Military union calls for inquiry into alleged Cuba allowance collections
SANDU wants a board of inquiry into claims that SANDF members training in Cuba were pressed to contribute money from their allowances.
The South African National Defence Union has called for a formal inquiry into claims that SANDF members training in Cuba were pressured to contribute money from their allowances.
The union said the reported contributions were described as voluntary and intended to assist needy Cubans, but it wants the circumstances and handling of the money investigated.
SANDU national secretary Pikkie Greeff told eNCA that soldiers’ salaries and allowances could not be treated as a discretionary fund by senior officers.
He said a board of inquiry should establish who authorised the request, who collected the money, how it was used and why soldiers were asked to contribute from their own allowances.
Greeff said the inquiry should determine whether the process was lawful and properly managed, and whether any misconduct occurred.
The union’s statements are allegations and a call for investigation, not findings against any SANDF official.
The SANDF’s response to the union’s request and confirmation of whether a board of inquiry will be established were not available in the report reviewed by EBNewsDaily.