By BAKANG MOKOTO

9 April 2025- The Joint Standing Committee on Defence has noted with concern the video purporting to show South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members providing security with the South African Police Service (SAPS) at #JusticeForCwecwe protest match in Matatiele. 

The committee will urgently demand the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, and the Chief of the SANDF to verify the authenticity of the video and provide an urgent report on the circumstances of the presence of the SANDF. 

The co-chairperson of the committee, Malusi Gigaba said while employment of members of the SANDF is a prerogative of the President and the Minister, Section 18 (2) and (3) of the Defence Act stipulates that if the President or the Minister employs members of the SANDF internally as per Section 201 (2) of the Constitution, they must inform Parliament promptly.

“This has not been done, hence the demand for an urgent report. The committee’s concern emanates from the fact that the protest did not represent any extraordinary occurrence nor was there a threat to life. The report by the Ministry of Defence and the Chief of the SANDF must include reasons of the employment (If there was one), why Parliament was not informed and cost associated with the employment,” he said.

Phiroane Phala, who is the co-chairperson of the committee also shared the same sentiments. Phala said the SAPS handles protest on a daily basis and they have the requisite skills and training to handle such situations.

“We are of the view that employment of the SANDF should always be under extraordinary circumstances, especially considering the stretched budget the defence force is operating with,” he said.

Meanwhile, the SANDF spokesperson, Siphiwe Dlamini said: “The SANDF has noted with concern reports and allegations that of a so-called deployment in Matatiele to monitor a community march against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

“We wish to state that the SANDF has members in the area on border safeguarding duties and nothing else. We would like to express sincere regret regarding the incident, where soldiers were seen during the march against GBV in Matatiele.”

Dlamini said the SANDF is a gender sensitive organisation and supports gender programs. He further said they are cognisant of the unacceptable high levels of GBV and the prevalence of violence against women and children, and support any intervention by institutions and citizens aimed at dealing with violence against our women and children.

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