4SAI soldiers told to go home because there’s ‘No Food’
Soldiers at 4SAI Military Base in Middelburg were told to go home because the SANDF had run out of food.
The same instructions were sent to bases in Zeerust and Mafikeng – according to a letter posted to social media by SANDU secretary Pikkie Greeff.
But a last minute meeting between the South African National Defence Union and the military apparently led to the SANDF backtracking on its plans and sending food instead to all affected bases.
The letter, which was sent to Minister of Defence and Military Veterans‚ Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula‚ SANDF chief‚ General Solly Shoke‚ Secretary of Defence‚ Sam Gulube and commanders from the affected bases, was also posted to Twitter on Greeff’s page.
Later during Wednesday, Greeff tweeted that “the SANDF has just capitulate(d). Food has now been delivered to the affected bases. Soldiers are eating. Thanks Sandu. Amazing work!”
In the letter of demand‚ the union said that the SANDF was obliged to provide the affected members with “sufficient rations”.
“Various SANDF members affected by this instruction‚ are unable to comply as they do not have the financial means to travel long distance to their homes at this time of the month and are now stuck in their respective bases‚ without rations‚” read the letter.
Greeff was sharply critical of government on twitter‚ saying: “While our President Zuma is on his way to attend Castro’s funeral‚ his soldiers are going hungry. Would Fidel have been proud?”
