Nyakallo Tefu
Parliamentary committee on defence on Tuesday said it was concerned by allegations of excessive use of force by certain members of the South African National Defence Force.
The committee’s chairperson Cyril Xaba said that he has noted several complaints leveled against soldiers using excessive force, including beating a 40-year-old man to death in Alexandra, Johannesburg.
“We appeal to those members of the SANDF responsible for these acts to conduct themselves in a manner befitting their stature and consistent with their constitutional obligations to defend and protect the Republic and its people in accordance with the constitution, and the principles of international law regulating the use of force,” said Xaba.
Xaba also called on members of the SANDF and South African citizens to co-operate with one another during the lockdown.
“We further call on citizens to co-operate with the law enforcement agencies deployed in pursuit of their mandate. We believe that the power vested in the defence force and the police services creates a contractual relationship between them and the people, which should not be abused,” he said.
The committee appealed to citizens to respect lockdown regulations, and not to resist arrest when breaches have been committed, and to report civil rights violations to the authorities.
“Let us all act responsibly,” said Xaba
