Question NW1618 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
06 August 2020 - NW1618
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Whether, given the fact that the Secretary of Defence has on a number of occasions indicated that the current 15 sub-units deployed for safeguarding the Republic’s border are insufficient, the Government intends deploying additional sub-units as a counter measure to the potential movement of terrorist elements in the region; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. In terms of the Sub Program Support to the People, as alluded to by the Secretary for Defence on several occasions, the appreciated force level requirement for border line control is to have 22 Sub-units instead of 15, however due to budgetary constraints it has been difficult to deploy the additional sub-units.
2. Should funds be made available the SANDF may prepare and deploy additional sub-units for the total border safe guarding effort and not only for countering potential movement of terrorist elements in the region.