The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) has thrown its weight behind soldiers fighting for a pay hike.

"The ANCYL believes that the interests of soldiers should be advocated and their working conditions improved, like any other South Africans," it said on Thursday.

"We will interact with all the relevant stakeholders on the question of strikes by soldiers and provide leadership on what should be an acceptable way moving forward," it said in a statement after a two-day meeting of its national executive committee (NEC).

The government said earlier on Thursday it was considering banning trade unions in the defence force, despite a court ruling on Wednesday confirming soldiers' right to unionise.

"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," government spokesperson Themba Maseko told a media briefing at Parliament.

1300 soldiers 'dismissed'

Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has issued letters of dismissal to 1300 soldiers who took part in an illegal, violent protest at the Union Buildings last month.

Responding to an IFP question earlier in the week, she said it had perhaps been a mistake to allow soldiers to unionise.

However, the dismissals were put on hold by the ruling, which was made by the High Court in Pretoria on an application brought by the South African National Defence Union.

"Although the minister of defence and military veterans will abide by the decision of the court, government still believes that the soldiers who participated in the violent and illegal march must account for their action," said Maseko.

"They broke the law in a number of respects," he said, adding that these included "undermining national security by marching and attempting to invade the Union Buildings".

In its statement on Wednesday, the ANCYL said it would speak to the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association, the defence ministry, the portfolio committee on defence and military veterans and unions. It would do this with the intention of ensuring soldiers were adequately remunerated and the transformation of the entire military fast-tracked.

Working class the 'priority'

"It is our view that the interests of the working class should always be priority of our democratic government, and we have a responsibility as youth to defend their interests," it said.

At the NEC's meeting the ANCYL also resolved to continue to mobilise support for the nationalisation of mines and other strategic sectors of the South African economy.

On the contentious purchase of ministers' cars, the ANCYL called on government leaders to closely inspect procurement practices in the face of the recession.

Expressing its "unwavering support" of ANCYL president Julius Malema, it said it took "serious exception" to calls on the organisation to disown him.