The soldiers who embarked on illegal and violent protest action at the Union Buildings will be dismissed following legal processes, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, said on Thursday.

"We have decided following legal processes available to the defence force and within the defence force to proceed with the ultimate sanction that will allow the soldiers to separate, which means they will be dismissed," she said before she left a briefing in Pretoria.

Acting chief of the SA National Defence Force, General Themba Matanzima, said between 1500 and 2000 soldiers took part in the illegal march on Wednesday.

However, he assured the public that the army was a disciplined organisation.

"The SANDF is in charge and it remains a dependable, disciplined and professional force capable of defending the country," he said.

Matanzima said disciplinary procedures were also in place to ensure that another incident of the same nature does not happen again as it would not be allowed to "eclipse the excellent work done by our dedicated men and women in uniform".

"We would like to offer our sincerest apology to our commander-in-chief and the people of South Africa for the embarrassment and inconvenience caused by the incident."

He said he was also aware that the protest had reached the international community which was embarrassing but reiterated that South Africa’s military was committed and able to continue its operations outside the borders.

'A few thuggish members' Surgeon General of the SA Military Health Services, Vejaynand Ramlakan, said the event had also been sensationalised.

"What we saw yesterday was a few South Africans breaking the law. In no way must yesterday be perceived as undermining the authority of the state. It was a few thuggish members."

He said there had been 18 casualties, four of which required hospitalisation.

Chief director of human resources, Enoch Mashoala, said while legal processes were ongoing there was no doubt the soldiers would be dismissed.

"There is a prima facie case, they went on an illegal protest - they challenged the authority of the police."

Director of human resources policy and strategy, Mary Ledwaba, said there had been no contact with the SA National Defence Union which had orchestrated the march.

A wage protest by unionised members descended into chaos when the group tried to get onto the Union Buildings property on Wednesday.

Police used rubber bullets, teargas and a water canon to disperse the crowd who taunted them.

A number of military and police vehicles were also damaged in the protest with one vehicle being torched by a petrol bomb.

The protest was declared after the High Court in Pretoria earlier on Wednesday dismissed an application by Sandu to force the military to allow its members to march.

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