UNHAPPINESS IN LOWER SANDF RANKS: DEPUTY MINISTER
Deputy defence minister Mluleki George expressed concern on Monday at what was described as unhappiness in the SA National Defence Force's lower ranks.
The Defence ministry said George voiced his views while visiting troops in Bloemfontein as part of a tour to assess progress in transformation in the military.
"He told the troops that he was very concerned about the general unhappiness in the lower ranks of the SANDF, and particularly in the SA Army," the defence ministry said in a statement.
Especially disturbing was the slow pace of transformation in the SA Navy, the SA Military Health Service and the SA Air Force, it quoted George as saying.
The command structure of the SANDF needed to come up with plans for speedier transformation with "measurable outcomes and time-lines", George added.
"He said the time has come for the command structure of the SANDF, particularly the chiefs of the forces, to come up with transformational plans with measurable outcomes and time-lines."
George told the troops that transformation was not aimed at punishing whites but at "ensuring a secure and stable future for all the citizens of the country," the statement said.
"About racism, he said it was a sickness that needed to be cured and everyone must contribute to the combating of it."
On Sunday, the Rapport newspaper quoted Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota as expressing concern that too few whites were joining the SANDF.
He reportedly denied that transformation scaring whites off, saying there were ample opportunity for whites in the defence force.
-
07 Février 2005 à 10:14 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
