MOB IN SCUFFLE WITH SOLDIER AT INFORMAL ENTRY/EXIT POINT

SITEKI – A scuffle broke out between a soldier and a mob at an informal entry/exit point near Big Bend on Sunday morning. Information reaching this publication is that the soldier, who is a member of the border patrol unit, was carrying out a routine search on the luggage of a group of people entering the country from neighbouring South Africa when the alleged scuffle broke out.

The argument was sparked by the soldier’s alleged aggressive behaviour, said some people who were involved in the argument. “While searching our bags, the soldier slapped one of the boys and this angered us. We then confronted him since we felt what he did was wrong and unlawful,” said a woman who was part of the mob.
The soldier was armed with an automatic rifle but that did not deter the mob from attacking him, added the woman.

“We wanted him to tell us if the law permits soldiers to beat up people. We also wanted to know if he was allowed to beat people while in uniform,” said a woman who was part of the mob.
Sensing that the situation could end up badly, a senior soldier in charge of the border patrol team at the informal entry/exit point intervened and restrained the soldier while also urging the angry mob to calm down. He succeeded in breaking up the scuffle and in diffusing the tension but the mob was still fuming. As such, some people who were part of the mob proceeded to Mbutfu Army Barracks to report the soldier. One of the people who lodged the complaint said they wanted the soldier to be disciplined for his alleged aggressive behaviour.

“We usually use the informal entry/exit point since we have relatives that side. So our safety is not guaranteed if the border is guarded by very aggressive soldiers,” she stated.
Army Public Relations Officer (PRO), Captain Nkosinathi Dlamini confirmed that a complaint had been lodged against a soldier, who was based at an informal entry point near Big Bend.
“Senior army personnel at Mbutfu Army Barracks are investigating the matter. But what we have gathered so far is that there were civilians who (allegedly) did not want to be searched,” said Dlamini.
However, some of the people who were part of the mob disputed that they did not want to be searched.

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