Collins Khosa: Court orders suspension of SANDF members

The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has ruled that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members who were at the scene during the death of Alexander resident Collins Khosa be suspended.

Khosa was allegedly assaulted to death by members of the military at his home during the Easter weekend. This was after he was seen drinking inside his own yard.

Family seeks justice for Collins Khosa

Earlier in the week, an SANDF inquiry report claims that his death did not result from the actions of its members.

“Most of the witness statements mentioned that Mr Khosa came in the house, instructed his friend to take his wife to the hospital and went to the toilet twice, contrary to the founding affidavit mentioning that he was confused and unconscious,” the SANDF report says.

“Based on the above contradictions, the board concluded that Mr Khosa was conscious and healthy when the security forces left.”

Case still under investigation

The SABC reports that Khosa’s family approached the High Court to lodge an urgent appeal to have the government intervene.

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said the matter was still under investigation.

“It’s a matter which I do not want to comment on, precisely because it’s still under investigation, and in terms of the court, it’s, in fact, a sub judice matter,” Mapisa-Nqakula told eNCA.

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula

Witnesses say Khosa was choked and beaten by sjambok-wielding soldiers, who had approached a family member about drinking inside his yard on Good Friday.

The inquiry says the only force used by the military during the incident was “clapping and pushing”.

A lawyer representing the Khosa family, Wikus Steyl, says the soldier’s actions were ridiculous.

“The soldiers in the report further says that they interacted with Collins and his brother-in-law because there was an open glass of alcohol in his yard. That is ridiculous. It’s never been illegal under the lockdown to have alcohol in your own property, you cannot be in the street and Collins wasn’t in the street. That still doesn’t give the SANDF to assault, and nevermind kill Collins Khosa,” Steyl said.

Wikus Steyl

Khosa is one of a handful of civilians said to have lost their lives at the hands of law enforcement during the ongoing national lockdown.