MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE UNION IN REACTION TO MINISTERIAL RESPONSE ON PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS REGARDING SANDF MISCONDUCT STATISTICS
SANDU HQ, 12 June 2013 , Pretoria
SANDU has taken note of the report revealed in parliament on the SANDF misconduct statistics. Of greater concern is the attempts in certain quarters, in particular the Democratic Alliance to distort the information provided.
The DA has made a huge fuss of the fact that 93 cases of misconduct had been brought against SANDF members of which 23 involved in alleged sexual offences. However, more telling is the facts that the DA fail to reveal to the public.
Only 15 soldiers were convicted of any misconduct out of the 93 cases. Furthermore the statistics relate to a 8 year period of deployment in which 25 000 SANDF soldiers were deployed. This in effect means that only 0.06% of all SA soldiers deployed were convicted of misconduct. On average less than 2 soldiers per year on deployment. This is in fact an excellent military discipline record, by the standards of any military force including those of super powers like the United States.
The DA, in its attempt to portray this report as evidence of massive ill discipline amongst deployed troops, have scored somewhat of an own goal. The DA should in fact be ashamed of itself for involving the names of innocent soldiers in its attempts. The DA should refrain from distorting the disciplinary infringement rate as a means to political gain.
The Ministry of Defence should also get its facts straight. The member named in the report, Lt Col van Breda, as having been convicted of sexual offences, was in fact acquitted on appeal. The Department of Defence should not be surprised should this individual decide to sue the Minister for defamation.
SANDU will not allow the image of the serving men and women of this country to be distorted for any means.
Statement issued by Pikkie Greeff, SANDU national secretary, June 12 2013
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