Khosa case: soldiers to be disciplined

THE four soldiers implicated in the murder of Collins Khosa face disciplinary action from the army after being found guilty by the Military Ombudsman.

Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula revealed in Parliament yesterday that the Military Ombud had released its findings and recommendations at the beginning of August.

The four soldiers are also facing criminal charges. It was alleged that they attacked Khosa at his Alexandra house where he later died.

In the report, the Military Ombud recommended that the commander of the platoon in Alexandra at the time be charged with misconduct together with the soldiers implicated.

The report found the conduct of the soldiers was improper and irregular, and they were not supposed to have entered the Khosa house without the Johannesburg metro police and the SAPS. The role of the army was to support the police and metro police to enforce the lockdown and not conduct their own operations.

Mapisa-Nqakula said that at no point did she instruct the soldiers to violate the rights of any citizen during the start of the lockdown.

She said the instructions to the soldiers were clear: to uphold the law and prevent any loss of life.

She added that during the investigation by the Military Ombud, the soldiers had exercised their right to remain silent, perhaps to avoid incriminating themselves in the upcoming criminal murder trial.

The Military Ombud interviewed Khosa’s partner and the neighbours.

The minister added they would comply with all the recommendations and findings of the Military Ombud.