Army ‘reminds’ Malema he can be prosecuted for fake news

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has denied claims by EFF leader Julius Malema that deployed soldiers are threatening to withdraw from Operation Prosper, labelling them as “baseless insinuations aimed at causing panic”.

This after Malema on Sunday shared a screenshot of a message purporting to be from a soldier who was complaining about not receiving meal allowances.

It reads: “Afternoon Mr Malema, please help us, we are soldiers deployed in KwaZulu-Natal. We are suffering from the SANDF. There is no food for us, since last week we are buying food for us from our own salary. [The] army [has not] provided [food] us since last week. They promise[d] us meal allowance, [but] even now [there is] no meal allowance. Please help us, you are our last hope. If we ask them, they victimised us. Please sir, help us. I cannot name myself, but I’m a concerned soldier.”

Although the message itself said nothing about soldiers threatening to withdraw, Malema tweeted: “The army is threatening to withdraw!”

In a statement on Monday, the SANDF, without mentioning the EFF leader, labelled social media comments about the alleged withdrawal of soldiers as “ill-intended”.

“The SANDF dismisses with contempt and scoffs at the baseless insinuations aimed at causing panic in the country. Perpetrators of these insinuations are reminded that it is an illegal and a prosecutable offence to spread fake news or misinformation,” said Brigadier General Mafi Mgobozi.

Mgobozi said the issues with meal allowances had been resolved.

“The SANDF acknowledges that there were challenges regarding ration packs and payment of meal allowances. These challenges received the necessary attention. As a measure to address developing challenges, there are processes in place to prioritise and address challenges as and when they prevail. This is an ongoing process for the duration of the operation. It is outright disingenous to suggest or to insinuate that soldiers are starving and are considering withdrawing from the operation.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa last week extended the deployment of SANDF soldiers to assist police in maintaining law and order in the country, following widespread protests triggered by former president Jacob Zuma’s incarceration.

The deployment of 10,000 troops was confirmed via a letter from Ramaphosa to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). The deployment was extended from 13 August 2021 to 13 September 2021.

The letter, addressed to NCOP chairperson Amos Masondo, was dated 10 August and also confirmed that the deployment would cost approximately R255 million to R254,914,500.