South African National Defence Force (SANDF) chief Lt-Gen Solly Shoke has instituted a formal investigation into allegations of torture by SANDF soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the SANDF said on Saturday.
The SANDF had been alerted to reports of torture and assault in the DRC allegedly committed by some of its members deployed under the United Nations (UN) mission in that country. The allegations were understood to have been reported by citizens of the DRC, SANDF spokesman Brig-Gen Mafi Mgobozi said.
Shoke viewed these allegations in a very serious light and had instituted a formal investigation into the alleged reports in order to establish their veracity and take the necessary corrective actions against those involved. The investigations would be conducted by national investigating officers in close liaison with the UN office in the DRC, he said.
"General Shoke has emphasised that ill-discipline and criminality will not be tolerated within the ranks of the SANDF and those found to have transgressed the code of conduct and a military disciplinary code will be dealt with without fear or favour," Mgobozi said.
- African News Agency (ANA)
