WORLD : S. African Jailed for Refusing Duty
A young white man was sentenced to 18 months in jail today after refusing to serve in the South African army because he said it upholds apartheid.
Saul Batzofin, 28, who works for an insurance company, is the fourth white to be prosecuted for refusing compulsory military service.
He has completed all but a year of his service and pleaded guilty to refusing any further army duties. He said he was influenced by incidents in which civilians were savagely hit and corpses kicked around by members of the defense force.
A smiling Batzofin was showered with yellow flowers as he was led away and supporters in the gallery sang the black national anthem, “Nkosi Sikelel’i Afrika” (God Bless Africa).
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
