By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have dismissed threats led by a “discredited” senior naval officer Sylvester Madala Mangolele who called for president Cyril Ramaphosa to resign or face being removed from office.
Mangolele in a video message posted on X said his demand was a matter of “national security.”
He said he was doing this “in service and defence of my country and its people in accordance with the constitution and the law.”
“I am asking you to redirect all your resources and everything to the law that you have written. The law that all people must follow and the law that you are failing to uphold, you are declining to defend, you are disrespecting it.”
“We are not playing games anymore, we must drive and lead this country in accordance with the constitution,” he said, adding that the SANDF was the last line of defence if state organs failed.
Mangolele also said Ramaphosa’s administration made it difficult for many people, including himself, to make ends meet.
The SANDF distances itself from Mangolele’s comments stating they were not reflective of, nor representative of the SANDF in any way, shape, or form.
Mangolele was dismissed from the defence force and does not speak on behalf of the South African National Defence Forces.
“The SANDF condemns Sylvester Mangolele’s utterances with (the) contempt it deserves, “said spokesperson, Siphiwe Dlamini.
Mangolele was dismissed in 2018 following a high court ruling which upheld an eviction order to remove him from his home at the Simon’s Town naval base.