The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) on Thursday welcomed President Jacob Zuma’s announcement of salary increases as a ”critical step” to boost morale among soldiers.
”Improved salaries are an important first step towards improved service conditions for soldiers,” Defence and Military Veterans Ministry spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said in a statement.
”Yesterday’s [Wednesday] pronouncement by President Zuma, that, ‘we want to invest in the development of the defence force and the young people who are drawn into this noble calling of defending the country,’ will boost morale and send the clear signal to soldiers that an era of relative military neglect is over.”
Earlier this year, SANDF members embarked on an illegal and sometimes violent strike to press for better working conditions.
On Wednesday, Zuma announced on Reconciliation Day: ”Therefore, as Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF, it is my pleasure to announce increases in the salaries of members of the SANDF, who are on salary levels two to 12, from privates to colonels or the occupational class of military practitioner.”
He said the increases would range from 2% to 65% and would come into effect on December 1 2009. — Sapa