COPE deputy president Mbhazima Shilowa yesterday called on President Jacob Zuma to account for his failure to create the 500000 jobs he had promised.

Shilowa, pictured, also said the ANC could not proceed with "de-unionising" the military unless it changed the constitution. He said the right of workers to organise was a "sacrosanct" clause in the Constitution.

Speaking last night at Cope's "Monday Club" for Cape Town journalists, Shilowa said "at some point the president will have to come to parliament to face back to when he boldly said (in June) that by the end of November he would create 500000 job opportunities".

"You cannot make reckless statements - why make statements that you know you are not going to be able to fulfill?" asked Shilowa.

Shilowa also slammed government's new military approach to policing, following National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele's statement last week that he (Cele) would soon be a general.

"There was a reason for changing away from military terms. This is a civilian police force. You don't want to start a war."