**Some 1,300 South African soldiers dismissed when a strike turned violent have returned to work after a ruling by the Pretoria High Court.**The court said the defence ministry should hold off all dismissals until investigations are concluded.
The soldiers were sacked after they clashed with police during a march for better pay and conditions.
Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says she is now considering banning unions in the military.
Charlton Boer from the South African National Defence Union (Sandu) told the BBC that the union was pleased with the court’s ruling.
The union earlier filed an urgent application to prevent the defence department from firing its members.
It said the dismissals would only fuel tensions.
The Pretoria High Court gave the defence department two months to conclude its investigation and file affidavits to the court.
“This is not just a fight for the soldiers, it’s a fight for the rights of all workers”
Carlton Boer, Sandu
SA mutineer: ‘I live in poverty’
The court ruled that the department was not allowed to withhold any of the soldiers’ benefits during this period.
“This undertaking includes not taking any action which adversely affects any benefit to which the first applicant [Sandu] are entitled to,” the ruling said.
The soldiers were sacked in August and Sandu was given 10 days to mount a defence.
To ban or not to ban
The troops left their barracks and marched to the Union Buildings on 26 August, insisting on seeing President Jacob Zuma to seek a 30% pay rise.
Police used rubber bullets and teargas to disperse the marchers, who reportedly became unruly and attacked police cars.
The Sandu spokesman told the BBC that it would use the two-month period to garner support for its cause which is getting the government to review salaries and change improve working conditions.
“We are planning to have rallies throughout this country.”
“We want to reach out to communities and other workers’ unions. This is not just a fight for the soldiers, it’s a fight for the rights of all workers,” Mr Boer said.
The defence ministry has reiterated its stance that the soldiers’ actions are unacceptable and should not go unpunished.
Ms Sisulu also raised concerns about having a unionised military, saying it could affect the soldiers’ allegiance to South Africa and its constitution.
She is now considering banning union in the military, according to her spokesperson Themba Maseko.
"No final concrete decision has been taken but it is becoming increasingly clear government is gravitating more towards saying there should not be unionisation in the military.
“But it is something the minister is still exploring,” Mr Maseko told reporters at a media briefing.
He said the government would take the court’s ruling into account.
“Obviously government is aware that there is a court ruling that defence force members are entitled to form their union. It is something government is going to have to consider,” said Mr Maseko.