WATCH | SANDF issues warning after video of man ‘provoking’ a soldier goes viral

Cape Town – The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has issued a public warning, urging communities not to provoke its members while they are on patrol duty.

This comes after a video of an alleged taxi driver provoking a SANDF member in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, went viral on social media

“The public is urged to refrain from committing acts of provocation or incitement against members of the army.

“It is an illegal and prosecutable offence to interfere with any law enforcement official on duty, regardless of the circumstances,” SANDF said in a statement.

The South African army deployed its members to KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces last month to help crush mob violence and looting sparked by the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

Zuma, 79, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court on June 29 after snubbing a probe into the corruption that stained his nine years in power.

He turned himself in on July 8 at Estcourt Correctional Centre, around an hour’s drive from his rural Nkandla home.

SANDF praised its member “for maintaining his discipline under serious provocation”. It also expressed disappointment at comments by the public on social media.

“It is equally concerning to note a few social media comments commending this act of provocation. Such contempt, disregard and disrespect of a law enforcement officer should be condemned with contempt it deserves by all law abiding citizens,” said SANDF.

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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo

Additional reporting by AFP

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