Hansard: NA: Mini-plenary 1
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 24 May 2022
Summary
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Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 23 AND 26 – DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS
PROCEEDINGS OF MINI-PLENARY SESSION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Watch: Mini-Plenary
Members of the mini-plenary session met on the virtual platform at 09:59.
The Acting Chairperson Mr M G Mahlaule took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
The Acting Chairperson announced that the virtual mini-plenary sitting constituted a meeting of the National Assembly.
APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Vote No 23 – Defence, Including Vote No 26 - Military Veterans:
The MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS: Hon Chairperson, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, officials in the military, in July 2021, South Africa found herself in the middle of civil unrest in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng provinces. Properties and businesses were damaged and looted. The target areas were malls and business that were also severely damaged and looted.
The SA National Defence Force, SANDF, was deployed in co- operation with the SA Police Service, SAPS, to quell these unrest and to restore law and order. We deployed around 15 000 members of the SANDF, to quell the unrest. Operation Prosper was successful and was lauded. We are very proud of the men and women of the Defence Force for coming to the rescue of the citizens and the businesses of this country.
Hon Chairperson, during the Sona 2022, the President committed to the upscaling of the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme to deliver 96 bridges a year.
The SANDF has assessed this need and has started to construct of bridges in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State and North West since the beginning of April.
Hon Chairperson, we were very grateful to accept the first of three multimission warrior class inshore patrol vessels into service last week 18 May 2022. This is the part of rejuvenating of our patrol capacity. The SAS Sekhukhune will greatly assist in securing South Africa’s maritime zones.
Over recent years, SANDF has been called upon to support civil intervention and to ensure the delivery of basic services to the citizens of our country.
We are contributing to the Africa Peace Missions. We have assisted the North West province with health services, the Department of Water and Sanitation with the Vaal River clean- up project and we are hoping to go back there. The National Disaster Management Centre has called on SANDF to assist during the COVID-19 pandemic and we are still involved in the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape flood relief work.
The deployments speak to our responsibilities and there is no way we cannot be at the centre of saving lives. These deployments also come at great cost to the equipment and funding of the SANDF. There is also little or no re- imbursement delivered. This puts SANDF under great pressure.
Hon members will remember that we have a dire shortage of critical equipment currently, not to speak of future disasters and continuous climate change events, for example our tents are gone, water purification and distribution systems are critically low. The serviceable airframes and flying hours are also in critical state.
We wish to inform this House that the SANDF will be hard pressed to respond to critical events in other provinces should the need arise. I state this with a very heavy heart – we are willing, but we lack resources.
Hon Chairperson, unless there is a significant and intervention – the cupboard will remain bare.
South Africa must continue to enlist both the hard power and soft power domains to mitigate all threats against the state, its national interests and its people, including emerging borderless and stateless threats.
The decline in the performance of the South African economy has placed significant pressure on government and households.
It is becoming difficult to adequately meet all competing needs – this is fertile ground for instability.
The historical downward trend in the Defence Allocation has not abated. It is likely to continue to the detriment of the SANDF and the demise of the Defence industry.
Defence planning has become primarily a budget-driven affair as opposed to a mandate-driven one. This means that our ability to deliver on our Constitutional mandate ultimately compromises the successful conducting of military strategic missions in a strategic manner.
Notwithstanding the recent discussions with the parliamentary committees on the desired Future Blueprint Force Design, both the Force Design and Force Structure that we would prefer remains unaffordable. The big question is: What should we do?
This dilemma, and the significant strain placed on the Defence and Defence-Related Industry, and our increasing reliance on foreign manufacturers, puts us in a strategic quandary, this with serious implications for the sovereignty of the Republic.
Is it right that we continue adopt short-term views to fulfil our constitutional obligations? This only enables us to provide adequate operational performance where spending is focused on immediate operational measures.
There can be no doubt that there is a widening dichotomy between that which the SANDF is expected to achieve and the resources that are provided to meet these expectations. So, SANDF is being spread thin.
Our inability to maintain, repair and overhaul our aging fleets of combat equipment simply adds to our already dire block – obsolescence of our prime mission equipment.
Hon Chairperson, we have unaffordable legacy Defence Systems and Defence Capabilities. We have a bloated facilities footprint and we also have the urgent need to rejuvenate the SANDF with young and healthy soldiers.
We need to develop a view on what level of Defence South Africa needs, and what it can afford to maintain at a sustainable level.
To date, we as South Africans, and specifically those who represent us in the executive and the legislature, have struggled to come to terms with the most pertinent and enduring question facing the Defence establishment as a whole, and that question is: What level of Defence does South Africa need, and what we can afford?
This is a critical question must be answered, no matter how difficult it might be. My responsibility as Minister, as charged by section 202(1) of the Constitution, is to engage with the President, the Cabinet, the Minister of Finance as well as Parliament on this matter and to provide such guidance.
Defence planning is not a short-term endeavour. It is a multi- year and multi-decade endeavour that must be informed by reasonably sustainable financial parameters. Ultimately, we require a policy decision on what level of government expenditure we can sustainably afford to earmark for the Defence.
We require a quantum leap of thinking, including a significant discourse on the doctrine and combat capabilities that will be relevant for the future.
In these deliberations we need to appreciate South Africa’s domestic priorities and our international, continental and regional aspirations. We must also put these aspirations on a balanced check in relation to our national security risk- appetite of government.
The economic and social realities facing South Africa cannot be ignored. Within these constraints, the focus of the National Defence Force in the short to medium-term will be on the repair, maintenance and overhaul of existing defence capabilities, especially those capabilities required for current operations.
Although we are gravely concerned about our ever declining resources, we must get the job done. We have nothing else that we can do.
Within this context, I have identified five primary Defence imperatives: That is safeguarding of the nation through
military missions, such as border safeguarding, maritime security, support to the SAPS and other internal deployments.
Also securing the regional development through a peace and security capability.
We must also ensure hard power through the maintenance of a core combat capability to protect the sovereignty of this country.
We must protect South Africa’s intangible sovereignty through support to the National Cyber Resilience Initiative and ensuring Defence Digital Protection.
We must also be involved in nation-building through contributions to the National Development Imperative through high-impact projects, the development of appropriate future Defence leaders, and innovation in approaches and conducting Defence business.
Hon Chairperson, as I have already stated, the contemporary global security landscape is increasingly characterised by security threats that are both borderless and stateless in
their nature, which lie outside the capacity and ability of a single nation state to address on its own.
This begs the question on how Defence should be optimally structured, organised, equipped and trained to best fulfil these requirements within a constrained fiscal outlook, including a robust discussion on the capabilities, platforms, doctrines and tactics which would be more appropriate for future conflicts.
It is crucial that South Africa develops a fit-for-purpose National Defence Force that is agile enough to both physically and intellectually move seamlessly between its traditional mandated tasks and the demanding new environment.
Given the nature, complexity and difficulties of the tasks facing the National Defence Force within a challenging economic climate, the time has come to forge even closer relationships through which we shall determine.
Hon Chairperson, we find ourselves within a broadened and expanded security paradigm which has a particular emphasis on the wellbeing of the citizenry.
The state retains the obligation to facilitate, if not create, the environment and the necessary conditions for the fulfilment of human security and economic prosperity.
The slow growth of our economy has further accelerated infrastructure regression, service ...
[Taken from Minister’s speech.]
[ ... delivery challenges and increased social dependence on the State. This has been exacerbated by institutionalised fraud, corruption and criminality.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution and concomitant jobless growth has also impacted on our economic competitiveness in challenging global markets. This must be viewed alongside rising youth unemployment, the attendant challenge of providing relevant skills for the future, unequal access to infrastructure, the protracted legacy of Covid-19, protracted looming energy and water paucity adds to our growing domestic insecurity, increase in year-on-year violence, crime and social unrest and rising fundamentalism and extremism.
Hon Chairperson, we must deliver the best possible value- proposition to government and the people of South Africa against the Defence allocation.
Crucial to the success of the National Defence Force in these complex arenas will be the quality, education and professionalism of its human capital, the deployability of the force, its flexibility in terms of structure and equipment, as well as its ability to function effectively within the complex demands of future conflict.
The approach to future Defence planning must be capability- based, to ensure greater effectiveness and improved jointness in the National Defence Force. The focus must also be on the Personnel, Organisational, Sustainment, Equipment and Facilities dimensions of Defence.
I therefore require the Chief of the National Defence Force to: Implement a realistic JOINT CAPSTONE CONCEPT for the Defence of the Republic of South Africa and to evaluate our suite of key defence capabilities and systems for their future relevance.
Align the doctrine, training and resource management approaches and systems within the JOINT CAPSTONE CONCEPT.
Develop a sustainable and well-functioning military organisational structure aligned to the JOINT CAPSTONE CONCEPT.
Improve vertical and lateral coherency in Command and Control to command, direct, orchestrate and control the National Defence Force accordingly.
Streamline the existing organisational structure of the National Defence Force.
The Chief of the National Defence Force must accordingly: Emphasize officership and the command nature of military culture.
Prioritise the modernisation of that prime-mission equipment and the phasing-in of off-the-shelf technologies required for the future.
Prioritise the maintenance, repair and overhaul of those legacy systems we will need to retain in the interim.
Urgently stop expenditure on, and potentially dispose of, that which we will not need.
Establish a significantly reduced leased-facilities portfolio.
Examine renewable technologies for refurbished Defence Facilities, as was demonstrated recently at Air Force Base Hoedspruit.
Rejuvenate the personnel component to deliver professional and competent leaders and tough and disciplined soldiers.
The backbone of the successful National Defence Force is an effective and efficient sustainment system. The National Defence must review its sustainment practices to deliver maximum output with fewer resources.
In the immediate-term, the Joint Force Employment Requirement must be re-assessed to ensure that urgent operational requirements are met.
Hon Chairperson, notwithstanding the above direction I have given to the Chief of the National Defence Force, I further require an urgent and detailed military appreciation of what it will take for the National Defence Force to assist the citizens of South Africa with man-made and natural disasters in the future.
I require this assessment urgently so that I can engage with Cabinet and Parliament on this matter.
I wish to direct the expansion of the Military Engineering capability as a repository for the Disaster Management Capability of the National Defence Force. This should not only include matters of equipment, but must extend to matters such as planning, simulation, distribution systems and collaboration with other actors in the National Disaster Space.
Hon Chairperson, the compensation of employees portion of the budget is a grave priority area which must be addressed. Upon my appointment as Minister, I discovered a bloated top structure and a lack of rejuvenation in the bottom and middle components of the Department.
The department must reduce cost-pressures on the Compensation of Employees portion of the budget. To this end, we have developed a revised strategy by which we seek to fit in with the Compensation of Employees allocation over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF and Medium–Term Strategic Framework, MTSF, period.
The National Treasury has allocated R1 billion to fund the Mobility Exit Mechanism during financial year 2022-23 and R800 million for the financial year 2023-24 in order to assist us in fitting in with the compensation of employees allocation.
Simply put, we need to retire more senior staff and recruit more young and agile people. I thus require the Department to advise me on who must stay and who must exit the system. I require this information for my engagements with the Ministers of Finance and Public Service and Administration.
We must be in a position to communicate this simply and efficiently within the Department and the people of our Nation. It might be useful to note that I have given specific directives to the Secretary for Defence and the Chief of the
National Defence Force to overhaul the communication system. Communication must henceforth be coordinated and coherent.]
[Reported from audio.]
The current state of equipment and facilities can, in many instances look a little bit cheaper. Some of this can be put on questionable leadership and poor decision making. These tarnish the image of the National Defence Force.
Similarly, when attending the Department of International Relations and Co-operation Heads of Mission Conference in April 2022, I received many complaints from our diplomatic fraternity about the performance of our Defence Attaché corps.
The appointment and promotion of competent, dynamic and enthusiastic soldiers and employees to leadership positions and critical posts is therefore a priority that I will be insisting on during my tenure as the Minister.
I require an urgent review of the practices and criteria used by the National Defence Force to recruit, select, appoint, promote and place its members. I further require a review of
the current timeous and cumbersome process to recruit, select and appoint public service employees in the department.
I also place great emphasis on the training of the future leaders in financial management practices.
Hon House Chairperson, I have directed the Secretary for Defence to strengthen the Defence Secretariat so as to enhance governance in the department, as well as to provide the necessary support I require as the executive authority.
I am seriously concerned about irregularities and corruption in our procurement system. If there was anything that we need to fix urgently, it is our procurement.
I am alarmed about the number of audit qualifications in the Department of Defence, as well as the number of illicit activities, fraud and corruption that are coming towards my attention. This cannot continue unabated. The Governance and Accountability Framework and Systems in the department has to be overhauled.
I remain concerned about the state of financial and resource management in the department. We need to demonstrate to the Auditor-General of the Republic of South Africa, the Department of Public Service and Administration and the National Treasury that we are very serious about the way we go about our business. They are our key stakeholders and we must demonstrate to them good governance, accountability and consequence management.
I have also raised my concerns about the lack of automated process in the department, and the Secretary has been instructed to acquire as such.
She is also instructed to institute a high-integrity procurement system to break with the fraught system. It is necessary that system brings impartiality, checks and balances that we need value-for-money.
She must also interrogate all instances of irregular, wasteful and unauthorised expenditure and institute appropriate consequence management.
She is supposed to revisit and repurpose all delegations to the department so that programme directors and their subordinate commanding officers and or managers are held to account for the resources allocated under their tag.
She must interrogate all the reports of misconduct, both departmental and criminal, and institute consequence management where appropriate, to the extent of preferring criminal charges against perpetrators. This must extend to both civilian employees and uniformed members.
Hon House Chairperson, the decline in Defence capabilities forces us to look at prioritising all activities for better efficiency in the quest to achieve our Constitutional mandate. We must apply the principles of minimising, prioritising, rightsizing and optimising to all aspects of the Defence organisation.
To this end, I require the Secretary for Defence and the Chief of the National Defence Force to: Review the budget allocation to all budget holders and reassign funding against priorities identified, including a zero-based budgeting system.
I also need to continue the reduction of personnel to the compensation to reach the ceiling that we have identified, as well as to continuously rejuvenate the personnel compliment.
The cost-saving interventions that we need to achieve in the procurement system have to be done in the long-term.
The National Defence Force is highly dependent on a healthy and sovereign indigenous local industry.
One cannot ignore the desperate plight of the Defence and Defence Related Industry. This sector has historically delivered an excellent return on government investment, it is currently not only a mainstream industrial manufacturing and development role-player, but is also, a key to the sovereignty of this Republic and the deep-level support required by the National Defence Force.
The Armaments Corporation of SA, Armscor Board is the accounting authority. As the Shareholder Representative, I require them to: Commissioning a hard-hitting, factual and uncompromising economic review of the public and private companies in the Defence industry.
To provide a sober, realistic and unemotional analysis of capabilities and capacities remaining in the public and private components of the industry, so that we can make hard choices against an informed base.
To suggest measures, interventions and mechanisms that will improve industry support to the National Defence Force.
To make a clear view of the repositioning of the industry in a manner that enhances the sovereignty of this country.
To posit a new relationship with the industry and other stakeholders that ensures the modernisation of our National Defence Force.
And to investigate how they might assist the Secretary for Defence with instituting a wide ranging reforms in the procurement and acquisition process.
Hon members with regard to military veterans’ matters, we continue to be faced with the challenges facing the military veterans and their dependents. In this regard, the disbursement of some benefits due to the military veterans has
not been as smooth as it could have been and we are working on effecting improvements in this regard.
Hon House Chairperson, in the coming financial year, we intend to roll out what is an important benefit which will alleviate the plight of the military veterans. This is the military veterans’ pension as stipulated in the Military Veterans’ Act of 2011. We are finalising the administrative roll out and will later announce the commencement date as well as the military veterans’ pension quantum soon.
Hon Chairperson, key to unlocking all of this things that I have been speaking about is that my role must be guided by the appropriate Ministerial Policy Directions and guidelines that the Secretary for Defence. On that note I thank you and place the Budget Vote for Defence. I thank you.
Mr V C XABA: House Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister, hon members, allow me to welcome the tabling of budget. I will focus on a few areas, while my colleagues will deal with the rest of the critical issues.
The primary mandate of the Defence Force is to defend and protect our borders and our people. Vote 23 supports the Defence Force in the execution of this constitutional mandate. The border management particularly, the land border line management has received some criticisms in the recent past.
The establishment of the Border Management Agency and its continued implementation highlights the renewed focus of the state on the need for effective border management. While the Border Management Agency’s focus is largely on the ports of entry, it leaves the crucial borderline safeguarding function to the South African National Defence Force, SANDF.
South Africa’s extensive land borderline of 4 471 km has increasingly become the site of illegal economic activities.
The scale of illegal activities is reflected in the SANDF’s successes in its borderline safeguarding function. For example, over a 11-year period between 2011 and 2021, the SANDF recovered 459 illicit weapons, arrested 6 176 criminals,
recovered 1 696 stolen cars and apprehended 188 404 illegal foreign nationals. The direct economic impact of illegal borderline activities on South Africa is also reflected in
other SANDF successes, including the confiscation of 929kg of precious metals, 1 293kg of copper recovered, 31 979 live- stock recovered and contraband goods confiscated to the value of R446 million.
It is worth noting that the SANDF achieved the above successes with deployment of only 15 sub-units along the extensive land borderlines.
It has been noted on several occasions to Parliament that at least 22 sub-units are required for adequate land border safeguarding.
This propelled the committee to recommend to National Treasury to increased allocation for borderline safeguarding, resulting in an additional allocation of R225 million in 2020, to be spent over the medium-term, for equipment and technology to serve as ‘force multipliers’ for border safeguarding deployments.
National Treasury did, however, indicate that no further funds are available for increasing the number of deployed SANDF sub- units on the borders to 22.
Given the direct economic impact of illicit cross-border activities, it may be necessary for a renewed debate around adequate funding of an expanded SANDF land borderline deployment.
In addition to the land borderline deployment, increased focus is also required on South Africa’s maritime borders and the ability to effectively patrol the country’s maritime territories.
The recent introduction of new inshore patrol vessels for the South African, SA Navy under Project Biro will assist in this function. However, further expansion of maritime patrol capabilities, specifically by the South African, SA Air Force, requires rejuvenation.
A well patrolled and secure maritime environment is essential to fully realise the economic potential of South Africa’s maritime economy.
The Constitution as well as the Defence Review stress the
importance of the defence force in pursuing South Africa’s
national security objectives through the advancement of its international, regional and national interests.
At a domestic level, the use of the SANDF to protect national interest and national assets has been displayed on a number of occasions in the past year.
The SANDF was called in to assist the police during the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in 2021 and contributed to the return of peace and the resumption of economic activity.
More recently, more than 3000 SANDF troops and specialist engineers were deployed, along with seven SA Air Force aircraft, to aid in disaster recovery operations following widespread flooding in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the North-West Province.
At a regional level, the SANDF remains a key foreign policy tool at the disposal of the state to contribute to regional peace and stability. Peace in the Southern African Development Community not only contributes to regional economic growth, but also offers South African businesses an opportunity to expand into the region.
The SANDF currently has 1198 soldiers deployed as part of the United Nations UN’s peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC and 1495 soldiers in Northern Mozambique as part of the SADC peacekeeping mission.
Furthermore, the SA Navy is also regularly deployed in the Mozambican channel. This naval deployment not only supports peacekeeping forces in the region, but is an important capability to ensure the safety of one of the South Africa’s primary maritime trade routes. South Africa depends on foreign trade for about 60% of its gross domestic product, GDP. On top of it her economy is dependent on imported oil.
The ability of the SANDF to be a mobile force that can aid in its primary military roles, as well as secondary humanitarian roles is essential. To maintain this capability requires a well-funded and well equipped defence force.
House Chair, the South African defence budget has continuously decreased in recent years and, for 2022-23, comprises of only 0,76% of the country’s GDP, significantly below 3% recommended by the world bodies.
This level of funding has resulted in the budget being poorly balance, with the Department of Defence, DOD, currently spending up to 63% of its allocation on compensation of employees and less than 5% on capital acquisition.
This complicates the task to effectively plan force structure and force design for military missions. It has severely curtailed the ability of the Defence Force to procure new technologically advanced equipment, maintain and refurbish existing military equipment, as is evident with the stalled midlife upgrades of the SA Navy Frigates and submarines.
Given the concerns of reduced defence funding, the Minister of Defence should be commended on her approach in the 2022-23 annual performance plan where she states that her focus in the:
2022-23 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework will centre on the stabilisation and creating of a sustainable Defence Force within an effective, efficient and economically managed department, able to deliver on the expectations of government.
The Minister stated that she will:
Undertake a revision of the current 2015 national policy on defence, through a revised Level of Defence Ambition, cognisant of both the strategic environment and the constrained fiscal outlook.
This balanced approach should be welcomed and can put the SANDF on a new path to sustainability. However, this process will need to be speedily concluded and urgently implemented. Parliament will play a key role in monitoring the Minister’s progress in redirecting defence ambition and working towards defence sustainability.
We applaud the role played by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee in ensuring the country upholds international law and commitments, including United Nations, UN Security Council arms embargoes, and does not transfer arms, which “are likely to contribute to the escalation of regional military conflicts”. The Defence Industry should be commended in respecting the commitment and responsibilities of the government in ensuring compliance with related obligations emanating from international instruments.
We welcome the renewed efforts to improve the delivery of benefits to the military veterans, including health care benefits. The introduction of pension benefits, starting in this financial, will significantly change the lives of many veterans. [Interjection.] Hon House Chair, I support the budget. [Time expired.]
Mr S J F MARAIS: Chairperson, never have I been so concerned about the state of our Defence Force and its defence capabilities, despite thousands of brave and loyal soldiers. The SA National Defence Force, SANDF, is now a broken entity, unable to fulfil its core constitutional mandates.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a stark reminder of our vulnerabilities and state of our defence readiness, should our territory be invaded similarly. It’s just too serious not to consider the consequences.
Under the current budget, the state of our Defence Force, its capabilities, priorities and strategies are at an increasing risk. The 2015 Defence Review never received any significant support and commitment from Cabinet and National Treasury to achieve the objectives of the five milestones. It is an
indictment that milestone one is still not achieved; a lack of political will and intervention being significant reasons.
Due to government’s economic failures, is the two per cent of gross domestic product, GDP, benchmark to fund the Defence Review unaffordable? The 2022-23 allocation of only 0,67% of GDP or R49 billion, is not value for money due to poor and inadequate interventions and initiatives by government, with failures that will haunt us for years to come.
The following are again reflections of the sad state of our prime mission equipment. From the infamous Arms Deal, the following are serviceable:
Firstly, one of three frigates with the one serviceable vessel, last week limping along the Mozambican coast due to maintenance and unavailability of spare parts. The past weekend it was still stuck in Pemba;
Secondly, zero of three submarines;
Thirdly, zero of 26 Gripen fighter aircraft;
Fourthly, three of 24 Hawk aircraft;
Fifthly, zero of the four Lynx helicopters; and
Sixthly, three of the 30 Agusta helicopters.
From the rest, only:
Firstly, two of the 35 Pilatus aircraft;
Secondly, four of the 11 strategic Rooivalk attack helicopters, of which three are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC;
Thirdly, 17 of the 39 Oryx helicopters, of which five are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, with the rest thinly distributed all over SA;
Fourthly, one of the six C-130 cargo aircraft, essential for the transport of troops, logistical support and training of paratroops and special forces;
Fifthly, one 85-year-old Dakota unable to do the maritime patrol and reconnaissance; and
Finally, many of the army’s vehicles and equipment that are in
stages of unserviceability.
This is an embarrassing state of affairs, which exposes us to bad actors on land, in the air and at sea. What contributed to this?
The department will spend no less than 69% of the approved budget on the cost of employees, which alone represents
R3 billion overspend. This trend is unsustainable and will deplete our capabilities if not addressed.
Despite a 30% cut in Reserve Force man-days, authorisations of unfunded operations will result in a sharp increase in the cost of Reserve Force members, with the cost of employees exceeding 70%.
The President must reconsider authorising unfunded or partially funded operations. We do not object to the operations but to not securing additional ring-fenced project
funding. If not, the Defence Force must apply the principle of stealing from Peter to pay Paul to meet their obligations.
Under the questionable Project Thusano agreement with Cuba for technical, professional and vocational services, payments of R1,4 billion were made by December 2021. Under the guise of Thusano, the Defence Force irregularly and illegally procured the Cuban drug Interferon at a total cost of $20 million.
The Auditor-General, AG, indicated that all the expenditure under Project Thusano have been irregular and wasteful, with no procurement procedures followed or deviations obtained, in contravention of various laws and regulations. Project Thusano must be terminated immediately. We cannot afford the obligation of a further R1,2 billion until 2024.
It seems that when the Defence Force complained that it did not have money for essential expenses, its leaders easily secured money to pay their Cuban masters. Clearly, their loyalty lies first with their Cuban comrades and not with our country when money is bleeding, our children are starving and unemployment and hopelessness reign supreme.
The DA will not stand for this. Should the Minister and the Secretary of Defence fail to act against the culprits in terms of their legislative responsibilities and the AG’s recommendations, then we will lay criminal charges.
The preservation and storage of vehicles and our prime mission equipment, for immediate and rapid deployment, have been neglected and compromised. The cost-effective contracts for the systems maintenance and repairs of between 60 to
70 environmentally controlled warehouses in the army, have not been renewed. These systems regulate the humidity, temperature, dust and airtightness of the storage facilities to assure that the vehicles, equipment, electronics and munitions are kept dust, rust and corrosion free, ready for its rapid deployment. Our Gripens and Hawks have also fallen victim to this negligence.
It must be reinstated to prevent the decay of our prime mission equipment, as well as time-consuming and costly maintenance prior to employment.
Project Hoefyster, the project to replace the aging Ratel infantry fighting vehicles with the new Badgers, has become an
embarrassing disaster and an example of the consequences of weak political leadership, state capture, cadre deployment and inefficient management. The Defence Force paid R7 billion to Denel Land Systems on an unaffordable project, with currently
15 vehicles in stages of completion and a stock of components to assemble many more. Confusion on its future remains, with Minister Modise indicating its imminent termination, contrary to the belief of Minister Gordhan.
Afrikaans:
Minister, iets moet vinnig en daadwerklik gedoen word om ons weermag te red. Die uurglas het amper uitgeloop. Ons het vreeslose maar ingeligte en oordeelkundige politieke leierskap nodig. Ek deel graag ’n paar voorstelle:
English:
Firstly, redesign, restructure and reposition a smaller Defence Force in compliance with its constitutional mandates and approved budget;
Secondly, reprioritise strategies and expenditure to achieve, among others critical capital expenditure;
Thirdly, the 2022-23 budget of R49 billion is about
R15 billion short to support this, and should be increased over the medium term to one per cent of GDP; and
Fourthly, budget priorities should include: cost of employees not more than 55% with staff not more than 60 000, landward defence to get 38%, air defence 16%, maritime defence 15% and force employment 10%.
To achieve this:
Firstly, terminate Project Thusano;
Secondly, transfer the three military hospitals to the Department of Health;
Thirdly, drive rejuvenation as a high priority;
Fourthly, liquidate unserviceable, obsolete and underutilised assets, and ring-fence the revenue for capital expenditure projects;
Fifthly, rationalise and integrate the structures and activities of Armscor and Denel, to serve the needs of the Defence Force in a cost-effective and efficient way; and
Sixthly, embark on a multiyear capital expenditure programme for the replacement, acquisition and upgrade in respect of the Rooivalk and Oryx helicopters with Mk II versions; the C130BZ with the J or A4 versions; multipurpose maritime reconnaissance aircraft; reintroduce to service the three frigates and three submarines; acquire new offshore patrol vessels, OPVs, and additional inshore patrol vessels, IPVs; invest in cyber, satellite and unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, technologies as force multipliers; and reconsider Project Hoefyster with fewer Badgers in combination with Ratel upgrades.
Minister, the Defence Force has become a broken entity unable to fulfil its core constitutional mandate and purposes. You and the Secretary of Defence do not have the luxury of time to repeatedly reinvent the wheel, and request postponements for actions. Both the defence industry and the DA are ready to play a meaningful role to save and rebuild the Defence Force.
The question is whether you are prepared to accept our offers. I thank you.
Mr W T I MAFANYA: Chairperson, the Minister, Deputy Minister, colleagues in the portfolio committee, members of the public.
We reject Budget Vote 23 and 26 on Defence and Military Veterans.
Once serious nations of the world are resourcing their Defence Force with sufficient personnel, training on the latest technological developments, ensuring that the needs of both active and retired veterans are taken care of, this country is moving towards the opposite direction.
It was 2015 when the Defence Review was published, which identified a number of serious concerns with the SA National Defence Force, SANDF, and warned that without urgent intervention from the state our Defence Force would decline to an extend that they will not be able to defend the country when the need arises.
Today, seven years later, the Minister of Defence, the Secretary of Defence and the Chief of the SANDF are still talking about planning for and strategizing for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2015 Defence Review.
Today, Minister, you repeated the same recommendations of 2015 Defence Review. What were you doing all the time, Minister?
The level of decline of the Defence Force has surely gotten worse over the years.
A couple of months back, Armaments Corporation of SA, Armscor came to our portfolio committee and reported that out of 270 aircrafts that the SA Air Force has, only 46 are serviceable. And many of the maintenance contracts that the Air Force has have expired or were due to expire.
At the time, they reported that even the maintenance of the Presidential Wing Business Jet was guaranteed beyond the Defence March of this year.
This is not a sign of a department that knows what it is doing and serious about the capacity of defence to defend the country and its people.
Linked to this is the unmitigated and shameful destruction of Denel by the ANC. the last time Denel made any profit was in 2016 and the decline over the years has been systematic and difficult to watch. Apart from the impact this has had on the livelihoods of many people employed by Denel, who have lost their houses and had their kids expelled from school. The decline of Denel is a serious threat to the nation and those presiding over this collapsed are crizinous criminals.
Chairperson, in this very budget the department foresees that there will be irregular expenditure of about R3,3 billion of personnel spending. They also indicate that there will be a balloon of cost for employee benefits from just about
R170 million to over a billion for this financial year.
This ballooning of costs is unexplained and it is difficult to comprehend. While all this is happening our borders remain porous and incumbent transit areas for organized crime.
Hijacked cars, poaching of rhinos and products of nature are enabled by dysfunctionality of the SANDF.
Last year the President deployed the SANDF to beat up hungry people who were protesting in KwaZulu-Natal. By doing this, the President abuses the powers as the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces and use the Defence Force to quedle fires that were stoked by internal factional problems in his party.
The sight of our Defence Force is ... [Inaudible.] ... food from people, food that was to be later be destroyed, has to be the lowest point in the history of this country’s armed forces.
This is not the first time the armed forces have been used in this way. A few years ago the President deployed soldiers to fight crime in Cape Town. This deployment was not guided by any intelligence work and the soldiers merely loitered around Cape Town and their deployment had no impact of any kind.
Today the violence in Cape Town has escalated and there are mass shootings almost every weekend.
We need a professional armed force that can defend the country at all times. We need to properly remunerate soldiers and military veterans. We need to maintain and renew our military resources, from the aircrafts to the most of the basic of weapons. We need to get Denel and Armscor working again for the benefit of this and future generations.
You have failed the country, Minister. We reject this budget. Thank you.
Mr N SINGH: Greetings, hon Minister. As I indicated, hon Cebekhulu is having some difficulties and I’ll proceed to comment on some of the remarks that he has made and add a few of mine if I have time.
The SA National Defence Force remains a shadow of its former selves. All but crippled due to years of budget austerity measures and the loss of professional career military personnel.
The SANDF’s defence readiness in respect of both human and
logistical capacity is anything but combat ready and mandate
appropriate. The Minister referred to this herself in her introductory remarks.
The morale remains low, which is not assisted by issues relating to career progression, food scarcity and quality for troops, as well as below standard maintenance and upkeep of military bases and equipment in general. In some, our National Defence Force is, in many instances, unable to meet its mandate to the people of South Africa, to the region and to the continent.
The questions we must ask ourselves are: Can the SANDF defend us against aggression that endangers the stability of the country? Can the SANDF provide for the internal and external deployment of military forces to enhance security and support of decisions by the executive? And can our Defence Force provide support for South Africa’s population or other government departments in operations and activities other than war by using collateral unity?
Chairperson, in many instances the answer to these questions is ‘No’. For example, the multiple safe driving failure to our borders by the SANDF through its Operation Corona, has led us
to a potential internal disaster through an influx of undocumented foreign migrants. It may very well end with largescale acts of xenophobic violence being committed again against foreign nationals, both legal and illegal, as job scarcity continues to grow.
In addition, we must take cognisance of the illicit trafficking of vehicles, narcotics, weapons and other illegal goods that are being permitted to floe in and out of our country. If left unchecked, this situation will only compound and bring even more pain and suffering. Therefore, immediate and capable military intervention, assisted by military intelligence, must be prioritized by the SANDF.
Soldiers and civilians that are found to be complicit with criminals in such trafficking must be arrested and fully prosecuted.
Chairperson, I took note of what the portfolio committee Chairperson indicated about the fact that there is need for 22 Units and only 15 Sub-Units are being used. And an application has been made to Treasury for additional funding.
I think Treasury must take the Defence of this country very, very seriously, hon Chairperson and Minister. There’s a saying about the swings and the roundabouts. What you lose on the swings, you win on the roundabouts. And Treasury must begin to realize that it’s not a question of mathematics and figures, but look at the billions or rands that are being lost in taxes through the illegal importation and entry of cigarettes to our borders. Look at the question of rhino poaching, 106 rhinos have been killed recently and we find that it costs us millions of rands to provide security. And then if you look at the question of vehicles that are going through our borders, how much of taxes are we losing in that regard?
I think Parliament has the responsibility, hon Chair, because we have the opportunity to amend budgets, the Act provides for that. and I think we’ve got to be also firmer in supporting the Ministry to ensure that more money is allocated or that there’s money allocated from one department to another so that the Defence of this country can be assured.
In respect of the SANDF military personnel employed to Mozambique last year as part of the Southern African Development Communities, SADC, continuing mission in
Mozambique; particularly the joint trending of military intervention and assistance to Mozambique in its Northern Capo Delgado province where Islamic state connected insurgence remain. We have received many reports of the challenges our military personnel face. This, especially with regard to the availability of spare parts to repair damaged vehicles, machinery and communications equipment.
Our military veterans continue to be treated as an afterthought sometimes by this department and are not well- taken care of. Healthcare is substandard or not available. Housing is dilapidated and in a serious state of disrepair and dependents are not being cared for. This, in part, is why we see such low morale in our current serving force members. This situation is unacceptable.
However, having said that, subject to the very serious concerns we have, in the interest of our servicemen and women and military veterans, the IFP will support this budget. Thank you, Chairperson.
Dr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Chair, with my limited time I specifically want to refer to the military veterans in the SA
National Defence Force. We know that there’s a specific Act,
the Military Veterans Act of 2011.
Chair, I want to use this opportunity to remind everyone that we must understand that all members of Defence Forces before and after 1994 qualify for a military veteran. And I want to quote from the Act on the definition of a military veteran. It says quite clearly:
Military veteran means any South African who (a) rendered military service to any of the military organizations, statutory and non-statutory, which were involved on all sides of South Africa’s liberation war from 1960 to 1994,
(b) served in the Union Defence Force before 1961 or (c) became a member of the new SA National Defence Force after 1994 and has completed his/her military training and no longer performs military service and has not being dishonourably discharged from that military organization or force. Provided that this definition does not exclude any person referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) who could not complete his/her military training due to an injury sustained during military training or a disease contracted or associated with military training.
Hon Chair, there is a tendency that people and specific conscripts before 1994 that they do not qualify as military veterans, that is just not true. And I also want specifically to refer to the Cape Coloured Unit before 1994.
Chair, I am ... can I say, flooded with requests from military veterans who qualify in terms of the definition of a military veteran. But, yes, I know there are certain preconditions, for instance, they have to register on a register and that there is a specific criteria, depending on your income and other issues like, for instance, whether you still receive a salary or not. But, Chairperson, there are many military veterans from the SA Defence Force, the previous Defence Force before 1994, who do qualify for military veterans, but in terms of administration everything is done to frustrate them not to receive the benefits that are meant for them. And I appeal to the hon Minister, even if it necessary, to have an external order on the names on the register, people who applied and who wanted to register and they just don’t get satisfaction to get register to ensure that those people who qualify that they get the benefits. And there are numerous benefits, housing, medical, salaries, even assistance to start a business. That
Act was meant for soldiers who serves the country. It doesn’t
matter on which side they were; they have the right.
Chairperson, I also want to refer the hon Minister ... referred to the bloating of the SA National Defence Force. I agree with her. If you look at the figures we see that there are more than 400 Generals and when it comes to the spear end, the combat section of the Defence Force, there are only 97 Generals. So, more than 300 Generals are in the SA National Defence Force and I want to support the hon Minister when she said that we will have to look into that matter and ensure that the SA National Defence Force is not a department for those who want retirement and specifically, from uMkhonto weSizwe. I thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS: Hon
House Chairperson, thank you very much for the opportunity. It is indeed a good inspiration to come in immediately after hon Groenewald who has commented extensively on matters affecting military veterans. The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Minister Thandi Modise; hon members of Parliamentary’ Oversight Committees, distinguished guests from all institutions and enterprises of our military
establishment, the Department of Defence and Military Veterans continues to make significant advances against the huge backlog it commenced its mandate with.
The political support of the President through the Presidential Task Team as led by the Deputy President was a significant intervention in this regard. During the year in review the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, registered important success by installing information and communication technologies, ICT, systems assisted by State Information Technology Agency, Sita, which will enable the automation of Department of Defence and Military Veterans’ business processes. What remains to be done is for employees in the different areas of the department’s management to be trained in these technologies. The department will now strive to migrate the administration of all benefits and services onto this integrated data management system.
Furthermore, the department is already implementing its own systems in the corporate services and financial administration sections such as the basic accounting system, Bas, and the personal salary system, Persal. What remains outstanding is the installation of the logical information system, Logis, the
as the department endeavors to fulfil the requirements of being a standalone vote, which it now enjoys. The
R133,3 million allocated to Program 1 administration, will among others be utilised to realise the above plans.
Related to these strategic enablers is the pleasing development that the Presidential Task Team has successfully re-established the verification process of military veterans to relieve the frustration of many members due to their inability to access the Defence and Military Veterans support because they are not on the database. In spite of the teething problems encountered, the verification team has made tremendous progress. In the interest of advancing administrative justice, the Presidential Task Team has elected to establish an appeals committee of the verification panel, in order to provide recourse to applicants who may not be satisfied with the rulings of the verification panel.
The Ministry wishes to appeal to all military veterans to lend their support to this work in order for government to ensure that their resources are not abused by those who are intent on defrauding government resources meant for military veterans.
The verification process has also thrown up the urgent need to attend to the call by members of former self-defense units to be verified and for a credible database of their members to be created. This will necessarily include a determination of the support policy tailored to their needs. It is a matter which our parliamentarians will be expected to deal with expeditiously in order to vanquish fears and anxieties among these patriots.
Early in this financial year steps were taken by the Department of Defence and Military Veterans to address noncompliance to protect the department against corruption, fraud, and maladministration resulting in the suspension of a significant number of the department’s senior managers. This intervention had the unintended consequence of reducing the managerial capacity of the department for the greater part of the past financial year as the departmental hearings of these cases were not prosecuted expeditiously within the stipulated timelines. This matter is receiving close attention.
After a considerable wait, supporting structures to the Department of Defence and Military Veterans mandate are being renewed following the disruption occasioned by the COVID-19
pandemic to processes and procedures governing their renewal. A new Military Veterans’ Advisory Council has been re- established and its inaugural meeting took place three weeks ago. The process to reconstitute the Military Veterans’ Appeals Board has commenced. The invitation for submissions has been published.
Hon House Chair, it gives me pleasure to report that the responsibility of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans to facilitate the unification conference of the uMkhonto weSizwe, MK, former members’ community has been successfully achieved, bringing us closer to the convening of the long awaited renewal of the mandate of the military veterans’ umbrella body SA National Military Veterans Association, SANMVA. The existence of strong, united, well managed, representative, transparent and accountable military veteran’s associations is vital and complimentary to the realisation of the mandate of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans.
The Presidential Task Team through the work streams and provincial visits, is spearheading the collaboration of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans and provinces in
enhancing services to military veterans. As it was to be expected, the beginning of the process proved to be difficult as officials proceeded to grind the sausage, so to speak.
Nonetheless, the commitment to find solutions is showing signs of improvement. In the fullness of these interactions it is reasonable to expect that the plans we have tabled may need to be reworked as we work on them. Firm service level agreements, SLAs, with the provinces around housing, health, education and jobs are bound to lead to a need to revise the projected targets of our tabled plans.
A major pressure point in the needs of military veterans, including those who have received houses but are not working, is the absence of incomes. I had hon Singh saying earlier on that we have a problem of military veterans who are living in dilapidated houses. That is an inaccurate presentation of the problem. There are no military veterans who are living in dilapidated houses. Military veterans is either they have houses or they do not have houses. The problem we have is of military veterans who do not have houses not that they are living in dilapidated houses. This still leaves many of them who are unable to find jobs destitute. It is with a sense of relief, as the Minister indicated earlier on, that work around
the introduction of the military veterans’ pension, provided for in the Military Veterans Act, Act number 18 of 2011, has been concluded under the guidance of the Presidential Task Team.
The administrative roll out of this pension and the legal agreements with government procurement agreement, GPA, is being finalised. The commencement date will be announced as the Minister has communicated. This pension will bring the desired relief to military veterans who were not gainfully employed during their service in the liberation armies and who de-mobbed without pensions. These will however exclude those military veterans from none statutory forces, NSF, who are recipients of the special pension, unless the amount of the special pension an individual receives is below the soon to be introduced military veterans’ pension. In the invent a military veteran receives a special pension that is below the military pension, he or she will be entitled to apply for the difference.
The founding principle of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans has always been that military veterans are not invites. Military veterans are citizens with talents and
who possess skills which unfortunately they can no longer employ for their own livelihoods. Therefore, the primary obligation the state has is to reskill military veterans. However, there is a need for us to appreciate that South Africa’s freedom fighters against apartheid are in the majority citizens who no longer fall within the economically active population. Emphasis on the training of military veterans must always be based on a diligent enquiry into the appropriateness of the intervention and the existence of such a need. To overlook this reality may lead to wasteful and fruitless expenditure.
Program 3 demands of us to improve planning to minimise arbitrariness of pursuits around training and irregular expenditure. There are two important strategic imperatives the Department of Defence and Military Veterans cannot change its output without diligently addressing them. These are the amendments to the Act and the restructuring of the department. These two challenges shall be addressed urgently. The schedule of the processes of the Amendment Bill was revised ... [Time expired.] ... Thank you very much.
Mr B H HOLOMISA: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister and hon members, events of the recent past indicate that the SA National Defence Force, SANDFs mandate or focus from protecting us from foreign aggression has somewhat shifted. Looking at some of the SANDFs interactions with the public during their deployment in Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, it is clear that our service men and women are not properly trained to deal with civilians, or would not be able to deal with the public should there be a civil uprising in future.
The issue of proper equipment in such situations is of concern. That is, was it necessary to deploy tanks in built-up areas during the July 21 mayhem? It would be better if purpose built vehicles were available. Tardiness in deploying is another worry. During the KwaZulu-Natal floods, it took far too long to see activity. The lack of state of readiness creates questions and anxiety among the citizenry.
The fact that the state intelligence has lost the initiative is of great concern. To further muddle matters, the state security machinery is heavily involved in the politics of the ruling party. The fact that our intelligence bodies are
failing to identify the saboteurs of Eskom and railways, as well as the discovery of illegal mining is affecting our country’s investment potential. But the question is, do we have officers with enough training and experience that could turn the situation around?
[Inaudible] ...has signed several bilateral agreements since 1994, where other countries have agreed to assist with the training of our conventional warfare. They could be appointed or rather approached, to help us to efficiently and professionally handle this phenomenon of crisis on home soil.
Finally, hon Minister, I would urge you as a new Minister to fight for the allocation of proper budget. Complaints over insufficient equipment are rife. For instance, the simplest thing like uniforms, and being transported to violent operations in buses, this is bad for morale.
IsiXhosa:
IPalamente yona mayijonge nje ukuba amajoni awaphindi asetyenziwe ekucimeni imililo ngenxa yeengxabano zombutho ophetheyo.
English:
Thank you.
KGOSHIHADI M R M MOTHAPO: Hon Chairperson, hon members, fellow South Africans, the SA National Defence Force derives its mandate from Chapter 11 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa which says, open quote:
The primary object of the defence force is to defend and protect the Republic, its territorial integrity and its people in accordance with the Constitution and the principles of international law regulating the use of force.
The powers to protect the borders from any threats of invasion and to ensure that sovereignty continues uninterrupted. The SANDF further protects the nation and contributes to the maintenance of peace in the African Continent. Hon Chair, the SANDF further has the responsibility to protect the political independence of the Republic and have a meaningful role to play in the regional security, and contribute to keeping peacekeeping missions in the Southern African Development Community, SADC. Operation Vikela is one of the operation of
the SANDF in Cabo Delgado with other SADC countries in attempting to keep peace in Mozambique.
Hon Chair, the peacekeeping missions in the region play a vital role in containing any possibility of instability expanding. The Trioka has recently made observations that the criminal activities in the borders, have become very sophisticated and require a security update to combat these illegal activities in the borders, that seeks to threaten the stability of the Republic. The network of crime has grown in the rich and sophistication across national boundaries. They include the syndicates that deal with money laundering, human trafficking and drug smuggling from different countries.
Hon Chair, the political instability in Mozambique and the invasion by terrorists this group posed a threat to the stability of the whole region. It is for this reason, that the budget must be able to cater for both internal and external operation of the SA National Defence Force, as part of peace and stability. It is for this reason Chair, that in the medium term there is a R3,5 billion set aside to maintain these external missions.
Chair, we have witnessed the trend for a while now that there is a consistency in the decline of the budget, both internal and the external missions of the SANDF are never ... [Inaudible] The Operation Vikela in Mozambique and Operation Prosper in the July 2021 unrest, were never planned norforeseeable.
Lastly, the Operation Chariot in KwaZulu-Natal to provide support if the disaster management also was never planned nor foreseeable. However, the intervention of SANDF is an emergency, and the last few years has taught us that we must generally be prepared and ready for unexpected events.
However, the department remains committed to the protection of territorial integrity and the South African people.
The ANC is committed to creating a better Africa, with the relevant stakeholders to fight against the escalation of terrorism on the African Continent. As members of SADC and the African Union, it is of paramount importance.
Hon Chair, as there are two structures that continue to be involved in peacekeeping, and maintaining stability in the whole African Continent, there is a trend of a general
reduction in the expenditure in different departments. We welcome on Budget Vote 23 and once again, we strongly recommend that there be normal reduction in the SA National Defence Force budget, because it compromises the work of the SA National Defence Force. In the meantime, the department continues to work with the available funds at its disposal to ensure that, it is able to get the job done with the available budget.
Hon Chair, in conclusion, we note the responsibilities of the SA National Defence Force that continuously expand each year, yet the budget gets to decline and we ask that this inversely proportional relationship between the budget and responsibility must come to an end, to ensure that the department can fulfil the mandate and as per the statute fully.
It is worth noting Chair that, irrespective of the budget reduction, the department has continued to perform the duties, which is to protect the borders against any illegal invasion, that might pose threat to our sovereignty. Thank you Chair.
Mr S M JAFTA: House Chairperson, while this budget ... [Inaudible.] ... work of at least ... [Inaudible.] ... the Police Ministry which is charged with crime intelligence function and the intelligence portfolio in the Presidency which is responsible for co-ordinating government work to promote national sovereignty and fight traps to national stability, the Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans ultimately has the final responsibility to steer the ship.
To recap the work of this department is improvised by its shared responsibility mandate with the unforced Ministries. Despite all these, it has progressively failed to promote, firstly; national sovereignty which was undermined by the landing of private air jets at the Waterkloof Military Base. Secondly, support the work of the police during the July unrest in KwaZulu-Natal. Thirdly, fight security breaches such as the illegal invasion of South African borders by illegal immigrants and criminals.
The significant reduction in defence allocation is therefore consistent with the declining work of this Ministry. The plight of military veterans demonstrates the extent to which this department has reached rock bottom. It is not a secret
that out of desperation, many of them resort to high level of criminal activities. Their desperation may therefore pose national security threat if not responded to on time.
The only consideration or extended budget we argue, is when the department advances its ... [Inaudible.] ... and modernises its defence and military fleet. With the challenging task of safeguarding national security and sovereignty, we cannot conclude this debate without praising the work of men and women in the Defence Force who under risky conditions are stationed in foreign settings to promote international peace and security. We will therefore, support this budget. I thank you.
Dr M BASOPU: House Chairperson, hon Minister, hon members, the ANC acknowledges the global economic crisis and the implications therefore that it has on everyone in our society. As the ANC upfront, we support the Budget Vote. However, we want to make it clear that constant reduction in the budget of the department continues to affect service delivery by the department.
The Department of Military Veterans Act provides benefits for the ex-combatants as a token of appreciation for the contribution and sacrifices they have made to ensure that South Africa attain the democratic society that we are living in today. But unfortunately, the majority of people here who are talking a lot and attacking the ANC, and for that matter, most of them were the oppressors, we were not part of these processes, but today, they have cast to attack us as the ANC. That is not accepted, Chairperson.
The appreciation of work done by the military veterans in fighting for liberation seeks to address the historically injustices and structural inequalities created by the previous regime. This will bring national unity and social cohesion to our society. A primary objective of the Department of Military Veterans is to provide national policy and standards on socio economic support for military veterans and their dependants.
As well as policies and standards on heritage and empowerment programmes, including those that contribute to national ... [Inaudible.] ... and reconciliation.
A major budget of the department of 57,10% went to Programme 2 of socio and ex-combatants support and there is an increase
compared to the previous allocation which was 50,26%. This is the largest share of the budget because it speaks directly to the benefits of the military veterans. These benefits include housing allocation -which has been very slow in terms of delivery - education pension, etc. All these benefits require money for them to be implemented and the budget reduction has a direct impact on the implementation challenges. Thus witnessed military veterans even protesting to prove their unhappiness.
We welcome the slight increase in the budget of military veterans. The department is committed to delivery of 1 315 houses in the medium term of military veterans in trying to implement the mandate of providing shelter for the military veterans. A budget allocation for Vote 23 will play a significant role in the implementation of the priorities of the department. This will therefore change the wish list of the benefits of military veterans to be a reality. The allocation budget of the Department of Military Veterans will ensure the performance on all programmes and not leave any programme behind. This will be done by making sure that all the valid programmes get their allocation and continue with the work that needs to do with the available budget.
The medium term will provide the department with an opportunity to creatively evolve and harness the skill development programme. The aim of this will be to ensure that military veterans can be self-sustainable by empowering them with certain skills like plumbing. This will be done through joined programmes with different stakeholders including some institutions of higher learning and TVET colleagues. This is a project that will equip both military veterans and their dependants and encourage them to join the government project of creating employment and business opportunities.
The department allocated about R468,9 million with the plan to access to relevant training for about 3 000 military veterans. This is part of ensuring that there is sustainable development where military veterans can make means for living without being fully dependant on the government funding only. The department is committed in ensuring that the beneficiaries receives several bursaries for both military veterans and their dependants and the allocation of these benefits is within the socio-economic support programme which is an allocated budget of R1,1 billion over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF period. This is one of the benefits of Military Veterans Act and with the Budget Vote of
department, we will be able to ensure there is implementation of this commitment.
The Department of Military Veterans has the responsibility to bring stability to the department and ensure that vacancies in the department are close. This will ensure that the operations in the department are running smoothly and services are given to the relevant beneficiaries. These issues of instability in the military department cannot be overstressed anymore and there is now a need to stabilise the department for service delivery.
In conclusion, the ANC is concerned with the history of underspending in the department while the services are not reaching the people who are intended for, who are the military veterans. The department must be incapacitated to be responsive to the challenges faced by the military veterans.
The ANC notes with concern the matter of the department having constant unspent funds. We wish to implore the department to ensure spending of funds and assisting military veterans in identifying the areas of focus in suspending the allocated funds and bring more human resource to ensure that there is work done in the department. Once again, as the ANC, we
support the Budget Vote. Thank you very much, Chair and hon members.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Thank you very much, hon House Chairperson, South Africa has a long way to go to show appreciation with the sacrifices made by our Military Veterans from all liberatory political formations. We must learn from practices from other nations, who celebrate and appreciate those, who value the liberations of the country so much that that they offer to pay the highest sacrifice anyone can make for their country, their lives. All those who served in the apartheid Defence Force cannot be Military Veterans and must be considered to be honourably discharged.
I know that CODESA made concessions but these concessions fall away as whites hold on to the economy and your official oppositions opposes black economic empowerment advancement in terms of the BEE codes and AfriForum wants business as usual for whites. Hon House Chair, the Defence Force is an employer and Parliament should increase its oversight to make sure that the Defence Force employs best practices when it comes to the employees, especially in the area of housing. The Defence
Force is back up when the country has a crisis, we saw this with COVID, the July lootings and the floods.
Women are now today kidnapped all over South Africa and to rescue women must be a core function of the Defence Force and a defence law must be put in place a standby force to be deployed when needed. Shireen Essop aged 72 was kidnapped in Cape Town, yesterday, like the daughter of a prominent EFF member not long ago her father complained that South Africans are silent about kidnappers. Why is our own Defence Force silent? Does their silence help kill more women and it results in more kidnappings? Al Jamaah feels the pain of the EFF and the family of Shireen Essop. It cannot be that to find her must only be the responsibility of the police. When it comes to the kidnapping of women and gender-based violence, all the resources of the country must be used to protect women, including the Defence Force. Nigeria uses their defence force when women and girls are kidnapped. The EFF last week march in Mthatha, but kidnappings of women continue. South Africa will go down as a failed state if the kidnapping of women continues.
We heard from hon Maree that we have 300 generals that are not combatants. They can gainfully be used to address this particular problem. One cannot have resources confined to barracks and offices when there is a war of women in a form of kidnappings. The Commander-in-Chief President Ramaphosa must make a call that Shireen Essop must be found now and that our Intelligence Forces must prevent women from being kidnapped.
This is the ... [Inaudible.] it could be done to show that the Commander-in-Chief is there for women even in Cape Town ... [Time expired.]
Mr M L SHELEMBE: Chairperson, the Democratic Alliance notes the allocation of R666,4 million to the Department of Military Veterans, DMV, for 2022-2023. The DMV derives its mandate from the Military Veterans Act No 18 of 2011 which requires the department to provide national policy and standard on socioeconomic support to the Military Veterans and their dependants, including benefits and entitlements to help realise a dignified, unified and self-sufficient community of military veterans.
Since 2011 the DMV under the ANC government has still not finalised the policies in order to implement the above
mentioned mandate. The fact that the policies on transport compensation and pension have still not been finalised is an indictment to the Department of Military Veterans, including the Minister and the President, given that the Act has been in place for more than 10 years. This alone means the ANC is guilty of gross negligence and the ANC must voluntarily step aside and hand over the government to the DA in order to get things done.
The Military Veterans Act Benefit Regulations published in the government gazette on 19 February 2014, stipulates clearly that the DMV must within 30 working days from the date of application for a benefit, notify the applicant in writing of the outcome of the application and the notification must be hand delivered or sent by prepared registered post to the applicant.
Mr Corwynn Christopher who is a Military Veteran - force number 8063118 - and whose wife applied for medical assistance on 27 August 2019, has yet to receive a notification informing her of outcome of her application. This is totally unacceptable. It has taken almost two years with no update on the outcome of her application, which clearly demonstrates a
failing state under the ANC and the complete undermining of military veterans, who risked their lives, suffered psychological trauma and injuries whilst protecting our country and its citizen. The failing ANC must please step aside.
Chairperson, it is disappointing that on 14 May 2022 in North West province the Deputy President David Mabuza, who leads the Presidential Task Team told the military veterans that I quote, “We are excited that finally the obstacles that were preventing us from dispensing the necessary services to the military veterans have been overcome.” This is misleading, given that the military veterans pension policy still needs to be formally adopted. The Publication and Amendment of the Military Veterans Benefits Regulations to make provision for regulations on pension has still to be done and the allocation of funds for the purpose of military veterans pension payments had not been shown on the Annual Performance Plan for 2022- 2023. Military veterans are struggling under your watch, Minister. They are starving and homeless.
The allocation for socioeconomic support management and subprogrammes under which pension management falls, increased
from R196,1 million in 2021-2022 to R230,7 million in 2022- 2023. Over the medium-term the allocation of such programme remains stable which means no additional funds for payment of pensions have been made. So, for the Deputy President to say the DMV is ready to roll out pension and other benefits is misleading.
The Auditor-General, AG, has on numerous occasions raised concerns regarding the vacant critical positions under the DMV. These positions include the Deputy Director-General under socioeconomic support which has the responsibility to implement the rolling out of pension benefits of our military Veterans, but no action has been taken to implement the recommendation of the AG. In the third quarter of 2021-2022 the Department of the Military Veterans had only spent 48% of its allocation budget which is a demonstration of poor performance by the DMV under the ANC government. It is but one of the reasons why the ANC poverty Cabinet must voluntarily step aside before is too late ... [Time expired.].
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON (Mr M G Mahlaule): Hon members, I am informed that hon Mothapo left two minutes of her time that
was allocated to her and she would want to donate it to hon Mmutle. Hon Mmutle will have 11 minutes.
Mr T N MMUTLE: Thank you very much, Chair and good day to all the members, I will start up front by indicating that the ANC welcome and support the Budget Vote 23 and 26 with the understanding that our National Defence Force is impacted negatively by the enormous pressure on the fiscus that least to the defence budgetary constraints.
Hon Chair, I want to also quote Benjamin Franklin who said, and I quote: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” And a scenario of the Nigerian government with relation to how it treated the military is relevant in this case. The Nigerian government has over years not prioritised its military budget which later over the years resulted in a situation where soldiers could not fight the enemy. It was not because of lack of bravery from those soldiers but because of lack of weapons. And therefore, as the ANC, we would not go that route.
But even before I proceed I want to address one key important issue raised by the DA. To the hypocrite DA, through hon Mary
and hon Shilembe, we thought you agree with us on the nonpartisan approach on matters of the defence and clearly you have proven yet again that your bosses do not agree with you on the approach that we agreed upon.
It is unfortunate that your party position expects you to divorce progressive undertaking by the portfolio committee and the joint standing committee on the approach that you are supposed to deal with matters of the defence. You are forgiven for that because you understand your organisation does that against your will. And they do so because of lack of knowledge and probably they enforce those speeches against your will.
We both know that the Defence Force is willing to execute its mandate under the constraint physical challenges and we commend them for their honorary believe and execution of the mandate despite the challenges that they face.
The EFF has once again proven again that Frantz Fanon was correct when he said: “Zombies, believe me, are more terrifying than colonists.” Hence the poster taken by the EFF on this Budget Vote. Let me not waste my time on them and
articulate what the ANC is doing to ensure that we do not fail the SA African National Defence Force.
The ANC government will not fail by not preparing the SA National Defence Force to be able to execute its mandated. We are saying this with confident because for the first time in the history of the ANC, the upcoming Policy Conference will extensively discuss the state of the SA National Defence Force with its challenges that are well captured in the draft policy document and we have got hope that the collective wisdom of the comrades in the ANC will then rise and dissolve the challenges faced by the SA National Defence Force.
A stable defence industry directly speaks to the National Development Plan which speaks to the need of having South Africa contributing to the global scientific and technological advancement of the defence industry placed in a meaningful role in that regard.
The defence industry in South Africa has opportunities and benefits that can contribute to the economic development. Therefore, maintaining a capable Defence Industry is of immense value to the state both in military terms. In military
terms, what we mean is that, a local Defence Industry provide the country Defence Force with the capability to maintain, upgrade and replace weapon and equipment. The SA National Defence Force benefits from this capability contained in the expertise of more than 120 domestic defence industry companies with a white array capability. These companies are also important contributors to economic growth as well as research and innovation. For example, in 2021 the local defence industry exported ammunition in the value of R3,4 billion through 574 contract to 67 countries.
South Africa has a rich history of defence related innovation that contributes to nine military application. The Armaments Corporation of South Africa, Armscor, development of the ultrasonic broken railway data base on the submarine technology is a clear example of the benefit of the defence research and technology.
Despite its value SA Defence Industry has come under increasing pressure in recent years. The SA defence budget has continuously declined in recent years, yet, the SA Defence Force required task maintained the same and have even increase recently.
Due to limited SA National Defence Force spending within the local defence industry, the industry is highly relied on export to maintain itself. South Africa ensures that such exports are aligned with the international requirement through the work of the national conventional Arm Control Committee.
Recent engagement between the committee and the defence industry including the intervention by Parliament have paved the way for more deficient export applications.
The introduction of the digital application system for the industry is an example of this programme. However, the local defence industry requires better support and strategic direction from the Department of Defence. If there is properly costed long-term procurement plan for weapon system from the SA National Defence Force, it will allow the local defence industry to plan accordingly. It is therefore, encouraging to see the recent development of the Aerospace and Defence Master Plan but agent implementation and effective planning around the Department of Defence project will be required.
Parliament will play a key role in overseeing progress in this regard because without intervention and proper planning South
Africa stand to lose important strategic defence capabilities in the defence industry.
The role of Armscor and Denel in the SA Defence industry remains critical to the Department of Defence. Armscor has the upper acquisition agent of the Department of Defence is a critical role player in ensuring effective arms acquisition for the military. Armscor procurement skills were demonstrated through, for example, the successful progress in project Biro which the Minister made mentioned off with the first three new Inshore Patrol Vessels delivery to the SA Navy on 18 which is last week.
Armscor also manages a number of highly technical research and development facilities such as project laboratories that work on chemical and biological defence as well as Armscor Digi-Key that operates the Naval Digi-Key at the SA Navy. However, Armscor is functioning under increasing pressure due to the limited defence spending on procurement of weapons system and investment in the defence research.
The current discussion around Armscor and the broader industry in South Africa is however dominated by the decline of Denel.
Denel offered immense strategic defence capability to South Africa being able to develop a complex land vehicle, missiles, areal platform and aircraft.
With the loss of a high number of skill personnel coupled with saviour financial constrain a significant proportion of this capability has been lost. This is visible in, for example, the project Hoefyster that required Denel to build a new fleet for of inventory fighting vehicle for the SA National Defence Force. The project is more than five years behind schedule and its feasibility is increasingly in doubt.
As the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, we gave Armscor the Department of Defence and Denel until 21 July 2022 to report back on the final decision on the project. Nevertheless, project Hoefyter highlight that what South Africa will lose in terms of defence capability without an entity like Denel.
Therefore, it is uncombed upon all of us to join hands and ensure that we save Denel. It does not matter where Denel is located. The ANC has long taken a resolution that Denel must be relocated to the Department of Defence and we can’t wait
for it to come back to the Department of Defence in a hasty state because it does not make any different. If Denel is going to be bailed out by the same Treasury that is being led by the ANC, it might as well with that while Denel is well located under the Department of Defence.
What is clearly needed is an urgent decision on the way forward for Denel. The decision must take into account the strategic military requirements of the SA National Defence Force. Without an urgent decision South Africa may permanently lose the strategic military advantage that comes with the technology advancement offered by the defiance industries.
Armscor as an entity, it is increasingly reliant on funding from commercial ventures to boost its incomes. Given the special skill that Armco maintain, it is essential but the broader public and the private sector should be made aware of the skills possess and services and new opportunities for Armscor to be secured to ensure its sustainability ... [Inaudible.] ... Thank you very much, we support the budget.
The MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS: Chairperson, I
wish I had time to respond to all the members, I thank you for
those who are supporting the budget. If I could, I would have said myself that I reject the budget because it is not adequate, but there is a defence force that must function; that must still do all the things that it aims to do, and therefore every sector that is allocated inadequately as it is, it’s welcomed to us.
I want to start off by responding to Ntate Groenewald. We have been together as the portfolio committee and joint standing committee members, and we were together when they passed the Military Veterans Act. You do know exactly why that Act was brought to Parliament and why we passed it. To be exact, the Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda, and Ciskei, TBVC, and the Southern African Development Community, SADC, members belongs to what was then known as the statutory forces, which means they had regular incomes, leave, recognition payments. The Azanian People’s Liberation Army, Apla, uMkhonto weSizwe, MK, and ... [Inaudible.] ... members were people who had volunteered at nothing. So, these people who came in from the so-called statutory forces came in with their pay slips and came in with their pay packages and contributed, and we hope that they had been contributing to pension fund, which means at the time when they retire, they had something built up for
them. Those who came from the three nonstatutory arms that integrated at therefore largely we must say that that Act, hon Groenewald, was supposed to do something about those who retired and were given 20 000 and 28 000 to start a home and to start a whole life.
So, we hear what you are saying but by the same token, in the SA National Defence Force, SANDF, element, we must also remember there were Cape Coloured Cops, who when they retired, some of them had not integrated but had also not gotten anything. Those we have very serious rapport with, and we will listen to. Any military veteran in South Africa must be treated with respect and that is why we are hurrying up to make sure that the transport, pensions, education, extension to the family is done in terms of the law and is adequate to cover the dignity and for the sacrifices given for this country.
Hon Maree and hon Shelembe, I don’t know what you think. You know, the hon Maree says that we shouldn’t tell them about plans and looking good with what is happening in Defence, go back to 2015. 09:51 You are saying that we should ditch military hospitals and put them in that department of health.
What for? That was not in the 2015 Defence Review. So, you want to chop and change and you want to bring things, but you do not want us to take time to go back to 2015 and see what can ... [Inaudible.] ... and therefore it cannot have a party political stance and we have spoken to or on behalf of you Mr Maree. I am also one of those who has been lucky.
I remember that I spend a lot of time in the legislative sector, and when I was there - believe you me – I jealously guarded the overreach from the executive into the legislative sector. I will guard the same jealously, that the legislative sector must overreach into the executive. Because if you give me an ultimatum in turn, if you don’t do this I am going to that. Even before we have the time to say to you that we are looking at this and we are checking whether it is workable or not, I am afraid that then I must really invite you to take me to court because I am not going to allow the Department of Defence and Military Veterans to get into any instruction issued by the portfolio committee or the joint standing committee without proper planning and without looking at the resources and preparations and make sure that there is value for money in whatever they do. I welcome all the positive
things, and I say thank you very much for those who support the budget.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON (Mr M G Mahlaule): Thank you very much, hon Minister. Hon members, you are reminded that the debate on Public Works and Infrastructure Budget Vote, National Treasury, which is State Security Budget Vote, and Home Affairs Budget Vote will take place at 14:00 on the virtual platform. That concludes the debate and the business of this virtual mini-plenary session.
Debate concluded
The Mini Plenary rose at 12:02
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