Community Safety
1. Whether the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested any South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members during May 2014 at the Bongolethu police station in Oudtshoorn, as reported in The Star on 22 May 2014; if so,what were the charges brought against the arrested soldiers;
2. whether the SANDF sent armed troops and Ratel(s) to the police station to have the soldiers released; if so, what are the relevant details;
3. whether the SANDF intervened in any way to have soldiers released; if so, what are the relevant details;
4. whether any SANDF officer requested or threatened the SAPS to release the soldiers, if so , what are the relevant details;
5. whether the soldiers were released; if not, why not; if so, why;
6. whether the SAPS has taken this matter further with the SANDF command management; if so, what are the relevant details;
7. whether any corrective measures have been sought; if so, what are the relevant details;
8. whether the charges against the soldiers remain; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
The South African Police Services informed me as follows:
(1) Yes.
Section 76 (d) of the Western Cape Liquor Act (Consuming liquor at an unlicensed premise)
(2) – (8) All incidents after the arrest have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions: Western Cape, making it subjudice hence, no merits of the matter can be divulged at this stage
