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The Democratic Alliance (DA) is concerned that the latest letter from President Jacob Zuma, concerning the deployment of the defence force, amounts to a blank cheque to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) anywhere inside the country between 14 September 2012 and 31 January 2012.

We support the deployment of the defence force in support of the police service in exceptional circumstances where the police service does not have the resources to cope with the combatting of crime and the preservation of law and order.

However, we cannot support the routine deployment of the defence force inside South Africa.

In a letter to Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, dated 19 September 2012, President Jacob Zuma states inter alia that:

“This serves to inform the National Assembly that I have authorized the employment of one hundred and thirty seven (137) South African National Defence Force personnel for service in cooperation with the South African Police Service in the prevention and combatting of crime and maintenance and preservation of law and order in the Marikana Area, North West and such areas within the Republic of South Africa as needed. The employment is for the period 14 September 2012 to 31 January 2013”.

The reference to “such areas within the Republic of South Africa as needed” effectively means that the defence force may be deployed anywhere inside the country, in unspecified numbers, for the purpose of preventing crime and maintenance of law and order, for a period of nearly five months between 14 September 2012 and 31 January 2013 – without the knowledge of Parliament.
This is simply not in line with the Constitution, which requires the President to inform Parliament of:
The reasons for the employment of the defence force;
any place where the defence force is being employed;
the number of people involved; and
the period for which the force is expected to be employed.
It is imperative that the President comply with the Constitution when deploying the defence force.

I will therefore be writing to Jerome Maake, Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, requesting him to schedule an urgent meeting to consider the letter concerning the employment of the defence force, dated 19 September 2012, from President Zuma.

We cannot allow President Zuma to have a blank cheque to deploy the defence force inside South Africa for a period of nearly five months between 14 September 2012 and 31 January 2013.