Captain axed over affair
2003-09-01 22:27
Ziegfried Ekron
Cape Town - Another female defence force officer has been dismissed after a torrid relationship with a subordinate.
This time, the head of the military police in Wynberg's crime prevention unit was discharged after her relationship with a subordinate apparently had a negative effect on her work.
A military court recommended that Captain Neliswa Mqamelo, 42, be dismissed because her relationship was detrimental to military discipline.
The court found her guilty of absence without leave, assault, insubordination and ignoring orders.
Mwamelo apparently started a relationship with corporal Moses Lamola shortly after she was transferred to Cape Town in 2000.
Between October 2000 and January 2002 she absconded at least twice. She apparently called her commanding officer a racist and refused to salute him.
The court also found that Mqamelo ignored military protocol by discussing her grievances directly with defence force headquarters in Pretoria.
Mqamelo was found not quilty on a charge that she threatened Lamola with a firearm after their relationship ended.
Mqamelo is the second female defence force officer to be found guilty on charges of this nature within a month.
Major Ria Vivier was dishonourably discharged because she had a relationship with a corporal while they were both deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Lamola will apparently be tried separately.
Mqamelo is being confined to the barracks until the case has been reviewed. She appealed to the military appeal court in Pretoria.
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- Die Burger