EFF Student Leader Arrested For Wearing Military Uniform On TV

EFF Student Leader Arrested For Wearing Military Uniform On TV

An Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) student member is set to appear in the Bellville Magistrate Court on Thursday, 24 January 2019 for illegally wearing an item of SANDF uniform.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) had lashed out at an EFF student member, who attends the University of the Western Cape (UWC), for wearing a SANDF camo shirt while being interviewed on eNCA on Monday morning.

The 20-year-old Western Cape man allegedly seen on national television wearing an item of the uniform of the armed forces of the Republic of South Africa without authorisation has been arrested.

SANDF explained in a statement that it is emboldened by the vigilance of the South African Military Police Agency who recently arrested and handed over the 20-year-old Western Cape man to law enforcement agencies. The man was allegedly seen on national television wearing an item of the uniform of the constitutional armed forces of the Republic of South Africa without authorisation.

The SANDF said the “arrested person” was released on a warning and will appear before the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

“The SANDF uniforms and related items are registered for use solely by regular force, reserve force and honorary members of the SANDF in execution of their duties as stipulated in the SA constitution and civilians/non-members of the country’s military are prohibited by law to wear such uniforms,” warned the SANDF in a statement on Wednesday.

Although they didn’t name him directly in their latest statement, it was already established through an earlier statement that the person in question was an EFF student leader who had appeared on television wearing an SANDF camouflage shirt and red beret on Monday.

In a short statement, the SANDF had said the “young man” who was interviewed on television was “not an SANDF member”.

Aseza Mayaphi is an EFF student command secretary at the University of the Western Cape, and was interviewed on eNCA while wearing the outfit.

Mayaphi was being interviewed about the EFF’s “Sizofunda ngenkani” campaign, which is about ensuring that students have access to tertiary institutions.

In a short statement, the SANDF said the “young man” who was interviewed on television was “not a SANDF member”.

“The SANDF further reiterates that wearing the SANDF uniform when you are not a SANDF member is a punishable offence and anyone who is caught committing this illegal act will be prosecuted,” said SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini.