Is the Western Cape about to repeat Mexico's terrible example?

Western Cape premier Helen Zille has called for the military to be deployed in civilians neighbourhoods.

"While the SA police service have deployed extra resources to these areas, gang violence has continued unabated. It is clear that the current situation is beyond the capacity of the SAPS to control," she said.

"They need the support of the SA National Defence Force to restore order in these suburbs while they proceed with the task of investigative policing."  (from News24)
 

"Even the most efficient criminal justice system cannot compensate for dysfunctional families or absent and violent fathers. Parents have just as much responsibility to “break the cycle” as we do."

"So, I hear you ask, what the hell are you doing about this crisis? Stop analysing it and do something." (WHICH IS WHAT THE PREMIER CLEARLY HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO HERSELF!!)

"The provincial government is certainly doing what it can."

"Gangsters shoot to kill with impunity because they believe they will get away with it. And they usually do." (Anyone who uses a firearm is shooting to kill. There is no shooting to injure.)

"There is a long uphill battle ahead in the fight against gangsterism and drugs in the Western Cape." (from IOL)
 

The Premier clearly does not want to learn from Mexico that the militarisation of the war on drugs is bound to end in tears. Gang violence is DOWN at the moment. In 2008 there were 2634 homicides in the Western Cape and the Premier is calling in the army over 23 deaths! 

Priorities priorities. 80% of the SAPS' time is spent chasing cannabis - the least harmful of all the drugs. 20% is spent on tik, heroin, ecstacy and everything else.
 

It is not a crime to be a member of a gang. Gangs exist because of freedom of association. You can't arrest someone for being a member of a gang. Everyone who goes to prison for any length of time goes out a member of gang. That gangs are funded by the sale of drugs is a function of the current law and policy. Gangs by virtue of their organisation have led to the rapid widespread distribution and sale of drugs.

If being a member of a gang were a crime the whole SAPS would be behind bars. The police are highly involved in the drug trade. I know this for a fact. The police have been supplementing their incomes by onselling large shipments of all kinds of drugs. I know the police have been shaking down dealers for drugs and then onselling them.

Sending the army in is desperate clutching at straws. I have been in the army suppressing people and it is wrong. There is  no war on drugs as drugs are simply substances. It is a war on people. An undeclared civil war on the people of South Africa. There is another subtext to the move to calling in the military. The Premier is frustrated by the provincial policing structures and irritated by the ANC call to have all the police in "one force". Putting the police on the spot is what the Premier is wanting to do.