Chairperson, this budget is tantamount to a defence crossroad we have reached, while government and the Department of Defence and Military Veterans is neglecting its obligation to comply with Section 200 of our Constitution. Our Committee on Defence and Military Veterans has very seldom interacted with the Minister and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Command to discuss the dilapidated state of the SANDF.
The SANDF budget has been reduced on a yearly basis, both in nominal and real terms. While comparable nations spend between 2% and 3% of GDP, we only spend 0,95% of GDP. With a Defence Index of 15%, the budget has decreased by R8 billion in real terms, which is unrealistic, irresponsible
and unsustainable, which increases our sovereign vulnerability and the associated risks exponentially.
We will hardly be able to re-establish our defence capabilities to effectively:
- defend our sovereignty on land, sea and air;
- participate in land-border security operations;
- participate in regional peacekeeping missions;
- support operation Phakisa; and
- comply with international treaties.
At this rate, and with the concerning deterioration of discipline, and the unwillingness to act decisively, it is not a matter of IF but rather WHEN we will have to close down our once proud SANDF, leaving our land and economy exposed. The chances of us progressing beyond Milestone 1 of the Defence
Review are diminishing by the day, making the 2015 Defence Review irrelevant and unrealistic, and must be revised.
Minister, despite numerous calls by the DA and the National Treasury, nothing has been done to restructure the SANDF and to reprioritise strategies and spending, including the crafting of an exit mechanism for excess staff. Both the Defence Review and National Treasury demand a cost structure
of 40% (HR), 30% (Operations) & 30% (Equipment). At the 2017/18 3rd quarter, HR spending was at 59%, with an indication of further overspending to be expected.
The average age of all the department’s staff is close to 50 years, and for privates close to 32 years. This is not realistic, largely because of our dependence on infantry units. It also creates the perception of the SANDF as an “old boys club”, and a provider of protected jobs for cronies.
Minister, a poor economy and decreasing budget are our realities, as this department is not a high government priority. The DA believes that we can, however, achieve much more with the current budget through efficient reprioritisation, implementation and management.
The SANDF’s focus must primarily be on land-border patrol and protection, sea border patrol and support to our ocean economy, and participation in regional peacekeeping to secure regional political and economic stability.
Treasury will need to agree to a once-off allocation to fund the exit-mechanism to reduce the HR costs to as close to 40% as possible. We also need to liquidate non-essential assets, which will release funds
to spend on the recapitalisation of essential assets primarily in the South African Air Force (SAAF), South African Navy (SAN) and Infantry.
Our soldiers forming part of MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) deserve more acknowledgement and support. They play a critical role there bringing stability and peace to their citizens, enabling economic development and ensuring peaceful, free and fair elections in December
2018.
Minister and General Shoke, the poor logistical support to our soldiers, the poor state and serviceability of our prime mission equipment, inadequate discipline, and the negative perceptions amongst the UN leadership and MONUSCO donors are manageable variables that can be changed if
the political will is there.
The SANDF has a poor record with the UN on the serviceability of our mission equipment. 80% of the UN’s refund is based on the effectiveness of our Oryx and Rooivalk helicopters, and yet they were able to fly only 34% of the allocated flights in February 2018. The reason? Poor maintenance of our
equipment due to unavailability or slow delivery of spare parts.
Our involvement with MONUSCO is an opportunity to contribute to a peaceful region and to free and fair elections while gaining a critical source of ring-fenced revenue, if only the Minister and the SANDF leadership were prepared to take bold decisions.
Our reliance on one dilapidated C130 is now costing us dearly as regular flights to replenishment supplies, transport equipment, and airlift of soldiers are inadequate and deplorable.
Minister, the DA’s view is that you must do more, and prioritise the SANDF’s interest over your party political interest. You must:
- Adopt a pragmatic diplomacy approach in the best interest of SA and a stable region, in support of our soldiers, and to retain the Rooivalk in the DRC;
- Urgently restructure the SANDF based on the current and foreseeable role the SANDF must play in compliance with section 200 of our Constitution;
- Acquire affordable aircrafts for multi-purpose transportation, such as the C130J, and the Donier 328TP for maritime patrols. Last week, 18 Chinese trawlers plus a further 15 vessels with no transponders were identified on our East Coast, but we had NO capacity to react either through the SAAF or the SAN. This is a grave threat to our sovereignty and our economy;
- Ensure improved logistical service delivery to our soldiers on our land borders, and in the DRC;
- Sell half the Grippens, and the VIP fleet which have been grounded since last year, with Inkwazi grounded for 2 years now;
- Ensure the urgent replacement of Denel in management of the Dockyard in order to ensure delivery of the OPV’s and IPV’s to protect our naval capabilities;
- Address the underutilisation of Armscor to secure the economic development in the Defence Industry;
- Deal decisively with disciplinary cases, including the SEA transgressions, and poor discipline and accountability in the SANDF:
- The CSANDF must be held accountable for the deplorable handling and caring of the horses of SA Army Specialised Infantry Capability unit, which resulted in 25 horses of this mounted unit being put down;
- Major Mohlala has expressed blatant racism on Facebook and only received a slap on the wrist;
Despite warnings by the DA and court findings, the SANDF illegally evicted people from the Marievale Military Base, many of whom are military veterans and children.
What has happened to the transgressors for wasting money and acting unlawfully?
Nothing;
- Nothing has happened to Corporal Marakalla, the driver of the Chief of Joint
Operations (CJOPS) who misused a SANDF BMW 540i in a heist activity.
Minister, the DA appeals to you to restore discipline in all ranks and units, and return to basics. Cut non-essential expenses like Armscor’s 30% salary increases and entertainment costs like the Cape Town Jazz Festival, hunting trips, and non-essential trips abroad.
We appeal to you to restructure the SANDF and reprioritise expenditure with an emphasis on rejuvenating the HR component; focusing on land and sea-border patrol and protection; and reequipment of the SAAF & SAN.
This budget is inadequate for the current structure, is not addressing our challenges, opportunities and priorities, and is thus bad value for money. South Africa deserves better!