Malema must not be allowed to politicise SANDF

The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, made a serious error of judgment in agreeing to allow Julius Malema to undergo two weeks of military training in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

Yesterday the minister agreed to make arrangements for Julius Malema, together with other senior members of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), to undergo two weeks of military training by the SANDF. The agreement followed a discussion about the proposed voluntary national service programme.

It is imperative that the defence force does not get drawn into party politics: a two week period of military training for Julius Malema and senior members of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) risks politicising the defence force and undermining the principle of non partisanship of the SANDF.

The DA therefore calls on the minister to:

• take steps to protect the defence force from being used as a political tool; and
• to reverse her decision to allow Julius Malema to undergo two weeks of military training by the defence force.

The fact is that the defence force should not be used to support what amounts to little more than a political stunt by Julius Malema and the ANCYL.

Statement issued by David Maynier, MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of defence and military veterans, May 14 2010

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