Publication	Independent Online
Date	2006-07-28
Reporter	Graeme Hosken
Web Link	www.capetimes.co.za

One of the tasks of the MEKO A-200 missile frigates, bought to protect the country's extensive sea borders, is to ward off poachers, but they are unable to carry out this task.

This was revealed at the commissioning of the SAS Isandlwana at Naval Station Durban on Thursday.

The Isandlwana is one of four frigates bought to protect the coastline. The vessels, which can cost up to R150 000 a day *1 to operate when deployed, are the country's new primary naval warships.

Equipped with multi-million rand weapons, French and South African surface-to-surface missiles and hi-tech tracking devices, the frigates have been lauded as being the backbone to stop poachers *2.

Yet, senior naval personnel have revealed that the vessels have no mandate to stop poachers operating vessels such as long-line fishing trawlers from pillaging South Africa's waters.

Naval Station Durban commanding officer David Jones said that while the Navy had been instrumental in helping to combat inshore poaching, especially off South Africa's eastern coast, they could do very little in stopping poaching far out to sea.

The Navy does not have the mandate to open fire on poaching vessels such as those from the Asian region, caught within the country's 200 nautical mile zone, unless fired upon. Also, it cannot allow its personnel to board ships suspected of poaching.

Only marine inspectors may board ships suspected of poaching.

The only thing the frigates may do is trail those vessels caught poaching and report the position of the ships to the South African Coastal Marine Management and the South African Police Service.

A naval source said it was extremely frustrating. "Here we are with multi-billion rand warships *3, yet we are being prevented by legislation and naval laws from stopping criminals. The poachers know there is very little, if anything, that we can do to stop them."

What made matters worse, he said, was that one of the Navy's responsibilities was to help the country's law enforcement agencies combat crime yet they could not do this because of technicalities and "short sightedness".

"The courses to allow sailors to become marine inspectors are in place. Yet there are people within the Navy who do not deem it necessary *4."

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*1       Each, at least.


*2      This is blue water naval surface combatant, design for surface strike, not a anti-poaching.


*3      About R3 billion each in 2006 Rands.


*4      It's because the Dept of Environmental Affairs has four brand new fisheries patrol vessels, including a deep sea vessel capable of working with a helicopter to do these duties.

Making environmental protection a naval task is nonsense some of those among us dreamed up to justify acquiring deep sea capability in the areas around the far offshore islands. This was after they realised that the navy had hoodwinked them into believing that the country required the most modern, fastest, radar and infrared stealth frigates in world - when no symmetrical threat existed or is likely to exist for the next twenty years.

A farmer doesn't buy a Unimog to use on his commercial farm, he buys a Toyota or Nissan or Isuzu bakkie - often not even a 4x4 unless his terrain really needs it.

As the selection process and report recommended, we should have purchased the Spanish Bazan 590B light frigate at about half the price and with a higher military value.

But Thyssen were offering much higher kickbacks to some of those among and their favourite political parties.

Cursed be they.

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