The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has not been deployed to Matatiele in the Eastern Cape to control a peaceful march. Rather, soldiers happened to be present and provided support to the SA Police Service.
On Tuesday, marchers took to the streets to demand justice following the alleged rape of a seven-year-old child known as Cwecwe.
Footage emerged of SANDF soldiers providing security along with members of the police, drawing widespread condemnation.
The Economic Freedom Fighters Youth Command “vehemently” condemned the “shameful and unwarranted deployment of soldiers form the South African National Defence Force to the peaceful #JusticeForCwecwe march in Matatiele. It is both appalling and unacceptable for the SANDF to be deployed to unarmed civilians seeking justice for the tragic rape of Cwecwe, a seven year old child who was violated in a school in the Eastern Cape Province, Bergview College,” the Youth Command said in a statement.
The Command accused the military of “being reduced to a militia used to intimidate and militarise a civil society protest.”
In a letter to Thoko Didiza, Speaker of the National Assembly, the EFF pointed out that in terms of section 201(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, only the President may authorise the employment of the defence force in cooperation with the police service. When the military is deployed, the President must inform Parliament promptly and in appropriate detail of the reasons for the employment of the defence force, the location of deployment, number of people deployed etc.
“Did the President formally communicate to Parliament his intention to deploy the SANDF to assist the SAPS in providing security at the protests for justice for Cwecwe?” the EFF asked.
Similarly, the ANC Youth League Eastern Cape condemned the “unnecessary presence of private security and the SANDF at peaceful march in Matatiele.”
Ian Cameron, National Assembly Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, clarified that SANDF soldiers were not in fact deployed. “Only the president can order such a deployment and it must be in consultation with parliament,” he explained.
“SANDF members were travelling along R56 near garage where SAPS had stopped the crowd passing. The SANDF members had to stop there too and stood off at the gathering until the road was cleared for them to then continue travelling,” Cameron said.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Government reaffirmed its commitment to combating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) across the province following recent incidents, including the alleged rape of the seven-year-old girl at Bergview College in Matatiele, and the recent judgment in the Timothy Omotoso case, in which the accused was found not guilty.
Televangelist Omotoso was acquitted in the Gqeberha High Court on 32 serious charges, including allegations of rape, racketeering, human trafficking, and other crimes.
In response to the GBVF incidents, particularly the case in Matatiele, the Ministry of Police has deployed urgent and coordinated interventions. These include intensified law enforcement efforts and the deployment of the South African Police Service specialised Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit to assist with the investigations.
In a statement issued on Monday, the provincial government said Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane had reached out to the family to offer reassurance and reaffirm government’s commitment to pursuing justice.
He also reiterated that the Eastern Cape Provincial Government will continue to collaborate closely with law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, and community structures to ensure that “no victim is left behind and no perpetrator escapes accountability”.
