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Polity
Published: 22 Feb 2010
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| FFPlus: Statement by Pieter Groenewald, Freedom Front Plus spokesperson, welcoming border patrol being given back to the Defence Force (22/02/2010) | |
| "The decision to once again make use of the Defence Force for border control is welcomed by the Freedom Front Plus. It was a mistake of the government to withdraw the Defence Force, but the mistake is now being rectified. The deployment of soldiers on the border will take place in four phases with priority being given to the northern border with Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The reserve forces will also be made use of for patrols. With the uncontrolled influx of illegal immigrants to South Africa from the north, this is a step in the right direction," Mr. Pieter Groenewald (MP) chief spokesperson on Defence for the Freedom Front Plus says. "The Defence Force is capable to undertake border control more cheaply and more effectively than the Police. Defence Force Members are specifically trained for patrol work, territorial protection and working 24 hours. Police members do not receive this specialist training and demand overtime payment. Troops who are not sent on peace keeping operations in Africa will now be utilized more effectively on our own borders. According to the Minister of Police there were 651 police members deployed on the borders of the country. (See Parliamentary answer below) Although 540 soldiers will be deployed according to the Defence Force, the difference in training requires less soldiers who could do the same work," Groenewald said. PIETER GROENEWALD (MP) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY - FOR WRITTEN REPLY - QUESTION NO 618 DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 28 MARCH 2008 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 11/2008) Date reply submitted: 22 April 2008 Mr PJ Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister for Safety and Security: (1) How many members of the SA Police Service are available for border patrol duties in respect of (a) Zimbabwe, (b) Mozambique, (c) Lesotho and (d) Swaziland; (2) whether the SAPS, in the light of the Auditor‑General's report on border security, does enough towards border security; if not, (a) why not and (b) what will he do about it; if so, how did he arrive at this conclusion? NW1308E REPLY: (1) The SA Police Service has deployed the following number of members for border patrols: (a) Zimbabwe border: 77 members who are jointly deployed with the SA National Defence Force, (b) Mozambique border: 221 members, (c) Lesotho border: 207 members, and (d) Swaziland border: 146 members. (2) In terms of border security, the SA Police Service is deploying members along the land borders in accordance with the approved Exit/Entry Strategy. The SA Police Service established permanent sea border control units at Richards Bay and Simon's Town. Members are also deployed at Alexander Bay to execute an intervention operation along the West Coast, from Alexander Bay to Green River Mouth. In terms of air border control, all provinces have trained members who are performing the function. The SA Police Service developed a Border Security Strategy and is successfully executing this strategy. The following statistics, clearly indicate the successes of the SA Police Service's efforts to police the South African borders: ARRESTS Crime Number of arrests Undocumented persons 62 625 Possession of dagga 105 Dealing in drugs 522 Human‑trafficking 19 Stock theft 45 Theft of motor vehicle 150 Possession of unlicenced firearms 112 Murder 20 Armed robbery 30 House‑breaking and theft 27 Illegal possession of living marine resources 19 CONFISCATIONS ITEMS VALUE Dagga 116 098kg R116 098 200 Stock 11 057 R27 642 500 Vehicles 617 R69 663 000 Illegal goods R4 952 880 Firearms 255 R631 600 Ammunition 2 675 R7 963 Marine living resources (abalone and crayfish) R73 760 TOTAL R219 069 903 REPLY TO QUESTION 618 APPROVED BY MINISTER |
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