Today the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Honourable Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula - MP, in responding to a written Parliamentary Question gave Parliament a report on incidences of misconduct and charges brought against members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) serving in missions under the United Nations system.
In the report, Minister Mapisa-Nqakula indicated that no member of the South African contingent within the African Union-
The report listing each of the 93 cases also details the nature of alleged offence, the outcome of an investigation, the sanction meted out by the Military Justice System and the status of the member of the SANDF against whom charges of infraction have been brought.
To date those whose cases have been finalised and a conviction secured in incidences of sexual misconduct, all four have been dismissed from the SANDF. Other cases where offences were not of a sexual nature but required necessary disciplinary actions be taken against members, the harshest possible sanction has been handed down.
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula, has expressed her personal intolerance to ill-discipline in the ranks of the military particularly as it relates to reported incidences of the abuse of women and children. She has made it clear that conduct unbecoming will be dealt with in the strictest compliance with the law and that there is simply no room for criminality and illdiscipline in a highly professional force like the SANDF.
The Minister has further welcomed an invitation from the UN Women's desk to partner the SANDF in the training of peace-keeping troops with an emphasis on the Response to Conflict Related Sexual Violence prior to deployment in conflict regions.
The SANDF and UN Women have successfully conducted training with peacekeeping deployees in this regard since September of 2012 and continue with the training program at the SANDF's Peace Mission Training College in Pretoria.
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula further wishes to reiterate that a serious Constitutional Democracy such as South Africa could never tolerate criminal and ill-disciplined elements within a highly regarded professional military organisation like the SANDF.
Human rights and the right to dignity of all of humanity even in conflict areas is sacrosanct to the values system of Ubuntu of which South Africa is a proud champion, as this also informs the work ethos of a democratic era South African National Defence Force.
Enquiries:
Sonwabo Mbananga
Ministry Spokesperson
Cell: 082 045 3963
