The soldiers’ protest will continue until the minister of defence tables a decent wage offer, the South African National Defence Union (Sandu) said on Friday.
”We call on the minister to table a decent offer, failing which we will initiate further programmes of protest starting on September 2,” said Sandu president Mosima Mosima.
He said this would be in the form of pickets, petitions and protest marches.
Mosima said the soldiers had not defied a court order in going to the Union Buildings on Wednesday.
”At the time of receiving the court’s judgement, soldiers had already assembled at the designated area, and the police suggested that the soldiers should be moved to another venue, which will not disturb the CBD, where leaders of the union will inform them of the outcome of the court.”
He charged that when they arrived at the Union Buildings, police sprayed part of the group with water and that was when chaos erupted.
”This unfortunate incident leads to a series of events which end up in excessive, brutal and unnecessary action by police,” said Mosima. — Sapa