"I am happy that soldiers will get their full five months salary back pay on 15 July 2010," Minister Sisulu said.
Following the announcement by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu during her budget vote speech on 4 May 2010 that the salary adjustment of between two percent and 65 percent announced on 16 December 2009 for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) by President Jacob Zuma and commander in chief will be backdated to 1 July 2009, the minister is happy to announce that the five months back pay has been implemented and soldiers will get their once off payment on 15 Jul 2010.
The minister thanked the Military Command Council, the Chief of the SANDF, General Ngwenya and the acting Secretary of Defence then, Lieutenant-General Matanzima and all officials who worked hard to ensure that savings were done and funds secured for the back pay to be implemented.
"The fact that within days the leadership of the department worked hard to find the money and kick started the process to pay soldiers, is an indication of their commitment to improve the conditions of service of soldiers and a display of the importance they value their troops," She said.
The minister added that with the leadership of the SANDF, they are continuing to implement a programme to improve the living conditions of soldiers.
"We have introduced new grievances and complain management systems to ensure that soldiers problems and complains are managed and concluded as quickly as possible. This has been a problem for more than 16 years in the SANDF, we are now dealing with it," she said.
She added that also a priority is the improvement of the living conditions and facilities of soldiers.
"Many of our bases are being upgraded, we want to ensure that soldiers have all basic social and economic amenities," She added.
The minister said amendments to the Defence Act to establish the National Defence Force Service Commission will ensure the implementation of a new dispensation for the SANDF that will build an organisation loved and admired by all.
"With the new dispensation, we would be able to care for our soldiers in a way that recognise the contribution they make to our national security. This is one issue the leadership of the SANDF has been concern about since my appointment, and we are happy the process is going to be completed soon." She concluded.
South African soldiers get five months back-pay
