Officer wears fallen soldier's medals

2012-10-01 10:04

Picture: Shuttertstock

Johannesburg - The incumbent new commander of the Durban Light Infantry is being prosecuted because he allegedly wore a fellow soldier's medals at an official parade, Beeld reported on Monday.

Lieutenant –Colonel Sibusiso Amos Mbuyazi, 42, reportedly wore the unit's deceased's chaplain's Southern Cross and Pro Patria medals and his John Chard Decoration for impeccable, continuous service (30 years), when he received his rank at a Pretoria parade on 22 August.

The medals were allegedly stolen from the unit's display cabinet in May, and stolen for a second time after Mbuyazi wore them in August.

The numbers on the medals correspond to those awarded to chaplain Patrick Montgomery, whose family donated them to the unit for safekeeping after his recent death.

When Mbuyazi was confronted about the medals a few days after he wore them, he reportedly said he had "borrowed them from a friend".

Mbuyazi had since been informed that, according to the military discipline code, he was being charged with theft, theft of state property or property of a fellow soldier, disgraceful behaviour, and conduct unbecoming of an officer.

- SAPA