Cape Town ­ African naval chiefs had to recommend to political leaders “with an overwhelming voice” that resources be provided so that African countries could make a contribution to combating the growing scourge of piracy in African territorial waters, chief of the navy Refiloe Mudimu said yesterday.

Briefing the media yesterday ahead of next week’s Sea Power for Africa Symposium in Cape Town, Mudimu was asked what contribution SA’s navy and other African navies were making to combating piracy on the east coast of Africa, particularly near Somalia and the horn of Africa.

This follows persistent speculation that SA, with its modern and efficient navy, has been asked to assist with escort duties but has failed to respond.

In his initial response, Mudimu indicated that the decision to deploy the navy in support of anti-piracy operations was a political one. A further dimension to the problem was that African navies generally did not have the capability to do the job and that naval chiefs at the symposium should recommend to their political leaderships that the capability to protect territorial waters be provided.

He said SA’s navy was ready to be used where and when the “powers that be” decide. Compared with other African navies, SA was in a good position with regard to equipment.

He also announced a far reaching plan for a special patrol vessel to be developed in Africa . The idea was that vessels of the same design be built in a number of African countries for patrolling inshore and off shore waters.

Admiral Rusty Higgs explained that the project was in concept stage and the specific requirements of such a vessel were being determined. The target for getting the vessel operational was 2012.

Mudimu said, “A viable solution would be a joint partnership between regional economic communities to enter a programme for the design and building of an indigenous, non- sophisticated off-shore patrol vessel that could be built in such countries as Nigeria, Algeria, SA and others.

“Niches of expertise and capacity exist on the continent where such a programme can be effectively undertaken. These platforms will contribute to the security and stability of the states.”

Mudimu said that the maritime challenges were many and included poaching, arms and drug smuggling, human trafficking, piracy, and oil theft “under the control of crime syndicates”.

With acknowledgements to Wyndham Hartley and Business Day.