Cops not ready for border control, says auditor general

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has announced it will cease its operations at the country’s border posts in March 2009.
Issue Date: 18 May 2008

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The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has announced it will cease its operations at the country’s border posts in March 2009. Yet now, less than a year before the South African Police Service (SAPS) is to finally take full control and responsibility for border control, a report by the auditor general states the SAPS is nowhere near ready to take over. C urrently, the SANDF and the SAPS jointly monitor the country’s borders. SANDF head of communications Siphiwe Dlamini indicated the SANDF would continue its partnership with the SAPS, and said the SANDF would continue to provide support services on request. “It was decided that border control was better placed with the SAPS,” explained Dlamini. “As the SANDF, we don’t have arresting powers, but will continue to support the police patrolling the borders.” South Africa shares borders with Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana. abinet decided in 2003 that the SAPS would take over from the defence force. Recently, even deputy minister of defence Mluleki George said the transition should be reconsidered. – Staff reporter