There will be no carrying of groceries bags, taking photos or reacting to insults from the public for soldiers deployed to enforce national lockdown regulations, based on a new code of conduct issued by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The code of conduct, published on Thursday, details how SANDF members are expected to behave in various scenarios during Operation Notlela, including during incidents of looting, drinking on private property, at roadblocks and other interactions with the public.
The mission-specific code of conduct comes after the suspension and investigation of soldiers present during the death of Collins Khosa, 40, who was allegedly beaten to death by members of the SANDF in Alexandra, Johannesburg, in March.
The code of conduct, shared on SANDF social media sites in the format of "dos and "don'ts", details how soldiers will be expected to disperse crowds during looting - they should not fire warning shoots, shoot civilians or become involved in a physical fight.
In the case of a roadblock, SANDF members have been instructed to assist in establishing roadblocks, offer protection to police officers and health department staff, observe suspicious vehicles and persons, and act as guards to arrested individuals.
