This is not the first time the army has helped SAPS at Sona
But the presence of both police and soldiers at the opening of Parliament has soared
The failure to inform Parliament of the employment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) at last year’s opening of Parliament was "in breach of the Constitution"‚ the DA says. The opposition party’s John Steenhuisen said on Wednesday that secretary to Parliament Gengezi Mgidlana "today confirmed" that President Jacob Zuma had failed to write to Parliament informing it that 188 SANDF members would be used for the 2016 event. He said the "acknowledgment was made during a meeting of opposition parties and the speaker over the militarisation of the state of the union address (Sona)‚ convened on our request". Steenhuisen quoted section 201 of the Constitution‚ which says that for the employment of the defence force‚ the president "must provide the information … to the appropriate oversight committee". "What this means is that the employment of SANDF personnel at Parliament has never before been referred to or approved by the joint standing committee on defence‚ as required ...
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