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(Photo by Gallo Images / Ziyaad Douglas)
- SANDF CEO Solly Shoke warned members not to get involved in political party affairs.
- This, after he learned of a meeting in which high-level members were invited to discuss the affairs of the ANC.
- He reiterated the role of SANDF as provided by the Constitution.
The head of the South African National Defense Force, General Solly Shoke, has issued a warning to members, warning them not to get involved in political party affairs.
In a short, but strongly worded SANDF statement on Tuesday, the general distanced SANDF from any “alleged meeting inviting senior military personnel to discuss political party issues.”
The statement, written by communications chief Siphiwe Dlamini, said that the defense force had learned of the planning for such a meeting in relation to ANC affairs.
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“SANDF remains an organization that stands above politics, serving the sovereign security interests of the republic as mandated by the Constitution,” Dlamini said in the statement.
The statement also followed claims, at least by ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule, that state apparatus were being used to spy on party leaders.
In addition, he said “in no uncertain terms” that service members of the force were not authorized to attend such meetings.
He also “sternly warned” members not to get involved in such meetings, saying they should be careful to discuss any party business on behalf of the military.
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