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.
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.
source: news.bbc.co.uk
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