SA troops 'lack discipline'
2004-11-19 16:11
Pretoria - A lack of discipline was to blame for the shooting incident in Burundi during which a South African soldier was shot and killed by a colleague, the Freedom Front Plus said on Friday.
"The shooting incident in Burundi, in which a South African soldier shot and killed his colleague, testifies to the lack of discipline in the Defence Force.
"This lack of discipline does not only exist among lower ranking personnel but proves that senior officers are as slack, in properly exercising discipline," said FF Plus spokesperson Pieter Groenewald.
Gunner Elvin Mopani Hendricks, 24, died in a shooting incident on Wednesday night in a military camp in Bujumbura.
A second member of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) contingent serving with the mission in Burundi was arrested by members of the South African Military Police Agency in connection with the incident.
Groenewald blamed the antics of senior officers who he said were continuously in the news for misconduct.
He said they set a bad example for subordinates.
"It could rightfully be asked how senior officers could exercise discipline if they are themselves ill disciplined," Groenewald said in a statement.
He also argued that it appeared that drunkenness and alcohol abuse was common among South African soldiers in Burundi.
"South African soldiers acting in peace delegations in other countries are supposed to be the cream of the SA National Defence Force," he said, adding that they were a disgrace and should not be buried with full military honours as they were.
- SAPA