Letters requesting SANDF Deployment; Defence Committee Reports: consideration

Meeting report

Joint Standing Committee on Defence
Letters on Deployment of SANDF to African states
The Committee considered the Letters from the President on Deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to the South African Police Service, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nepal, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Uganda, Central African Republic and Sudan. The letters were adopted. The letter on the extension of the deployment of the SANDF in Burundi was adopted.
 
Discussion
Moulana M Sayedali-Shah (DA) stated that greater motivation was needed for the extension of the deployment of SANDF troops.

The Chairperson agreed that Parliament was entitled to be informed of the issues regarding deployment.

Other Members said that unauthorized expenditure cannot simply be rubber stamped, and that a request must be made to the Office of the President that a representative be sent to the Committee to explain the expenditure.

Defence Portfolio Committee
Mr M Booi (ANC) advised that a formal letter be written to the Speaker of Parliament regarding the monitoring of expenditure by the Department.

Committee Report on Board of Inquiry Report on Lohatla Centre shooting
The Committee adopted the Report, without amendments.

Draft Committee Report on Castle Control Board 2006/7 Annual Report
The Committee did not adopt the report, as further consideration was required.

Draft Committee Report on the Oversight Visit to Parliament:
The Committee did not adopt the report, as further consideration was required.

Members agreed to meet in the following week to finalise the reports.

The meeting was adjourned.