Johannesburg - A military union wants its day in court for two of its members accused of being involved in the Gupta wedding plane saga – or for charges to be withdrawn immediately.
It has been 16 months since the plane carrying hundreds of guests for a Gupta family wedding landed at Waterkloof Air Force Base near Pretoria.
Despite an internal military investigation, two of the officers alleged to have rolled out the red carpet for the guests allegedly still don’t know when – or even if – they will stand trial.
These two are Lieutenant-Colonel Christine Anderson and Lieutenant-Colonel Stephanus van Zyl, who are on paid suspension and being represented by the SA National Defence Union (Sandu).
“What our lawyers explained to me is that (the SANDF) have been playing cat and mouse about some extra statements they want to obtain,” said Sandu secretary, advocate Pikkie Greeff, on Sunday.
“This would either relate to withdrawing charges or adding extra charges,” he speculated.
Greeff said they would serve the SANDF with a notice on Monday that they will approach the high court for relief.
“What we will say in our notice is they have 30 days to provide us with a court date when the trial will commence, or otherwise (they must) withdraw the charges.”
Department of Defence spokesman Siphiwe Dlamini said he would not comment on Greeff’s claim that the SANDF was responsible for delaying the matter.
“Whether the court case continues, or how the case continues, is the court’s decision,” he said.
In October, The Star reported that Anderson and Van Zyl were handed a preliminary charge sheet following a preliminary military investigation, according to Anderson’s lawyer Jean Griesel.
Greeff said these preliminary charge sheets indicated the pair were accused of disobeying a written order.
The Star