UNION: INTEGRATE COMMANDO MEMBERS INTO POLICE FORCECommandos should be kept as is and be integrated into the police system, maybe as reservists.
This was the opinion of Mr Erwin Haynes, chairperson of the security committee of the Pietersburg District Agricultural Union during the Community Police Forum meeting held on Friday.
According to Heyns the commandos, to be disbanded within the next couple of days, have the infrastructure, training, vehicles, ammunition and other qualities needed to be of assistance to the police in their fight against crime. All that might be necessary is for them to be taught ‘police law’. "The commandos have proven themselves time and again in the past by being a major player in crime prevention operations. They have everything in place to keep going on," he said.
Existing infrastructure consisting of buildings, 2-way radios and all other facilities could be put to good use. Heyns said the commandos has been promised by the powers that be that no vacuum will be left when they are fazed out, but nothing has been put in place so far. No sector policing was put in place in rural areas, plots and farms surrounding Polokwane.
Heyns said commando members could retain their ranks should they be integrated into the police force. Many of them have ten, 20 and more years service. "Ongoing service should be supplied to commando members. People respect the uniform of the commando and perhaps it should be kept as it is," he added.
The commando currently comprises 2 000 members, of which 1 500 are black people. "You might just as well kill 2 000 people if you disband the commando," Heyns said.
by Anonymous on Tue, 2008-03-04 09:23. Northern Review: News | 
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