Four off-duty South African soldiers stationed at Camden Power Station have been arrested and will appear in court for allegedly beating a resident, Mlungisi Ndlovu, to death. The violent attack reportedly involved golf clubs and a knobkerrie and was prompted by a dispute over a missing Xbox. This incident has raised serious questions about the conduct of military personnel deployed to protect critical infrastructure.
According to a witness, Thabo Nkosi, he was also targeted by the soldiers. In the early hours of the morning, they broke down his door and chased him from his home. “They asked where the Xbox was that I had stolen from their house [where some of the soldiers live]. But I didn’t know what they were talking about. It was around 2 am, and I was sleeping,” Nkosi said. The soldiers, who were off duty and not in uniform, allegedly told Nkosi to go outside. “Then I ran away. At the gate, where other soldiers were standing guard, I asked them to help me. They just asked why I was stealing. Then I ran on,” Nkosi added. He hid in an unoccupied house until the next morning before reporting the incident to the police.
A Tragic Discovery and Disciplinary Action
It was at the police station that Nkosi learned of Mlungisi Ndlovu's tragic fate. The soldiers had allegedly beaten Ndlovu to a pulp, then taken him to a hospital, giving him a false name. Nkosi went to the hospital to check on him, but was unable to find him under the provided name. He later heard that Ndlovu had died from his injuries. Nkosi, who works for a contractor at the power station, recounted the moment the soldiers confronted him, stating: “When they kicked open my door, I asked the soldiers what they were doing, but they didn’t even give me a chance to speak. They just wanted their Xbox. I was at work until after 5pm the previous day. They took my cellphone, bank cards and my driver’s licence.” He told City Press' sister publication, Rapport, that his phone and cards are still missing.
The police located and arrested the four soldiers, with the alleged murder weapons—the golf clubs and knobkerrie—found in the boot of their vehicle. The accused are set to appear in Ermelo court. Nkosi expressed the community's disbelief and fear, stating, “They’re supposed to protect us, but now they come and beat people to death.” He noted that the community had never had problems with the soldiers before this incident.
SA Defence Force spokesperson Rear Admiral Prince Tshabalala confirmed the arrest of the four soldiers, noting that they were off duty and "acted in their personal capacity." He added that the SA Army is fully supporting the South African Police Service's (SAPS) investigation. The chief of the defence force, General Rudzani Maphwanya, has ordered that internal disciplinary steps be taken against the soldiers, demonstrating a commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining discipline within the military's ranks.
Another Incident Surfaces in Musina
This incident is not an isolated one for the South African military. Shortly after the arrests in Mpumalanga, five other soldiers and two Zimbabweans were apprehended in Musina, Limpopo. In what the military described as an “intelligence-driven operation,” the soldiers allegedly conspired with the two Zimbabweans to carry out an unauthorised “operation” against cigarette smugglers. During the operation, shots were fired and illicit cigarettes were confiscated. A subsequent raid by military intelligence and police uncovered six boxes of cigarettes that had been hidden in the soldiers' quarters.
The intervention of senior army officers was required to gain access to the quarters. The seven suspects appeared in the Musina Magistrates' Court, facing charges of corruption, possession of illicit cigarettes, unlawful discharge of firearms, and obstruction of justice. General Maphwanya has also ordered internal disciplinary action against these soldiers. Prince Tshabalala reiterated the military’s stance, stating, “The military emphasises its zero tolerance of corruption, smuggling and misconduct by soldiers. Any soldier who breaks the law will face consequences in the military and in court.”
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