REACTION BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE UNION ON THE INCIDENTS OF ASSAULT OF SANDF RECRUITS AT INFANTRY SCHOOL, OUDTSHOORN
PRETORIA
7 MAY 2013
SANDU has noted with grave concern the incident in which 11 SANDF recruits were subjected to physical assault at the hands of instructors at the Oudtshoorn base last week. SANDU condemns the unlawful practise of assault as an attempt at disciplining recruits for any transgressions. The result of this unlawful and blatant infringement of human rights, is that at least 1 recruit has been left hospitalised with a prognosis of permanent injury to his shoulder after being beaten with broomsticks during the unlawful punitive physical exercise session last week.
The injured recruit's military career is for all practical purposes at an end, due to this seriously debilitating injury. SANDU rejects claims by the SANDF earlier today that punitive training is allowed. SANDU challenges the SANDF to show the public the policy interms of which punitive punishment is allowed as a disciplinary tool for SANDF members. It also begs the question of the what the use would then be of the military justice system, if alternate and arbitrary punishment is allowed.