Question NW1225 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
27 November 2019 - NW1225
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)In view of the absence of funding to provide for replacement, maintenance and upgrading of strategic defence assets and the soon-to-be-depleted Special Defence Account, (a) what does the (i) SA Army, (ii) SA Air Force and (iii) SA National Defence Force plan to do to stay relevant and be able to protect the integrity of the Republic and the safety of our citizens and (b) what are the contingency plans of the department in respect of deploying the army during disasters; (2) whether she has found that the (a) SA Army, (b) SA Air Force and (c) SA National Defence Force are able to (i) execute their operational mandates and (ii) sustain the Republic’s defence capabilities under the current funding levels?
Reply:
The question requires a closed session of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence as it relates to the ability of the Defence Force to execute its Constitutional mandate.