Defence force breaks promise

2003-07-02 23:07

Sonja Carstens

Johannesburg - The defence force this week sent letters to non-essential soldiers ordering their redeployment barely three days after a court order prohibiting them to do so expired.

This follows a promise made to the defence force union to put redeployment on hold pending an urgent application in the Pretoria High Court.

The South African National Defence Force Union (Sandfu) fears the defence force wants to steamroller redeployment before the union's interdict application is heard on July 8.

The application was to be heard on June 27. A court order prohibited the defence force from continuing with its redeployment plans.

Sandfu secretary Cor van Niekerk said the defence force had requested that the application be postponed to July 8 because his legal representative was not available.

"The defence force gave Sandfu an undertaking it would not continue with redeployment."

Sandfu is asking the High Court for a temporary interdict pending an application on July 17 before the military arbitration board.

In an affidavit Van Niekerk stated the redeployment agreement signed by the public service co-ordinating bargaining council was not binding on soldiers.

Soldiers are subject to agreements made by the military bargaining council, which has not negotiated a redeployment agreement.

Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said 7 856 soldiers were non-essential.

Van Niekerk alleges there are 76 000 posts, of which 59 000 are filled. "There cannot be non-essential soldiers," he said.

- Beeld