A damning complaint letter has exposed a shocking pattern of misconduct amongst South African soldiers deployed as peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The allegations, submitted to the military’s joint operations division in Pretoria and presumably also to the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), paint a picture of widespread indiscipline, ranging from sexual exploitation and abuse to blatant disregard for military regulations and the UN's code of conduct.
The letter details a litany of complaints, including widespread instances of soldiers impregnating local women, engaging in extramarital affairs, and violating curfew to party in local bars. One soldier reportedly paid a "divorce fee" of R26 300 to a Congolese woman to avoid legal action after an affair, a tactic allegedly commonly employed by local women to extort money from the soldiers. The SANDF holds soldiers accountable for child support in such cases, with one soldier reportedly resorting to selling the mother's belongings within the base to meet these obligations.
The situation is further complicated by the alleged altercation between two female majors, Major Boipelo Seokotsa, the current legal officer in the DRC, and Major TF Taukubong, the battalion’s gender issues adviser. The complaint alleges that the two officers engaged in a physical fight in front of senior officers over a shared boyfriend, who is himself a senior officer in the South African military.
Major Seokotsa's involvement in this incident is particularly concerning given her past disciplinary issues. In 2020, she faced eight charges, including absence without leave, contempt of a lawful order, and abusive language towards a senior officer. A military court ultimately dismissed these charges, citing her unlawful discharge from service, a decision that was never fully ratified. Despite this, she was subsequently deployed to the DRC, only to be sent back to her unit before even leaving South Africa due to interference with command and control.
The complaint also highlights the lax discipline within the camp itself. Major E Jantjies, a company commander, allegedly instituted a fine system for alcohol consumption, keeping the collected funds for himself. Alcohol is strictly prohibited within the camp.
The soldiers involved in these incidents are part of the UN peacekeeping force intervention brigade, specifically members of 14 SA Infantry Battalion (SAI) in Mthatha and 121 SAI in Mtubatuba. These allegations follow a similar pattern of misconduct that led to the repatriation of eight soldiers a year ago, following a UN report on poor discipline and misconduct, including violations of curfew and sexual exploitation and abuse. This was not an isolated incident, as the South African contingent has faced numerous accusations of similar behaviour in the past.
These latest allegations come against a backdrop of the late Major Tolla Pieterse's death in July. Pieterse, a proponent of strict military discipline, died when a hand grenade exploded near his tent in Beni. Military experts recommended the entire contingent's return to South Africa following the incident, a recommendation that was not implemented. Pieterse's unpopularity among his troops, to the point of them filing a formal grievance against him, further complicates the situation.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has acknowledged the allegations and expressed serious concern. Siphiwe Dlamini, the military’s head of communications, stated: “The SA National Defence Force has noted with concern the allegations of misdemeanour by certain members in the DRC as per your enquiry. The SANDF takes a dim view of such behaviour by any member or members of the defence force and views this in the most serious light. The chief of the SA National Defence Force has stated without fear or favour that there is no place for ill-discipline and that any such will not be tolerated, no matter the rank.”
Dlamini further assured that any soldier found to have violated the code of conduct would face disciplinary action and immediate withdrawal from the mission area. However, he offered no explanation for Major Seokotsa's presence in the DRC.
The investigation into Major Pieterse's death is ongoing, with both a military board of inquiry and a UN investigation underway. Despite a senior military delegation visiting the DRC following the incident, no updates have been provided to Pieterse’s family or the public. The relative calm in eastern DRC since a ceasefire between the M23 rebels and the DRC government came into effect on 30 July has reportedly reduced the peacekeepers’ operational activity, potentially contributing to the increase in reported misconduct.
