R150-million paid to stay home

An article published by Independent Online says that the soldiers were dismissed after their strike for better wages and working conditions. It quotes the South African Defence Union's (Sandu) national secretary, Pikkie Greef as saying that at least another R70-million will be wasted while court processes are underway.

Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu insisted on using civilian courts rather than the military court to fight Sandu's demands. The union got a judgment stating that Sisulu's decision to dismiss the soldiers was unconstitutional. However, Sisulu appealed against the decision and promptly lost the appeal.

He says she then turned to the Supreme Court of Appeal to appeal the dismissal of her original appeal. Greef says the case is still waiting to be heard, resulting in about R70-million more being wasted.

Read the full story on IOL.
Read the judgment from the Constitutional Court.