Question NW1227 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
01 November 2019 - NW1227
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)With the approved deployment of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) under Operation Prosper for a further period until 31 March 2020, (a) how was the approved budget of R64 127 000,00 and a strength of 1 322 determined, (b) from which cost centre within the SANDF budget will the deployment be funded, (c) how was the average cost of R8 084, 59 per person per month determined, (d) why is the average cost lower than for the previous period of deployment, (e) what are the details and justification of the spending for each of the cost items and (f) what are the merits and justifications for only deploying one extra company, thus a probable total deployment of only three companies compared to a potential deployment of six companies; (2) (a) why are the soldiers deployed under Operation Prosper still accommodated in hangers and not in proper sleeping facilities with bathrooms and (b)(i) by what date and (ii) how will this situation be redressed to accommodate the total deployment until 31 March 2020 in humane and similar facilities where they have been deployed from?
Reply:
The information requested relates to the operations on the ground of the SANDF troops deployed in the Western Cape and can only be disclosed in a closed session of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence due to its security sensitive nature.