Julius Malema should fit in very nice........

Aren't these the same highly disciplined troops who fled when the first shots were fired in Lesotho? The same guys who have managed to "loose" a couple of thousand R5 rifles that are now being used by criminals to shoot the s%$* out of Joe public? Guess terror training does not translate well into an efficient army. No sympathy for these "strugglers" battling to get their share of the gravy train.

Salary is a different thingaltogether, but sleeping conditions - that is the way of the military. Hey, who said soldiers are supposed to sleep in nice cozzy double beds? They get soft that way and would never endure war conditions, having to sleep on rocks, marshes etc. Problem with people who have not been in the army, their idea of the army is what they see in American war movie, nice well arranged beds to sleep in, with pillows and soft blankets!!!! Endure the military life or get out.

When I did my National Service in the 80's the SADF was a Defence Force of the highest calibre. Internationally recognised as a disciplined efficient, effective machine. I volunteered and was proud of the organisation. Amazing how with the all our wonderful Ministers that are living off the very people they should be providing a service to, we now have a defence force that is a National Embarresment. Luckily we still have Eskon to be proud of, oh no wait Im wrong, another one thats gone down the tubes. The only Government organisation that seems to be well run and proactive is SARS, why, because its an income generating business, not a service.

When I was in the army as a conscripted soldier, we had to endure similar or worse conditions - my mattress was disgusting and old. We weren't there voluntarily, unlike the current rabble in the SANDF. I have a simple suggestion to the undisciplined rabble currently in the SANDF: if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Nobody's forcing you to be in the army. Go and get a better paying job somewhere else if you're such a hot shot.

No beds in barracks? Breakdown in discipline? Conditions are starting to ripen for a coup. The ANC had better watch out. The next time they march on the Union Buildings it will be with rifles, not knobkieries. Ever been attacked by your own dog?

Our fat cat ministers do not care about anybody else but their bling cars and egos

The issue of salaries is so acute that at one stage we wondered just how our soldiers survive," Judge Bosielo told MPs. This pronouncement sums it all. It also seeks to vindicate frustrations amongst these dedicated men and women whom some of us have labelled as "useless". The call for expediency from the ministry is an appropriate one. De-unionisation of the Defence Force might be possible if whatever strategy or policy that the commission is coining will render these union redundant. There are some countries in the world where soldiers resolve their disputes or grievances by following progressive and quick internal channels, contrary to the SANDF's internal avenues which have proven to be ineffective to the extreme. We hope this would be the genesis of good things for us or are we going to see another money spending exercise to enrich the elite by continuing to pay lip service to the genuine issues until they generate into calamity and total destruction as it has previously emerged.

Mr Camander in Chief , without a proper police force there can be no internal security, without a proper defence force you have no national security. The SANDF was once renouned and revered , it seems that it too has followed the downward path that the rest of the country's institutions have ....predictably taken. Take better care of your 'employees' and they will ltake care of the country and its people.

Shame... I dont blame the soldiers for having such low morale, because they dont get some valuable things to do, low salary, no further training and development, no feeling of being appreciated by the SA society/ Government... just sitting/sleeping or guarding military buildings all day and night long. Why did this happen ?? There is NO war out there or within SA AND THE TOP BRASS ARE JUST FILLING THEIR POCKETS AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT RANK !!!