Accounts of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) using unnecessarily tough measures to ensure public adherence to the rules of the lockdown have done the rounds on social media since the beginning of lockdown on March 27.
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From frog jumps to push-ups, South Africans believed to be disobeying the rules of the lockdown have been forced to perform array of tasks by the nation’s defence force. Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said in a statement that the department has taken note of various allegations of abuse by members of the SANDF. It read, ‘Any type or form of abuse committed by the deployed soldiers against citizens during the lockdown period is condemned. The Minister wishes to strongly reiterate the message delivered by the Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF to the deployed soldiers to desist from using excessive force against citizens of the country, regardless of the level of provocation they may face whilst deployed.”
The death of Alexandra resident Collins Khoza who was allegedly beaten to death by SANDF members on Good Friday (10 April) was of particular concern. “We are saddened by what happened. We regret this happened. We don’t know exactly what the circumstances are which led to this, but the investigation will provide more information and we will be able to determine what steps to take at that point,” said Mapisa-Nqakula. Investigations by the police, Military Police and the Military Ombud Office are, added the minister, currently underway.
Related article: Military’s excessive force in African countries condemned
The executive mayor of Johannesburg Geoffrey Makhubo has called for an end to the heavy-handed approach by all law enforcement agencies during the lockdown. In a statement released by the city he said, “We’ve also met with the leadership of the SAPS within Alexandra and have reiterated the president’s message to the SANDF, SAPS and Joburg Metro Police to serve, enforce the law and protect South Africans against the invisible enemy that is Covid-19.”
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