Parliamentary peace and security oversight was spotlighted by representatives of four committees – three in the National Assembly (NA) and the fourth in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) – at a Thursday briefing focussing on, among others, the Presidential “employment” of soldiers to boost crime fighting efforts.
While there were other agenda items, the over-arching topics related to last month’s SONA (State of the Nation Address) where Cyril Ramaphosa made public a decision to put soldiers alongside police in certain provinces to combat specifically gang violence and illegal mining. The initial pair of provinces – Gauteng and Western Cape – were soon after joined by the Eastern Cape with the Free State and North West provinces also added to the latest Operation Prosper areas of operation (AoOs).
Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) co-chair Molefi “Dakota” Legoete (African National Congress) told the media briefing in the Parliamentary Library his committee was “supportive” of the year-long deployment to collaborate and co-operate with the SA Police Service (SAPS) in fighting crime, consistent with a Constitutional mandate.
“When 26 000 people die at the hands of criminals, that is comparable to a war situation. Yet we are not officially at war. Now, it is not something that the police alone can manage. The SANDF [SA National Defence Force] needs to come in, because some of these criminals use high calibre weapons, automatic rifles and access to sophisticated arms,” he noted emphasising the military deployment “must not be long term”.
“We have engaged extensively with academics, universities, psychologists, economists and other experts and one of the consistent messages is that military deployment must be temporary. We need sustainable, long-term solutions,” a Parliamentary Communication Services (PCS) statement has him saying, with intelligence integration a key one.
“We need a fusion centre, supported by artificial intelligence (AI), where crime intelligence and other security agencies collaborate. Such a system must allow communities to report safely, without fear of being targeted. Instead of whistle blowers being killed, they should be protected through secure reporting mechanisms. Through intelligence and technology we can identify and disrupt criminal networks across the country.”
Legoete further emphasised the necessity of a multi-disciplinary approach to the deployment with SAPS, SANDF, SARS (SA Revenue Service), the BMA (Border Management Authority), the departments of Social Development, Home Affairs and other government entities.
The army, he maintains, is involved to stabilise the situation with “systemic intervention” to follow.
Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) chair, Phiroane Phala also an ANC parliamentarian, told the briefing the SANDF was – at times – required to support internal security efforts when circumstances demand. This is why the JSCD welcomed the Presidential announcement, he said, adding “as legislators our role goes beyond simply welcoming” and involves ensuring deployments are implemented effectively, responsibly and within the framework of the law.
Going back to an earlier JSCD meeting where the committee was briefed by the national defence force, he pointed out concerns were raised about the lack of clarity and alignment between SANDF and SAPS operational plans. These included issues around command and control structures, preparedness of SANDF personnel to operate in civilian environments and delays in implementing the Presidential directive. These have since been clarified and there is now greater co-ordination and co-operation between the SANDF and SAPS, the media briefing heard from Phala.
His presentation closed with a reminder the SANDF deployment was an important force multiplier and the caveat that clear exit strategies be developed along with socio-economic interventions as part of an overall long term response to crime.
NCOP SCSJ (Select Committee on Security and Justice) chair Jane Mananiso, like her NA committee counterparts and ANC public representative, welcomed the presence of soldiers to boost police.
“The deployment will help restore peace to troubled and violated communities. Our police have for too long become victims of criminals while they needed to observe legislative requirements instead of dealing aggressively with criminals who have no regard whatsoever for other people’s human rights.
“We want restoration of peace in our communities, and we want decisive action on drugs and those who facilitate the scourge. The committee has emphasised the importance of co-operation, collaboration and partnership of all law enforcement agencies, including community policing forums, to combat crime and to bring peace to our communities and we will continue to oversee the deployment of the SANDF in provinces,” she is quoted as telling the briefing.
While not part of the cluster briefing, Democratic Alliance (DA) NCOP parliamentarian, Nicholas Gotsell, contributed by way of a statement that gave the deployment an approval rating but questioned delays in making public details as regards planning, training and command structures. According to him three Parliamentary oversight committee meetings subsequent to the SONA announcement saw no clear information provided.
“As recently as last Friday’s [13 March] JSCD meeting, the SANDF was still unable to provide these assurances to Parliament. Yet, by Sunday [15 March], both the SANDF Chief [General Rudzani Maphwanya] and SAPS National Commissioner [General Fannie Masemola] were ready to hold a joint media briefing announcing the deployment.
“The question is clear: what changed within 48 hours and why was Parliament not informed?
“This lack of transparency is concerning, particularly as this deployment places R823 million in public funds in the hands of a department currently under extensive investigation by the Hawks and the SIU, involving between R2.1 billion and R2.5 billion in suspected corruption,” is worrying to Gotsell.
Ian Cameron, Portfolio Committee on Police (PCP) chair Ian Cameron, like Gotsell a DA public representative, echoed the Phala force multiplier comment adding the visible military presence will help “quell violence in the short to medium term”. He is adamant soldiers are not a long term solution.
“There is a real risk that it becomes a temporary measure, a plaster on a wound that requires surgery. We must be honest about that,” he told the briefing adding his concerns about mandate differences and training to that of previous speakers.
By way of illustration he said he was informed of tensions “already emerging” between soldiers and police, including issues around seized equipment from illegal mining operations and discrepancies in reporting. “This,” according to Cameron, “raises serious questions about the command-and-control structures in these operations”.
The outspoken public representative, probably best known in this regard for a widely reported verbal fracas with former police minister Bheki Cele in July 2022, said the utilisation of soldiers was “a clear indicator” the SAPS has insufficient capacity to deal with gang violence in the Western Cape. “Engaging” security personnel from various units on the ground, Cameron was told of “little clarity” on co-operation between police and soldiers as well as hearing joint training “may begin soon”.
On the positive side he told the briefing: “If each entity operates within its mandate and co-ordination is properly structured, combining specialised SAPS units, jointly trained soldiers, intelligence driven operations and prosecution-led strategies, then it is possible to disrupt criminal networks, remove illegal firearms and drugs and target key figures in organised crime”. This, he added, requires disciplined co-ordination – currently lacking.
