Pretoria – Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Jeff Radebe says the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) back to the country’s borderline has resulted in a noticeable number of interceptions of various illegal activities.
The deployment of the SANDF at the country's borderline was in compliance with the Cabinet decision taken in 2009.
Addressing the media in Cape Town on Thursday at a post-State of the Nation Address briefing by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security JCPS) Cluster, Minister Radebe said the SANDF had in 2010 adopted a phased in approach and had presence in the border areas ensuring the protection of South Africa’s territorial integrity against cross border crime and illegal activities.
“The deployment of resources and military personnel has been done in phases over the five year period. Currently, the SANDF is deployed in seven of the nine provinces covering Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and the North West provinces.”
This has resulted in operational successes such as the confiscation of contraband (mainly cigarettes and liquor) worth over R100 million, dagga to the value of over R50 million, 103 weapons confiscated, the apprehension of 80 000 undocumented persons, recovery of over 300 stolen vehicles, arrest of 2 000 suspected criminals and the recovery of 18 000 livestock.
“It must be stated that over the period 2010 until 2013, a lot of work had been done to improve the security of the country’s borders and stamping out criminal activities,” said Minister Radebe.
The JCPS Cluster is also finalising policy development that seeks to address illegal immigration, deportation, illegal trading of goods and improving the situation at the borders.
And, as a spin-off of border safeguarding along the Mozambican border within the Kruger National Park, an additional force multiplier is deployed in the form of an intelligence capability to mainly focus on anti-poaching of Rhinos in conjunction with SANPARKS and other security agencies.
Minister Radebe said a Border Management Agency (BMA) which is currently being established under the leadership of the Department of Home Affairs, will be in place by 2014 and will assist in creating safer borders and ports of entry.
“We have begun to implement a border management strategy to deal with, amongst others, the illegal trafficking of firearms into the country,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
