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.

SANDU supports tough military training. However, outright thuggery, verbal and physical abuse, and outright criminal conduct by instructors is condemned in the strongest terms. SANDU will not allow these complaints to be swept under the carpet. 

The Oudtshoorn base has become notorious for its bad leadership and high troop casualty count. The SANDF has done very little to address the situation, despite alleged Military Ombud recommendations recently. Those recommendations were even kept secret and there is no way of determining either their content or the military authorities' adherence to them.

SANDU encourages the parents and affected troops, who have complaints, as well as all military personnel, who have information relating to the current malpractices, to contact the union as a matter of urgency. 

Statement issued by Adv JG (Pikkie) Greeff, SANDU national secretary, January 31 2015

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