Lekota 'will not be missed'
by
2008-09-25 12:46
Pretoria - The more militant of the two defence force trade unions on Thursday welcomed the departure from Cabinet of Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota.
Bhekinkosi Mvovo, president of the South African Security Forces Union (Sasfu) labelled Lekota a "disgrace" whose "departure will not be missed".
"The Department of Defence is one of the worst performing departments in the republic, unable to account for huge sums of money," Mvovo said. He also castigated the department for a lack of transformation, claiming that "middle and top management" was still dominated by "white, former SADF" officers.
He noted that Sasfu members had lost respect for both Lekota and Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils, who also resigned this week in the wake of the axing of President Thabo Mbeki.
Mvovo claimed that, by resigning, both ministers had displayed "selfishness... while attempting to cause confusion".
They had displayed "loyalty to an individual instead of having the interests of the country at heart".
The union was now calling on the ANC to "deploy a minister who will prioritise transformation and the proper integration of former forces. The next minister is must also respect the rights of members of the armed forces as citizens," Mvovo said.