Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

The Democratic Alliance and the New National Party on Sunday leapt to the defence of the army's commandos after an announcement by President Thabo Mbeki that the government would phase out the present civilian defence system.

DA rural safety spokesman Andries Botha urged the government to thoroughly canvas the opinion of rural communities before implementing the phase-out.

He also urged the defence ministry to clarify its intentions and explain what would replace the commando system.

"Phasing out the commando system before an effective alternative is in place just does not make any sense. This announcement by the President will definitely send a very negative message to rural communities," he told Sapa.

Mbeki said in his state of the nation address to a joint session of Parliament on Friday that the proposed phasing out of the commando system was necessary for the proper regulation of the security services.

Reflecting on the history and the purpose of the commandos, Botha said they were still playing the same role in the community as they did when first established around 1715.

Back then, the Dutch United East Indies Company, who ran the Cape Colony were also not willing to spend what was required on community safety.

To stretch existing funding, part-time volunteer commandos were established. These were mobilised as and when required and cost less than full-time military units.

"This unique indigenous system earned itself great fame during the 19th Century by giving the British Empire a bloody nose several times. So impressed was one of its victims that he later named the most elite special forces of the British Army after them. His name was Winston Churchill."

Nearly all military and police special forces are today called commandos as a result.

"The commandos have undergone several changes in the last 100 years to adjust to changing circumstances. This must now happen again for them to serve the broader community."

He added that summarily discarding the name was not only a slap in the face of those who held the name dear but also a gross disregard of history."

In his reaction, NNP defence spokesman Adriaan Blaas said the move could "well compromise the defence capabilities of South Africa."

He said ensuring rural security was only one of the commandos' functions.

"In the defence planning the commando's form part of the Reserve Force earmarked for rapid force expansion in case of a threat against the Republic. They are tasked for rear defence and trained, amongst other task, to do this," Blaas said.

"Phasing out the commandos and replacing them with local security units will result in the rear area defence capability being abandoned," he added.

"The decision to phase out the commandos stems from a historical perspective and the fact that in isolated cases right wing extremists abused the system. This only happened because the SANDF (SA National Defence Force) did not pay sufficient attention to the Reserve Forces and more specifically to the commando units.

"Senior officers were not properly screened. Transformation in these units only took place on the initiative of local commanders. No support for the transformation process came from the defence force.

"To phase out the units is to cure symptoms and not to solve the problem," Blaas said.

He warned that the move would shatter the morale of many for whom the commandos are a form of life.

He said the majority of those serving voluntarily in the country's 183 commando units were dedicated and loyal South Africans with an affinity for the military. They were also doing a superb job.

During 2000 and 2001 commandos executed in excess of 44000 operations.

Approximately 27000 individuals solely depended on the income derived from part-time duty in commandos.

"Within the scope of the White Paper on defence and the Defence Review, commando units must be retained to ensure rear defence capabilities in case of conventional threats against South Africa and should not be compromised by of political agendas. A rethink on this issue is needed.

"The phasing out of the commandos will also result in many people losing their primary source of income. Many of the serving members will lose interest in participating voluntarily any form of military activity placing the principle of a reserve force in jeopardy," Blaas said.

Agri SA, the farmers' association and the Freedom Front also criticised the move on Friday.