DA rejects SANDF’s premature exoneration of soldiers involved in Collins Khosa death
28 May 2020
The Democratic Alliance (DA) rejects the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) decision to exonerate the soldiers who were allegedly involved in the death of an Alexandra resident, Collins Khosa.
We are extremely disappointed by this decision and how the SANDF has handled the matter. It would appear that they rushed through the process without following just and proper processes.
The North Gauteng High Court recently ordered that the implicated soldiers be suspended and that the Ministers of Defence, NosiviweMapisa-Nqakula, ensure that an investigation is conducted into the treatment of Mr Khosa by members of the SANDF.
It is questionable how the SANDF arrived at their decision, as it has emerged that the investigation relied solely on statements made by the soldiers, and did not take into account the testimonies of Mr Khosa's relatives who were witnesses to his tragic death. Accounts stating that soldiers entered Mr Khosa’sproperty, forcefully dragged him out to the street and assaulted him was not factored into the outcome of this internal investigation.