South Africa: Addressing Mercenaries and PMSCS in the Defence Review 2012

analysis

For the second time in the history of South Africa's democracy, all segments of the society are once again engaged in the shaping of the country's defence policy. This process is spearheaded by the Defence Review Committee, which was constituted in July 2011 by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu, in order to draft and consult nationally on a new Defence Review which would in the long run comprehensively cover the complete body of South Africa's national policy on defence. Headed by Mr. Roelf Meyer, the committee presented a draft review document for public engagement of 423 pages. There is no doubt that the draft South African Defence Review 2012 raises a plethora of contentious issues. Amongst these is the question of how the Defence Review addresses the issue of mercenaries and private military/security companies (PMSCs). The fact that the Review has included this issue, which keeps on haunting South Africa, is commendable.

The Defence Review acknowledges that non-state actors, including private military corporations and mercenaries, will play increasingly prominent roles in international affairs. In the last two decades, South Africa has been seen as a breeding ground for mercenaries and also supplied personnel to work in the lucrative business of international PMSCs that are involved in various parts of the world. The Review also notes that forces will become smaller and more agile and the role of private security companies will increase. This means that the national armies will in essence train forces that will eventually be in the employ of private security companies (PSCs) whose roles have increased exponentially. It is not just the role of PSCs that are increasing, but also that of private military companies (PMCs). It is for this reason that these entities are grouped as PMSCs as there exists a very fine line between their respective services.

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