Not content with the country’s top soldier condemning the SA National Defence Union’s (Sandu) attempts to bring the military into the possible downfall of President Jacob Zuma, the SA National Defence Force’s (SANDF) senior communicator has also issued a statement in similar vein.
Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga starts out by “strongly” condemning the Sandu statement calling on soldiers to support – in their private capacity and time – any lawful campaigns aimed at recalling or removing the president from office.
“The SANDF wants to confirm and assure all South Africans it is a non-partisan institution established and managed in accordance to (sic) the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, as amended.
“The SANDF will remain above petty party politics and refused (sic) to be drawn into politics,” the general assures the country.
He also calls on individuals and/or organisations, “Sandu in particular”, not to incite SANDF members, not to use SANDF members to advance or pursue own political ambitions and not to be opportunistic by trying to gain popularity using SANDF members.
“The SANDF will view such conducts (sic) as acts of provocation and that will not be tolerated,” he warned.
At the weekend, Sandu called on the Commander-in-Chief to be removed from his post and the concerned parliamentary members to resign after last week’s Constitutional Court ruling on the Nkandla matter.
