By Akani Nkuna
The Joint Standing Committee on Defence has expressed serious concern over a circulating video that allegedly shows members of the SA National Defence Force assisting police at a recent #JusticeForCwecwe protest in Matatiele, Eastern Cape.
The committee has vowed to act swiftly, calling on Defence Minister Angie Motshekga as well as the chief of SANDF to urgently confirm the video’s authenticity and explain the circumstances surrounding the army’s reported presence at the demonstration.
The protests across the country over the rape of a seven-year-old girl, allegedly at Bergview College in Matatiele.
“While employment of members of the SANDF is a prerogative of the president and the Minister, Section 18 (2) and (3) of the Defence Act stipulates that of the president or the minister employs members of the SANDF internally as the Section 201 (2) of the Constitution, they must inform Parliament promptly,” said co-chairperson of the committee, Malusi Gigaba.
The committee further said that the demonstrations did not constitute an extraordinary event or pose any threat to life that would justify military involvement.
It said public protests fell squarely within the operation capacity of the police who were adequately trained and equipped to manage such situations without military assistance.
“The report by the Ministry of Defence and the chief of the SANDF must include reasons of the employment (if there was one), why Parliament was not informed and cost associated with the employment,” said Phiroane Phala, the co-chairperson of the committee.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters has formally approached the National Assembly Thoko Didiza to seek clarity on several key aspects surrounding the deployment of the SANDF.
In their letter, the party requests detailed information on the reasons behind the army’s involvement, the specific locations where SANDF members have been deployed, the number of the personnel involved and the duration of their deployment.
“Did the president formally communicate to Parliament his intention to deploy SANDF to assist the SAPS in providing security at the protests for justice for Cwecwe? If so, may you urgently share the letter the president sent to Parliament in this regard,” asked EFF Parliamentary chief whip Nontando Nolutshungu.
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