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The SA National Defence Union (Sandu), the country’s biggest defence force union, has called for the immediate resignation of Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota.

Hundreds of its members marched on the Union Buildings yesterday to hand over a memorandum of demands and grievances to President Thabo Mbeki.

The union also demanded the immediate resignation of Defence Secretary January Masilela, and a 19% wage increase. The demands have been met with outrage by the SANDF. Army chief Lieutenant-General Solly Shoke said: “It is unheard of in a democratic state for soldiers to ask for the resignation of a minister, a politician or any senior official. This conduct is a threat that requires immediate and urgent attention as it has the potential to develop into them even calling for the government to resign.

“We as soldiers have to serve the government of the day. This implies that soldiers are above party politics.”

The memorandum stated the Department of Defence was being crippled by weak leadership and bad management practices.

“After receiving five qualified audit reports, surely the further employment of Masilela as accounting officer of the Department of Defence is intolerable.”

Sandu said the last qualified audit report noted that millions of rand had been unaccounted for in connection with subsistance and travelling allowances. “This can only indicate poor and incompetent financial control and management.”

Sandu highlighted several problems in the SANDF.

“Bases are showing signs of decay and dilapidation. Many of the military houses pose a threat to the lives of our members and their families. In some bases there is no sanitation or water. In others, members are cramped into overcrowded military bungalows.

“Members who brought these matters to the media’s attention have been charged with divulging ‘state secrets’.

“Our attempts to address these issues with military authorities are being ignored.

“A disease of denialism has entrenched itself in the department’s management.”