/ 27 August 2009

Sisulu: Protesting soldiers will be sacked

The soldiers who embarked on illegal and violent protest at the Union Buildings will be dismissed, Lindiwe Sisulu said on Thursday.

The soldiers who embarked on illegal and violent protest at the Union Buildings will be dismissed following legal processes, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu said on Thursday.

”We have decided following legal processes available to the defence force and within the defence force to proceed with the ultimate sanction that will allow the soldiers to separate, which means they will be dismissed,” she said as she left a briefing in Pretoria.

Acting chief of the South African National Defence Force, General Themba Matanzima, said between 1 500 and 2 000 soldiers took part in the illegal march on Wednesday.

However, he assured the public that the army was a disciplined organisation.

”The SANDF is in charge and it remains a dependable, disciplined and professional force capable of defending the country,” he said.

A wage protest by members of the South African National Defence Union descended into chaos when the group tried to get on to the Union Buildings property on Wednesday.

Police used rubber bullets and teargas to disperse the crowd who taunted them, threw a petrol bomb into one car and vandalised others.

The soldiers had demanded to see President Jacob Zuma about their work grievances.

A policeman and several soldiers were injured in the fracas.

Two soldiers were arrested and handed over to the military police after the protest.

The High Court in Pretoria had earlier declared the march illegal.

Zuma on Thursday condemned the protest.

”I don’t think it is acceptable that security forces,
particularly the army, behave in the way they behaved,” Zuma told journalists in Cape Town.

”We are concerned about what happened. The minister [Lindiwe Sisulu] has indicated that action will be taken.” — Sapa