SANDF: We will not tolerate criminality by soldiers
Eleven South African soldiers have been convicted for assaulting a 17-year-old boy while being deployed as part of a United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The assault took place in January in one of the country's provinces known as Kasai Orential.
Sixteen men were originally charged under anti-torture legislation but five men were cleared of all charges while the remaining eleven were convicted of common assault.
"The soldiers apprehended the 17-year-old after he was suspected of stealing plastic and dustbins from the defence force military base," says SANDF spokesperson Mafi Mgobozi.
They took him inside the military base where he was assaulted and sustained minor injuries.
"The case was immediately reported to authorises from the SANDF for a full-scale investigation. Sixteen soldiers were charged."
Mgobozi says the five soldiers who were cleared of all charges will no longer serve as peacekeepers.
"These five soldiers will not get an opportunity to be re-deployed as peacekeepers, even in the country they won't serve as peacekeepers.
" If this incident occurs again soldiers will get a harsh conviction."