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With at least 35 coup attempts and constitutional crises in Africa since 2010, the new head of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF), General Solly Shoke, criticized a meeting proposed by retired Lieutenant General Maomela “Mojo” Motau with Senior SANDF officers to “discuss the status of the ANC.”
Shoke’s position has been well received by experts.
It was unknown what Motau envisioned would happen after the meeting, hopefully simply a forcefully worded letter, but the idea of senior SANDF officials meeting to discuss political issues worried many.
Both experts who spoke to The Citizen said that it was generally the members of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) who were initially highly politicized in the early part of democracy, but the current generation of soldiers in the SANDF were not interested in the politics and wanted to be professional soldiers. They said that it was not a tradition of force to participate in political parties.
Motau, who was awarded the Order of Luthuli by President Cyril Ramaphosa, is a skilled negotiator who participated in the creation of the National Intelligence Coordination Committee and the
National Security Council.
Dr. Jakkie Cilliers, director of African Futures and Innovation at the Institute for Security Studies, said that even under apartheid, soldiers did not participate in party politics, although some senior officers may have been used to participate in activities. undercover of the white regime.
“Not that I know of, but there were certain elements that were clearly involved in some types of murders and dishonest activities, but they were never openly involved in party politics of the Nacional.
Party, ”Cilliers said.
“What General Shoke did is very welcome. It is important to separate the state of the ANC, it sends an important signal ”.
Independent defense analyst Helmoed Romer-Heitman said it was critical that SANDF members had no political ties because they represented the nation, regardless of people’s political or cultural status.
or racial division.
“In the military, you are just a soldier and any attempt by politicians or political parties to politicize the defense force is a no-no. General Shoke was right to intervene very quickly and firmly, ”said Romer-Heitman.
Shoke this week warned members not to get entangled in ANC politics and warned them about the consequences if they attended the meeting.
“When you are a soldier, you are not an activist but a soldier who must defend the sovereignty of the nation. The military must stay out of politics. I have known General Shoke for many years, he is a
true soldier, ”he said.
“As a soldier, you can vote for a political party but you cannot get involved in politics.”
Cilliers said that under former President Jacob Zuma, some former members of the non-statutory defense were politicized again, especially members of intelligence.
“The security establishment was close to Zuma, especially the intelligence guys. There were blurry lines, ”Cilliers said.
MK National Council Acting Secretary General Gregory Nthatisi praised Shoke’s stance.
“General Shoke’s statement is in line with the constitution of this country. No one, not even the ANC, should count on the support of the army for their political goals. The army
It served the people of this country, not the ANC and is subject to the constitution, ”said Nthatisi.
He added that the ANC government directed the constitution on behalf of all citizens, not just ANC members.
“No one should expect the military to serve the interests of an individual or a political party,” he said.
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