Analyst: Army not a long-term solution to crime
A defence analyst warns that the army is not the long-term solution to fighting violent crime.
Police Minister, Fikile Mbalula, has requested that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) be called in to help the police battle crime in both Gauteng and the Western Cape.
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has welcomed the request, with her office explaining that they don't want the army to do the police's work, but rather to help boost the police's presence on the ground.
In his statement announcing the request, Mbalula referred to the Western Cape and Gauteng as “the most crime stubborn provinces”.
"It has been decided that urgent additional steps must be taken in order to interdepartmentally manage the current scourge of crime in general.
"Stabilisation and combating of these criminal activities are within the mandate of the South African Police Service but due to the large groupings and military training of some of the perpetrators, the SANDF is requested to assist."
But defence expert, Helmoed Heitman, says while it's part of the mandate of any defence force to support the police, it's not a good idea.
"It's difficult, it takes time, the army is not the solution. The army is a short-term band aid that maybe you can make it look better for a little while. And yes, it will probably prevent a few people being killed, but it is not a long-term solution."