19th November 2009

The IFP would like to express its shock following the release of a report by the interim National Defence Service Commission which has labelled the living conditions of South African soldiers as "sub-human". 

The revelation that barracks were are often without beds and that soldiers qualify for neither government-subsidised RDP houses nor for bonds because their salaries were too low - must be seen as a national disgrace. 

A country's soldiers are its biggest asset yet the South African government has overseen a total management, service and discipline meltdown within the SANDF. 

The IFP calls on Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu to act immediately to stop the rot. This dire situation within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is a ticking time bomb and money must be made available now for the improvement of remuneration packages and conditions of service of members of the SANDF. 

Furthermore, we call on Minister Sisulu to take strong action to restore discipline in the defence force. 

The IFP believes that one option would be to look at implementing training colleges for soldiers, similar to the teacher training colleges nationwide. Our army is tasked with defending our constitution, our borders, our citizens and all our assets; we must therefore act now before the crisis within the national defence force becomes a threat to our democracy.
 

Issued by:
Albert Mncwango
Spokesperson on Military Defence and Veterans
083 448 4896 

or contact:
Liezl van der Merwe
082 729 2510