Seemingly ignoring a court order to reinstate a competency-based financial incentive for SA Air Force (SAAF) firefighters looks set to see the Department of Defence (DoD)/SA National Defence Force (SANDF) face another legal challenge from the SA National Defence Union (Sandu).
The Pretoria headquartered military labour organisation took up cudgels on behalf of SAAF members mustered as firefighters in 2022 in the wake of what was termed a change in military dispensation. This saw, among others, firefighters at air force bases and other SAAF facilities lose the technical competency-based incentive pay (TCIP) portion of their monthly salary. As with other instances of what is seen as labour abuse, Sandu came to the firefighters’ assistance.
An August 2025 court decision put the TCIP allowance back onto the salaries of the firefighters. The court ruled removal of the TCIP was invalid for technical reasons as well as the firefighters’ exclusion from this benefit being unfair and that it be reinstated with back pay. At that time Sandu warned the judgement could be put on hold if an appeal was lodged.
The DoD, via its Legal Services Division, followed the appeal angle but not did not meet a set time frame. This has now lapsed and Sandu, by way of a notice to members, advises “appropriate legal steps” will be taken as the firefighters’ TCIP matter goes about legal obligations. The legal steps announcement was made after the DoD notified the court it was withdrawing its appeal, the Sandu notice has it, advising its lawyers to prepare an affidavit to start contempt of court proceedings against the Minister Angie Motshekga’s DoD.
