A planned soldiers' protest march against low salaries and poor working conditions is irresponsible and unnecessary, the Defence Ministry said yesterday.

A planned soldiers' protest march against low salaries and poor working conditions is irresponsible and unnecessary, the Defence Ministry said yesterday.

Spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mabaya said: "All issues that they are protesting about are being addressed and about to be finalised at the bargaining council."

Mabaya was responding to the announcement that the SA National Defence Union was planning to march to the Union Buildings today.

The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu said the SA National Defence Union had abandoned the bargaining chamber and other formal platforms of the department to hold an unnecessary protest march.

"It is irresponsible and in breach of national security for anyone in the defence family to rally people who are responsible for national security to an unnecessary protest march on issues that are being addressed by the minister and other platforms in the department."

Sisulu called on the union to return to the bargaining chamber. - Sapa