Mevrou Adjunkspeaker, die VF Plus respekteer die reg, en neem kennis van die ooreenkoms tussen die Minister van Verdediging en Militre Veterane en die Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag Unie. Daar word egter 'n beroep op die Minister gedoen om alles moontlik te doen om te verseker dat die lede wat gestaak het, ontslaan word uit die Suid- Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag, SANW. Die stakende lede is 'n bewys van uiterste swak dissipline in die SANW en moet ernstig ondersoek word.
Die VF Plus het reeds in 2004 gewaarsku dat die skietvoorval, destyds in Burundi, waar 'n Suid-Afrikaanse soldaat sy mede-soldaat doodgeskiet het, getuig van swak dissipline in die Weermag. Ons het toe ook ges dat die swak dissipline nie net onder laer range bestaan nie, maar het ook bewys dat senior offisiere ewe laks is om behoorlike dissipline toe te pas.
As 'n senior offisier hom wangedra en homself aan wangedrag blootstel, sodat ons dit later in die nuus lees, s ons dat die voorbeeld wat hulle aan hul ondergeskiktes stel uiters swak is. Daar kan dan met reg gevra word hoe senior offisiere dissipline kan toepas as hulle self ongedissiplineerd is?
Ongedissiplineerdheid kan nie in die SANW geduld word nie, want dit stel ander soldate se lewens in gevaar. Die ongedissiplineerde gedrag van sommige soldate besmet ook die goeie naam van ander gedissiplineerde en goed opgeleide soldate. Die vrot appels moet verwyder word.
Ons versoek die agb Minister om daadwerklik ondersoek in te stel na die stand van dissipline in die SANW en om korrektiewe stappe te doen. Dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans member's statement follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD (FF Plus): Madam Deputy Speaker, the FF Plus respects the law and takes note of the agreement between the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans and the SA National Defence Union, SANDU.
However, we appeal to the Minister to do everything possible to ensure that those members who went on strike are dismissed from the SA National Defence Force, SANDF. The striking members are proof of extremely poor discipline within the SANDF, which should be seriously investigated.
The FF Plus already warned back in 2004 that the shooting incident in Burundi, where a South African soldier shot and killed his fellow soldier, attested to a poor state of discipline in the Defence Force. We then also said that poor discipline was not only evident among the lower ranks, but also showed that senior officers were just as slack in enforcing proper discipline.
If a senior officer misbehaves and subjects himself to misbehaviour, we say that the example shown to his subordinates is extremely poor. One can then correctly question how senior officers can enforce discipline if they themselves are undisciplined. Ill-discipline cannot be tolerated in the SANDF, because it endangers the lives of other soldiers. Undisciplined behaviour by some soldiers also taints the good name of other disciplined and well-trained soldiers. The rotten apples must be removed.
We request the hon Minister to actively investigate the state of discipline in the SANDF and to take remedial action. Thank you.]