Status of Redundant Military Bases: briefing

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Meeting report

21 AUGUST 2002

PUBLIC WORKS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
21 August 2002
STATUS OF REDUNDANT MILITARY BASES: BRIEFING


Chairperson: Inkosi M .W. Hlengwa (ANC)

Documents handed out:
The status of Military Bases in the North West Province (Department of Public Works)
Presentation by the Department of Works
Annual Report of the Department of Public Works
Report of the Auditor General

SUMMARY
The Committee considered the status of redundant military bases in the North West Province. During the period 1994 to 1996 there was a process of integration of all military organisations that existed in this country prior to 1994 and as a result some of the bases became redundant. An SANDF representative informed the Committee that more bases will be closed because of financial constrains. Some of the bases will be closed permanently while others will be closed temporarily. The SANDF spends around R48 million per annum on the maintenance of the bases, which is not enough. They do not have sufficient funds to look after all their buildings. It was pointed out that all the bases that have been handed over to the Department of Public works were not longer the responsibility of the SANDF. All military bases have been handed over to the Department of Public Works except one.
A report on the future of all military bases will be ready by the end of September 2002.

The Committee also discussed the report by the Auditor General and the challenges facing the Department of Public Works. The Acting Director General (Lydia Bici) made the presentation and briefly outlined the challenges facing her Department and the way forward.

MINUTES
The delegation from the Department of Public Works was led by the Acting Director-General: Ms Lydia Bici, and Ms Gugu Mazibuko. Ms Mazibuko informed the Committee about the status of military bases in the North West Province. Mr Percy Jonas (North-West legislature) led a delegation from the North West Province together with Brigadier-General Moerane (SANDF).

Presentation by Mr Jonas
Mr Jonas (North West legislature) highlighted the plight of the military bases in his province. He had previously written a letter to the Department of Defence requesting the Department to intervene because of vandalism of military bases in North West. He had led a delegation to visit all military bases in North West with the aim of obtaining first hand information regarding their conditions. They discovered that most of the bases were not properly guarded and as a result were badly damaged.

Mr Jonas noted that they asked relevant people questions why those bases were not guarded. The response was that those bases, which previously belonged to the now defunct Bophuthatswana government of Lucas Mangope, were not officially handed over to the Department of Defence. As a result they then raised their concerns with the Department of Defence. They then invited the Portfolio Committee on Defence to North West and they obliged.

Mr Jonas raised two concerns regarding military bases in North West:
-Why there was no security for bases?
-If the Department of Public Works has a convergent plan, why there was no action on the side of the Department of Defence to maintain those bases.

Lastly Mr Jonas and his team asked whether the bases in North West were under the Department of Defence or under the Department of Public Works? In his conclusion he suggested that the military bases, which are now lying in ruin, be handed over to the communities so that they could be used to provide services such as health and education.

Presentation by Brigadier Moerane
Brigadier Moerane (SANDF) was requested to respond to the concerns raised by the delegates from the North West province. The Brigadier mentioned that it is a fact that during the period 1994 to 1996 there was a process of integration of all military organisations that existed in this country prior to 1994 and as a result some of the bases became redundant. He out that by ignoring these bases his Department does not imply that they hated Mr Mangope so much that they did not want to use those bases. He noted that most of those bases were used by Mangope's regime to perpetuate atrocious human rights violations. He mentioned that private companies controlled some of the bases during Mangope's time. The Brigadier told the Committee that some of the bases were closed simply because South Africa did not want to harm its relations with the government of Botswana.

While the Brigadier was presenting he raised his dissatisfaction about the presence of the media, he suggested that the media be excused because he was going to raise sensitive issues, which could damage the reputation of his Department. However, the Brigadier was overruled by the Chairperson on the ground that the meeting was open to the public.

The Brigadier reluctantly continued with his presentation. He told the Committee that his Department is going to close more bases because of financial constrains. On the question of why these bases were not handed over to the public, the Brigadier mentioned that it was difficult to sell the bases to members of the public. Some of the bases are not suitable for the public because of the danger they pose. He pointed out that some of these bases have land mines buried in them.

The Brigadier said the SANDF would try by all means to clean the mess in all the bases before handing them over to the Department of Public works. The Department of Defence will also cordon the bases with wire fences to protect the public. He mentioned that Mmabatho military bases was earmarked for the airport services. The Brigadier mentioned that the Department of Public works would be informed about available bases, but the problem with fencing is that members of the public steal those fences.

Discussion
Mr Opperman (ANC) asked the Brigadier whether the SANDF in North West has handed over the military bases to the Department of Public Works or not.

The Brigadier said that all military bases have been handed over to the Department of Public Works except one. He also pointed out that between 1994 and 1996 they closed several bases throughout the country not in the North West Province only. At that time they did not have mechanisms on what to do with those bases. However, this is not a hopeless case because the battle is not yet over. Many bases have been earmarked for closure but by the time that happens it will be clear to whom those bases will be given to.

Mr Chikane (ANC) asked the Brigadier to clarify the issue of an asset register, which will indicate properties under the Department of Defence.

Ms Bici: Acting Director General, mentioned that there is a working relationship between the two Departments and that yes, the asset register is available. She pointed out that the asset register has all names of properties under their control and it contains the names of all the bases which the government would like to dispose of simply because they cannot use them anymore.

The Brigadier was asked what the future of the bases are which are being vandalised.

Ms Bici said that there is a process in place to deal with the bases after they have been handed over, but it also depends on what is happening on those bases. After the bases have been handed over to her Department, other Departments are approached first to inform them about the availability of the base. The first preference is always given to the Land Affairs Department. All Departments who are interested to the bases are then requested to submit a proposal within six months.

Mr Schippers (NNP) presses the Department for an answer on what exactly would happen to those bases which are being vandalised?

The Brigadier pointed out that the issue of closing and opening of bases will be with us forever. There is no single textbook answer to the future of military bases because some of the bases will be closed permanently while others will be closed temporarily. He mentioned that the SANDF spends around R48 million per annum on the maintenance of the bases, which is not enough. They do not have sufficient funds to look after all their buildings. He said that his Department requires R2 billion to maintain the bases only. The Brigadier pointed out that all the bases that have been handed over to the Department of Public works were not longer the responsibility of the SANDF.

Mr Opperman asked who was going to take care of the bases given that the SANDF does not have enough money.

The Brigadier mentioned that the report stated clearly which bases have been handed over and that some bases which the North West Province have expressed interest in acquiring have been left. The SANDF would take full responsibility for these bases despite the fact that they do not have enough money to do so. He also mentioned that the asset management framework will be consolidated at national level by the Department of Public Works and it will be used as a guide on what to do with government assets. It will also compile a report on the future of all military bases, which will be ready by the end of September 2002.

The Chairperson suggested that the issue be taken to the NCOP for further deliberation.

Auditor General's Report
Mr Opperman asked whether the report by the Auditor General was the final report for the year 2001/2002.

The Acting Director General answered that it was not the final report. She noted that the Auditor General would finalise the report by the end of September 2002.

Mr Moonsamy wanted to find out why there is no correlation of figures in the report. He mentioned that this is a sign of bad management in the Department of Public Works, which needed to be rectify immediately.

The Acting Director stated that her Department was not happy in the way in which the audit was conducted and that she was going to raise her concern to the Auditor General.

Ms Borman asked what had happened to the cases mentioned in the report?

Ms Bici stated that all people mentioned in the report have been suspended while others have been dismissed.

The Chairperson asked Ms Bici whether she thought that they have a good case to present to the Auditor General and whether she anticipated improvement in her Department next year or not?

Ms Bici mentioned that theirs was a snapshot programme and that the up keep of information by other functionaries was not up to date. As a result things deteriorated in her Department. She pointed out that there are positions in her Department, which needed to be strengthened. Lastly she promised that by this time next year they will present a good report.

Ms Bici raised her concerned about certain individuals who are hell bound to portray her Department in the negative way. She cited the Auditor's report as the example.

A Member asked whether they have an asset register in their Department.

Ms Bici responded that at the beginning they did not have an asset register but they are working on compiling it at the present moment, which will be ready by next year.

Mr Opperman asked when they going to meet with the Auditor General.
She said no date has been set but on the 28 August 2002 her Department will be meeting with SCOPA.

Mr Moonsamy was asked to clarify the statement she made that her Department is different from any other Department and because of that the Auditor General must treat it differently.

Ms Bici stated that they are not questioning the quality of the report but they need to clarify some issues. Her Department differs from other departments and the Auditor General's report must reflect the system as it exists and not on something which does not exist. She went further and pointed out that they have specific things, which exist in their Department only, which must be taken into consideration.

Mr Opperman asked whether it is possible to provide the Committee with an interim report?

Ms Bici stated that they are presently working on the interim report, which will be released six weeks from now.

The meeting was adjourned.

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