Cash-strapped army not ready for new mandate

12 June 2015 - 02:18 By The Times Editorial

President Jacob Zuma's attempt to create a legacy project - the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis (ACIRC) force - might be doomed before it really gets going. ACIRC is intended to be a rapid-deployment intervention force that will respond to impending crises on the continent: preventing the emergence of genocidal conflict, crimes against humanity, atrocities or war crimes.The premise is that African solutions should be brought to bear on African problems, and the over-reliance of Africa on countries such as France and the US in dealing with conflict ended.A noble ideal - fraught with pitfalls.Currently, 1800 South African troops are undergoing training, to prepare them for deployment by November.But there's a major problem - a military cash crunch.SA Army chief, Lieutenant-General Vusi Masondo has called it a crisis.South African soldiers face rebels with bigger and better weapons. Radio communications are problematic. Soldiers' lives are being endangered.If Zuma and his cabinet fail to allocate more money to the military, South African troops are unlikely to be able to fulfil their mandate and deal with enemies better equipped and supplied than them.We have seen what has happened when troops go into battle outnumbered and out-gunned - remember the Battle of Bangui, in the Central African Republic? By one account, the South African soldiers ran out of ammunition, and the military did not have the capacity to get additional troops and logistical support to them. And when the battle was over it did not have the airlift capacity to get our troops out and had to ask the French to evacuate them.We are not battle-ready. Just ask Masondo.Zuma would do well to listen to the cries of his army chief.Failing to do so could sabotage our soldiers' chances of surviving...

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