Mapisa-Nqakula pleads with security forces to refrain from using excessive force

Defence Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has pleaded with security forces to refrain from using unorthodox methods bordering on excessive force, to punish those who don’t comply with lockdown regulations.

Mapisa-Nqakula was speaking to the SABC on Monday morning, following the emergence of videos of members of the SANDF forcing people to do frog jumps among others. Social media is littered with videos from all over the country of security forces going beyond the bounds of the law to punish those found on the streets with no valid reason.

SANDF enforcing some much needed discipline in our society 😂😂😂#SaluteToFrontLineSoldiers
Kudos to SANDF 😂 #LockdownSA#lockdown#Covid19inSA pic.twitter.com/vbWxpaBtE7

— Austin🤝🍏 (@austinjosephza) March 30, 2020

The nationwide lockdown came into effect  on Thursday 26 March at midnight. Among  the lockdown regulations, is the restriction of movement which states that citizens should be confined to their places of residence, unless strictly for the purposes of performing an essential service, obtaining essential goods ,collecting a social grant or seeking emergency, life-saving or chronic medical attention.

The Democratic Alliance has condemned the conduct of the police and military. The party revealed that it has since written to the speaker of the National assembly, requesting that she establish an adhoc committee of the National Assembly to exercise oversight over the national executive authority and ensure that civil liberties are protected during the lockdown.

Modise is yet to formally respond to the request.