Faced with a possibility of a long litigation, the Minister and the Department of Defence thought it wise to finalise the matter without any delay. We have decided through counsel to approach the Gauteng Judge President, to constitute a full bench as matter urgency to deal with and finalise the challenge by the unions of the dismissal of the soldiers who participated in an illegal march on the 26 August 2009. This will ensure that the matter is given the attention it deserves consistent with issues of national security.
Cabinet has expressed its full support for the manner in which the Ministry and department is handling the matter. Every South African has a reasonable expectation to live in a country where the defence force not only protects the territorial integrity of the Republic, but also evokes confidence by being exemplary and disciplined in its conduct.
The long drawn out process of litigation by the unions are an avoidance of necessary repercussions of ill disciplined protestors.
Enquiries:
Siphiwe Dlamini
Cell: 083 645 4294
