Defence Amendment Bill [B18-2017]

Call for comments opened 30 October 2018 Share this page:

Submissions are now closed (since 16 November 2018)

NCOP Security and Justice

The Select Committee on Security and Justice invites you to submit written submissions on the Defence Amendment Bill [B18-2017] (National Assembly– sec 75).

The Defence Amendment Bill seeks, amongst other matters, to:
▪ amend the Defence Act, 2002, so as to include the Chief of Staff in the Military Command of the Defence Force;
▪ clarify the process regarding the implementation by the Chief of the Defence Force of the delegation of powers and assignment of duties to members by the Secretary for Defence as head and accounting officer of the Department;
▪ provide for the employment of the Defence Force outside the Republic;
▪ provide for the security vetting of contractors and service providers of the Department;
▪ clarify that a person does not need the consent of an employer in order to enrol as, or to remain, a member of the Reserve Force;
▪ regulate anew the termination of service of members of the Regular Force;
▪ amend the requirements for legal representation of members;
▪ regulate the display of military decorations, medals and insignia;
▪ regulate the use of military uniforms, distinctive marks and crests; and
▪ provide for the prohibition of access to military property or areas.

Comments can be emailed to Mr G Dixon at [email protected] by no later than Friday, 16 November 2018.

Enquires can be directed to Mr G Dixon on tel (021) 403-3771

Issued by Hon. SG Mthimunye, MP, Chairperson: Select Committee on Security and Justice.



Background
The Department of Defence (DOD) commenced with the process of reviewing the Defence Act, 2002, during 2009. The Defence Review, 2015, was completed and approved by Cabinet during 2014 and Parliament during 2015. The amendments to the Act do not emanate from the recommendations contained in the Defence Review, 2015, but are matters that have been identified as necessary to be addressed at this stage. The DOD is currently in the process of unpacking the Defence Review, 2015, and its effect on DOD structures, administration, and possible future legislative amendments to defence legislation may follow eventually