Question NW777 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

(1) Whether with reference to the budget pressure on the SA National Defence Force and the immediate need to address the threat of implosion of the strategic prime mission equipment capabilities, what steps (a) has she and.-/or her department taken and (b) will be implemented immediately to drastically reduce the cost of employees as a percentage of the approved annual budget ? (2) Whether given that earlier this year the Secretary of Defence reported an expected Compensation of Employee (COE) overspending of around R3 billion for which no plans were in place to address the issue (details furnished), she has found it sufficient for the Republic to have only an air wing instead of an air force and water wing instead of a navy to protect the Republic, but overextended on COE; if not, what is the position in this regard, if so, what are the relevant details.