An alliance of social movements, trade unions and community organisations has demanded that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) be held accountable for the death of Collins Khosa.
In a statement, the C19 People's Coalition - a coalition committed to ensuring that the South African response to Covid-19 is effective, just, equitable, and meets the needs of the marginal - said the SANDF members responsible for Khosa's death "must be held accountable as a matter of justice, to prevent a repetition of these abuses and to restore trust in the security forces".
A SANDF board of inquiry report, which gave a summary of the events and included findings and recommendations, ultimately cleared the soldiers and concluded that there was no link between the injuries he sustained due to their actions and his death.
The report found that the only force used was 'pushing and clapping (sic)' and rejects the possibility that there was any connection between Mr Khosa's death and the actions of the SANDF members involved," it said in the statement.
The coalition has called on the government to issue public and consistent rejection of "unlawful use of force" by police officers and soldiers during the lockdown, along with an "urgent shift in approach out of fear that large-scale abuses could occur without these critical interventions".
