SANDF launches a gender-based violence investigation against alleged member
This after a video taken in Montana of a man wearing SANDF regalia pinning a woman on the ground went viral on social media.
The South African Defence Force has launched an investigation to identify a man dressed in SANDF regalia pinning down a woman on the ground, captured in a video circulating on social media.
The video sparked outraged on social media as the country bemoans women who lost their lives to acts of gender-based violence.
In the video, the man is seen sitting on top of a woman, pinning her against the ground while she was crying.
His Name is Rhulani, he is a military personnel,Name of the complex is Oxford Heights, Montana, this happened on Friday. He is not yet arrested and the @SANDF @SAPoliceService I hope you will do your job and get this person behind bars and fired. #GBV #PutSouthAfricansFirstNow pic.twitter.com/IU3sA15nh1
— @RealMoorelyfe1🇿🇦 (@WorkOppsBae) June 13, 2020
When a group of people seen in the video asked him to get off her, he argued that the woman was “his girl”.
The incident happened at Oxford Heights Complex in the early hours of Saturday last week.
The complex’s central developments spokesperson, Alda Erasmus, said the marketing manager managed to diffuse the situation before the police arrived shortly after 02:00.
She said neither the man or woman seen in the video were residents at the complex, but were visiting someone there at the time.
“The man was instructed to leave the premises and the police escorted the lady off the premises.
“Oxford Heights’ security provider has since been contacted by both the SANDF and the police to provide statements, but since these individuals are not residents, we do not have any further information regarding what happened thereafter.”
Department of Defence spokesperson Simphiwe Dlamini said an investigation to identify the man has been launched.
In a statement issued by the department on Monday, it said it “strongly” condemned the abuse of women as seen in the video.
“Investigations have been launched to identify the coward in the video clip.
“Any kind of gender-based abuse against a woman in the military community is unacceptable and frowned upon.
“Currently, members of the SANDF and military police have launched an investigation into the matter to bring the suspect to book.”
Police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Khweza said no case has been opened yet concerning the incident.
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