SANDF Officer murdered with a hand grenade in the DRC

[Andrew Leigh]

Major, so probably a company commander (theoretically) or a perhaps a Battalion Commander. Either way one would have thought that there were layers between him and the soldier. Company 2IC, Platoon Commander and then Platoon Sergeant. In my day the Platoon Sergeants were responsible for troop disciple.

I wonder therefore if someone in the leadership group were not the aggrieved party.

[oafpatroll]

Major, so probably a company commander (theoretically) or a perhaps a Battalion Commander. Either way one would have thought that there were layers between him and the soldier. Company 2IC, Platoon Commander and then Platoon Sergeant. In my day the Platoon Sergeants were responsible for troop disciple.

I wonder therefore if someone in the leadership group were not the aggrieved party.

Interesting thought that. When I was in the army I hadn't so much as been spoken to by a major before I was posted to DHQ much less had a reason to build up a grudge against one.

[Zuku]

There is some good soldiers out there unfortunately they are in the minority, most is there for a salary with that NAFI attitude and then a good bunch of the bad apples. The fact is most soldiers today is ill trained, ill attitude, ill legal (criminals), ill literate and only positive thing is pro Africa.

Instead of manning up, recognize wrong doing, implement a plan to get better, get better and built a bright future, it's in their nature to rather eliminate the problem Africa or gangsta style. Three major incidents came to mind the Tempe shooting (6 dead) and the Kroonstad shooting (1 dead) and the Oudtshoorn Prison break, when integration started. There were so many other incidents that never reached the media, even CIT robberies with a infantry section,many stabbings, threats to eliminate etc etc.

Remember that one Big Battle in the DRC where our soldiers were hailed as heroes. That's what the media will tell you. Once you sit in the tea room, or talk softly in the close group around the braai and hear the real story from the horses mouth you will hear how most of them should have been shot for desertion. They start running with chickens without heads. Some old guys grab 2 running soldiers, put them behind barricade and order them to lay down suppressive fire. As soon as he started to catch the next 2 running soldiers, the unsupervised soldiers behind the barricade will just jump up and retreat again. Eventually one old man had to keep them together behind the barricade while the other one catch them and bring them in behind the barricade. Even then with supervision some will just turn around and ran.

So killing a superior is nothing new. If the victim is the right coulour you might even get bragging rights. All I know is that the guys that left the Army since 1994 got an extension on their lifeline.

[oafpatroll]

The odds of the SANDF escaping the rot brought to everything the ANC extrudes cadres into is in the fuckall to zero range.

[Glockster]

Nothing new, I recall an incident in Burundi where one SF soldier was constantly disciplined for his off base excursions and other misdemeanors by his Sgt Maj.
The SF soldier returned to base, retrieved his rifle and opened fire on the Sgt Maj, seriously injuring him. A SAAF support troop flight sergeant who witnessed the incident engaged the SF troop with his pistol and killed him thus saving the Maj's life and quite possibly other personnel.
Flight Sgt got a medal, the SANDF equivalent of the Honoris Crux silver. End of story.

[vinmarvin]

There is some good soldiers out there unfortunately they are in the minority, most is there for a salary with that NAFI attitude and then a good bunch of the bad apples. The fact is most soldiers today is ill trained, ill attitude, ill legal (criminals), ill literate and only positive thing is pro Africa.

Instead of manning up, recognize wrong doing, implement a plan to get better, get better and built a bright future, it's in their nature to rather eliminate the problem Africa or gangsta style. Three major incidents came to mind the Tempe shooting (6 dead) and the Kroonstad shooting (1 dead) and the Oudtshoorn Prison break, when integration started. There were so many other incidents that never reached the media, even CIT robberies with a infantry section,many stabbings, threats to eliminate etc etc.

Remember that one Big Battle in the DRC where our soldiers were hailed as heroes. That's what the media will tell you. Once you sit in the tea room, or talk softly in the close group around the braai and hear the real story from the horses mouth you will hear how most of them should have been shot for desertion. They start running with chickens without heads. Some old guys grab 2 running soldiers, put them behind barricade and order them to lay down suppressive fire. As soon as he started to catch the next 2 running soldiers, the unsupervised soldiers behind the barricade will just jump up and retreat again. Eventually one old man had to keep them together behind the barricade while the other one catch them and bring them in behind the barricade. Even then with supervision some will just turn around and ran.

So killing a superior is nothing new. If the victim is the right coulour you might even get bragging rights. All I know is that the guys that left the Army since 1994 got an extension on their lifeline.

Tempe incident was in 1999 with 8 people killed (9 if you count the POS). Was in my unit in 1 SAI and I was the Company Commander of the shooter in question. He was part of the former APLA forces that integrated into the SADF in 1994 and had a list of disciplinary warnings and charges prior to the incident. He went AWOL after returning from a course in Pretoria and after 3 days of absence his salary was suspended. He reported back to the unit and our company was on the way to the range that day so he was able to sign out his R4 from the QM and the rest is history. May he rot in hell....

[swimma]

Nothing new, I recall an incident in Burundi where one SF soldier was constantly disciplined for his off base excursions and other misdemeanors by his Sgt Maj.
The SF soldier returned to base, retrieved his rifle and opened fire on the Sgt Maj, seriously injuring him. A SAAF support troop flight sergeant who witnessed the incident engaged the SF troop with his pistol and killed him thus saving the Maj's life and quite possibly other personnel.
Flight Sgt got a medal, the SANDF equivalent of the Honoris Crux silver. End of story.

That ex-SAAF member ended up with a prosthetic leg from injuries sustained that day.