Task team to probe sexual misconduct at SANDF
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula launched a probe into allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in the South African Defence Force (SANDF) on Monday.
The establishment of the task team comes after a leaked report with damning evidence of alleged sexual harassment within the defense force.
A report recently leaked to the media showed that only 13 of more than 40 cases of sexual exploitation and abuse reported in SANDF were completed.
Speaking in Pretoria, Mapisa-Nqakula said the task team needs to find out why victims are reluctant to testify and why perpetrators are found not guilty even when the evidence state otherwise.
“The are also seemingly high numbers of incidents and cases that are unreported, given the nature the military command and control structures and nature.”
The task team has been given three months to conduct the report, make recommendations and hand it over to the minister.
It is also expected to set up a hotline for victims of sexual harassment.
This will allow victims of sexual abuse to flag instances where harassment was reported but no action taken.
“For members of the SANDF to indicate if they were hesitant to lodge complaints or to open cases and their reasons why,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.
She also stressed that the task team must determine the measures that have been put in place to protect and support the victims from the moment a matter is reported until it is finalised.
The task team is expected to make recommendations on a legislative, policy and practical level to improve victim support and protection.
“Furthermore, the task team must also explore administrative discharge and or removal of the alleged perpetrator from the same environment as the victims,” the minister said.
Listen to Mapisa-Nqakula below: