Yet another farm attack in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands has raised the ire of supporters of the now-disbanded commando system, which used to provide valuable security to the province’s rural areas.
During the attack on a Richmond farming couple, David and Muffy Warren, David was stabbed and bitten by the attackers in the couple’s bedroom. The farmer managed to shoot and kill one attacker and wound the other, who escaped. Meanwhile, ex-commando members, together with organised agriculture in KZN, have questioned government’s commitment to providing effective safety and security measures for rural areas in the province. “Before my unit, Weenen Klipriver Commando, was closed down in March 2007, government promised the community that a rural safety plan would be in place before the commandos were closed down,” said Lieutenant Colonel Mark Pitout. “Since my unit closed my members have spent a month in Durban doing retraining for their transfer from the South African National Defence Force to the South Police Services (SAPS).
They have done extremely well in the Durban area under the SAPS banner, but they have done everything but carry out the rural safety plan.” Pitout added that a number of his ex-commando members were now resigning from the SAPS as they were allegedly not being paid by the service. Pitout also questioned the legality of making police reservists work two days for free before being paid for days worked thereafter. “If I had to make staff work and not pay them would be in front of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in a matter of 24 hours,“ he said. “would have the labour department all over my back wanting to close me down.” T he KZN Agricultural Union’s Security Desk, under Koos Marais, said that should a system such as the commandos be in place, assistance for rural safety issues would be far quicker than with the current SAPS measures. Both Pitout and Marais said far more still needs to be done to ensure the safety of rural communities. “Farmers, white and black, have to be protected and we all need to stand up and act against the current situation,” concluded Pitout.
Attempts to get comment on the issue from the SAPS resulted in an evasive response from their media liaison officer, senior superintendent Lindela Mashigo. He said a statement could not be issued immediately as all the relevant senior officials in the SAPS head office were unavailable. “What can say is that the SAPS refutes all allegations levelled against it regarding the current rural safety plan,” he insisted. “When the relevant officials are back in the office we’ll provide a detailed response on the issue.” – Lloyd Phillips
