Freedom Front goes to court on SANDF deployment

Late last week, President Jacob Zuma's office issued a statement saying he had approved the deployment of 137 soldiers in support of the South African Police Service at Marikana, near the Lonmin platinum mine in North West.

The deployment took place last Friday, the day that Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Jeff Radebe, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced that the government's patience with the striking miners was wearing thin. Marikana had by then experienced almost two months of labour strife, resulting in the death of at least 45 people, of whom 34 were killed by the police on August 16.

The statement by the Presidency also said the authorisation included SANDF support to the police over the festive season period, to end on 31 January.

Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj said the authorisation was based on similar use of the SANDF during the 2008 xenophobic riots, the 2010 Soccer World Cup and over last year's festive season.

This, he said, could also include the use of the army in the areas of Lavender Hill and Hanover Park in Cape Town that were afflicted by gang violence.

"The deployment is not a blanket order, but depends on the operational needs of the police.... The president considered the authorisation in a holistic context," he said.

The Freedom Font Plus's contention is that the constitution states that the president must inform Parliament of any operational deployment of the military within or outside the borders of SA within seven days.

Groenewald said the way in which Parliament had been informed appeared disingenuous as the president's letter to the speaker, Max Sisulu, while dated September 19, had not appeared on the roll of tabled documents.

Source: Business Day via I-Net Bridge