Chair, I would like to begin by complimenting the Minister, once again, on a dazzling outfit - though I would suggest, given recent events in the SA National Defence Force, that her choice of colour is unfortunate.
Like the Minister, I would like to begin by recognising an important milestone in the establishment of the SA National Defence Force. Commander Handsome Matsane, whom the Minister has introduced, recently took command of the SAS Queen Modjadji, one of the submarines operated by the SA Navy.
He is one of only 34 South African submarine captains, one of 1 060 qualified submariners and, most importantly, he is the first black South African submarine captain. [Applause.] This is a huge achievement for the Defence Force, given our country's history, and it should be celebrated, not just by us here today, but, indeed, by all South Africans.
HON MEMBERS: Hear! Hear!
Commander Handsome Matsane and all the stars the Minister introduced represent everything that is good about the SA National Defence Force. So, we would like to take this opportunity to recognise the sailors, soldiers, airmen and airwomen, and the medics who serve in the Defence Force. Whether you are in the SA Army, the SA Air Force, the SA Navy or the SA Military Health Service, we say, "Thank you, thank you, thank you for your service to our country." [Applause.]
I would also, of course, like to recognise the hon Minister, who thankfully is seated two-and-a-half sword lengths from me today. I feel much more secure compared to last year, when the Minister was seated a mere two-and-a- half handbag lengths from me. [Laughter.] This is because, on at least one occasion, the Minister has been known to clobber opposition members with her handbag, and my colleague the hon Tim Harris is here to attest to that fact. [Laughter.] I suspect, though, that last year, the Minister would have liked to clobber me for suggesting that she scale back her military flights and try a little bit of "chicken or beef" from time to time, on SA Airways. I would suggest that the Minister sit back, stay calm, listen, and try not to ...
Point of order, Chair.
There is a point of order. Please take your seat.
Chair, I rise on a point of order: I think it is disrespectful of the Minister to have conversations while she is being addressed by the opposition. [Interjections.]
Order! Order, hon members!
She told us to shut down ... not to shut up, but to stop talking. [Interjections.]
Order, hon members! Order! That is not a point of order, sir. Proceed. [Interjections.]
I would suggest ... [Interjections.]
Please let us have order so that we can hear the speaker.
Hon Chairperson, this is a point of order. The Rules state clearly that members are not allowed to converse in the passages. [Interjections.] This is totally disrespectful to the House. I ask you to make a ruling. [Interjections.]
Could we have order, please? The Minister does have the right to consult with those who advise her ... [Interjections.] [Applause.] ... and therefore it is not a point of order. Proceed, sir.
Thank you, Chair. I would suggest that the Minister sit back, stay calm, listen, and try not to blow a political gasket, as she did last year.
Agb Voorsitter, op 'n punt van orde: Dit staan in die Rels van die Huis dat daar nie meer as een lid mag staan terwyl daar 'n debat aan die gang is nie. Aan die kant van die ANC is daar twee lede wat staan, en u maak nie beswaar daarteen nie. Dit is ontoelaatbaar. Ek vra dat u orde herstel, asseblief. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Chairperson, on a point of order: The Rules of the House state that only one member is allowed to stand while a debate is taking place. On the side of the ANC two members are standing, and you are not objecting to it. It is not permissible. I request you to restore order, please. [Interjections.]]
Order, hon members! Could you please take your seat, sir? Let us please reduce the amount of movement while speakers are on the floor. Proceed, sir.
Thank you, Chair. Now, the Joint Standing Committee on Defence has never been briefed on the military preparedness of the Defence Force. We do not know enough about the capability gaps which exist in the Defence Force. But we do know enough to suggest that, in the unlikely event of a conventional threat, President Jacob Zuma will require a big white flag to wave from the Union Buildings. This is because the current state of the Defence Force's military preparedness leaves the President with only one possible course of action in the event of a conventional attack, and that is surrender. Thankfully, there is no prospect of a conventional threat to South Africa in the foreseeable future.
We are used to the tired old argument that the capability gaps in the Defence Force exist because of underfunding. However, the problem is not simply underfunding, but often a failure to prioritise funding. Firstly, 50,6% of the entire Defence budget will be spent on compensation of employees, many of whom are surplus to the needs of the Defence Force. The situation is even worse at service level: 65,5% of the SA Army's budget, 72,5% of the SA Air Force's budget and 58,9% of the SA Navy's budget will be spent on the compensation of employees.
Secondly, there is an enormous amount of wasteful expenditure in the Defence Force. [Interjections.] We will spend, for example, R197 million in this financial year on more than 30 defence attachs, including a new defence attach in Cuba, the Minister's favourite island in the Caribbean. [Interjections.]
Thirdly, there is a great deal of frivolous expenditure in the Defence Force. The SA Air Force, for example, which cannot afford to properly operate the Gripen fighter jets, has spent more than R3 million on gardening services since 2009. Let me be clear - that is gardening services, not guarding services. [Interjections.] In the end, the operating budget of the Defence Force has been stripped to the bone. So, it should not come as a surprise that our soldiers are in the barracks, not on the border; our aircraft are in the hangars, not in the air; and our ships are in harbour, not at sea.
A recent incident, which exploded on social networks, demonstrates the decline in the Defence Force. Lieutenant Colonel Ruth Ndayi, an SA Air Force officer, recently went shopping in full uniform, wearing a pair of pink slippers - a pair of pink "pantoffels" [slippers]. [Interjections.] If the Defence Force was as disciplined as the Minister claims ... [Interjections.]
Order! Order, hon members! Order, please!
... senior officers would not be going shopping in pink slippers. [Interjections.] She is a disgrace to the thousands of loyal, professional and disciplined members of the Defence Force. [Interjections.]
In the end, unless drastic action is taken, the Defence Force is in danger of becoming an armed welfare service. That is why the Defence Review, conducted by Roelf Meyer and his Defence Review Committee, is so vital to the future of the Defence Force.
I recall saying some time ago that never in the history of defence policy- making had so many worked for so long, to produce so little. But I am pleased to say that, finally, the 423-page consultative draft of the Defence Review has been produced, and I look forward to interacting with the Defence Review team as we work together to produce the final draft of the South African Defence Review 2012. [Interjections.]
In the end, if the Defence Review does not succeed, the Defence Force will not succeed. But, to succeed, we have to have a proper debate on defence policy. However, this is going to be very difficult in the current political climate because for three years the Minister has been engaged in a political war with this Parliament.
The Minister ensured that Nyami Booi, the former chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, was fired. [Interjections.] The Minister has prevented the Chief of the SA National Defence Force, Gen Godfrey Ngwenya, and his successor, together with all the service chiefs from briefing Parliament on the military preparedness of the Defence Force.
The Minister rarely appears before the portfolio committee, the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, or the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. The Minister refused to provide copies of the interim reports of the National Defence Force Service Commission to the portfolio committee, which suggested that the Defence Force itself could become a threat to national security. And the Minister either refuses to reply or provides partial replies to oral and written questions on the Defence Force in Parliament.
This year alone I have submitted nine written questions to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, requesting him to compel the Minister to provide replies to Parliament. In the end, the Minister has become a political monster, turning the Defence Force into a state-within-a-state beyond proper oversight and accountability by Parliament. Of course, the Minister has been aided and abetted in her political war by proxy forces in Parliament. The Joint Standing Committee on Defence almost routinely begins late, rarely has sufficient members to make up a quorum and, most importantly, never schedules a hearing on the really tough issues in the Defence Force.
The Portfolio Committee on Military Veterans is even worse: dealing with the entire R37,49-billion budget in one hearing taking less than two and half hours. Both defence committees rarely conduct oversight visits, preferring the safety of the parliamentary barracks.
The chairpersons of the defence committees behave more like the Minister's parliamentary valets than committee chairs committed to real oversight and scrutiny in Parliament. In the end, the Minister has got what she wanted, "Yes, madam; no, madam; three bags full, madam," defence committees in Parliament. It's an absolute disgrace.
So we must now face the fact that effective oversight of the Defence Force has collapsed in Parliament. The truth is that we do not know anything about military preparedness. Parliament has never been briefed on the military preparedness of the Defence Force.
The Minister wants Parliament to establish a new committee probably called the joint parliamentary committee on defence, which will operate like the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence. This means that, in practice, oversight of the Defence Force will be conducted behind closed doors in Parliament. [Interjections.]
Hon member, could you please speak directly into the microphone. It seems to me that people at the back are struggling to hear you. [Interjections.]
The truth is we know nothing about capital acquisition in the Defence Force. Parliament has never been briefed on the Defence Force's capital acquisition projects under the strategic capital acquisition master plan. The Minister also refuses to reply to parliamentary questions on capital acquisition, arguing that, "The department is not at liberty to release this information to the public as it may compromise security and also generate," get this: "undue speculation within the country and the industry".
This is frankly ludicrous. The truth is: we do not know anything about the special defence account. Parliament has never been briefed on the Defence Force's secret account, used, we are told, mainly for spending on weapons systems. This, despite the fact that every year ...
Hon member, just hold it there. Whoever said the word "rubbish" from this side, could you please rise and withdraw the word as it is unparliamentary? [Interjections.]
If it is unparliamentary, I withdraw it.
Thank you. Proceed, hon member.
Thank you, Chair. Since 1999 I would estimate that more than R80 billion has been channelled through the Special Defence Account, and Parliament has absolutely no idea how that money has been spent.
The truth is we do not know anything about the use of shadow planes. Parliament has never been briefed on the use of shadow planes by President Jacob Zuma. We woke up one weekend to find that the President not only drives in convoy, but now flies in convoy. It took not one, not two, but three aircraft, including an empty 250-seater SA Airways Airbus, to get President Jacob Zuma and his delegation to the United States.
The Minister also - Surprise! Surprise! - refuses to disclose any information about the use of shadow planes. We could go on, but the fact is we cannot go on like this. We are fast approaching the ANC's elective conference for 2012. I'm sure that members are aware of the speculation that the Minister may be a candidate and become the Deputy President of South Africa. [Interjections.] The thought of the Minister ... [Interjections.]
Order! Hon members, order!
... as the Leader of Government Business in Parliament is, frankly, a terrifying prospect. The Minister has a "Yes, madam; no, madam; three bags full, madam" Defence committee. [Interjections.] But what the Minister really wants is a "Yes, madam, no, madam; three bags full, madam" Parliament.
The truth is if the Minister continues to fight on, she will turn herself into a home-grown version of Imelda Marcos. The Minister is now faced with a choice: submit or fight. I strongly recommend the Minister submit, because let me promise the Minister this: I will fight you in the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans; I will fight you in the Joint Standing Committee on Defence; I will fight you in the Standing Committee on Public Accounts; I will fight you inside Parliament; I will fight you outside Parliament; and I will consider fighting you in the courts, but I will not allow you to trample on the freedoms you, ironically, fought so hard for in the struggle for democracy in South Africa. I thank you. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
Point of order, Chairperson. Chairperson, point of order. Chairperson, I didn't want to interrupt my member after you asked my other member to withdraw the word "rubbish". If you use the word "rubbish", in what context is that unparliamentary? [Interjections.] I'm entitled to an explanation because your ruling from the Chair becomes the Rules of Parliament, and it is not unparliamentary to use the word "rubbish". He did not attack anybody. I would like you to give us an indication as to which Rule you based your ruling on. [Interjections.]
Order, hon members! Hon members, I have in front of me a book on precedents/rulings from the past. That is what I'm using. My ruling is final on that basis. Thank you. I will now recognise the ... [Interjections.]
Please read us that Rule. Could you please read that precedent because ... [Interjections.]
Members, order please! Order! Please take your seat, sir. I'll give you an opportunity to speak. Hon members, let us please protect the decorum of the House. Let us behave like adults and like hon members, no matter how emotional the issue is. Let us calm down and only raise our voices in such a manner that we can hear other speakers when they speak. Proceed with your point of order, sir.
I was saying that my reading of the precedent is that you may not refer to a member speaking and say, "That is rubbish", but using the word "rubbish" not directed at anybody cannot be unparliamentary.
Let me just make it very clear that I have made a ruling. If you are not satisfied, you can seek a review from the Speaker, but, for the purpose of this sitting, my ruling stands. Thank you. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
Chair, may I address you on a point of order?
Hon member?
As you ruled that the word "rubbish" was unparliamentary, may I also ask that you rule on the words "shut up"? The member in black right at the back told the Chief Whip of the Opposition to shut up ... [Interjections.] ... and I submit that that is unparliamentary. [Interjections.]
Could we have order, please. I will not be in a position to make a ruling on the basis that I did not hear the member. [Interjections.] But let me ... [Interjections.] Who is the member who used the words "shut up"? The words "shut up" are indeed unparliamentary. [Interjections.] Who used the words "shut up"? [Interjections.] Order, please! Order, members! Order! Who used the words "shut up", hon members, on my right? [Interjections.] Order, hon members! Order, please! Will you please take your seat, hon Kalyan?
Chairperson, if I may assist, it's the lady with the 1980s hairstyle.
Will you please take your seat, member? [Interjections.] Could I ask who used the words "shut up" on my right? [Interjections.] Could you please stand up? Whoever used the words "shut up", could you please rise? [Interjections.] Order! Order!
Comrade Chairperson, may I raise a point of order, please. Comrades, I want to appeal to you: Please, whoever used those words, stand up and apologise, or withdraw. This is an appeal from me, Comrades. Comrade, please own up. Thank you. [Interjections.]
Order! Order!
Chair, I withdraw. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
Thank you. We will now proceed. I want to make a request again that we please conduct ourselves in a manner that will allow the proceedings of this House to run smoothly. I now recognise the hon M A Nhlanhla. [Interjections.] "Nhanha", sorry. "Nhanha." My apologies, sir.
Chair, things happen quickly in politics. I thought I had been recalled; you never know. Hon Chairperson, may I suggest that in future we consider a voluntary breathalyser test? [Interjections.]
A voluntary what, hon member?
Breathalyser test. [Interjections.]
Hon Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, hon members of the fourth democratic Parliament, ladies and gentlemen, may I kick off my speech by congratulating my two older sisters: Mrs Nomampondomise Seti, the first-born in our family, and Mrs Pumla Ndlela, both of whom are graduating from the University of Fort Hare with a postgraduate diploma and an honours degree in human resources respectively. Well done ... maqobokazana. Kakade athi amaciko okuthetha, ningalal' endleleni yazini ukuba kunyembelekile. [... young ladies. You have done exceptionally well.] [Interjections.]
On the website of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans it says:
What constitutes military power is really the combination of technology and human skill at arms; forgetting the human element leads to military power that is potential rather than actual in nature. More importantly, focusing purely on hardware ...
- and missing out on the people aspect, and that is my addition -
... may lead strategic planners to the wrong conclusions about the threats facing their states.
What this means, in simple English, is that the army can breed its own enemies in the absence of outside threats. Most of Central and West Africa bear testimony to my assertions.
Hon Minister, recent reports suggest that plans are well afoot to close down the Langebaan military air base and relocate it to Hoedspruit up north in the country. Could you please explain the rationale behind the closure and the subsequent relocation, if these reports are at all true? If they are false, as they normally are, are you in a position to tell this House about the future of Langebaan?
I am raising the issue of Langebaan because such a decision is set to affect more or less 800 households in that area. What is even more conspicuous is the choice of Hoedspruit. Firstly, it is common knowledge that the area is mountainous and effective flying exercises can hardly be carried out there. Secondly, Hoedpsruit is in the Kruger National Park area. I do not need to remind you ... [Interjections.] You must go for a breathalyser test. [Laughter.] I do not need to remind you about the possible negative effects that this decision may have on tourism in that particular area. Most important are the negative effects this could have on the livelihoods of the communities that surround the Langebaan air base.
Having said the above, Cope welcomes the report by the Department of Defence and Military Veterans which indicates that the levels of morale are satisfactory. At least this is a true reflection of Defence. These findings were tabled to us in the committee as a result of an independent survey conducted by an outside organisation.
Again, hon Minister, allow me, on behalf of Cope, to welcome the appointment of Lieutenant Themba Matanzima as the new Military Ombudsman. We support his appointment, not because, like many other great minds in our country, he drank the sweet waters of the Tyume River in Alice, but, because, in our view, he comes to the hot seat with the experience, tenacity, level head and capacity that are required for the office. Let me hasten to caution you, though, Gen Matanzima, that the Act requires you to carry out your duties without prejudice, fear and favour.
Had we had the Military Ombudsman during the integration of both the statutory and nonstatutory forces, I am sure the many cadres who fought against apartheid would, today, not be loitering in the street or languishing in jail, and, more tragically, die paupers. Their sin was their association with the struggle against apartheid. However, this is crying over spilt milk. Gen Matanzima, the plight and the future of our men and women in uniform is on your shoulders. We will be watching you with keen interest as you discharge your duties.
It seems that there is no immediate threat, in the short and medium terms, to the sovereignty of the Republic of South Africa and her people. This is probably one of the motivating factors that National Treasury has taken into consideration in cutting the department's budget.
As you all know, it currently stands at about R38 billion in this financial year. As Cope, we submit that that is not sufficient. Something has to be done, because already we have seen a decrease in key areas, such as training capability in air defence and military health services, whilst the maritime defence allocation continues to fluctuate.
Cope, together with the rest of South Africa, would like to see a mission- ready Defence Force, whatever the circumstances, at any given time. Cope would like to support this budget, with the proviso that National Treasury give more money to Defence. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, as the IFP we welcome the swearing-in of the Military Ombudsman and hope he will be instrumental in bringing back discipline to the National Defence Force. His office is supposed to improve conditions of service and streamline processes in the military. The ombudsman must be independent and impartial, an attitude we hope he will maintain even in the face of possible political influence in the discharge of his duties.
The launch of the Office of the Ombudsman has given us hope that the unions in the Defence Force will be dismantled as they are an undesirable entity in the Defence Force because they undermine the purpose of the military. Owing to union action, there are over 100 soldiers who have been suspended for almost three years, with full pay, for storming the Union Buildings during a strike in 2009. This has resulted in the department spending over R150 million on salaries. What makes this worse is that the department has allowed this situation to drag on for this long without resolution, opting to embark on expensive legal battles that have been lost.
So, the department is paying these soldiers to stay at home, instead of taking steps, engaging with them about the situation and dealing with the disruptive unions in the military. Pinning our hopes on the Ombudsman does not, in any way, guarantee a resolution to this problem. This situation needs to be a high priority on the department's agenda.
The hon Minister recently stated that allowances need to be made for the military, specifically to do with loosening the constraints of the Public Finance Management Act on the department. The logic behind this revolves around the idea that the military has special working conditions. If the department is given this exemption, it will mean that they have an endorsement to function outside the Act, even though they have shown that they are incapable of complying with Treasury procurement rules. How much more fruitless and irregular expenditure does the department need? How many more costly airbus contracts need to be cancelled? With the introduction of an exemption, the department would not need to subject itself to any procurement procedures and there would be no limit to billions that would be spent on unnecessary military weapons that take money away from the urgent needs in our society.
We have discovered recently that the department owes R26 million to its fuel supplier, affecting operations at both the Zimbabwe and Mozambique borders. This situation is unacceptable because it cripples our ability to secure our borders and restrain foreign nationals from coming into our country illegally, thereby stretching the limits of our resources. Instead of spending money on covering such a vital role, the department spends money on submarines that do nothing for the country, but cost R89 million a year in upkeep. Our people lack so much, yet the department is content to spend money on equipment it does not need, but then states that the budget is not sufficient. The department really needs to reassess its priorities.
The Defence Force is vital to the security of our country, and our soldiers need to be treated with dignity. Yet, that does not excuse the military from acting responsibly with the budget given to them and not allowing wasteful expenditure to exist in the department. Unnecessary spending should be avoided and strict control needs to be applied to the finances, so that the department does not need special circumstances to fulfil its mandate. The IFP supports the Vote. [Applause.]
Thula, kwedini. [Keep quiet, my boy.] [Laughter.]
Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister and hon members, the UDM supports Budget Vote No 22. [Applause.] I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Minister for taking steps to accelerate the pace of transformation in the department. [Applause.] The setting up of structures such as the National Defence Force Service Commission, the Ombud Office and the Military Veterans department will certainly improve the efficiency of the department.
We further commend the Minister on the establishment of the Defence Review Committee as this gives the nation a rare opportunity to discuss the requirements of the Defence Force. This exercise is long overdue, considering that our Defence Force mandate stretches beyond our borders.
The final report tabled by the Interim National Defence Force Service Commission last year gave a clear warning to the nation that the Defence Force's state of readiness cannot be guaranteed because of obsolete equipment. The Defence Review will assist in ensuring that the challenges identified in the commission's report receive attention.
One of the problems confronting this department is that most of the people who formed the nucleus of the 1994 integration project have either retired or are retiring, more especially at command level. There is, therefore, a need to invest heavily in the training and development of future leaders of the Defence Force. We should consider sending our soldiers to countries with systems similar to ours for training. This method worked very well for us in the former Transkei Defence Force, TDF.
For example, Gen T T Matanzima, former TDF Commander, now has the newly established Office of the Ombud. Gen Matanzima received his military training in the Transkei, then in Ghana and then with the British defence forces. This programme helped to capacitate and broaden the knowledge of the TDF officers on defence issues.
In this regard, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Gen Matanzima on his appointment. I have no doubt in my mind that Gen Matanzima will make a good contribution to his new role. He is a hard worker who has earned the respect of his seniors, colleagues and those in junior ranks alike. His experience as a military officer puts him in a good position to understand the challenges of the SA National Defence Force.
The truth of the matter is that increased investment in the training and development of officers and the maintenance of a high standard of discipline will make the task of the Ombud office less difficult.
There needs to be co-ordination between the institutions identified above, once they are fully functional. We, therefore, cannot overemphasise the importance of developing regulations governing these institutions. The regulations must be done in a way that avoids a duplication of duties and functions. This is critical because some of them are going to be expected to table their reports for scrutiny by this House.
Another important matter the nation needs to discuss is the future of unions in the Defence Force. This is necessitated by the pronouncements made by some members of the executive that they do not need unions in the Defence Force, while the law allows them. The sooner we finalise this contentious issue, the better because it will remove the confusion that the National Defence Force Service Commission is there to replace the unions.
Finally, one of the things that the department has to tackle is the lack of accreditation for the in-house short courses it offers. The department needs to work with institutions of higher learning to ensure that the certificates from its in-house programmes are worth the paper they are written on for their former employees' easy absorption into the market. However, I have taken note of the hon Minister's announcement this afternoon in this regard.
To accomplish the important task of the Defence Force ...
Hon member, your time has expired.
... we need to read from the same hymn book and ensure a speedy response to any queries, be it from this House ...
Hon member, your time has expired.
... the UN ...
Hon member, your time has expired!
... the Southern African Development Community, the AU and from our communities.
Uyabona xa kusithiwa chophela intlanganiso - ndiyakucebisa - kufuneka umntu othethayo umlumkise ... [When you are asked to chair a meeting - I am just giving you advice - you must make the person on the floor aware of the time ...]
- I have one minute left -
... uthi kushiyeke umzuzu omnye, ukwenzela ukuba akwazi ukuqukumbela, ungavele uthi nje gxabalala. Phathekani, bafana. [Kwahlekwa.] [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[... and tell the person that he/she has one minute left, so that he/she will be able to wrap up his/her speech, and not just stop people abruptly like that. Be respectful, young man. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
Hon Chair, hon Minister, our dignitaries, hon members, I greet you all.
Ngifikelwa ukuthi ngithi helele! Kwamhlophe e-SA National Defence Force! Uzizwele ukuthi uNgqongqoshe utheni, uzizwele ukuthi uJenene Holomisa ugcwalisele wathini. Usangabaza? Liyabuya, libuyile! (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[I want to shout "hooray"! Congratulations to the SA National Defence Force! You heard what the Minister said, as well as what was said in addition by General Holomisa. Are you still in doubt? Normality is being restored; in fact, it has been restored!]
Mine is a very easy task. I am going to talk about military health and general support programmes that deal with the SA National Defence Force defending what is supposed to be a united, nonracial democratic South Africa. Given time, I will explain why I say "supposed". They defend these South Africans, driven by their own consciousness and patriotism, without being conscripted.
What is military health support? This is a programme that provides health services to all SANDF members and their dependants, military veterans and to the Department of Health when requested. This programme sometimes renders humanitarian assistance to places ravaged by natural disasters in valleys, mountainous areas, hills and the seas. It also provides health services where and when doctors and medical professionals are fighting for their rights and away from their daily work.
Military support knows no borders. When requested to go beyond the borders of the Republic of South Africa, where even our own soldiers in defence of those areas are exposed to a number of health-threatening situations, they do so. Theirs is not to reason why, but to do and succeed.
In short, the military support programme is not confined to hospitals as buildings only. You find them where people are and where people need them. This can be under a tree, near a river, on a hillock; all over.
The above therefore need skilling of the highest order whose budgetary implications, in terms of ensuring that this programme take place throughout the life span of a soldier, is an exercise that needs thorough scrutiny, a serious understanding of recruitment, training, and the maintenance of these men and women. It is a job that is costly.
With regard to the General Support Programme, it is "general support" because it is needed by the entire SANDF. It has five programmes, which are the Joint Logistics Services; the Command and Management Services; the Military Police; Technology Development; and Departmental Support.
These programmes, therefore, are always needed to ensure that appropriate services are delivered to all South Africans in order for them to live long and healthy lives in a peaceful and stable environment with our neighbours in the region and the continent as a whole. This is a very expensive call to respond to.
In conclusion - and to allow our Minister to wrap up and give her extra minutes - on behalf of the ANC, which is celebrating its centenary, I would like to thank these men and women who are prepared to sacrifice their lives for the wellness, peace, stability and freedom for us all. We are happy to hear that never again will these men and women be found without shelter, food, clothing, and money to take care of their families. I am happy to hear that they will be buried with dignity and be remembered for what they did, laying down their lives for all of us. The ANC supports this Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, hon members of the portfolio committee, and the House at large, dignitaries and distinguished guests and stakeholders in the public gallery, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela said in his eulogy at the funeral of Oliver Tambo:
There are many who did not understand that to heal we had to lance the boil. There are many who still do not understand that the obedient silence of the enslaved is not the reward of peace which is our due. There are some who cannot comprehend that the right to rebellion against the tyranny is the very guarantee of the permanence of freedom.
Over the past 12 months our Ministry has continued the push to establish a dedicated, efficient organisation to look after military veterans, namely the Department of Military Veterans. The endeavour by government to intervene in addressing the plight of military veterans is arguably among the Ministry's foremost political priorities in the current government administration.
Returning to the same subject again later, Nelson Mandela said:
Reconciliation was not an afterthought or an add-on of our struggle and our eventual triumph. It was always embedded in our struggle. Reconciliation was a means of struggle as much as it was the end goal of our struggle.
Hon members, the Ministry is pleased to report that Parliament has subsequently passed the Military Veterans Bill, as you all know, and it was assented to by the President and promulgated into law in December 2011. I personally wish to thank the committees of both Houses of Parliament for the work done in preparing this piece of legislation for approval by Parliament. Its commencement date has since been proclaimed as 1 April 2012.
The department is committed to delivering the benefits as espoused in section 5 of the Military Veterans Act, and will do so progressively to those eligible for such support. To this end, draft regulations to inform the implementation of this Act will be brought to Parliament before the end of the second semester we are in. We wish to call on sister departments in the Social Development cluster to help expedite the finalisation of suitable modalities for the roll-out of these benefits, for which their respective departments are responsible.
Last year we undertook to ensure that a fully functional department was in place. By the end of March 2012, 27 mainly senior posts were staffed and further appointments have since been made. It is worth mentioning that we will require an amount of R56 million to be able to staff all the posts that are in the structure of the department, which in itself is already more than the entire budget of the Department of Military Veterans in this financial year.
To use the language of the community in which I was born ... re ?ila re hlatlegile. [... our hands are tied.]
In military language this means that we are firing the gun as we are reloading it, or we are using the gun and manufacturing its ammunition at the same time. Time is of the essence here. The needs of the military veterans are a matter of extreme urgency. As we are busy raising the structure of the Department of Military Veterans from the ground, every week another soul from within the community of military veterans passes away, again missing the opportunity as government to rectify the injustice this represents.
In rolling out the benefits intended for military veterans, the department has prioritised all military veterans of advanced age. In the previous financial year, we had already provided them access to all our military health facilities. This preferential roll-out of relief has now been extended to housing needs and support for dependants who are of school- going age.
In this regard, the process to pay school fees for approximately 130 dependants of military veterans is under way. Approximately 2 500 military veterans have already been loaded onto the SA Military Health Service's system. Health care access cards have been issued to ensure just- in-time health care services to all the cohorts of military veterans. To monitor this service, military veterans helpdesks will be introduced at all Defence Force health facilities.
As the Ministry we must take this opportunity again to call on all military veterans to take seriously the need to assist the department in verifying that they are still alive and what their needs are. I also wish to thank those military veterans who presented themselves at the military bases which were used as our centres during the first round of data capturing in December last year.
Another round of this exercise is planned for this month, and the dates will be made public as soon as preparations have been finalised. In this regard, on behalf of the Department of Military Veterans, I wish to apologise for any inconvenience that may have been caused by the glitches in our preliminary plans. In the same breath, I wish to commend those who participated on their patience.
The process of cleaning the database of our military veterans is crucial to the overall success of this government policy on military veterans. Should we fail to be diligent in doing it, we run the risk of either leaving out intended bona fide recipients or allowing fraudulent abuse of this policy intervention by unscrupulous selfish individuals.
For that reason, the department has adopted a rigid attitude that only those military veterans who come forward to verify the information on our database will be considered as we roll out these benefits. This is to protect the credibility of this department in particular and of government in general.
On this occasion last year we reported that we were in the process of assisting the SA National Military Veterans Association, Sanmva, to launch its provincial structures, and that these structures had been established in five provinces already. We have subsequently concluded this process.
The SA National Military Veterans Association is a key institution in empowering military veterans with information about government activities aimed at helping them. Conceptually, it is important to point out that Sanmva in its role has beautiful contrasting colours like a zebra. It is both an organ of civil society and a statutory body at the same time, or it is neither an organ of civil society nor an agent of the state. This suggests that tension between the two roles in which it manifests itself should not be treated as a crisis, but as a necessary contradiction to be constructively managed for the good of government on the one side, and military veterans on the other. The department will, in keeping with the legislation, ensure that we provide the necessary assistance to Sanmva to succeed in both of these roles.
Two other critical institutions in the furtherance of the government policy on military veterans will be established in the course of this financial year, namely the Military Veterans Appeal Board and the Military Veterans Advisory Council.
In their composition, the military veterans community and our SA National Defence Force consist of a significant segment of people who are repositories of the legendary valour of courageous South Africans who, despite being prohibited from acquiring military skills all their lives, organised to challenge the might of the apartheid state militarily.
Some of these exemplary patriots, such as the hon members Andrew Mlangeni and Nelson Diale, who are also members of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, and others who were Members of Parliament before, some of whom are in the gallery today, continue to occupy an important place as public representatives in our communities.
Last year, December 16 marked half a century since the native populace of this country rose with arms in hand to assert their right to rebel against their oppressor with the formation of Umkhonto weSizwe, the former military wing of the ANC. Shortly before that, members of Poqo in the Eastern Cape were arrested for the killings along the Bashee River. To mark the 50th anniversary of uMkhonto weSizwe, the SANDF will organise medal parades where former members of this nonstatutory force will receive medals to recognise their selfless service in the struggle for liberation and democracy in South Africa. [Applause.]
The first of these parades will be organised for 2 August 2012, the anniversary of the commencement of the Wankie Campaign in 1967 in the then Rhodesia by uMkhonto weSizwe members of the Luthuli Detachment. Similar appropriate honours will be bestowed on other members of the nonstatutory formations on appropriate occasions. Through the citations of these medals the Department of Military Veterans hopes to preserve this military heritage and memorialise its glorious actors.
The performance plan of the Department of Military Veterans in this financial year is indeed ambitious with respect to heritage, understandably so, because of the zeal to salvage the story of the soldiers who fought against apartheid before it suffers the injustice of being obliterated from our collective national memory.
To this end, the department will be collaborating with initiatives to establish tourism freedom routes nationally and regionally under the SA Heritage Council, SAHC, and any other nongovernmental organisation involved in such endeavours. Important to the preservation of heritage this year, we will also be working to find and restore graves of South African soldiers who were in the liberation armies at home and abroad in order to restore their dignity. A common headstone will be designed for this purpose. This will include the erection of cenotaphs in the former frontline states where many freedom fighters perished, starting with the memorial dedicated to the martyrs of the Matola raid in Maputo, Mozambique, in conjunction with the Department of Arts and Culture.
Chairperson and hon members, it is with an immerse sense of anticipation and joy that the Ministry has established a real opportunity to retrieve the full story and gain access to the legendary maritime tragedy of the sinking of the troopship SS Mendi just five years before we mark the centenary of this occurrence. Since the fateful morning of the 21 February 1917, shortly after 5:00 in the morning, next to the Isle of Wight in the English Sea's waters, when the SS Mendi, with 823 men and officers of the 5th Battalion SA Native Labour Corps, SANLC, bound for France sank, not much of official attention was paid to this immense human tragedy, both in South Africa and Britain. It drifted into historical obscurity. For many of the years since the SS Mendi sank, it has been a story that, with few exceptions, has been largely forgotten by the broader public at home and abroad.
As a Ministry, we have made contacts with the English Heritage and the Wessex Archaeology centre that can give us a real possibility to, firstly, place the SS Mendi and those aboard her when she sank within the wider social and political context of both early 20th century South Africa, and the system of labour contingents that formed part of the war effort of the British Empire during World War 1. Thank you very much, Chairperson. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Chairperson and hon Minister, I must say that I am really disappointed in this debate today. The reason why I am disappointed, Chair, is because of the incident - and the reaction of hon members of this House to the incident of the colonel with the pink slippers. This is a serious matter.
The reason why I say that it is a serious matter, is that this specific person is a disgrace to the South African National Defence Force. She is not only an embarrassment to the Minister; she is not only an embarrassment to the senior generals.
She is, in fact, an embarrassment to each and every South African citizen who takes pride in the South African National Defence Force. That is the fact of the matter, and I sincerely hope that the beautiful dress that the hon Minister is wearing is not to make a statement, because then I will even be more disappointed.
Today, I want to talk about discipline in the SA National Defence Force. I want to say to the hon Minister that if we are serious about discipline, this specific colonel should have been put on a parade ground and stripped of all her ranks, to make an example of her, as she has no respect for her uniform. She has no respect for the Defence Force. In fact, she doesn't have respect as a soldier. If our soldiers don't have respect, how can they have respect for the authority and the state of South Africa?
As ons verder na dissipline kyk, wil ek ook s dat die leiers die voorbeeld stel. Agb Minister, ek wil vir u s dat as u regsadviseurs nalaat om dokumente betyds by 'n hof in te dien, as u regsadviseurs minagtend teenoor die hof optree, dan toon hulle disrespek teenoor die reg van hierdie land. Hoe kan 'n Departement van Verdediging en Militre Veterane, wat die integriteit van Suid-Afrika moet beskerm, met minagting teenoor die reg optree? Dit is totaal onaanvaarbaar.
As ek oor discipline praat, agb Minister, hoe is dit dat u dan die bevelvoerder oor die jeugontwikkelingsprogram, 'n senior offisier, aanstel terwyl sy 'n kriminele rekord het vir diefstal en aanranding het? [Tussenwerpsels.] Ek hoef dit nie te bewys nie; dit is in die hof. Word wakker. Hoe kan u so 'n persoon aanstel? Sy is klaar skuldig bevind. Dit, agb Minister, stel 'n swak voorbeeld. Die voorbeeld wat ons aan ons mense moet stel, is dat ons 'n gedissiplineerde Weermag het wat in staat is om my en u regte en ons integriteit te kan beskerm.
Dit bring my, agb Minister, ook by u optrede. U is die Minister. U moet die voorbeeld stel. Ek wil regtig vir u s, agb Minister, die manier waarop u vrae in die Parlement beantwoord, is nie dit wat van 'n agb Minister met u integriteit verwag word nie, en u het integriteit.
Ek het baie respek vir u - u weet dit, maar 'n Minister daal nie tot die vlak van sarkasme as daar antwoorde verskaf moet word op agb lede se vrae nie. U is bo dit verhewe. In Afrikaans s ons dat 'n generaal nie van sy perd afklim vir elke brakkie wat vir hom blaf nie. U is veronderstel om die generaal op die perd te wees.
Ek kom by die ombudsman. Ek wil vir die ombudsman s ... (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[When we look at discipline in greater depth, I also want to say that the leaders set the example. Hon Minister, I want to inform you that when your legal advisors fail to submit documentation to court on time, and when your legal advisors act in contempt of court, then they are showing disrespect for the justice system of this country. How can a Department of Defence and Military Veterans, that is supposed to protect the integrity of South Africa, act with contempt for the justice system? That is totally unacceptable.
When I talk about discipline, hon Minister, how is it possible for you to appoint the commanding officer of the youth development programme, a senior officer, whilst she has a criminal record for theft and assault? [Interjections.] I do not need to prove this; it is in the courts. Wake up. How could you appoint such a person? She has already been found guilty. That, hon Minister, is setting a bad example. The example that we have to set for our people is that we have a disciplined Defence Force that is capable of protecting your rights and mine, and our integrity
That, hon Minister, also brings me to your actions. You are the Minister. You need to set the example. I really want to say to you, hon Minister, that the way in which you reply to questions in Parliament is not what is expected of an hon Minister with your integrity, and you do have integrity.
I have a lot of respect for you - you know that, but a Minister should not resort to sarcasm when responding to questions posed by hon members. You rise above that. In Afrikaans we say that a general does not dismount his horse every time a little mongrel barks at him. You are supposed to be the general on the horse. And now I am getting to the ombudsman. I want to say to the ombudsman ...]
... and I want to say to Mr Matanzima - he is not a general -
Hon Groenewald, please conclude.
Thank you. I will conclude. I want to say to him that he is the ombudsperson at this moment. Mr Matanzima, you don't have to stand to attention if the Minister enters your office. You will stand up, because I know that you are a man with good manners, but if she wants to see you, she must make an appointment to see you. Only then will you be a good ombudsperson. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Chairperson, hon chairperson of the committee, members and comrades, dumelang magage?o [hello everyone], I stand before you as a military veteran and I greet you all in the name of those veterans who have made it possible for us to be here in this venue today. [Applause.] Our veterans are people who willingly laid down their lives for the struggle for our liberation. I emphasise this because, for many living in South Africa today, our veterans have become invisible and forgotten.
When we emerged out of 1994, the SA National Defence Force was formed to integrate all military forces from the old regime and the liberation movements. While this process underwent its own changes, the military veterans seemed to be a detached group. After coming together from all sides of the conflict, the concerns and challenges of our military veterans were seen to be addressed by the SA National Military Veterans Association, an organisation established by the Military Veterans Act of Parliament. Despite this intervention, it appeared to address the challenges of military veterans on an ad hoc basis, not holistically and not consistently across all spheres of government.
In 2009, President Jacob Zuma reconfigured the Department of Defence to include military veterans with a separate Budget Vote to address their concerns in a co-ordinated and efficient manner. While this is commendable, the challenges of fulfilling the vision of a dignified, unified, empowered and self-sufficient military veterans' community requires adequate resources to attend to the welfare of veterans who face unemployment and poverty, and have limited skills and access to special grants and health care. Upon the assent to the Military Veterans Act, the director-general of the department must make sure that an umbrella body of veterans is established.
Despite the increase in the allocation of the budget for the Department of Military Veterans over the next three years, it remains much lower than is required for the rolling out of social support for former combatants. Currently, there are approximately 57 000 beneficiaries on the military veterans' database. Support to these veterans remains uncoordinated, and benefit roll-outs are uneven.
In his Budget Speech this year, the Finance Minister indicated that the Estimates for National Expenditure show that it plans to give 16 000 veterans access to health care, provide pension and transport benefits to 15 000, and supply 7 000 veterans with housing by 2014-15. We remain hopeful that this will be carried out.
Now that the Military Veterans Act of 2011 is in place, we welcome the development of guidelines and structures to oversee the affairs of the veterans. Essentially, the Act also holds the Minister, Deputy Minister and the department responsible for ensuring that all benefits are paid or provided to military veterans.
The department will collaborate with organs of state, the private sector and strategic organs of civil society to facilitate employment opportunities for, and entrepreneur development among military veterans.
We are heartened by the recognition that the restoration of dignity and appreciation of the contribution of military veterans will be made priorities in the following areas: firstly, the provision of immediate social services to relieve distress among the most vulnerable of military veterans; secondly, the provision of comprehensive support services to military veterans and, where applicable, for their dependants, subject to the availability of resources; thirdly, the promotion of the heritage of military veterans and memorialising and honouring military veterans; fourthly, the maintenance of a credible and secure national military veterans' database; fifthly, the promotion of empowerment programmes for military veterans; sixthly, the acceleration of the delivery of benefits, as espoused in section 5 of the Act; seventhly, the empowerment of military veterans to enhance their contribution to reconciliation and nation- building; eighthly, the promotion of the military veterans' heritage; and lastly, developing, confirming and deepening the skills base of military veterans.
In setting out to achieve these objectives, it is crucial that all state departments in the three spheres, state-owned enterprises and stakeholders fast-track the provision of necessary support to military veterans in relation to benefits contained in the Military Veterans Act. We urge for there to be a budget sufficient to address all of these priorities.
Another area of great concern which we have noted is the state of the infrastructure and facilities of defence. On a site visit to the Waterkloof Air Force Base and 1 Military Hospital, Thaba Tshwane, the neglectful state of these facilities was observed. It was worrying to note the shocking state of defence facilities, many of which did not conform to the functional requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
At the Waterkloof Air Force Base, extensive repairs of the roof and the plumbing system to storage hangars, accommodation, kitchens and messes were required. Sinkholes were evident and the unsteady ground posed serious threats to the lives of personnel. A collapsed carpentry warehouse was the result of this poor maintenance. At 1 Military Hospital Thaba Tshwane, renovations were in progress, although the limited budget is hampering the Technology Revitalisation Plan. This essentially delays the acquisition of much-needed medical equipment.
Notwithstanding the ineffectual relationship between the Department of Public Works, which is responsible for the maintenance and repair of state buildings and the Department of Defence, an added problem is the allocated funding, which is insufficient to meet the set targets. Long-running concerns that the current allocation is insufficient were echoed by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans when she stated that the inadequate budget was impacting on the SA National Defence Force's battle fitness and readiness. She was correct when she said that the SA National Defence Force's budget needed to be a matter of concern for all South Africans.
In conclusion, let me also welcome the release of the Draft 2012 Defence Review. The review sets a long-term policy and strategy agenda for defence that will set the stage for the next 30 years of defence effort. We urge the public to engage with this draft so that we may emerge out of the consultations with a sound defence policy.
Mot?wagagabo ga a laele magage?o! Ke a leboga! [Till we meet again. I thank you!] [Applause.]
The ANC supports the Budget Vote. [Applause.]
Thank you, Chairperson. Hon Minister, the ACDP wishes to commend you and the department for the many and various successes achieved by our soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen in the past year, particularly in humanitarian training and peacekeeping missions, both domestically and throughout Africa. We also congratulate the new appointments to lead the SA National Defence Force. We congratulate you and wish you everything of the best.
Minister, last year you admitted that the department had not succeeded in two critical areas: the revitalisation of the SANDF and its budget. You have indicated that progress has been made with the former, but yet, again, the budget remains woefully inadequate.
How is the department expected to have a Defence Force in a constant state of readiness for any eventuality when there are such budgetary constraints? The additional deployments to patrol the borders, the Kruger National Park, as well as peacekeeping, training and humanitarian missions right across Africa all require additional resources.
The ACDP trusts that the SA Defence Review will take the shift in focus into consideration when its final report is presented to Parliament. If the Defence Review intends setting out the work that government expects the Defence Force to do, it should also relook at the budget required to achieve this. A benchmark of at least 2% of GDP would enable the department to fulfil its commitments, both domestically and on the continent. That obviously depends on addressing concerns about accountability to Parliament, wastage, fraud and corruption.
We see additional resources being needed, for example, the fight against piracy. That is on the increase and cannot be ignored. It threatens maritime security, which is closely linked to the whole of Africa's development and prosperity. Whilst we commend the navy's anti-patrolling operations, they require additional resources. Air patrol is also necessary. The air force requires funding for its new maritime surveillance aircraft.
There are two further aspects that need emphasising. The department must focus on achieving a clean audit. This would strengthen the hands of parliamentarians seeking additional funds. It also needs to strike the right balance between operational and compensation budgets.
To conclude, our soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen perform outstanding work, often under challenging and life-threatening circumstances. The ACDP salutes each and every one of them. Surely, the state has the responsibility to show its support. Surely, we as parliamentarians also have a responsibility to ensure that the SANDF is adequately resourced. Parliament should today already, at this stage, give notice to National Treasury that it will be using its budget review process and powers to request further funds later this year. We cannot fail our SA National Defence Force. The ACDP will support this Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon Members of Parliament, guests in the gallery, let me take this opportunity to acknowledge the presence of my mother, my veteran for my vision for my province, Mama Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati.
Let me quote this first:
Friends and compatriots; By our presence here today, we solemnly honour the pledge we made to ourselves and to the world, that South Africa shall redeem herself and thereby widen the frontiers of human freedom.
As we close a chapter of exclusion and a chapter of heroic struggle, we reaffirm our determination to build a society of which each of us can be proud, as South Africans, as Africans, and as citizens of the world.
These are words uttered by His Excellency, Former President Nelson Mandela, on the occasion of the signing of the Constitution Act into law, the prevailing Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, in Sharpeville. It is clear from this extract that when the South African government, led by the ANC, affirmed its freedom through the passing of a new constitution based on respect for human rights, it did so conscious of the underlying responsibility to promote and seek to achieve the same for the continent of Africa and the world.
The force employment is the deployment of members of the Defence Force for the purposes of interdepartmental or international exercises in humanitarian or peacekeeping missions. The Defence Force may only be deployed by the President of the Republic of South Africa as its Commander in Chief, through powers vested in him by section 201(2) of the Constitution.
South Africa plays a significant role in promoting maintenance of peace across the world owing to the nature of its foreign policy. The government's diplomatic engagements are supported through participation in multilateral institutions such as the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, and the United Nations. This therefore places a moral obligation on South Africa to deploy its Defence Force where necessary, either in defence of peace and stability or for humanitarian purposes in disaster-stricken areas.
Modulasetilo yo o tlotlegang, Ntlo e e tla lemoga gore Molao wa Dikamano tsa Bodit?haba o ikaegile ka moono wa puisano bobedi le tharabololo ya dithulano ka kagiso. Ke ka jalo re romelang Matsholo TshireletsoSesole sa rona go sireletsa matshelo a batho, go tlisa kagiso le go rarolola dithulano ka kagiso. Se ga se reye gore Matsholo TshireletstsoSesole sa ro na ga a tshwanela go nna a eme sejaro go itshereletsa le go sireletsa baagi ba ba se nang molato ka tsela ee nepagetseng. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[Hon Chairperson, this House should realise that our International Relations Act relies on negotiations and peace resolutions. That is the reason why we send our Defence Force to protect civilians, to maintain peace and come up with peace resolutions. This does not mean that our Defence Force is not supposed to protect itself and the innocent civilians in the correct manner.]
We are happy to recognise the stunning work done by our Defence Force in this regard. As indicated by the hon Minister in her speech during the celebration of 10 years of peace-support operations by the SA National Defence Force, "The SA National Defence Force discharges its responsibilities with great distinction and loyalty to the national cause." We wish to indicate that we are with you, Minister, in extending these words of gratitude to all force members who are currently deployed or who have served force deployment duties.
Ga re a tshwanela go lebala re le mokgatlho wa ANC go fetisa ditebogo go malapa a bomme le borre ba masole ka e bile re lemoga gore go sa nneng teng ga motsadi mo lelapeng ka ntlha ya tiro, ke kgwetlo e kgolo mo lelapeng le mo set?habeng. Se ke lona lerato le le tseneletseng la go rata, go jala le go rotloetsa naga ya gaeno, segolo thata mo ba?eng. Botlhale ba phala bo tswa phalaneng e bile kgakakgolo ga e na mebala, mebala e bonwa dikgakaneng. [Legofi.] (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[As the ANC, we should not forget to send a word of thanks to the families of our soldiers because we know that it is a huge challenge to the families and to the nation when a parent is absent at home due to work. This is the deep love of inspiring our nation that we should pass on to our youth. A tree is known by its fruit. [Applause.]]
Through you, hon Chairperson, I convey profound gratitude to the staff deployed at Simon's Town who welcomed me at the recent navy festival held at Simon's Town on 17 March 2012. I wish the hon Maynier was there. He could have danced. This is not the platform to dance. The proper platform to dance was supposed to be at the navy festival. [Applause.] I want to thank Lieutenant Portia Ndanjana,who played an instrumental role in showing the services offered by our maritime forces. I urge hon members to visit Simon's Town and learn a lot about our defence. This programme provides prepared and supported maritime defence capabilities for the defence and protection of South Africa and its maritime zones. The navy plays a leading role in carrying out its task through the provision and operation of support vessels, submarines and naval personnel in our territorial waters and harbours. The department has made maritime security one of its strategic focuses.
In the 2010-11 annual report, the department noted the challenges of critical shortages of personnel in the technical, combat, diver, submariner and logistics domains. The report also acknowledges that there are sufficient newly recruited candidates, but that it will take time before these candidates acquire the requisite skills, knowledge and experience to counter the loss of experienced personnel and meet the prevailing needs.
In addition hereto, in its annual performance plan, the department acceded that maritime security was a concern on the east coast of Africa with the incidents of piracy that have moved as far as Mozambique Channel; hence South Africa will be required to assist and participate in piracy patrols. The challenge identified is that such operations have not been budgeted for. Additional funding will have to be obtained. We support the utilisation of the maritime capability in these security initiatives, but call on the department to ensure that we equip ourselves for the anticipated participation in such missions.
Tiro e e dirilweng ke Matsholo TshireletsoSesole sa rona mo nageng e le kwa dinageng tsa kwa ntle, ke e e itumedisang eo lefapha le e dirang go diragatsa maitlhomo le tiro e e maleba go ya ka Molaotheo wa Aforikaborwa. Kgetsi ya tsie e kgonwa ka go tshwaraganelwa. Mabogo dinku a thebana. A re dirisaneng mmogo go sireletsa naga ya rona. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[The satisfactory job done by our Defence Force in our country and other countries is ensuring that the department is in line with the purpose of the Constitution of South Africa in doing things correctly. Unity is power, so let's work together to protect our country.]
In conclusion, we thank the SA National Defence Force members, current and retired, for their heroic services rendered in defence of the country and the world. We, the ANC, support this Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Esau, I am told that this will be your maiden speech.
Hon Chair, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, hon members of the SA National Defence Force, dignitaries and audience here today, it is indeed a privilege to speak on this occasion, because whenever we celebrate Freedom Day, we celebrate veterans. We celebrate the memory of those who have liberated our country. This reminds us of our responsibility to a special class and category of people, people that deserve to be honoured and respected.
My speech here today will focus on that particular area for which the hon Deputy Minister is responsible, that is the military veterans.
I would like to indicate that in the vision of the document, reference is made to the military veterans as, "a dignified, unified, empowered and self- sufficient military veterans' community". That's the vision.
This department's mission is to facilitate delivery and co-ordinate all activities that recognise and entrench the restoration of dignity and appreciation for the contribution of military veterans to our freedom and nation-building; in the words of the executive authority: "to leapfrog the restoration of dignity and entrench appreciation of the contribution of military veterans".
However, the following is stated in the strategic plan, on page 40, clause 3.11: Critical cost drivers for the medium term:
The allocation received from the fiscus was entirely for the development of systems, policies and processes for delivery to military veterans.
By implication, no allocation had been provided for the benefits as espoused in section 5 of the Act. Service delivery programmes will, nonetheless, receive preference over the MTEF period.
Now, this is slightly contradictory to me.
Invoking the provisions of section 26 will require aggressive mobilisation of resources of a minimum of R486 million to R555 million ...
Almost half a billion -
... over the MTEF period, as was determined during the costing of the Military Veterans Bill, 2010.
In the annual performance plan,on page 17, I quote:
Notwithstanding the fact that the current allocation provided by the National Treasury for the 2012-13 MTEF caters only for the development of policies, systems and processes, delivery on the socioeconomic needs of military veterans and service delivery programmes will receive preference.
Again, a contradiction.
On page 18 of the annual performance plan, reference is made to "... a substantial budget will ensue to realise delivery on these benefits ..."
On page 51, Table 17, we read of the high risk, and risk number one says, "insufficient funding has been identified as a possible risk that must be managed over the MTEF". Funds are lacking concerning the following: its entire programme. Every section of the three programmes and its subprogrammes is affected. The impact on output is to invoke the provisions of section 26. What is the risk treatment that we apply? The executive authority must intervene in the cluster meetings of the Medium-Term Expenditure Committees, MTECs. We must solicit the executive authority, secondly, to intervene, or the intervention must encourage Parliament to provide adequate resources to service the mandate.
So, clearly, if we look at these issues that are raised ...
Hon member, try to conclude now.
What I am clearly saying is that the issue of all the needs within the Ministry and in terms of the performance information - there are no real baselines set - is to be determined. There are no baselines, which means all the information that has been provided is still subject to many service level agreements that need to be drafted to facilitate the assistance of all our military veterans.
In conclusion, I want to say that only 29 of the posts have been filled to date, and there were 43 pending, which is 72 posts. We have an allocation of 141 posts with an additional critical 28 posts of 169 in total. So, certainly, by undermining the employment of the necessary staff to service the organisation and the Ministry and to provide all the skills and professional help to make this institution work for military veterans, we undermine it ourselves. In conclusion ...
No. No. [Interjections.]
One sentence. I beg your indulgence, hon Chair.
No, hon member, because it was your maiden speech, I gave you 30 seconds more. Take another one second.
If we do not give dignity to military veterans, what signals do we send to regular soldiers, the future military veterans? Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon Members of Parliament, the Department of Defence, guests in the gallery, it is not surprising, hon Minister, that the hon Maynier behaved the way he did today. If I am not mistaken, he was trying to impress the leader of his party because she was here. But, hon Minister, I am not sure if the DA realises that the hon Maynier is a security risk to our country. [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
Point of order, Chair ... [Interjections.] Point of order ... to state that a member of this House is a security risk to the country is unparliamentiary. [Interjections.]
Okay, we will come to that point.
Hon Chairperson, for the hon Maynier today to admit that he is an enemy of the Minister is dangerous. [Interjections.] Not even for a single minute did the hon Maynier address the budget. When he started his speech ...
I have a point of order, again, please Chair. [Interjections.] The hon member - senior as he is - should know that budget speeches are customarily political speeches. [Interjections.]
Hon Maziya, continue.
When the hon Maynier started his speech, he started with phrases and all these things, but when he looked to his right he saw the hon Lindiwe and changed his speech. He started saying bad things about the hon Minister. I think, hon Chair, that should be noted.
Bab' uSithole, uma bewuke weza ekomidini, wazama ukwabelana nathi ngalolu lwazi onalo lwezimali, bekuzoba ngcono futhi ubuzosibeka esimeni esihle. Mfowethu Nhanha, besihlala nawe ekomidini, uyangimangaza uma nanamuhla usabiza i-Ombudsman. Asina-Ombudsman, sine-Ombuds. [Uhleko.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Hon Sithole, if you had attended the committee meetings, and tried to share with us the financial knowledge you possess, it would have been better and it would also put us in a good position. My brother, hon Nhanha, I was sitting with you in the committee, but you surprise me today because you are still talking about the Ombudsman. We do not have an Ombudsman anymore, but an Ombud. [Laughter.]]
Chairperson, I am going to concentrate my speech on landward defence and defence intelligence. The objective of landward defence capability is to provide supported landward defence capability for the defence and protection of South Africa. In its report to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, the Interim Defence Commission reported that the infrastructure of the SA National Defence Force was seriously inadequate and, in many cases, in unacceptable disrepair and decay. This is more so in the case of landward defence, because it was not part of the strategic defence package procurement.
Landward defence seriously lacks the technologically advanced state-of-the- art artillery that it so desperately needs. This programme has enjoyed an accelerated increase in the budget from R10,6 billion in the financial year 2008-09, to R17,6 billion in the year 2011-12 at an annual rate of 18,2%. This was due to the improvement in conditions of service for soldiers and the Military Skills Development System initiative.
This Military Skills Development System initiative is one of the interventions utilised by the department in order to meet government's priority of job creation, as called for by the President of the Republic.
An additional vehicle initiated by the Ministry which I know the Minister is passionate about, is the National Youth Service. Both these programmes seek to create work, discipline and skills opportunities for the youth. Upon completion of this programme, the youth that enrolled are left armed with skills to allow them to be easily absorbed into the employment sector, or perhaps absorbed into the department, or they are also facilitated to get employment.
The ANC-led government realised that projections cannot be a reality if not provided for in the budget. Hence the allocation for this programme is further projected to increase to R21,4 billion in the year 2014-15, an average annual rate of 6,8%.
We are encouraged by the fact that the department has, in its strategic plan, identified the rejuvenation and upgrading of the landward programme. As one of its strategic focus areas, we are even further encouraged by the fact that the programme has received the largest increase in allocation in this current budget - to the tune of 24,59%. The department has indicated that it is currently focusing on replacing obsolete equipment and ammunition, with the aim of accumulating sufficient stock to facilitate comprehensive force preparation and training.
We look forward to receiving an update in the portfolio committee from the department on the progress here in due course. This is especially exciting because, through this rejuvenation and upgrade, the current administration has an opportunity to shape the landward capability into what we need in this current day and age: an army that responds to the current force design, requirements and needs.
This august House should note the important role played by the landward defence capacity in the deployment of soldiers for the United Nations and the African Union in humanitarian and peacekeeping support operations in Africa and other regions. This is in line with international bilateral military treaties and agreements to which South Africa is a signatory.
The increase in allocation to this programme is also attributed to the fact that the Defence Force has now taken over borderline security, which, in most instances, is covered by the landward defence capacity. This was a positive move by Cabinet towards strengthening our borders, the security of the country and its citizens.
The department has indicated to the committee that deployments are currently limited owing to capacity constraints. This is meant to increase gradually over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period. The committee will be most interested to hear how this process of taking over the borders is proceeding in the near future.
The Defence Intelligence Programme is mandated to conduct intelligence on foreign military forces and their intentions, as they relate to South Africa and the continent. For obvious strategic intelligence and security reasons, the outputs of this programme are classified and unavailable to the general public.
As a point of reference, one wishes to quote but a few incidents where intelligence support proved vital. The first successful operation was reported by the department during the Operation Kgwele 2010 World Cup in terms of which a secured intelligence data communications network was set up between the Defence Intelligence Headquarters and the national joint operation centre. This proved the capability of our defence intelligence to rise up to world-class standards and ensure a safe world event. Consequently, defence intelligence was also called on to support the international Cricket Twenty20 World Cup as a result of defence intelligence's good work.
What has been reported as a challenge to the programme is the poor state of the defence intelligence's headquarters. We are happy that during the committee's interaction on the strategic plan, the department indicated that the work on the new defence intelligence headquarters was nearing completion. We are advised that all that is left to do is to finalise the analysis and rezoning. We look forward to this process being finalised so that this important programme can function optimally.
An additional challenge is related to human resources and financial ...
Hon Maziya, please conclude.
This results in the poaching of intelligence personnel by other departments and private industry as a result of uncompetitive remuneration. The ANC supports the budget. [Applause.]