MK vets 'helping' on the streets? 'Hell no,' says DA's Phumzile Van Damme
DA MP Phumzile Van Damme is against the idea of MK veterans helping the military and police during the 21-day national lockdown.
According to Sowetan, the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) in KwaZulu-Natal will on Friday call on its members to strengthen law-enforcement efforts as the country tries to stop the spread of Covid-19.
“The KwaZulu-Natal MKMVA feels the time has come for a roll-call on April 4 2020 in the province and the rest of SA to inform all our members to come out and reinforce our law-enforcement agencies in this self-sacrificing task of preventing the further spread of coronavirus,” provincial chairperson Themba Mavundla told the paper.
The association is not an official law- enforcement agency and members would be subject to the same lockdown restrictions as ordinary citizens unless given special permission to perform these duties as volunteers.
While Mavundla said that the veterans are “highly disciplined and could assist in managing the situation”, Van Damme was not convinced.
Taking to Twitter she called for them to be arrested, and said SA doesn't need “more lawlessness on the streets”.
I hope they are arrested. We don’t need more lawlessness on the streets. So sorry but hell no. https://t.co/R3PfOS4Bop
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) April 2, 2020
The idea divided social media users, with some saying law-enforcement could use all the help it can get.
Many others wondered if the veterans weren't “too old” and may be vulnerable to catching the virus on the streets.
No need to say sorry, it's a terrible idea.
— Private Instigator (@prvtinstigator) April 2, 2020
Ain't they suppose to be 60-70 years old... not these toy soldiers zama2000
— simphiwe zalekile (@S_KaZalekile) April 2, 2020
Stay. At. Home.
— Alastair ‘Wash Your Hands’ McAlpine (@AlastairMcA30) April 2, 2020
Who asked them? 🤔
— Jimmy Ramokgopa (@JimmyRamokgopa) April 2, 2020
Aren't they, by definition, OLD and at risk persons any how?
— Corrie (@corrie206) April 2, 2020
They should all be 50+ by now. Not exactly a youthful bunch?
— Andrew (@abmbrown) April 2, 2020
The SANDF and police should stop these guys. We do not want chaos.
— El Pristo (@EPristo) April 1, 2020
SANDF and SAPS are (legally and constitutionally) in charge of law enforcement, everybody else should and must #StayHome.
— Ngcaphephe EC (@ec_mz01) April 1, 2020