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| Africa Subsaharan |
| SANDF General allegedly springs jailed troops |
| 2014-05-22 |
| [IOL News] Johannesburg - Five days ago, a military general allegedly illegally deployed troops to get their colleagues out of police custody - but the authorities still can't say what happened. "Can't say" or won't. I'm betting on won't. Only the president may authorise the use of troops within South Africa. On Wednesday night, the Presidency said no authorisation was issued, and that troops were in Oudtshoorn on training and exercises, which didn't need authorisation. Department of Defence spokespersons couldn't offer any official explanation by late on Wednesday. Police said as little as possible. Mum is the woord. The general apparently went to the police station in Bongolethu, Oudtshoorn, after soldiers were arrested by police at a shebeen and demanded their release. When police refused to release them, the general allegedly called the Oudtshoorn base and about 120 armed troops in two Ratels and two buses arrived. A shebeen is an illegal liqueur store. Police locked the door and armed themselves. There was no shooting and the soldiers were released. The incident took place on Friday night, after a ceremonial handover of command at Oudtshoorn base. Celebratory trip to the neighborhood shebeen goes badly. Lots of good work going on by the services in the vicinity of Oudsthoorn. I hope this incident does not have a negative impact those efforts. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #2 troops were in Oudtshoorn on [a] training Training for a POW rescue. Good for them. I bet that the desk sergeant gave that rookie policeman who arrested those solders a real good chewing out. It would have been easier to have them each sign the arrest book as "John Doe" and then release them but what do I know. |
| Posted by: Squinty 2014-05-22 15:40 |
| #1 Duhhh... liquor vs liqueur :-( |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-05-22 14:58 |