Cape Times reports that the Oudtshoorn community is demanding answers from the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) following the disappearance of army trainee Izak Thompson.

He went missing with an R4 rifle during training at the Oudtshoorn Infantry School last month. He was dropped off by his brother at the school on 16 July. Others at the school noticed that Thompson was missing a few days later. While the SANDF did not respond to multiple requests for comment, the police confirmed a search for Thompson was under way. Members of the Oudtshoorn Community Against Crime (Ocac) and Thompson’s family recently marched to the infantry school demanding answers and a thorough investigation into his disappearance. Thompson’s mother, Anna Thompson, said she was struggling to cope and wanted answers. Community activist Leon Campher said the SANDF visited the Thompson family after his disappearance. He said: “Three days after he disappeared, the SANDF visited the family to say they were coming to look for a weapon because Izak left with a weapon. They did not tell her that they couldn’t find her son in the training field. Then we saw in the news in the morning that SANDF is looking for a soldier who has gone missing. There is no way that someone can just disappear like that.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphokazi Vuso at Cape Times

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