Latest news with #PrinceTshabalala

The Herald
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
SANDF meets with Sandu over unpaid allowances for DRC deployment
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has held an urgent meeting with the South African National Defence Union (Sandu) after the union's public outcry over unpaid allowances for troops deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The SANDF said the meeting came after the union issued a statement and circulated a video on its social media platforms regarding outstanding allowances related to the SAMIDRC deployment under Operation Thiba, part of the Sadc Mission in the DRC. SundayTimes reported that soldiers have turned their anger on their own top brass over a pay dispute, saying they are owed at least R600,000 each. One of the aggrieved soldiers told the Sunday Times he and his fellow troops should have been paid R100,000 a month during their 15-month deployment as part of a Southern African Development Community force in the eastern DRC, but had received only R58,000. The SANDF expressed concern that Sandu had released the statement without first following the established process of direct engagement with it.. 'This occurred while the SANDF was still in the process of demobilising the deployed members and addressing payment-related and other administrative matters internally,' said SANDF spokesperson Rear-Admiral Prince Tshabalala. Tshabalala said the meeting focused on clarifying the status of outstanding allowances and emphasising the importance of effective and respectful communication between the SANDF and recognised unions, in line with the Bargaining Council framework. 'During the meeting, Sandu was cautioned that issuing public statements on unresolved internal matters without prior consultation may lead to misinformation and miscommunication, potentially undermining the morale of troops and affecting the command and control structures of the SANDF,' he said. However, despite these concerns, the meeting was conducted in a cordial and constructive spirit, he said. Tshabalala said both parties committed to continued engagement to resolve the outstanding issues. He added that a follow-up meeting would be scheduled. TimesLIVE

TimesLIVE
29-06-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
SANDF meets with Sandu over unpaid allowances for DRC deployment
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has held an urgent meeting with the South African National Defence Union (Sandu) after the union's public outcry over unpaid allowances for troops deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The SANDF said the meeting came after the union issued a statement and circulated a video on its social media platforms regarding outstanding allowances related to the SAMIDRC deployment under Operation Thiba, part of the Sadc Mission in the DRC. SundayTimes reported that soldiers have turned their anger on their own top brass over a pay dispute, saying they are owed at least R600,000 each. One of the aggrieved soldiers told the Sunday Times he and his fellow troops should have been paid R100,000 a month during their 15-month deployment as part of a Southern African Development Community force in the eastern DRC, but had received only R58,000. The SANDF expressed concern that Sandu had released the statement without first following the established process of direct engagement with it.. 'This occurred while the SANDF was still in the process of demobilising the deployed members and addressing payment-related and other administrative matters internally,' said SANDF spokesperson Rear-Admiral Prince Tshabalala. Tshabalala said the meeting focused on clarifying the status of outstanding allowances and emphasising the importance of effective and respectful communication between the SANDF and recognised unions, in line with the Bargaining Council framework. 'During the meeting, Sandu was cautioned that issuing public statements on unresolved internal matters without prior consultation may lead to misinformation and miscommunication, potentially undermining the morale of troops and affecting the command and control structures of the SANDF,' he said. However, despite these concerns, the meeting was conducted in a cordial and constructive spirit, he said. Tshabalala said both parties committed to continued engagement to resolve the outstanding issues. He added that a follow-up meeting would be scheduled.


The Citizen
24-06-2025
- The Citizen
Stabbing at Mpumalanga military base: 2 soldiers dead, 1 injured
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has clarified the events that led to the deaths of two soldiers and the injury of a third at the Macadamia Military Base near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga in the early hours of Saturday. Lowvelder reports that initial reports suggested a shooting, with some media outlets reporting that a soldier had shot two colleagues before turning the weapon on himself. However, these claims were later corrected when it emerged that the incident had involved a stabbing, not a firearm. According to a statement issued by Rear Admiral Prince Tshabalala, director of corporate communication for the SANDF, a soldier entered a bungalow housing other members and allegedly threatened them with a knife. While some managed to flee, two remained inside. One of them was fatally stabbed and the other injured. The attacker later stabbed himself in the neck and died in hospital. 'The SANDF member allegedly attacked fellow soldiers inside the accommodation bungalow. One soldier died at the scene, another was injured, and the attacker later died in hospital from self-inflicted wounds,' says Tshabalala. He says the injured soldier was also hospitalised and that the SANDF, with support from the SAPS, launched a full investigation to determine the facts. Members of the Military Health and Chaplain Services have been deployed to the base to offer support and counselling to personnel affected by the incident. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane initially declined to comment, citing protocol that designated the SANDF as the official communication channel. However, she later confirmed to SABC News that police had opened cases of murder, attempted murder and an inquest. 'As the police, we are investigating a case of murder, attempted murder and an inquest following an incident that occurred at the Macadamia Base Camp. We were informed of an alleged altercation among individuals at the base. Investigations are ongoing, and no arrests have been made at this stage,' she said. The identities of the deceased had not been released at the time of publishing. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!


The Citizen
23-06-2025
- The Citizen
An SANDF soldier that killed one of the two soldiers he stabbed turned the knife on himself
An SANDF soldier that killed one of the two soldiers he stabbed turned the knife on himself The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has clarified the events that led to the deaths of two soldiers and the injury of a third at the Macadamia Military Base near Komatipoort in the early hours of Saturday, June 21. Initial reports suggested a shooting, with some outlets reporting that a soldier had shot two colleagues before turning the weapon on himself. However, these claims were later corrected when it emerged that the incident had involved a stabbing, not a firearm. According to a statement issued by Rear Admiral Prince Tshabalala, director of corporate communication for the SANDF, a soldier entered a bungalow housing other members and allegedly threatened them with a knife. While some managed to flee, two remained inside. One of them was fatally stabbed and the other injured. The attacker later stabbed himself in the neck and died in hospital. 'The SANDF member allegedly attacked fellow soldiers inside the accommodation bungalow. One soldier died at the scene, another was injured, and the attacker later died in hospital from self-inflicted wounds,' said Tshabalala. He confirmed that the injured soldier was also hospitalised and that the SANDF, with support from the SAPS, had launched a full investigation to determine the facts. Members of the Military Health and Chaplain Services have been deployed to the base to offer support and counselling to personnel affected by the incident. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane initially declined to comment, citing protocol that designated the SANDF as the official communication channel. However, she later confirmed to SABC News that police had opened cases of murder, attempted murder and an inquest. ALSO READ: Standerton Regional Court sentences convicted serial rapist to another 25 years in jail 'As the police, we are investigating a case of murder, attempted murder and an inquest following an incident that occurred at the Macadamia Base Camp. We were informed of an alleged altercation among individuals at the base. Investigations are ongoing, and no arrests have been made at this stage,' she said. The identities of the deceased had not been released at the time of publication. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here

The Herald
21-06-2025
- The Herald
Two soldiers stabbed to death at Mpumalanga base after altercation
Two soldiers were stabbed to death during the early hours of Saturday at the Macadamia Military Base near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga, allegedly after a confrontation with a colleague. Rear-Adm Prince Tshabalala, confirmed the incident to TimesLIVE on Saturday. 'The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) confirms that an unfortunate incident occurred in the early hours of this morning at the Macadamia Military Base near Komatipoort, Mpumalanga,' Tshabalala said. 'Preliminary information indicates that a tragic altercation involving SANDF members resulted in the deaths of two soldiers. It is alleged that one of the members fatally stabbed two of his colleagues.' It is understood by TimesLIVE that the attacker then attempted to take his own life with the knife but did not succeed. The SANDF, in conjunction with the SA Police Service (SAPS), has launched a full investigation into the matter. 'The circumstances surrounding the incident remain the subject of ongoing inquiry, and further details will be communicated once officially verified. The SANDF expresses its deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased members. This is a deeply painful moment for the organisation and the military community at large,' Tshabalala said. The SANDF appealed to the public and media to allow the investigative processes to unfold without speculation, and to respect the dignity and privacy of the affected families during this difficult time. TimesLIVE