Force, lethargy and ‘common enemy’: Committee chairs on SANDF deployment

Image for illustrative purposes. Pictures: Saps / Gallo Images Parliamentary committee chairs have shown a united front in addressing the country’s security challenges. Four committee chairpersons representing the peace and security cluster held a briefing on Thursday to provide updates on matters within their respective umbrellas.

While focusing mainly on the current deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist police with crime-fighting efforts around the country, the committee chairs touched on a few other topics. Chair of the select committee on security and justice, Jane Manasiso, suggested a further clampdown on guns, noting 40% of crimes involved a firearm. “We need the South African Police Service (Saps) to do more in respect of removing and destroying illegal firearms, because every illegal firearm removed from our communities reduces the chances of murder, robbery and gender-based violence,” said Manasiso.

Phiroane Phala, co-chair of the joint standing committee on defence, denounced the war and aggression in the Middle East. He said the conflict threatened severe humanitarian consequences and posed wider global risks, especially for emerging nations. Phala declared his support for the SANDF deployment, but said the committee’s responsibility extended beyond verbal affirmation.

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“Our role is to ensure that deployments are implemented effectively, responsibly and within the framework of the law,” said Phala. He claimed previous fears of force readiness had been alleviated and said there was “now greater coordination” between the police and the army. As the other chairs would state, he believed that the operation required definitive timelines and a broader solution.

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