Lekota defends medal for convicted soldier.
Lekota defends medal for convicted soldier Parliamentary Editor CAPE TOWN The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has honoured a soldier who has convictions for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and for fraud.
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota insists the soldier's award for services to the department and the country will not be withdrawn even though there was full knowledge of his criminal record. In reply to a written question from Democratic Alliance MP Hendrik Schmidt yesterday, Lekota said the convictions and sentence were known to the SANDF before the September 1 medal parade. The person (who was not named) was charged and convicted by a civilian court on two counts of fraud relating to a fraudulent BA degree in communication and a senior diploma in human resource and public relations management, Lekota said. He was also charged and convicted for possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition. On the two counts of fraud, he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, suspended for five years. On the counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, he was fined R5000. The soldier has not faced a departmental disciplinary charge for either matter. Lekota said the soldier had explained the circumstances of his convictions and his subsequent dissatisfaction about those convictions. He did not elaborate. Schmidt implored the SANDF to take disciplinary action against the soldier, saying he should be dishonourably discharged.
It is deeply worrying that, despite knowing about the convictions, the SANDF was prepared to go ahead and make the award.
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24 Novembre 2006 à 19:02 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
