Tue May 21 15:22:42 SAST 2013
Tue May 21 15:22:42 SAST 2013

Probe over protest by SANDF soldiers to begin

Sep 12, 2012 | Kingdom Mabuza | 6 comments

THE Department of Defence says it will start with a preliminary investigation next month to determine charges against soldiers who stormed the Union Buildings during an illegal march in 2009.

Defence spokesman General Xolani Mabanga told Sowetan yesterday that an assertion by the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) that the soldiers could not be charged after three years was invalid.

"They can be charged with mutiny and there is no time-frame prescribed by the law that (stipulates) members have to be charged within a certain period," Mabanga said.

He said the soldiers, who were among a group of 1300 who disobeyed an order made last month for them to return to duty, "could face a charge of defying a lawful command."

Mabanga explained: "The SANDF is currently proceeding with the necessary arrangements required to deal with those members who are implicated in the August 26 2009 incident at the Union Buildings."

Less than 100 had reported back to their bases.

Sandu spokesman Jeff Dubazana accused the defence force of being insincere in disciplining members.

"They want to frustrate them. We are developing a programme of action that will force them to drop charges against the members," said Dubazana.

The union won a court case against the Department of Defence when it tried to terminate the members' employment after the strike.

Comments

Tue May 21 15:22:42 SAST 2013 ::
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Sep 12, 2012

Ntebaleng

Scare mongering , just because the soldiers request Juju to address them then the probe commences. What a lot of hog, our leader are always quelling fires never proactive.This is one way of telling the soldiers that meet with Juju and your cases will be compounded.

Our leaders are now applying the same tactics that the apartheid system used on us to immobalise and remove discent.
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Sep 12, 2012

Mrazane

Where in the world do soldiers have the right to strike and march to air grievances? Hayi in another country this would indeed be treated as mutiny. The military is very dictorial in nature, you know that when you sign up, come on SANDF soldiers let us not confuse democracy with anarchy.
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Sep 12, 2012

16-12-1838

Weak govt :( = anarchy, corruption and widespread poverty

Strong govt :) = democracy, law & order and economic growth & stability

How can we take this govt seriously, they are absolutely useless in everything they do! This incident happened over 3 years ago and only now are they making "necessary arrangements" to deal with these deserters because they feel threatened by a fat, obnoxious, loud mouthed opportunist. UNBELIEVABLE!

This would never have happened in the SADF! Then there was discipline and commands obeyed full stop. Going AWOL for only a few days would land you in DB (Detention Barracks) - a more frightening place you couldn't imagine!

Troop pay was less than R200.00 a month, food was k@k, a pass home very rare - I wonder what these slobs get today...and they have a choice to enlist!

Geez we were forced by law to sacrifice 2 years (plus more as Campers) of our young lives - brainwashed, skopped about, treated like sh1t and then sent to go fight Soviet backed troops thousands of kilometres away...but you know what? I wouldn't swap it for the world, because it was there that we became men and learnt respect. Unlike the so called military of today, they are an absolute disgrace to this nation!!!!!
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Sep 13, 2012

Pontshopontsho

Soldiers are public servants and they also deserve a decent wage , our country is under paying the soldiers and their task and responsibilities are huge.
they need a good minister who will look and check their greviences and pay them the salary they deserve
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Sep 13, 2012

lidodaduvha11

call juju to solve this problem
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Sep 13, 2012

ChampRef

E reng fat juju a le hire. This date was long set up, before bighead malema spoke to those 3 soldiers.juju this juju that, o tla le etsetsa eng mare? The boy is stinking rich, yet not working. etla ba president ya ditlaela tse sa yang sekolong.
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