to the Zimbabwean model of state-orchestrated violence to ensure positive election results.

In a media statement, the chairperson of the TAU SA Northern Region, Mr Dries Joubert, expressed concern with the sudden urgency of government’s action to disband commando units. According to a recent announcement, all operations (excluding administration) of various commando units must cease with immediate effect. In a letter dated March 16 this year, the Warmbad-, Potgietersrus-, Thabazimbi- en Waterberg Commando units were instructed to cancel all operations and support to the SAPS with immediate effect – that was from March 18. Mr Joubert says this seems to entrench mistrust between rural communities and the government and will create a further decline in rural safety, before the local government elections at the end of the year.

The closure of commando units will further weaken the ability of government to protect rural people from lawless elements. It causes a serious safety risk and farmers will have to brace themselves for a likely increase in politically inspired brutal farm attacks, stock theft and poaching, before December 2005. It also raises the spectre of land expropriations.

Mr Joubert says although government indicated that the SAPS will be equipped to “replace” the functions of the commandos, very little seems to be in place. It is of little comfort for the rural community that the commandos will “stay open” and continue certain administrative activities. It was made clear that all operations, marnet duties and intelligence-related activities would cease as from March 18.

“Although our Constitution guarantees transparency and accountability, rural communities, and especially the white Afrikaner minority, seem to be excluded from the protection of these provisions,” says Mr Joubert. He says there is scant evidence that the SAPS is able to replace all or any of the functions currently under the command of the Commandos.

Mr Joubert says it is clear that the request that members of the commando apply to join the SAPS reservists is not well planned. No provision has been made to replace the payment received by commando members. Reservists do not receive fire-arms and cannot protect people. No provision is made for the long-service awards that were in place in the commando system.