Durban - Experts have praised the French police for their swift action in dealing with two hostage sieges this week. They are also confident that if South Africa was attacked by terrorists, the police and security personnel were equipped to effectively defuse the situation.
When Paris was attacked, thousands of operatives cordoned off swathes of the city and surrounding countryside, isolated the terrorists and moved in to neutralise the threat to innocent people.
Colonel Duncan Scott, acting head of the SAPS’s special task force, believes that, should South Africa be placed in a similar situation, it has the manpower, resources and expertise to deal with it. The task force had a formidable reputation in counterterrorism, and insurgency and hostage rescue, he said.
Scott said over the years the force had cross-trained with the Groupe d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale, a special operations unit for French Armed Forces, and other French units.
Referring to the double-hostage drama, he said: “Both seem, with the information from the media, to have carried out their operations with the professionalism these units displayed in training with us. This is a result of stringent selection processes, specialised training with extremely high standards – and the maintenance of those skills.”
The fact that minimal harm had been caused was testimony to the French level of proficiency, he said.
“From video footage it is evident that the perpetrator shot at the four hostages inside the bakery before special forces were alerted to the situation and got to the scene. From the time they got to the scene until the end of the release of hostages, no further civilians were killed. This is proof that they had the situation under control.”
He added that too long a delay from the time an assault was launched allowed the hostage-taker to eliminate captives before having to contend with the assault team.
“The fact that some team members were wounded, but the focus of their colleagues remained on completing the task while under fire, is a testament of their elite pedigree.
“Congratulations to them. They handled the situation well and I am confident of our capabilities here in South Africa. I am certain that we could do the same,” said Scott.
Former national police commissioner, Bheki Cele, also commended the French Special Forces, saying he was proud that South Africa worked and trained with them. “I can safely say that if South Africa had to face a terror attack, in terms of security, we can handle the situation efficiently.
“In fact, the French Special Forces hold our country in high regard. They know our capabilities.”
He added that he believed South Africa’s special task force was among the best in the world.
A KwaZulu-Natal hostage negotiator, who cannot be identified because she is not allowed to speak to the media, said South Africa was ready to handle a terror attack. She said in KZN, there was a team of 58 well-trained negotiators. “We have a big team locally and nationally. We are well-trained and the training never ends. That some of us have had many years of experience adds value to our team. A terror attack of such calibre needs an expert team. We are among the best in the world.”However, a pilot in the SA Air Force who did not want to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the press, said that despite intensive training, one can “never be ready” for such an attack.
“Before the World Cup, we trained intensively to handle hostage situations.
“From a military point of view, I can say that we are ready – however, we can do more to prepare ourselves.
“The French special forces are among the top five in the world and they handled the situation very well. It is difficult to say if we could match up to them, but I am confident of the abilities of our forces.”
National spokesman for the SAPS, Lieutenant-General Soloman Makgale, said the country had an experienced and well-trained special forces team.
On Saturday, social media was abuzz with users praising the French special forces for their great work.
The French President, François Hollande, praised the police but warned of further threats. He thanked the security services for their “bravery and efficiency”, saying the week’s violence was “a tragedy for the nation”. He added that the danger was not over yet.
“We have to be vigilant. I also ask you to be united – it’s our best weapon,” he said on Friday night
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Sunday Tribune