Research report amalgamation of umkhonto we sizwe combatants with the south african police service
Date
2021
Authors
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Publisher
University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg
Abstract
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.
Description
This research is submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Management (MM) degree in Security
Keywords
Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR), Security Sector Reform, South Africa, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), frican National Congress (ANC), South African Police Service (SAPS), UCTD