Behaviour that undermines the image of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will not be tolerated, the SANDF said on Wednesday in response to allegations of misconduct by soldiers abroad.
Four SANDF officers on a peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are under investigation for misconduct, either by the United Nations or the SANDF.
The alleged misconduct includes drunkenness and fighting in Congolese nightclubs, promoting prostitution and sexual assault.
”Without prejudging the case, the SANDF wanted to make known its distinguished record of upholding human rights during peacekeeping operations under the UN and African Union mandates,” Major General Mohato Mofokeng said in a statement.
”Members of the SANDF who make themselves guilty of such offences will be dealt with according to the Military Disciplinary Code or other relevant laws,” Mofokeng said.
A UN spokesperson said on Wednesday the UN has no power to punish a South African battalion commander allegedly involved in sexual misconduct in the DRC.
Defence ministry spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi earlier confirmed the officer is being investigated but did not name him.
Meanwhile, News24 reported on Wednesday that South African peacekeeping soldiers in neighbouring Burundi are becoming increasingly unpopular with the local population.
It quoted the latest intelligence report by The Economist as saying: ”They got themselves the unfortunate reputation for excessive drinking and the abuse of prostitutes.”
Mkhwanazi did not want to respond to the allegations.
”They are not based on any facts,” he said.
UN steps up efforts
The UN said at the weekend it will step up efforts to root out sexual abuses, especially of minor girls in Burundi.
An investigation into various incidents of abuse was begun in Burundi recently.
Two soldiers were caught in December after allegations of abuses in Muyinga. It was not clear from which country these soldiers came.
In September last year, a 14-year-old prostitute was killed, allegedly by a South African after an evening of debauchery.
According to a UN statement, an investigation was ordered because soldiers were disregarding the world body’s restrictions.
”The UN forbids peacekeeping forces from paying for sex or having sex with girls under 18,” read the statement.
”In the DRC, payment varies from two eggs to $5 [about R30] a time. In many cases, the victims are orphans and illiterate.”
A South African working in Burundi, who asked not be named, said the soldiers have been reprimanded at diplomatic level for their behaviour for quite some time.
The source told News24: ”The Burundians are very discreet — especially when it comes to sex. They can’t stand the South Africans’ crude and open approach to women.”
Henri Boshoff of the Institute of Security Studies, who recently returned from a visit to Burundi, said the UN is clamping down on misconduct.
”It seems to be a precautionary measure, but they are very strict there.”
Carolyn McAskie, the UN’s special representative in Burundi, reinstated a curfew to ban UN vehicles from the streets after 11pm.
”It limits potential misbehaviour, but still does not curb soldiers who move around on foot,” McAskie said. — Sapa