The
The two MPs, the DA`s spokesman and deputy spokesman for defence and military veterans, earlier in the week visited parts of the frontier with
David Maynier and James Lorimer say the same applies along SA`s northern border.
“On our visit to the South Africa/Zimbabwe border in the Beit Bridge area we found that several gates had been left open, the borderline fence had been cut wide open in several places, large sections of the fence had been stolen and that the fence had been flattened in many other places.
“The state of the borderline fence was shocking,” the two added.
“On our tour we also found a low police presence – the police, unlike the Army, do not do foot patrols and were deployed at 10 kilometre intervals at sub-stations along the South Africa/Zimbabwe border.”
The SA Army took responsibility for borderline control from the police in 1987. In terms of a Cabinet decision in 2003 it has returned the responsibility to the police. It was to have completely withdrawn from the duty on March 31 this year, but the decision was reversed at the last minute, at least regarding the last company deployed on such duties at
This company still patrols 55km of borderline, but 
under police supervision. A SA National Defence Force source says this means, in practice, that the subunit is not very active.
The fence in the
Substations were built every 10km to house the infantry section patrolling that part of the border. The substation also has equipment to monitor the electrified fence, which has been in alarm mode since 1994. As is the case with domestic fencing of a similar type, an alarm is set off when intruders short-circuit the wires.
The normal reaction to an alarm was for the section to send a reaction element to the area concerned to arrest the border-crossers.
A contractor was responsible for maintaining and repairing the fence. By Maynier and Lorimer`s account this no loner happens.
“The poor state of borderline security made it possible for organised crime syndicates to smuggle cigarettes and livestock,” they say.
“Poachers also came over the border causing a major problem for farmers in the area. With livestock easily moving over the border, there was a continuous threat of foot-and-mouth disease breaking out in the area near the border.
The two are urging Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu to speed up the redeployment of troops back to the border.
“We need a concrete plan for the deployment of SANDF back to the borders – now,” they say.
The two add Sisulu has “agreed in principle” that the SANDF should be deployed back to the borders and that her deputy, Thabang Makwetla, had announced yesterday that the borders may “soon be guarded by soldiers again”.
“We appear to be moving in the right direction,” they say in response. “But what we need is a concrete plan rather than vague promises. We need to know how many soldiers will be deployed on the border. And we need to know when they will be deployed on the border.
“The DA therefore calls on the Defence and Military Veterans Minister to urgently roll out a strategic plan, the budget and timeline for the deployment of the SANDF to protect the borders of SA.
It has been estimated that to properly patrol and safeguard SA`s 4862km-log land border will require the permanent deployment of 20 128-strong companies, roughly some 2500 soldiers along with logistic support. The police have deployed less than 700 officers – and hardly any logistic support – for that purpose.
Defence analyst Helmoed-Römer Heitman has told Business Day newspaper that the SANDF is already “grossly underfunded and understrength” and does not have the troops to conduct borderline operations.
In a recent research paper on SA Army Strategy 2020
Pics:
1. David Maynier standing by the electrified fence.
2. James Lorimer (left) and Maynier climbing through a hole cut in the SA side of the border fence. The border patrol road runs just behind them.
3. Lorimer and Maynier pose by the trampled-down Zimbabwe-side fence. The Limpopo River can be seen behind.
