Jordan Hendrickson

Dr. Waldmeir
Democracy and Global Diversity
November 6, 2014
South Africa Paper 1
When talking about any country, state, city, or town one of the first
things to come to mind is the national security and police. Well when talking
about my province, Bophuthatswana, that is one of the biggest parts of my
community. I am Princess Dikeledi Dipholo, or DiDi as some call me, and I am
part of the Hurutche family and has ruled/ governed Bophuthatswana for
many years now. My leader or head of the province, Lucas Mangope, has
done his best for the people and because of that not only do we have their
support but we also have the support of the police and the army. They trust
us as their leaders to do what is best for them and what is in their best
interest. Because of this, I believe that I need to have a big say in how this
constitution deals with the police and the national security.
There are three main parts that we should look at for the police; how
are the national and or local police forces structured? ; What is the extent of
and limits on the powers of the police? ; How are leaders and officers
selected? While looking at these, it is important to remember that some
areas, such as my province, Bophuthatswana and Luxolo Vanqas province,
Ciskei, wish to stay as autonomous as possible. For this reason I must
request and insist that the local and national police forces be structured on

an individual basis. Not only because we wish to stay autonomous but also
because one structure does not fit all, is no region made up of the same
exact demographics and no law will work for each area because of that. If
one would look at the United States of America for example, they have
central government but they also have independent state governments that
makes up the individual laws and police structure of said state. So now back
to South Africa, basing it slightly off of a working government structure in
America, each province/ area should have full control of their own police
forces without any interruption/ without the government of South Africa
getting involved. My leaders and I have the full back of our police forces,
which total over 6,000 police officers. I know some may argue that the police
rule all in my province and that is not how it should be but thats not true. My
Province is made up of yes, the police and national security forces, but also
the majority of it is made up of parliament, ministries, schools, and clinics for
my people ( student packet). The extent and limits of powers of the police
should be left up to individual states/provinces as well. If they are being
structured on and individual basis then the powers they have should be done
the same. Some people may argue that they do not know how to set up a
police force and task force, yes this is a very good point, but it can be done.
Bophuthatswana has been doing it for many years and that is why we should
remain autonomous and then we can also show other how to set it up and
run it. My people/province has had their own forces since for many years now
and we got it right the first time. With a little guidance from the places that

already have their own set up, all states and provinces would be able to hold
their own. Leaders and officers should be selected by an election that
happens in each individual province and it should be watched and counted
by the government of South Africa. I say this as to help the others from
running into the same trouble that my leader ran into by being accused of
fixing the election so that he would remain in office. I do not wish that kind of
trouble or embarrassment on anyone. If there is an individual police force for
each province, there should be a law by the central government that states
that no other province or region is allowed to use their forces against anyone
else in South Africa. This happened to my province by the ANC. They accused
my leader of fixing the elections in my province and then stormed in with
their troops to try to take over. They caused uproar and unrest in my
province and I hope no one ever feels the hurt I felt for my people who were
scared of the ANC. Because of past events I have experienced and because
we as a province know what can and cannot work when running police
forces, I believe that when it comes to the police, this is the best option for
the constitution since it has and continues to work for my province and
people.
The next big topic to discuss that I feel that I should have a big say in,
is the National Security. Again, there are three questions to be asked; how
are the nations armed forces and security services going to be structure? ;
What is the extent of and limits on the national security powers? ; How are
leaders and members selected? These are great questions that we should

ask ourselves when figuring out this part of the constitution. Based on my
previous history in and support that I have from the National Security of
Bophuthatswana I believe that I have some great knowledge on this matter
that can help set up our national security. I as an autonomous province
believe that I should and so should the other autonomous regions have
control over their own independent national armed force.
Because of the need for a national government over all though, there
should be a smaller South African national armed forces that can join in with
the autonomous armed forces when there is a possible threat against our
nation. However, for these two to join up there has to be an agreement
between the leaders of the provinces and the South African central
government. The extent and limits on the national security powers should
again be left up to my leader and the leader of Ciskei since we will remain
our own autonomous state, however there is extents to what we can do and
others can do with their own security forces. For instance, we should signed
an official document stating that we cannot use our military against other
South African areas and we cannot declare war on anyone. The only way
anyone can declare war is if there is a unanimous decision by the central
government along with the leaders of each individual province and
autonomous state as well. In the same way the police leaders and officials
are selected should be the way the National Security officials are selected
but with a little change. The national security leaders and officials should be
voted on by the members of the armed forces and the government. These

are the people that will be over seeing them at work and so they will know
who fulfills their duties the best they can and in the best interest of their
people.
I always want to work in the best interest of my people and I never
want them to feel as if I have let them down in representing them in any way.
Given my background and how long my people have been the leaders of the
Bophuthatswana people I believe that I have the most experience in how a
police and national security force should be set up. I believe the power
should be left to each individual state or province to decide how they want to
defend and protect their people. I know my leader and myself would be more
than happy to offer guidance for those who do not know how to run a police
or national security force, especially since this is a major part in building up a
new country.

Works Cited

"A Bloody Uprising." Maclean's 107.12 (1994): 26. Business Source Elite.
Web. 14 Nov. 2014.

South Africa. Commission. Commission of Inquiry into the Incidents That Led
to the Violence in the Former Bophuthatswana on 11 March 1994, and
the Deaths That Occurred as a Result Thereof. N.p.: n.p., n.d.Tebbutt
Commission: Contents. Tebbutt Commission. Web. 09 Nov. 2014.

*Democracy and Global Diversity Character packet for DiDi of

Bophuthatswana