SANDF denies deploying soldiers to monitor GBV march in Eastern Cape

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.

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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."