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The flight in issue did not depart South Africa for the burial of Queen Elizabeth II in England in 2022. The trip was a Presidential flight from South Africa to Washington DC, USA via Las Palmas for the President to attend the official working visit to the United States of America at the invitation of President Joseph Biden from September 15th to September 17th, 2022.

The flight then departed from Washington DC on the 18th of September 2022, bound for London, United Kingdom for the President to attend the State Funeral and Burial of Queen Elizabeth II.

After the State Funeral, the aircraft left London bound for South Africa on the 19th of September 2022. The catering fee covers all legs flown by the aircraft.

It should be noted that the South African Airforce (SAAF) is invoiced and billed for all onboard catering needs and requirements for all legs flown by the aircraft and are covered by the catering price.

Furthermore, the London leg was scheduled on short notice, which contributed to price increases. External flight destinations charge all catering charges in foreign currency, which influences the pricing. It must be stated that the SAAF gets billed for catering even if the trip's destination changes.

a) NThe VIP’s on board was 13 and 8 crew members and names are kept at AFB Waterkloof Movement as per established procedures. Please see Table 1 attached with names of passengers onboard the Presidential Jet

B) Please see attached expenditure.

 

a)There is no law or policy that prohibits the South African Air Force from disclosing the names of persons traveling in a state aircraft, however names are withheld when it is deemed necessary due to the confidential nature of military operations. The passengers were as depicted in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Passengers onboard the Presidential BBJ

Rank	Surname and Initials
PRES	RAMAPHOSA M.C
COL	CHAKALE J.M
WO	MABUSELA L.D
DR	SELOMA P.S
MEDIC	DUMA S.M
MS	SINGNH R.
MS	GELEBA A.
MR	MAGWENYA V.
MR	MTHEMBU R.X
MS	NKOSI M.
MR	KOORNHOF G.W
MS	CAROLUS D.
MS	MAPETSHANA N.
MR	MMUTLE J.

2018

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CORPOflAlE PAYMENTS

Month	Amo1.1n1	Elich11nlN!R.l1C	RandValle
		R19J	8303801
futy2023	154S,32
Totat	1 S4S.l2•		IU038011

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Amount

Month	Amount	Exch.anH>Rate	Raind Val\le
			fl334 34•
An1112023	SlB270.U	R18,'l<
Mav2023	SJ00,00	IU9,72	s 91G,o
May2023	$137,00	R19,72	R2701,"
May2023	<-11111	Rl9,72	R3569,'3
June 2023 J· 2023	$38992. $71 329 7	R18,84 R17,87	R73•626,2 RI 274 662,91
Avirust 2023 AU&\l.St 2023	$277. S34756	.R,lll..BO	RS207
			R6S3413,9
"4Jgu.st-20?3 5eptember1023	$147,00 S:167""'2	R18 RlB 92	1\2163,, R316119,7
October 2023	s111a,	R186S	R20860,0
Octobt-t 2023	SS6852,8	R18,6S	R1060 306,
October 2023	s100,nr	Rl.8,65	Rl 865
Nowmb.-r >01:i	S.SJlliO: t	IU.S,11	IH 'rll'faii0,9
Nowmb(o, 20:H	5!00.00	IU8.l!I	Al819,n
Total	$.320630,6		R-44163565

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Total

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IIS38,00 R20.07

Total

S2073,9

Rl8248,ar

Total

4$3800

R91077,6

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The Department of Defence was invited to make a submission to the panel probing the docking of Lady R in Simon’s town in 2022. The Department of Defence and its entities presented and submitted their version of events and evidence to the panel investigating the docking of Lady R in Simon’s town in 2022.

All invited parties were welcomed to submit any forms of evidence to the panel to assist it to finilize its investigation and to bring this matter to its ultimate conclusion within its mandate. However as stated in previous public statements, No arms were loaded and transported to Russia.

Reply:

(1) On the 11th May 2023, US Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety convened a press conference and levelled allegations regarding weapons and ammunition being loaded onto US sanctioned Russian cargo vessel Lady R during the docking of Lady R in Simon’s Town in December 2022.

As stated in many previous public statements and I reiterate that nothing was loaded onto Lady R, but rather, Lady R was delivering equipment that was ordered by SANDF pre –Covid in 2018/19.

Due to the serious nature of these allegations, the extent of public interest and the negative implications for South Africa’s international standing, the President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa announced the establishment of an independent inquiry into the circumstance of the docking of Lady R in Simon’s Town.

Through this inquiry, Government seeks to investigate and establish all the facts that led to docking of Lady R in Simons Town.

The Department of Defence welcomed the President’s decision to institute the investigation as it would offer the department an opportunity to ventilate its side of the story with concrete evidence and to address any unwanted allegations.

It is therefore prudent that the panel be granted space and time to finilize its investigation and to bring this matter to its ultimate conclusion within its mandate.

(2) As stated in the response above, nothing was loaded onto Lady R and South Africa still remains neutral and non-align in the Russia- Ukraine conflict and still firmly believes in the view that multilateralism, dialogue and negotiations are the key to unlock sustainable international peace.

Reply:

(1) On the 11th May 2023, US Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety convened a press conference and levelled allegations regarding weapons and ammunition being loaded onto US sanctioned Russian cargo vessel Lady R during the docking of Lady R in Simon’s Town in December 2022.

As stated in many previous public statements and I reiterate that nothing was loaded onto Lady R, but rather, Lady R was delivering equipment that was ordered by SANDF pre –Covid in 2018/19.

Due to the serious nature of these allegations, the extent of public interest and the negative implications for South Africa’s international standing, the President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa announced the establishment of an independent inquiry into the circumstance of the docking of Lady R in Simon’s Town.

Through this inquiry, Government seeks to investigate and establish all the facts that led to docking of Lady R in Simons Town.

The Department of Defence welcomed the President’s decision to institute the investigation as it would offer the department an opportunity to ventilate its side of the story with concrete evidence and to address any unwanted allegations.

It is therefore prudent that the panel be granted space and time to finilize its investigation and to bring this matter to its ultimate conclusion within its mandate.

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(1) – (5) As stated in many previous public statements and I reiterate that nothing was loaded onto Lady R, but rather, Lady R was delivering equipment that was ordered by SANDF pre –Covid in 2018/19. When the pandemic struck it affected every aspect of our lives and things came to a standstill. Thus the delay delivery of the equipment. We want to reiterate that the order for such a delivery stands and that there was no export of anything from our entities through Lady R.

The President of the country and Commander in Chief of the South African National Defence Force, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed an independent panel under the chairmanship of Judge Mojapelo to conduct an inquiry into the Russian ship, Lady R.

Any disclosure could reasonably prejudice the investigation or may result in a contravention or possible contravention of the law, on conclusion of the inquiry which is about to commence or is in progress.
It is therefore prudent that the panel be granted space and time to finilize its investigation and to bring this matter to its ultimate conclusion within its mandate.

(T.R. MODISE)

MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS: MP

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The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is ready and able to protect the Republic against any international terror threat.

The continued decline in the budget has had an adverse effect on the department and SANDF capabilities over the MTEF. The constrained fiscal environment has forced the Department to look at prioritising all activities for optimising effectiveness and efficiency to all aspects of the defence organisation in the quest to achieve our Constitutional mandate and responsibility as prescribed in section 200 (2) of the Constitution, which is to defend and protect the Republic of South Africa, its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and its people in accordance with the constitution and the principles of international law regulating the use of force.

In my Defence budget vote of May 2023, I have noted that a revised Level of Defence Ambition and a revised Defence Strategic Trajectory must be developed to provide a realistic and sustainable future-orientated defence value-proposition, cognisant of current fiscal realities, that delivers against the constitutional mandate of Defence, South Africa’s national interests and Government’s priorities and risk-appetite.

Furthermore, work is also continuing on the five military priorities that were outlined in my 2022 Budget Speech which contribute to the readiness and ability of the SANDF to protect and defend the Republic:

• Priority 1: Promoting Nation Building through the pursuance of a common national identity coupled to values and ethics that reinforce such an identity.

• Priority 2: Safeguarding the Nation and building internal stability by strengthening the institutions of the State and growing the economy.

• Priority 3: Securing Regional Development by creating conditions conducive to regional security and stability as well as increased investment that drives regional growth and development through consumer economies.

• Priority 4: Enhancing Cyber Resilience through a focused strategy that enhances the resilience of critical digital infrastructure.

• Priority 5: Enhancing the Hard Power Capability of the SANDF through a small but core major combat capability that is relevant and ready to meet future conflict challenges.

It is vital to note that the SANDF has demonstrated numerous capabilities that it is ready, willing and able to respond to international, regional and internal threats. The SANDF has participated in various peacekeeping missions under the United Nations, African Union, and Southern African Development Community, showcasing its ability to work alongside other forces and contribute to regional security efforts. The SANDF has also conducted joint military exercises and training programs with international partners to enhance its readiness. While there are challenges, these efforts indicate a willingness to address security concerns and improve the SANDF's readiness against international terror threats. However, continued investment in funding, training, and equipment upgrades will be crucial to ensure the SANDF's ability to protect the Republic effectively.

Reply:

1) Airplanes have landed at the Air Force Base Waterkloof during the past five financial years. Please see the attached appendix detailing the authorised landings. The information is summarised as follows:

Year 2018/19 over the period 19 July 2018 to 28 March 2019

a. Countries/Institutions: BRICS countries, including Namibia, Angola, Rwanda, Zimbabwe Air Force, USA, Algeria, Botswana and Togo landed at AFB Waterkloof over the said period.

b. Reasons: Government to government, BRICS, MD2018 and SADC Summit.

Year 2019/20 over the period 02 October 2019 to 09 March 2020

a. Countries/Institutions: Nigeria, Germany, Kenya, Angola, Lybia and CAR landed at AFB Waterkloof.

b. Reasons: Government to government, Kenya Aviation engagement with SANDF, Defence Sub- Committee meetings and High Commission visit.

Year 2020/21 over the period 26 April 2020 to 19 March 2021

a. Countries/Institutions: Cuba, Angola Air Force, Botswana landed at AFB Waterkloof.
b. Reasons: Transporting Cuban doctors, transporting SADC goods, repatriation of human remains and government to government.

Year 2021/22 over the period 03 August 2021 to 11 March 2022

a. Countries/Institutions: Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Kenya landed at AFB Waterkloof.
b. Reasons: SAMIM deployment, SADC Summit and government to government.

Year 2022/23 over the period 18 April 2022 to 28 March 2023

a. Countries/Institutions: Botswana, Ukraine, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Saharawi Republic, US Embassy, Spain, Namibia, Ethiopia, Angola, Kenya, Lesotho, Algeria, Tanzania, Belgium and Uganda landed at AFB Waterkloof.

b. Reasons: Government to government, cargo flight in support of SANDF Personnel in deployment, repatriation of human remains & patient from Mozambique, transporting cargo and Pax from USA, UN troop rotation and transportation of SAMIM/SADC goods. ·

2) All the above-mentioned landings at Air Force Base Waterkloof followed the correct approval processes and as such, were actioned by the South African Air Force Command Post.

Reply:

 

 

Reviving the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses various aspects, including leadership, funding, training, and strategic planning. The South African Defence Review 2015 is, and remains, the National Policy on Defence. The Defence Review 2015 remains largely valid and appropriate, even though it was predicated on a steady-stream improvement in defence allocation, agreed to by Cabinet at that time, but which did not materialise.

I am on record as having said that the Defence Force is becoming progressively more unsustainable in terms of the declining defence baseline allocation and we have now reached the point where the Republic must decide on the kind of Defence Force it wants and what it can afford.

It is within the context of a constrained fiscal environment, that a review and analysis of the National Defence Policy on defence, the South African Defence Review 2015, will be required by 31 March 2024, to provide a realistic and sustainable future-orientated defence value-proposition, cognisant of current fiscal realities, that delivers against the constitutional mandate of Defence, South Africa’s national interests and Government’s priorities and riskappetite.

Following my Defence Budget Vote Speech 2023 I promulgated a Ministerial Directive to the Department of Defence and Armscor that provides concrete strategic direction to the Defence Function for multiple Medium-Term Strategic Frameworks on the development of the Revised Level of Defence Ambition, namely:

• Firstly, the development of a Future RSA Defence and Security Policy Concept, cognisant of the emerging security environment and the constraints facing the Defence Function.

• Secondly, the development of a Future Military Capstone Concept that will provide the strategizing concepts on how to pursue our national defence and security policy.

• Thirdly, the development of the Chief of the SANDF’s Long-Term Capability Development Strategic Plan which will direct the development path of the SANDF for the next twenty years. The Chief of the SANDF has coined this the “Journey to Greatness”. Work has continued strongly in these areas, focused on the five military priorities that I outlined in my Budget Speech, namely:

• Priority 1: Promoting Nation Building through the pursuance of a common national identity coupled to values and ethics that reinforce such an identity.

• Priority 2: Safeguarding the Nation and building internal stability by strengthening the institutions of the State and growing the economy.

• Priority 3: Securing Regional Development by creating conditions conducive to regional security and stability as well as increased investment that drives regional growth and development through consumer economies.

• Priority 4: Enhancing Cyber Resilience through a focused strategy that enhances the resilience of critical digital infrastructure.

• Priority 5: Enhancing the Hard Power Capability of the SANDF through a small but core major combat capability that is relevant and ready to meet future conflict challenges.

I intend to bring in all stakeholders to participate in a number of work sessions, which will lead to engagements with the two Parliamentary Committees in the next four months,

where we will discuss the draft Defence and National Security Policy Concept as well as the Future Military Capstone Concept.

I trust that this process will lead us to a new Long-Term Capability Development Strategy.

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1) Section 5(2) of the Military Veterans Pension Benefit Regulations state that. Upon the death of a Military Veteran, a qualifying dependent / widow / widowers of a Military Veteran who immediately prior to his or her death, was in receipt of a pension benefit, may receive up to 50% of the pension benefit with effect from the first day of the month following immediately on the month in which the Military Veteran died, provided they are not receiving any form of State pension above the mentioned 50% threshold from the Military Veteran pension benefit.

2) This benefit is applicable to the main member as stipulated in Act 18 of 2011 in section S. (1) (h) of the benefits relating to a military veteran

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1. The Board of Inquiry (BOI) on Umzimvubu Regiment is with C SANDF’s legal office for review and assessment on the recommendations made by C Army, details of which can only be divulged on the conclusion of the review process.

2. The members have not yet been paid because the BOI is still with C SANDF’s legal office for a review process, which will give guidance as to future administrative actions to be implemented, including payment to deserving members.

Reply:

1. The Ministers haven’t met as yet. The two engagements held recently was the Deputy Minister of Human Settlements and the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans during the Human Settlements MINMEC session in Cape Town.

2. Following the Deputy Ministers’ engagement the two Departments teams held a two days strategic session on the 08th to 09th (Thursday and Friday) June 2023. Among issues discussed were;

a. upfront identification of the services sites during the national planning cycles

b. Linking the sites to the applicants when quantifying Annual performance plans

Reply:

a) SAMHS has received Rm188 (and not R18,2) that was reprioritized from compensation of employees (overtime) for the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). These funds are ring-fenced for the procurement of Main Medical Equipment and Prime Mission Equipment (Ambulances, Diagnostic Medical Equipment [X-ray] and Deployable Medical Equipment).

Rm60 is ring fenced for FY2023/24, Rm62 for FY2024/25 and Rm65 for FY2025/26.The procurement plan for the FY2023/23 is approved and the acquisition of specified equipment is in process. The process is being monitored by the Surgeon General and quarterly progress reports will be provided to the Chief of the South African National Defence Force (CSANDF) and National Treasury.

This allocation will help the SAMHS improve its overall combat readiness and to achieve better health outcomes.

b) Steps being taken, are the following: SAMHS is introducing more stringent control measures on overtime work. It is implementing a monitoring tool that (automatically) tracks overtime performance (how much time employees work and what they spent that time doing). By tracking overtime metrics, the organisation will get more insights into the impact of overtime on service delivery. The organisation is also reviewing the structure at each of its health care facilities to ensure that it has the required number of Health Care Professionals and support personnel (Current capacity levels do not allow for the provision of a 24hrs service without the use overtime dispensation). The process is expected to be completed before end of June 2024.

Reply:

1. The department has reviewed the policy based on the inputs received following the publishing and tabling of the draft regulations in Parliament in December 2022. The department has aligned the policy to the final 2023 Regulations following inputs received after gazetting the Regulations on the 25 April 2023.

2. The Military Veterans as defined in the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011 will be eligible to apply for a military veteran's pension. The eligibility criteria has been defined as follows in the Regulations that were gazzeted on the 25 April 2023.

An individual must:-

a. meet the requirements of the definition in the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011

b. be listed in the Military Veterans database

c. be a citizen of the Republic of South Africa

d. not be receiving any other state provided pension or social grant, unless

the pension currently being received is lower than the proposed amount

to be paid in the military veterans pension.

Reply:

(a) The countries where the SANDF soldiers have been deployed in the past years are Lesotho, Burundi, Mozambique and Sudan.(b) Total number of:

(i) Soldiers deployed

a. Lesotho – 465

b. Burundi – 1 200

c. Sudan – 820

(ii) Costs incurred (period FY2000/01 to date) – Rb 5 325 961.

(c) Total number of fatalities the SANDF incurred during Peace Support Operations (PSO) deployments in 55. The fatalities incurred include personnel losses due to combat situations, illness, as well as vehicle accidents.

Reply:

(a) Mozambique – R984 368 057.00.

(b) Democratic Republic of Congo – R 1 004 241 271.00.

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The modernisation of the SANDF prime mission equipment is a process that is within the planned and budgeted for capital acquisition programmes. Whilst there are considerations for the modernisation of the SANDF, there has been no approaches to Russia for such.

There is however in existence bilateral defence relations within the context of the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation, within which the two countries’ defence establishments meet and have exchanges at various levels, including bilateral visits. All these are governed by the Defence Committee (DefCom), which is stipulated in the MoU referred to.