Navy to go after pirates

25 September 2014 - 02:01 By Graeme Hosken
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Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. File photo.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. File photo.
Image: Sunday Times

The navy will deploy warships to Africa's west coast as far north as the Gulf of Guinea.

The deployments, early next year, will involve frigates and possibly submarines.

Ships of the Namibian and Angolan navies will also take part in the operation to combat pirate attacks.

Oil tankers have been the pirates' preferred targets.

The South African military is currently running anti-piracy operations off Tanzania's east coast and in the Mozambique Channel.

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said the deployment was part of the Southern African Development Community's maritime security strategy.

Mapisa-Nqakula said South Africa was in discussions with both Namibia and Angola about the co-ordination of their anti-piracy patrols.

Piracy expert Professor Henri Fouche, of Unisa's criminology and security science department, said Angola was of particular concern following a recent attack on a ship just outside its territorial waters.

"These attacks, especially on the west coast, are particularly violent," he said.

"Concerning to South Africa are the disruptions by piracy of the West African oil routes.

"On the east African coast all kinds of ships were targeted, but on the west coast it's specifically oil tankers and their lucrative cargos which are targets."

Fouche said the attacks were a threat to South Africa's economy.

"These navel deployments will be in line with the African Union's strategy on the protection of maritime exclusive zones."

Though piracy had been much reduced in East Africa, Fouche said it was still a huge problem in West Africa .

It had spread from Nigeria to Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Benin, Ghana and now Angola.

He said the pirates were heavily armed and well organised, operating with deep-sea vessels and barges and with established buyers for their loot.

"They have specific off-loading areas often situated in the myriad inlets along the huge Gulf of Guinea coastline."

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