27 August 2009

The Inkatha Freedom Party calls on the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans to immediately act against the rogue elements within the SANDF that embarked on an illegal strike and caused chaos at the Union Buildings yesterday.

"The IFP condemns the actions of the striking South African National Defence Force members in the strongest possible terms as it constitutes a serious breach of national security. The behaviour of the striking soldiers has no place within a democratic South Africa and bears resemblance to the behaviour one would encounter in a banana republic," said Albert Mncwango, the IFP's national organiser and spokesperson on defence.

Mncwango said that the SANDF soldiers had placed the entire country at risk.

"Our soldiers are in charge of the safety of every South African and our county as a whole. The SANDF's unprofessional and unethical behaviour yesterday amount to a violation of our constitution and we therefore urge Minister Sisulu to take the strongest possible disciplinary action against these soldiers," said Mncwango.

Mncwango added that while the IFP had sympathy with the plight of the soldiers, violence should never be an option to resolve any dispute.

"We call on the SANDF to return to the negotiating table, to refrain from again acting like hooligans and to resolve the wage dispute as a matter of urgency. Furthermore, we call on Minister Sisulu to remove all ill-disciplined members from the SANDF so that we can restore the integrity and honour of the force," concluded Mncwango.

Contact:
Albert Mncwango,        083 448 4896 or
Liezl van der Merwe,     083 611 7470.