Johannesburg- Two South African soldiers could face a military tribunal for their involvement in a wage dispute that turned violent, the SAPA news agency reported Thursday, citing a community safety spokesman. About 3,000 members of the South African army gathered Wednesday in Pretoria to demand higher salaries. But the demonstration turned violent, with police using rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Several soldiers and a policeman were injured, reported SAPA. Some police and military vehicles were also damaged by a petrol bomb.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), in a Thursday press conference, called the police reaction to the demonstration excessive.
"While acknowledging that that soldiers' march was illegal, Cosatu nevertheless believes that the reaction by the police - with stun grenades and rubber bullets - was reckless and excessive," said spokesman Patrick Craven, reported SAPA.
Craven urged police to find better ways to manage demonstrations.
The two soldiers could be charged with public violence and malicious damage to property.
