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18 February 2005
Farmers Fear Void Will Invite Attacks
Some farmers are concerned that there will be a security vacuum in the rural areas when the commandos are phased out...
...But Len le Roux, head of the defence sector programme of the Institute for Security Studies, says: "There has been no evidence to show that the police have their strategies in place to take over these functions."
Commandos Threaten to Turn to Crime
Commando members across the country are up in arms at last week's announcement by Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota that the closure of 183 commando units by 2009 was well under way - 17 will be closed by the end of March and 55 units disbanded next year...
...Len le Roux, head of the defence sector programme of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), said the plan to close commandos had come as a surprise to everybody. The ISS has made submissions to the government, requesting it to reconsider the decision.
17 February 2005
Zimbabwe Holds SADC at Arm's Length
The Zimbabwean government has not issued invitations to the Southern African Development Community to monitor whether it is complying with the Community's election guidelines. VOA's Delia Robertson reports on the difficulties in the relationship between Zimbabwe and its neighbors.
The independent Institute for Security Studies' Chris Maroleng says a COSATU-led blockage or even the threat of one, could add to the pressure on Zimbabwe and strengthen Mr. Mbeki's hand in his talks with Mr. Mugabe.
Crime Is A National Security Issue Says DA
Government needs to focus on the issue of crime as a matter of national security, says Tony Leon, the leader of the opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA). Leon was commenting on the state-of-the-nation address last week by President Thabo Mbeki. Leon agrees that crime in some areas has gone down and in some areas it has gone up, but "in some areas we simply do not know, because government is very misleading with crime statistics".
According to other sources, for instance the Institute for Security Studies, statistics show that nine or 10 million South Africans were victims of crime last year. Leon says this is a staggering statistic. He says the figures also show 20 000 South African were murdered, 50 000 officially reported raped and these are enormous numbers to consider.
15 February 2005
South Africa: Top-Level Probe Into Scorpions
President Thabo Mbeki said yesterday he would appoint a commissioner to look into the future of the Scorpions, casting a long shadow over the future of the elite crime-fighting unit...
...Anton du Plessis of the Institute for Security Studies said the Scorpions could not be integrated into the police as the unit was presently constituted.
14 February 2005
Africa Stands Firm On Togo, For Now
Both the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States have branded the army's appointment of Faure Gnassingbe as president after his father's death a coup and have told Togo to return to constitutional rule, or face sanctions...
...'The Togolese army has a definite interest in seeing who takes over. They have got a lot to lose from a change of regime,' said Richard Cornwell, senior research fellow at the South African Institute for Security Studies.
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