SANDF denies deploying soldiers to monitor GBV march in Eastern Cape
Angry residents in Matatiele have been taking to the street to march against GBV following the rape, allegedly school, of a 7-year-old girl.
Matatiele residents and various civil organisations marched to the police station to hand over a petition demanding justice for the children who've been raped in the area. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) says allegations of a deployment in the Eastern Cape to monitor a community march against gender-based violence (GBV) are false.
Angry residents in Matatiele have been taking to the street to march against GBV following the rape, allegedly school, of a 7-year-old girl.
The SANDF says its members in the area are on broader safeguarding duties and nothing else.
Spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini says the incident where SANDF soldiers were seen during a march was not intentional.
"The SANDF is a gender sensitive organisation and supports gender programmes. We are cognisant of the unacceptable high levels of gender-based violence and the prevalence of violence against women and children and support any intervention by institutions and citizens aimed at dealing with violence against our women and children."