Cape Town – The SA National Defence Union (Sandu) has called for lawful means to remove President Jacob Zuma from office as it believes he is no longer fit to be the commander-in-chief of the defence force.

In a media statement posted to Facebook, Sandu national secretary JG Greeff said it was "absolutely despicable" that Zuma had transgressed the very Constitution that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) was charged with upholding.

He referred to the Constitutional Court ruling on Thursday, which stated that Zuma had failed to "uphold, defend and respect the Constitution" when he did not adhere to the remedial actions called for by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

"Given the ruling made, the president can no longer be considered a fit and proper person to remain the commander-in-chief of the SANDF, nor can any of the parliamentary members who so stubbornly protected him in his questionable endeavours against the Public Protector’s findings, be considered fit and proper persons to hold office as members of Parliament."

Greeff said they called on the commander-in-chief to be removed from his post and for the relevant MPs to resign.

"How can those with unconstitutional dirt on their hands be expected to further oversee and or command the SANDF with integrity or any inkling of moral standing?" he asked in the post.

The union supported any call for mass action and other "lawful means" to remove Zuma from office.

"Sandu encourages all members of society, including soldiers to participate in their private capacity and time in any lawful mass action campaigns which might be called to the end of lawfully recalling and or removing President Zuma from office."

According to the post, the call was not a political stance but "a moral and constitutional stance in support of our constitutional democratic values of the rule of law".

Greeff was not immediately available for comment.

I break my Twitter silence, for this: @SANDU_LIVE demands Zuma must go: https://t.co/V4ZIvBscSQ — Pikkie Greeff (@PikkieGreeff) April 1, 2016

And this also from @SANDU_LIVE media release pic.twitter.com/lcbcP1LPxX — Pikkie Greeff (@PikkieGreeff) April 2, 2016

And this also from @SANDU_LIVE media release pic.twitter.com/lcbcP1LPxX — Pikkie Greeff (@PikkieGreeff) April 2, 2016

Let me tell you now @SANDU_LIVE will not apologize for its media release. If you can't read, blame the ANC's abysmal education system. — Pikkie Greeff (@PikkieGreeff) April 2, 2016