Home » DA Calls SANDF Exoneration of Soldiers in Collins Khosa Death a Sham

DA Calls SANDF Exoneration of Soldiers in Collins Khosa Death a Sham

The Democratic Alliance has rejected as a sham the South African National Defence Force’s decision to exonerate the soldiers allegedly involved in the death of an Alexandra resident, Collins Khosa. It was reported yesterday that an internal SANDF probe exonerated the soldiers, although a police investigation is continuing. In papers before the North Gauteng High […]

By SAPeople Contributor
28-05-20 20:24
in Featured

The Democratic Alliance has rejected as a sham the South African National Defence Force’s decision to exonerate the soldiers allegedly involved in the death of an Alexandra resident, Collins Khosa.

It was reported yesterday that an internal SANDF probe exonerated the soldiers, although a police investigation is continuing.

In papers before the North Gauteng High Court, the family apparently said Khosa was strangled, slammed against a cement wall and a steel gate, and hit with the butt of a machine gun. Afterwards, he could not walk, began to vomit and lost speech, they said. A few hours later his partner, Nomsa Montsha, could not wake him up.

The incident took place on 10 April, and the court made its decision on 15 May.

The court ordered that the implicated soldiers be suspended and that the Minister of Defence, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, ensure that an investigation be conducted into the treatment of Khosa by members of the SANDF.

“We are extremely disappointed by this decision and how the SANDF has handled the matter,” the DA’s Kobus Marais, Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, said in a statement today. “It would appear that they rushed through the process without following just and proper processes.”

“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’s property, forcefully dragged him out to the street and assaulted him was not factored into the outcome of this internal investigation.

“Minister Mapisa-Nqakula and the SANDF leadership have essentially justified the excessive use of force and emboldened the military to continue with their horrific treatment of the South African public. They should hang their heads in shame.”

The DA said it had lodged a complaint with the Military Ombudsman, General (Ret) Vusi Masondo, to request an independent investigation into Khosa’s death.

“We trust that the outcome of this investigation will be independent and transparent, unlike the sham that was the military’s internal investigation.”

According to current affairs programme Carte Blanche, Collins Khosa was a family man and a devoted father of three.

This Sunday, Carte Blanche investigates brutal lockdown enforcement. “Even the United Nations has slammed heavy-handed police action in the country calling it “one of the worst” during the global pandemic, says the show. You can watch Carte Blanche on Sunday 31 May in South Africa on DStv Now or stream it overseas in most countries from Tues 2 June on Showmax International if you’re abroad.