The High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday ordered the arrest of three leading SA National Defence Force officers, a trade union said.
Chief of the defence force General Solly Shoke, chief of the air force Lt-General Zakes Zimpande Msimang, and defence and military veterans secretary Sam Gulube were wanted for contempt of court, said SA National Defence Union (Sandu) secretary general Pikkie Greeff.
"The fact of the matter is that the three are in contempt of a court order which ordered them to re-employ four soldiers dismissed two years ago," Greeff said.
The four soldiers' contracts were terminated in 2012 despite there being 32 vacancies in the defence force at the time.
With Sandu's help the soldiers fought the matter in court and an order was granted that they be re-instated in June. The group had not been re-employed by July.
"Now the court has ordered the sheriff of Pretoria to make arrests within 24 hours," said Greeff.
In response, SANDF spokesman Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said in a statement: "The SANDF would once again like to register its concerns regarding the conduct and tendency of Mr Pikkie Greeff working for or on behalf of Sandu to mislead the people of South Africa.
"The SANDF is shocked but not surprised that this behaviour and tendency of Mr Pikkie Greeff has found its way to the courts."
Mabanga said the SANDF was aware of the court order to reinstate the members concerned which was handed down on September 10, 2013.
He however explained that subsequent to the SANDF not reinstating the affected members, a provisional order was granted for the SANDF to appear before court on July 22, 2014 in order to explain reasons why it had not complied.
But on June 23, 2014, Sandu lodged an application for a contempt of court order which was then granted on Tuesday.
"The senior counsel acting on behalf of the SANDF will be urgently approaching court for the stay of execution of the order that was granted today for the arrest of DOD senior officials mentioned in the court order," he said.
Mabanga called on Greeff to stop misleading the public about SANDF affairs and portraying himself as the most patriotic person in the country who could speak for the interests of SANDF members.
"The SANDF is still wondering why Mr Pikkie Greeff does not tell the people of South Africa why he left the SANDF, if it was not to engage in matters aimed at discrediting or destabilising the SANDF or to undermine gains and achievements made by the SANDF post 1994," said Mabanga.
Court orders arrest of SANDF leaders
The High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday ordered the arrest of three leading SA National Defence Force officers, a trade union said.
Chief of the defence force General Solly Shoke, chief of the air force Lt-General Zakes Zimpande Msimang, and defence and military veterans secretary Sam Gulube were wanted for contempt of court, said SA National Defence Union (Sandu) secretary general Pikkie Greeff.
"The fact of the matter is that the three are in contempt of a court order which ordered them to re-employ four soldiers dismissed two years ago," Greeff said.
The four soldiers' contracts were terminated in 2012 despite there being 32 vacancies in the defence force at the time.
With Sandu's help the soldiers fought the matter in court and an order was granted that they be re-instated in June. The group had not been re-employed by July.
"Now the court has ordered the sheriff of Pretoria to make arrests within 24 hours," said Greeff.
In response, SANDF spokesman Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said in a statement: "The SANDF would once again like to register its concerns regarding the conduct and tendency of Mr Pikkie Greeff working for or on behalf of Sandu to mislead the people of South Africa.
"The SANDF is shocked but not surprised that this behaviour and tendency of Mr Pikkie Greeff has found its way to the courts."
Mabanga said the SANDF was aware of the court order to reinstate the members concerned which was handed down on September 10, 2013.
He however explained that subsequent to the SANDF not reinstating the affected members, a provisional order was granted for the SANDF to appear before court on July 22, 2014 in order to explain reasons why it had not complied.
But on June 23, 2014, Sandu lodged an application for a contempt of court order which was then granted on Tuesday.
"The senior counsel acting on behalf of the SANDF will be urgently approaching court for the stay of execution of the order that was granted today for the arrest of DOD senior officials mentioned in the court order," he said.
Mabanga called on Greeff to stop misleading the public about SANDF affairs and portraying himself as the most patriotic person in the country who could speak for the interests of SANDF members.
"The SANDF is still wondering why Mr Pikkie Greeff does not tell the people of South Africa why he left the SANDF, if it was not to engage in matters aimed at discrediting or destabilising the SANDF or to undermine gains and achievements made by the SANDF post 1994," said Mabanga.
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