The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Maphisa-Nqakula has condemned any form of abuse to citizens by members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployed in Governments efforts to contain the Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Nqakula said that the Department of Defence (DOD) had taken note of the various allegations of abuse leveled against deployed soldiers. The Minister has since urged members to desist from exercising excessive force when dealing with citizens. “Such heavy handedness is not in the best interest of safeguarding our citizens.”
Nqakula further stated that that it would be in the best interests of the soldiers to inform the public about the dangers of the pandemic. She further urged residents to obey the rules of the lockdown by ensuring that they stay at home.
