TMG Digital reports that the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) has welcomed what it calls a “massive climb-down” by the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) in recalling to duty the more than 500 members who had been on special leave since 2009.
Last month‚ the union demanded that its 509 members on special leave be returned to their bases and units. This followed a finding by a disciplinary tribunal held last month that the SANDF did not have the right to attempt to hold disciplinary hearings outside of the military justice system's courts. The SANDF had attempted to dismiss soldiers accused of misconduct when they marched on the Union Buildings on 26 August 2009. Sandu said‚ having forfeited the three-year period it had to try those members in a military court‚ the SANDF decided to subject the soldiers to a disciplinary hearing similar to that in the civilian world. Sandu objected successfully that the SANDF had no constitutional and legal right to evade its own military court system.
- Read this report by Ernest Mabuza in full at TimesLive
- Read Sandu’s press statement at Sandu online
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page