STATEMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE: THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE, MR CHARLES NQAKULA SAYS HE ALARMED BY ALLEGATIONS THAT A MEMBER OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE SHOT AND KILLED A 70-YEAR OLD WOMAN.

23 January 2009. Pretoria

The Ministry of Defence has noted with alarm and shock media reports that a member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) had shot and killed a 70-year old woman and at a separate incident, another member attacked and stabbed a woman seven times inside a court. The Minister of Defence, Mr. Charles Nqakula and the Chief of the SANDF, General Godfrey Ngwenya would like to extend their deep felt condolences to the family of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery to the injured member of the SANDF.

Without prejudging the out comes of these cases, the Ministry would like state that such allegations against the two members of the SANDF, are extremely serious and must be met with the full might of the law. The commissioning of such heinous crimes against defenseless woman, particularly by those who are supposed to protect and defend them, must be condemned with the contempt it deserves. If found guilty the perpetrators must be punished with the harshest sentence permitted in law.

The SANDF is a professional and disciplined organisation, comprised of men and women who are prepared to lay down their lives to defend the country and its people. It has a proud record of service to the nation, to our neighbors in the SADC region and on the Continent and beyond. All its members are at all times expected to abide by the law, respect the Constitution and the Code of conduct of the Department of Defence.

The unacceptable behavior of a few individuals will not be allowed to tarnish the image of the SANDF. Following due process, the department will do whatever it can to ensure that such individuals are rooted out from the National Defence Force.

ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Contact: Sam Mkhwanazi at 083 628 0858