Chairperson, I'm also coming to other challenges and I can tell hon members that for the past three years we have been hearing how the SANDF's state of combat readiness is in crisis. We have been receiving such information. I can tell you today that one of the main reasons for this is a financial shortfall. I also mentioned this is my debate last year.
The government of the day must decide whether we want to have a defence force or not. If we do want a defence force, hon Minister, we must tell the government of the day to give us the money to do it with. Billions of rands have been spent on new weaponry, which was supported by all political parties in this Parliament, including the DA.
Everyone said it's fine; we must buy new weaponry. We are sitting with sophisticated weaponry, for instance three submarines of which only one is barely operational. We have about 24 Hawk aircraft. We are getting 26 Grippen fighter jets, some of the most sophisticated fighter jets available. And I want to concentrate on the Air Force. I can tell the Minister that there are indeed people leaving the Defence Force as a result of affirmative action. I think the time has come to say to one another that South Africa needs its best men and women who can do the job. We must get the best of the best. Let's become colour blind when appointing people to perform a task.
And it is true that there are pilots leaving the country because of salaries, etc, but I can tell the Minister today that one of the main reasons why pilots are leaving the country is the fact that they are not getting enough flying hours. There is not enough money to buy the fuel required to let these pilots fly. Hon Minister, a pilot wants to fly. He will fly for a smaller salary, but he wants to fly.]