Browsing by Author "Mokotedi, Prince Nkitsing"

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    Research report amalgamation of umkhonto we sizwe combatants with the south african police service
    (University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Mokotedi, Prince Nkitsing; Nieuwkerk, Anthoni van
    Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) processes are usually implemented in post-conflict situations as part of broader Security Sector Reform. In South Africa, following the demise of the apartheid government, combatants of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), were amalgamated with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in 1995 as one of the key elements of the agreement for a new peaceful and democratic state. The SAPS was established in terms of the provisions of the interim Constitution of 1993, and was comprised of the former SAP, which had the largest number officers, and 10 former Bantustan police forces. There was an expectation that there will be tensions during the amalgamation of MK with SAPS because of the historical bitter enmity between the combatants of MK and the members of the former apartheid police forces. Members of MK were expected to adapt and adjust to a new environment which had command structures as well as organisational culture that was alien to theirs. This study investigated the acculturation strategies of the former combatants, and evinced that MK combatants had strong military identities and that police was resistan external factors. The study found that these cultural incompatibilities made it difficult for MK combatants to effectively amalgamate with SAPS.