SANDF rejects commando call

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on government to place a moratorium on the phasing out of the commando system. DA leader in Mpumalanga, Clive Hatch, said this week that farm attacks had risen by 20% in five provinces since the phasing out process began in 2004. By April last year, 73% had been phased out, leaving 49 units that were to be phased out by 2009. South African National Defence Force (SANDF) spokesperson Sam Mkwanazi said a moratorium was out of the question. “It would be difficult to prove that the increase in attacks is directly linked to the phasing out of the commandos,” he said. “If farmers want to report crime, they should go to the police.” Mkwanazi said the phasing out process was on schedule. – African Eye News Service