Briefing by Defence Minister on current issues

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SECURITY & CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE

SECURITY and CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE
23 May 2001
BRIEFING BY DEFENCE MINISTER ON CURRENT ISSUES

Chairperson: Mr. Mahlangu (ANC)

MINUTES
The Chair opened the meeting by welcoming Minister Lekota, noting that the briefing would generally touch on the evolving role of the SANDF, externally and internally, in anticipation of the "cluster" budget debate to occur in the NCOP on June 19.

The Minister prefaced the briefing by stating that he would like more opportunity to interact with the committee, and would like to target Tuesdays for such purpose. He went on to state that the Ministry is preparing for the budget vote tentatively scheduled for June 15, subject to the President's state visit to the UK, which Ministry officials will participate in.

Moving to the main presentation, the Minister affirmed that the process of integrating the SANDF is proceeding according to plan, and that prior tensions, which had manifested themselves in such unfortunate incidents like the fatal shootings at Tempe, are subsiding. This is due in part to adjustments made to internal structures as a result of a series of inquiries. A final ministerial report on these matters will be ready by early June, and will allow final recommendations to be made regarding transformation and integration.

The Minister said that an SANDF "strategic assessment" process is ongoing, and will allow determination of the military's success in maintaining necessary capabilities, and identification of any shortcomings which may exist. This process will enable recommendations to be made to Cabinet, including as to whether a second "Defence Review", focusing on revised needs and rising expectations since the initial 1994-5 review, is needed. As an example, the Minister noted that increasing demands on the SANDF in the context of UN peacekeeping missions, such as in the DRC, could not have been anticipated 6 years ago, adding that further contributions have been requested regarding participation in such efforts in Sierra Leone, and in Burundi, where Madiba has played an active role in trying to bring peace.

The Minister observed that the SANDF has to evolve to meet its new roles. These include providing regional disaster relief, as in Malawi and Mozambique in response to flooding. This means increasing training and adapting its equipment to providing disaster relief. He added that the SANDF has assisted with the retraining and reformation of neighbors' security forces, such as in Lesotho, where the army had to be reoriented as a politically neutral institution. Similar efforts can be anticipated in the DRC and Burundi, and that the entire range of these sorts of activities must be planned for.

Domestically, the Minister indicated that efforts are being made to "right-size" the SANDF, while at the same time attempting to attract quality young people to serve in order to achieve a combination of an experienced command structure and main force fitness.

Regarding the "right-sizing", he emphasized that an important part of the transition is ensuring that the process of "civilianization" of personnel is managed in a way that avoids throwing people out of the military en masse, which could lead to destabilization in several senses.

He went on to assert that the SANDF must also be involved in the process of bettering the lives of all people in SA, and that this must be a consideration in the budgeting process. Examples of this are SANDF participation in post-flooding reconstruction, and helping with distribution of books to schools in areas which had been cut off. Additionally, the military must focus on identifying and nurturing young talent via the national youth service program, which is valuable whether or not participating individuals eventually join the forces.

In conclusion, the Minister described the foregoing as an overview of the context in which the defence budget must be evaluated, noting that the SANDF is not solely a "killing machine" but a contributor to the nation's cohesiveness and progress, and its transformation and reconciliation.

Noting the Minister's scheduling constraints, the Chair then opened the floor for a few brief queries, noting that detailed questions should be held for another day. He then raised several points, which were addressed as follows by the Minister:

--Concerning recent allegations of military personnel involvement in crime in Wynberg, the SANDF encourages civilian charges to be laid in such instances, which leads to suspension and the commencement of military disciplinary proceedings.

--Concerning reports that SANDF pilots lack sufficient flight hours, limitations are the result of budget constraints.

--Reimbursement by the UN of costs of participation in DRC peacekeeping can be expected either at the end of the operation or, if the mission lasts for an extended period, reimbursement will be requested at the end of each financial year during which the activity is ongoing.

--Use of SANDF "commandos" to assist the SAPS is necessary, although limited in the sense that these forces do not have super-numerary powers, and can only operate at the request of the SAPS, and subject to legal requirements. However, there are some "rogue elements" among the commandos who engage in extra-legal activity, and this needs to be weeded out, with the inclusion and recruitment of more blacks for such activities an important part of the process.

Responding to a question from a committee member, the Minister stated that it is necessary for the SANDF to take on new international obligations in order to stabilize situations which at least indirectly affect SA interests. E.g., if the situations in the DRC and Mozambique are not addressed the result is a wave of refugees and illegal aliens, which affects the national economy and investor perceptions, which focus on Africa regionally, and not just on SA exclusively. As such, money spent on international obligations is a worthwhile "investment."

Replying to a question from another member, the Minister suggested that dealing with any major soil subsidence in the Northern Province is, at least initially, a matter for the provincial government to address.

He also added, addressing another query, that plans are being formulated to deal with the gradual "civilianization" of over 40 year old SANDF staff.

The Chair then, noting the time, thanked the Minister for his appearance, and expressed the wish that more time be available for questions during the his next visit to the committee. The Minister then left, and the meeting was adjourned.

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