SANDU CONCERNS ABOUT REPORTS OF CRIMINALITY DURING TRAINING AT OUDTSHOORN MILITARY BASE
SANDF HQ, Pretoria, Saturday, 31 January 2015
SANDU is gravely concerned about the ever increasing reports, towards the end of this past week, about SANDF recruits being physically assaulted and verbally abused at the Oudtshoorn Military Base.
These complaints, mostly made telephonically by recruits to their families, include incidents such as instructors physically jumping on the backs and chests of both female and male recruits, refusing recruits with open wounds and lacerations any medical attention, as well as racist verbal abuse.
Further complaints are that some recruits have been refused the right to tender their resignations and are not only now forced to remain at the base against their will, but also forced to participate in training and subjected to further abuse.
Despondent parents complain that the base command and support structure are either unreachable or simply uncooperative when they try to lodge complaints or make enquiries.