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The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, should urgently launch an investigation into the South African Security Forces Union (Sasfu) and take steps to deunionize the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

There is no doubt that soldiers' service conditions are a big problem in the defence force. However, protest marches by soldiers, such as today's cancelled "soldiers advancing working class power" protest march in Cape Town, which was organized by Sasfu and which was reportedly stopped after the defence department received a court interdict, will not solve the problem.

1. Investigate Sasfu

Sasfu president Bheki Mvovo is a serving military officer - holding the rank of Lieutenant Commander - in the South African Navy (SAN). However, he has in the past:

• called for the dismissal of Chief of the South African Navy Vice Admiral Refiloe Mudimu;
• accused the minister of defence and military veterans of having "dictatorial tendencies"; and
• called for "actions in solidarity" of striking workers and has criticised the use of soldiers as "scab labour" in hospitals during the recent public service strike.

The defence department was forced to secure an interdict against Bheki Mvovo which instructs him to "desist from making inflammatory statements intended to incite mutiny, revolt and illegal behaviour". Moreover, the defence force regulations are clear: military trade unions may not affiliate or associate with trade unions or trade union federations not recognized and registered by the defence force.

However, it appears that Sasfu are in fact associated or affiliated with Cosatu.

First, Sasfu's offices are at Cosatu House, 7th Floor, 1-5 Leyds Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Second, the Sasfu president Bheki Mvovo's press releases are distributed on Cosatu media distribution lists. And third, Sasfu recently presented a joint statement on defence legislation in parliament with Cosatu.

The minister should therefore launch an urgent investigation into Sasfu's links with Cosatu in order to determine whether there has been a breach of defence force regulations.

2. Deunionize the defence force

The behaviour of Bheki Mvovo and Sasfu make a very persuasive case to de-unionise the defence force. President Jacob Zuma was clear about government's position on military unions at Cosatu's 10th National Congress on 21 September 2009. He said that government took a position "in favour of the deunionisation of the military".

The fact is that military unions undermine the chain of command in the defence force. The defence force cannot have two bosses in the form of President Jacob Zuma, who is the commander in chief of the defence force, and to Zwelinzima Vavi, who appears to be the commander in chief of Sasfu.

However, the Minister seems to have a serious case of political cold feet and has done nothing in the past eleven months to begin the process of de-unionising. The Secretary of Defence, Mpumi Mpofu, recently confirmed that there had been no directive from the minister on military unions. This has in effect undermined the president.

The DA therefore calls on Minister Sisulu to launch an investigation into the conduct of Sasfu and take steps to deunionize the SANDF.