Chairperson, Ministers here present, Deputy Ministers here present, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, you will, no doubt, note from my General sitting there that we have one person missing from our midst. It is Gen Godfrey Ngwenya who, on 30 March 2011, relinquished his post as Chief of the SA National Defence Force. He is now His Excellency the Ambassador of South Africa to Angola. [Applause.]
He is an amazing man, our General, dedicated and unassuming. The Defence Force was his life. He served with distinction in our ranks as a commander in uMkhonto weSizwe, MK, in the camps of the ruling party in Angola in the 1980s and in that capacity was the last man standing when our soldiers of the ruling party returned home in 1990. He joined uMkhonto weSizwe in 1976 and commanded MK forces in Angola from 1983 to 1989.
He was appointed Chief of the National Defence Force on 1 January 2005. He was an outstanding General, who served the SA National Defence Force, SANDF, with integrity, upholding every virtue that we stand for; a man of outstanding discipline.
He brought stability and a sense of belonging to members. He kept the SANDF together under very trying circumstances when there was a political glitch in our system, which had a very distinct impact on the SANDF. He held it together remarkably when not only the then Minister, but the Deputy Minister too, turned their backs on the SANDF and jumped ship to sink forever into the distant horizon of political oblivion. We survived the unthinkable: when a Minister of Defence effectively defects and joins another party, because Gen Ngwenya held the fort. He will be sorely missed.
The President will shortly be announcing the Chief of the SA National Defence Force. And judging from all of them sitting over there, it will be a man. I see no woman there. That does not give us any clues who it will be, but I am certain that that particular person - and I can go on to say he - will be called upon to fill Gen Ngwenya's shoes and lead the Defence Force to its full potential. This will be no mean feat for anyone, no matter the size of his shoes.
I take this opportunity also to thank the outgoing board of Armscor, the Armaments Corporation of SA, whose term of office comes to an end on 30 April 2011. I thank in particular the chairperson, Dr Popo Molefe and Mr Roelf Meyer, who have served two terms and who, with excellent leadership, have notched up significant accomplishments in creating new ways of thinking.
I thank them immensely for their service to the country by serving on the board of Armscor. Their stature in their own right has added credibility to our processes in the institution. The work of Armscor has shown that we had such steadfast men of vision and commitment. I am sad to lose them from the Armscor ambit, but I hope that they will find it in themselves to serve with us again in other capacities.
To the chairperson, Dr Molefe, your personal support to me has been invaluable. You will remain forever, I hope, an embodiment of everything that we believe in and have fought for. To both of you, South Africa is so much richer for what you have given us.
We have to bid farewell also to the interim commission seated at the back there. I have boundless gratitude for the enormous amount of work they have done, for their commitment to their work, for their impartiality and impeccable scrutiny. Their dedication has allowed us to meet our target of establishing a new defence dispensation in record time. Each one of the members of the interim commission brought unique skills that together provided us with incredible capacity.
Within the rights afforded me by the Constitution, I took a conscious decision that we needed to investigate the creation of a separate dispensation for the SANDF so that we could improve the functioning and conditions in defence. I appointed the interim commission after consultation with Cabinet. In appointing the interim commission, I also took the decision completely outside any requirements of the law to consult with the portfolio committee on the appointment of members of the interim commission.
It is now a commonly recorded fact that some in the portfolio committee - maybe I shall say one in the portfolio committee - abused this gesture of goodwill and, typical of a twisted mind, hyped up a matter so tangential to the real issues we sought to resolve, that it was quite clear that they had no idea what the real challenges of our people in the SANDF were, are or will be in the future.
While they were caught up in their own self-serving melodrama - "Phantom of the Opera" is what I call it - the interim commission calmly kept their course and have delivered a very sound report to guide government on some of the challenges that had built up over the past 15 years before we took over. In line with their main term of reference, they have helped to create a dispensation within which we are now dealing with the unique problems of our soldiers in an environment that is uniquely defence.
I thank you, as you wind up the interim commission. The term of office of the interim commission comes to an end next week, when I will be announcing the names of the new Defence Force Commission in line with the legislation, after I have consulted Cabinet.
I extend special gratitude to Judge Bosielo, the chairperson of the interim commission, for your sterling stewardship, and in particular to the Members of Parliament who served on the commission for showing that although you serve in the opposition you are equally committed to the constructive development of this country; for showing that being in the opposition has nothing to do with opportunistic irresponsibility and has nothing to do with vain attempts at creating a profile.
You have inextricably bound your names to that which will enable our soldiers to live better lives. You worked with integrity to promote the defence of our country. I dread to think what would have happened if certain other members of the opposition served on the commission. I would not be exaggerating if I said that every opportunity would have been used for personal exhibition, at great security risk to the SANDF. [Interjections.]
Yes, I will repeat this and I mean it. Gen Ngwenya, Dr Molefe, Mr Meyer and members of the interim commission, I thank you all for your unwavering service. The SANDF is so much the stronger for your work. You possess that distinctive edge that one acquires when one serves and strives to live to give to a greater cause than oneself. That is what we experienced of each one of you, and I thank you most sincerely.
I deliberately started on that sombre note of bidding farewell to a number of people who have contributed significantly to where we are. This was to ensure that we all recognise that we have reached the end of a particular era in defence, but also to emphasise, importantly, that for every end there is a new beginning, continuity and a responsibility on everyone to ensure that that continuity honours the work that has been laid out for us.
It is on that note of new beginnings that I would like to welcome the new chairpersons of the portfolio committee and joint standing committee. Your vigour, your honesty, your hard work and your focus have been very refreshing. We look forward to a very productive working relationship with you.
Chairpersons of the committees, I ask that you understand that our responsibility is the defence of this country. There is no place in this noble cause for tantrums such as those we have seen in the House. We ask that you deal with the media-seeking tantrums within that environment - it is your environment - so that we can deal with our work. In this period of security turmoil and uncertainty on much of the continent, we have a great deal of responsibility and much to achieve.
We look back from our mid-term vantage point and I must say that on those priorities that we set for ourselves, we have exceeded our own expectations. Apart from the hopelessly inadequate budget - a major hindrance that I will deal with later - as I have alluded to, we have had incredible success, thanks to the many dedicated people who work tirelessly to secure our country.
When the country hosted the Fifa Soccer World Cup, the SANDF set out to ensure that the country, as was required, provided ironclad security for the duration of the tournament. The preparation, co-ordination and management of security fell under the auspices of both the SANDF and the SA Police Service.
Throughout the tournament we patrolled our territorial waters and the approaches to the ports where soccer was being played. We covered our airspace with our flying combat patrols all over the stadia. The South African Army formed a cordon on our borders and on the periphery of the stadia where games were being played. The South African Military Health Service was on standby for any emergency.
Our air defence was in control as we exercised a no-fly zone over our games. We were authorised at that particular time, and I can say it now, to shoot down any flight that was unauthorised. This is what a no-fly zone means. Here, the pertinent point is, for the present, we were able to do that and show that it is possible to exercise a no-fly zone without bringing anybody down. [Applause.]
It is also in this reporting period that the SANDF was called upon to assume further responsibility during the crippling three-week national health workers' strike in August 2010. We responded to a request from Cabinet and deployed our personnel by taking over 74 abandoned hospitals in 8 provinces. The SANDF gladly undertook these responsibilities, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit - are you listening, hon? [Interjections.] Did I say "maniac"? I'm sorry, "Maynier" - so defining of character than giving to a difficult task and giving all to that particular task.
These successes are consistent with our sterling performance on external missions. On the continental front, we are one of the biggest contributors to peacekeeping forces. I am pleased to state with pride that our armed forces are some of the most preferred in peacekeeping operations on the continent. We serve with distinction and we have been internationally acclaimed for the work that we do.
It was for this reason that at the end of last year we provided a general performance bonus as a token of our appreciation to all our members in the SANDF from salary levels 1 to 12 for their hard work and contribution towards these successes. Their contribution, loyalty, dedication and patriotism are the cornerstones of the SANDF.
We seek to highlight this sterling contribution to respond to those whose role has been to throw mud and demoralise our troops. These individuals, and in collaboration with their sponsors in the media, spared no effort to try to malign and denigrate our forces. They sought to use every platform to cast doubt on the leadership of this august structure. These individuals, who are given to melodrama, have confused Parliament for theatre, a place perhaps where they would be well advised to go ply their skills.
I have a point of order, Mr Chairperson. Mr Chair, I wonder if I may ask ... I'm finding it very difficult as the Whip on duty for my party to support what is going on. We've had nine references. [Interjections.] I've had nine references ... [Interjections.]
Order! Order, hon members! Order, please.
I've had nine references impugning the integrity of a member of the committee. If it is a member, I would like very much to know the name of that member so that I may deal with this matter appropriately. Thank you. [Interjections.]
Hon member, I'll take that point and make a ruling on it later. Go ahead, Minister.
Chairperson, will you defend me from that cowardly behaviour over there? [Interjections.] Chairperson, our success over the past financial year bears testimony to our having met the targets that we set ourselves in the 2009-10 financial year. [Interjections.]
Order, please! Order!
Last year we made very bold statements indicating what we had hoped to achieve by now. We set ourselves some very ambitious priorities and we can report that we have achieved those priorities.
On the defence dispensation, this is the most significant among those that we have achieved with the generous help of both the interim commission and Members of Parliament. The amending Bill has been passed by Parliament and I would like to thank the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans for their support.
We set the goals of creating a new dispensation for the SANDF and we have done that. With the completion of regulations, we will have removed the SANDF from the stranglehold of an ill-fitting establishment and placed it in an environment where it should be and from which we hope we can propel it forward. This has been such a remarkable step that I am amazed it took such a short space of time. But, of course, it is fair to understand that some of this was held back by some of the activities that were going on in the House, exemplified even now as I speak.
We are now in charge of the destiny of our soldiers and we are able to do what a long time ago would have been the sensible thing to do. The most basic advantage, long overdue, is that within this dispensation we are now able to deal comprehensively with the issue of accommodation of our soldiers; we can now deal comprehensively with the grievances of our personnel within our environment; and we can now deal comprehensively with the discipline of our soldiers within the mould of our institutions.
It boggles the mind why it took us so long to get here. But, most importantly, we intend to use this dispensation to ensure that the state can invest in each soldier in direct proportion to what the state expects to get from that soldier. Therefore the funding of the SANDF has to reflect this reality.
The Deputy Minister is here, and will deal with our obligations in terms of one of the priorities that we set ourselves last year regarding the military veterans.
We want to indicate at this particular point that uMkhonto weSizwe will be coming of age this year in celebrating its 50th year. This coming year will be characterised by initiatives to show our indebtedness and recognition to all those who sacrificed their wellbeing to help us realise the freedoms that we now enjoy. This is one of the single most important priorities that we set for ourselves this year. By the time that Azanla, Azanian National Liberation Army, and Apla, Azanian People's Liberation Army, forces also come of age, we will ensure that we celebrate accordingly.
We promised that the matter of the department's status as a repeat offender in the Auditor-General's report would come to an end. We have lived up to that promise. The Auditor-General's report indicates the good work that has been put into ensuring that our audit reflects our determination. The Secretary for Defence, together with the chief financial officer, are keenly aware that their lives depend on this. We promised to appoint a compliance officer in the Minister's office and we have done that.
Regarding border security, we promised to return to the borders, and we can report that we have done that. We took the opportunity to invite members of the portfolio committee to see the formidable challenges that we faced as we took over the responsibility. Now South Africa is reaping the benefits of our deployment. Our borders are secure, cross-border crime has dropped, syndicate crime has been dealt a blow, and our communities and the farmers feel safe. As of 1 April this year we moved to the second phase and are now deployed on the border along the Kruger National Park.
With regard to policy review, we promised to deal with a number of issues especially around the Defence Review and a number of other policy reviews. We can now report that I have here with me, not as a show as we saw last year, but tangible work that we have done, which we give over - not to you; you're not the portfolio committee.
We promised that we would deal with the repositioning of the Secretariat of Defence. We have done that and the documentation is here. We promised to deal with the establishment of the National Youth Service, and we have done that and the documentation is here. We promised to deal with the repositioning of the defence industry, especially that of Denel, and we have done it. Again, it is here. We will make these representations to you and the relevant portfolio committee chairperson at a time that is convenient to you. If you could call on us, we will make sure that we do that.
We await the preferred dates from both the oversight committee and the joint standing committee. We would want to urge members here please not to use old stunts. These documents are documents that will be handed over to the portfolio committee for discussion. Banish any thought of more publicity gimmicks around documents.
In terms of defence capability, we promised to attend urgently to the matter of the declining state of our infrastructure, and we have done so. We have not, however, succeeded in covering one critical issue, namely the essential matter we are discussing today, which is the Defence budget. It remains a critical driver of our priorities that we have identified for this current financial year.
The budget of the Defence Force has to change and reflect the constitutional requirements that we have. To bemoan the inadequacies of the budget is to repeat what each one of us here understands is a matter that we should be addressing as a matter of urgency and together. In this current period of turmoil in North Africa and the Cte d'Ivoire, we are called upon to ensure that we have a defence force in place in a constant state of readiness for any eventuality.
In the short term we have had to reprioritise and use the virement tool to scrape through, at great cost to our programmes and development. The priorities we outline now will require a significantly increased budget and we ask you, through you, Chairperson, to please consider this as you make your submission on the budget.
And now, going forward, we have outlined our priorities for the current year quite extensively in our strategic objectives, which have already been tabled before Parliament and discussed extensively with members of the portfolio committee.
We want to emphasise just a few of these. To begin with, there is the entrenchment of the new dispensation. The first piece of legislation is the Defence Amendment Bill, which has been passed and promulgated. We are now preparing the regulations that will lay the foundation for this dispensation. We expect that these will be completed soon. This dispensation will not be an event, but a process, and we will have to manage it in a structured way. It comes at a time when we have put in place the cornerstones of what we need to put right in the Defence Force. We have completed the process of our grievance procedures.
We also want to table before you two other important pieces of legislation: The Military Ombudsman Bill, the Bill that deals with the critical issue that you have had on you mind for a very long time, which is the unions in the Defence Force, and the Military Discipline Bill.
On the issue of the military unions, the legislation will be tabled before you. Therefore, I will not continually have to answer the perennial question coming from you on why we are still allowing unions in the Defence Force. We have taken the political decision. The decision will be in your hands as the legislature. You have the mandate; you have the power to legislate.
Our second priority is the improvement of the conditions of the Defence Force with the budget that we have. However, we have resolved to be very prudent because we don't have much, and to husband our resources. We have imposed stringent austerity measures on our system. Furthermore, we are working on ways of maximising our assets to benefit our need for decent accommodation for our soldiers. Our assets are land that we own and the Defence Works capability.
We have just concluded a very important audit of Defence endowment land and properties. We received this last week. The point that I want you to make from this is that the outcome of the audit makes us understand the value of the land that we have. The next phase would be to conduct an audit of the land that is held in our name by Public Works. We intend to put this land to productive use, primarily in partnership with the private sector and our Works Regiment to build accommodation for our soldiers.
We believe there is great potential here, in partnership with the private sector, in the revitalisation of the Works Regiment and the creation of jobs for the main product itself, which is decent accommodation for our soldiers and their families.
In terms of our third priority, we have recently had a great shock, as the world and Africa, in waking up to the fact that stability in the end does rest on how we respond to the aspirations of the youth. South Africa was alive to these challenges long before it became fashionable. The President himself in 2010 directed our attention to the demographic and political challenges of a youthful country, long before anyone ever imagined there would be trouble in what were considered safe countries, such as Tunisia and Egypt.
We now have in front of us the policy for the national youth programme, which, again, we will be tabling before the portfolio committee. [Interjections.] Would you protect me from that rowdiness?
Our fourth and very important priority is maritime security. [Interjections.]
Order, please! Order! Let's listen to the Minister, please.
This is a matter that we have been putting off taking decisions on. The time has come for us to indicate that maritime security is no longer a distant problem. We have, therefore, taken a decision to prioritise this matter. The countries of SADC, the Southern African Development Community, with whom we are inextricably linked, depend on us to take the lead in this matter. The decision, therefore, has been taken. This will be the focus of our policy, which is a deterrent policy to deter piracy along the Southern African coast of the Indian Ocean, in particular the Mozambique Channel.
Following reports of pirate activity off the coast of Mozambique and parts of Tanzania, this decision could not be deferred any further. Our maritime strategy will serve before Cabinet and thereafter serve before the joint standing committee of Parliament for consideration.
Our fifth priority is that we want to ensure that we can give the necessary impetus to the revitalisation of the reserve forces. This is something that has been very extensively dealt with. The Defence Amendment Act of 2010, promulgated in December, makes provision for the reserve force and, to date, we have had a call-up of 16 000 members of the reserve force and we hope to build on this.
Our sixth priority is the defence industry. We have here the documents that will be given to the portfolio committee - not anybody out there with a loud enough voice to try to drown out everybody else. The restructuring of the defence industry will focus on structural arrangements that maintain and deliver strategic defence capability in a sustainable way. The interactive framework and function alignment to properly synchronise these with the requirements and the mandate of the SANDF are in place here. The emphasis should be on governance, risk management, and the compliance and accountability framework within the Defence portfolio.
In conclusion, as we commit ourselves to ensuring that we can live up to our promises, we need to also celebrate our successes. I'm extremely proud of what we have achieved, and my sincerest gratitude goes to all who have contributed to these significant achievements: the long-suffering Deputy Minister responsible for a very difficult task, the Acting Chief of the Defence Force for his unfailing capacity, the Chiefs of Services and the divisional heads to the Director-General of Military Veteran Services, the Secretariat for Defence; and to all of those who have worked to make sure that we are where we are.
Finally, Chairperson, allow me to direct myself ...
Hon Minister, your time has expired. [Interjections.]
Chairperson, when a question was asked, you allowed for some minutes without stopping the clock. [Interjections.]
Order! Order, please! Order! Order! Order, please! Hon Minister, direct this to the Chair, please. I'll give you a few seconds to complete.
Thank you very much, Chairperson. Finally, and most importantly, allow me to direct myself to the uniformed and non-uniformed members of the department who are viewing this, I'm hoping, right now in their barracks. You have done me very proud this year. I want to assure you that your welfare and your concerns are what drive us, because we demand nothing of you but the best, and we commit nothing but the best to you. I thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]
Hon Kohler-Barnard, let me come back to you regarding the point you raised, simply to rule that the Minister was not referring to any particular member or casting any aspersions on a particular member of the House. She was not addressing herself to a particular member of the House. Therefore, the point you raised will not stand. [Applause.]
However, I also want to say, hon members, that I'm quite aware that the defence of any country is an emotional subject for the people of that country. I think we have experienced that ourselves in this House. Therefore, I would request members to treat each other with dignity and respect as we go on and debate. I know that this is an aggressive type of subject, but please let's treat each other with respect and dignity when we make our points. I'm appealing to all members, not to any side, but to all members. [Applause.]
Mohlomphegi Modulasetulo, mohl Tona ya t?a T?hirelet?o le Bagale ba Se?ole, Maloko a Palamente kamoka ao a hlomphegago, baeng kamoka, ke a le dumedi?a. Ke tla thoma ka go gopot?a set?haba gore Molaotheo wa naga ye ya ge?o ya Afrika-Borwa o fa se?ole maatla a go t?hirelet?a naga ye ya ge?o - Repabliki ya Afrika-Borwa - seriti sa mellwane ya naga le badudi ba naga. (Translation of Sepedi paragraph follows.)
[Mr M S MOTIMELE: Greetings, hon Chairperson, hon Minister of Defence and Military Veterans and distinguished guests. I will start by reminding the nation that the Constitution of South Africa gives the Defence Force the power to protect our country - the Republic of South Africa - the dignity of the borders of this country and the citizens of this country.]
Therefore, the South African Army, as the main landward defence component, is uniquely positioned to be the mainstay intervention internally as well as externally, for South Africa. Regarding the nature of the democratic dispensation security institutions, the 1992 ANC "Ready to Govern" document pointed out that: South Africa shall pursue peaceful and co-operative relations with neighbouring states; the security institutions shall be bound by the principle of civil supremacy and subject to public scrutiny and open debate; the security institutions shall reflect the national and gender composition of the South African society ... security institutions shall respect human rights, nonracialism and democracy, and act in a nondiscriminatory manner towards the citizenry.
We have, since the dawn of democracy, observed the evolution of the SA National Defence Force from a narrow protectionist army whose core function was to defend a discredited minority regime against the downtrodden majority, to a legitimate protector of the people. However, this process has not been without its challenges, some of which continue to pose a threat to transformation. The integration of statutory and nonstatutory forces into one amalgam has brought with it tensions emanating from suspicion and discomfort. However, today we can say proudly that the SANDF gains strength and credibility with each passing day.
One of the foibles attributed to our society has been the manner in which it has treated its military veterans, most of whom have sacrificed life and limb for the liberation of our people from racial discrimination and apartheid brutality. These heroes of our struggle were relegated to the peripheral margins of socioeconomic activity.
Indeed, they remained but forgotten heroes. All gratitude is due to the ANC 2007 Polokwane national conference, which reminded us that as a nation we can ill afford to treat as pariahs those whose blood and sweat watered the tree of freedom, those who struggle to fit into the mainstream. Today we make history because we have not only successfully launched the Military Veterans department, but have also allocated a budget to it. This is an expression of how much we treasure our combatants. [Applause.]
As mentioned earlier, securing territorial integrity is at the centre of the mandate of our Defence Force. We therefore welcome the return of the SANDF to the borderline areas. However, to welcome this positive development without accepting the responsibility to sustain this initiative would be inept. Evidence at our disposal compels us to conclude that meaningful safeguarding involves not only the deployment of soldiers, but border-fence construction and maintenance across the perimeter of the Republic. It is our belief that this task alone warrants convincing financial commitment.
We are, therefore, not encouraged by the contraction of the department's budget by R272,7 million from R30,7 billion in 2010-11 to R30,4 billion in 2011-12. Notwithstanding notable lapses in pecuniary considerations, it is our conviction that the department's financial irregularities were born out of necessity and are thus justifiable in a society founded on the values of human dignity, equality and freedom. The budget reduction, in our view, is not commensurate with the escalating responsibilities of the department.
However, we support the 33% of the budget going towards landward defence as a signal of capacity-building in borderline control and management. We also deem it appropriate to allocate 49% of the budget towards employee compensation in light of our commitment to creating decent jobs and sustainable livelihoods.
We commend the department for effecting cost-containment measures without compromising frontline defence services. According to the Estimate of Expenditure, savings of R506,6 million in 2011-12, R568,1 million in 2012- 13 and R549,2 million in 2013-14 have been identified across all programmes in spending on goods and services, mainly on contractors.
Cost-cutting measures include limiting overseas visits and travel; limiting the replacement of sedan vehicles; reducing the procurement of books, pamphlets, magazines and office furniture; and curtailing work sessions and catering. It was our conviction that these savings would be gainfully utilised to advance the collective development of our people.
Once again we wish to urge the department to improve its stewardship mechanisms. The internal audit function should be strengthened to ensure that internal financial systems are in place and that compliance with such systems is realised at all material times.
We are fully cognisant of the challenges facing the department in terms of concluding a reliable asset registry that includes all its fixed and nonfixed assets. However, we are confident that challenging though this task may be, it is not impossible to conclude.
We also urge the department to ensure compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and Treasury regulations which regulate budget management.
What should guide every government department in the current financial year is the President's declaration that this year should be a year of job creation. This call follows on the heels of a global economic meltdown that has elicited jitters in the financial markets, leading to massive job- shedding. In South Africa more than a million jobs have been wiped out. It is therefore key that government departments are seen to be creating and retaining decent jobs.
In response to this initiative, the department intends to do the following: Fill 1 401 vacant funded positions in the department; recruit 5 700 young South Africans per year into the Military Skills Development System; have a call-up of 16 400 defence reserve members per year to undertake specific tasks over a specific period of time; and strengthen the department's works capacity to create opportunities within the SANDF for people with technical skills.
We more especially welcome the initiative to strengthen the department's works capacity as this will not only absorb skills, but also be a conduit for skills transfer within the SANDF. Of even more benefit is that the department will increase its capacity to maintain its infrastructure and, where possible, construct it by itself without having to rely for such services on Public Works. This we welcome as it will facilitate the renovation of departmental subsidiaries, like the Castle of Good Hope, the renovation of which has been put on hold because of waiting for the Department of Public Works.
The focus of our government's engagement on the African continent is to promote development, contribute to the resolution of conflicts, and build an environment in which socioeconomic development can take place. Our view is that socioeconomic development cannot take place in the absence of peace and stability, as these constitute the necessary conditions for sustainable economic development. Similarly, socioeconomic development is critical to addressing the root causes of conflict and instability. Testament to the aforementioned is the respect the South African Army has earned from the United Nations, the African Union and the Southern African Development Community as a formidable player in peace-supporting operations.
In this regard, we support the army's continued participation in peace- supporting operations, inter alia, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Sudan and Uganda, averaging a total of 2 894 members being deployed in various external missions.
However, these external missions need focused resourcing to ensure their success. The invitation to South Africa to join the Bric - Brazil, Russia, India and China - economic bloc, its nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, and its role in the African Union Security Council require, among other things, that we strengthen our capacity for intervention. We need to continue contributing to the promotion of peace, security and stability through, among other things, engaging in preventive diplomacy and sustaining our involvement in peacekeeping operations in Africa.
In conclusion, our soldiers are the most important resource available to us. If one looks at the various tasks and responsibilities they have to perform, sometimes under very severe and challenging circumstances, it is clear that we need to look after them in a manner that befits their sacrifices.
From the unique nature of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, it is evident that it is the only department where men and women can be expected, if needs be or called upon, to lay down their lives in defence of our Constitution, our people and our country. It is only right and just that we should capacitate them accordingly for this tremendous responsibility. One way of doing that is to accord them the necessary funding.
The ANC pledges its support to the department and supports the Budget Vote. We are proud of our past and confident of our future. Thank you. [Applause.]
Chair, let me begin by saying that it is frankly a little nerve-wracking to be within a mere handbag's length of the Minister. [Laughter.] So I hope that in the event of the Minister deciding to take offensive action during this debate, you will provide me with the protection afforded to all Members of Parliament.
It's a big handbag. [Laughter.]
Chairperson, we do not step back often enough to reflect on what we have all achieved in South Africa. The establishment of the National Defence Force, forged from seven different armed formations, which were once sworn enemies, was always going to be a challenge.
I would like to begin, therefore, by acknowledging the hard work being done by the Minister and the department in dealing with many of the challenges facing the Defence Force. We may not always agree on what must be achieved, but that does not mean that nothing has been achieved.
The Minister should take credit for the role the Defence Force played in providing security during World Cup 2010, the deployment of a warship on antipiracy operations off the coast of Mozambique, the role the Defence Force is playing in safeguarding our landward borders, and the deployment of the Defence Force in antipoaching operations in the Kruger National Park.
The Minister should also take credit for the appointment of Mpumi Mpofu, the Secretary for Defence, and the appointment of Mziwonke Dlabantu as chief financial officer, and audit reports which are going in the right direction as a result of "Operation Clean Audit". The new Secretary for Defence, Mpumi Mpofu, has shown that she does have the right stuff. She is a military version of a "Tiger Mom", whose management motto, we hear, is: "Comply or die." The Defence Secretariat is being pushed harder than ever before and we are beginning to see the results.
The final report of the Interim National Defence Force Service Commission was made public in 2010. The commission effectively took an official peek at service conditions within the Defence Force, and what the commission observed, during visits to military bases throughout the Defence force, was shocking. The commission found a broken chain of command, a politicised promotion system, a dysfunctional grievance system, a breakdown in discipline and a career management system that did not work.
The shocking state of the Defence Force was symbolised by the crisis the commission found at the Doornkop-Lenz military base, home to 21 South African Infantry Battalion. The commission observed troops simply idling about the base, because there were no proper facilities; leaks in roofs and pipes, broken doors and windows, caved-in ceilings, blocked urinals and toilets - and the troops reported for duty at 08:00 and then left the base at 09:00 with the knowledge of their officers. The situation was so bad that the commanding officer, who was acting in that position and who was merely a major, conceded that he had lost control of the soldiers. In the end, the commission provides official confirmation that the Defence Force is in deep trouble.
The commission made several recommendations, many of which were poorly defined, but the commission was absolutely correct to recommend that a properly funded and extensive Defence Review be undertaken as soon as possible. The last Defence Review was carried out in 1998 - more than 10 years ago - and is now completely outdated. The strategic environment has changed fundamentally since the last Defence Review. That is why we need to conduct a Defence Review to reset the mandate, capabilities and funding levels of the Defence Force. The Minister's statement in this regard was welcome.
Now, you would recall that the final report of the Interim National Defence Force Service Commission caused a political battle, which lasted for months, and which ended in a purge of ruling party ranks serving on the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans. Winning the political battle was presumably a high moment for the Minister, but it was a low moment for our constitutional democracy. I, for one, cannot understand why the Minister, who worked so hard to build democracy in our country, is now working so hard to break down democracy in our country. In a constitutional democracy such as ours it is imperative for the Defence Force to be properly accountable to Parliament. However, the reality is quite different.
The Chief of the SA National Defence Force, together with the service chiefs, have never appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans or, indeed, before the Joint Standing Committee on Defence.
Despite the fact that Parliament is expected to vote on the appropriation of more than R36 billion for the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, Parliament has never been briefed on the combat-readiness of the Defence Force. Major acquisition projects are buried in the special defence account, despite only a small proportion of expenditure on projects being tagged as sensitive projects. Written parliamentary questions are simply ignored, half answered and, in some cases, simply not answered, and now seem hardly worth submitting.
Access to information requests on the arms deal, on the Airbus A400M and on VIP flights are simply ignored. Grievances submitted on behalf of both serving and former members of the Defence Force, such as the more than 30 grievances in this box, are not efficiently dealt with and no feedback on progress is provided.
The Defence department unfortunately remains, to a large extent, a state within a state, resisting being properly accountable to Parliament. One of the best examples of the Defence department's resistance to security and oversight is the whole question of VIP flights. In the past, the Department of Defence provided Parliament with all the relevant details, including the routing, the names of passengers, a breakdown of the operating costs, and the total costs of VIP flights.
However, the Minister now refuses to provide Parliament with any of these details on the grounds that disclosure of the information may compromise - you guessed it - "national security".
I suspect that what the Minister is trying to hide from Parliament are the massive costs involved in laying on military aircraft, reserve force aircraft and chartered aircraft for VIPs. [Interjections.] There can be no better support for this proposition than the Minister's own flight schedule. The Minister is - to put it mildly - a "frequent military flyer", regularly using military aircraft operated by the SA Air Force. The Minister would not want you to know the actual number of flights she undertakes each week.
The Minister would also not want you to know the number of "ferry" flights - that is when empty military aircraft transit from Pretoria to Cape Town or Cape Town to Pretoria - to collect the Minister; and the Minister would really not want you to know that the cost of operating some of the aircraft she uses exceeds R50 000 an hour. [Interjections.] That means that every time the Minister flies between Pretoria and Cape Town return, the total cost of the flight would fund the building of approximately two houses for military veterans; or it could fund the employment of approximately four young people for a whole year in the Defence Force's Military Skills Development System programme. [Interjections.] Surely, now the Minister will consider scaling back her flight schedule? [Interjections.] Now, I know that going back to chicken and beef will be a real pain, but perhaps the Minister could even try flying commercial on South African Airways.
Of even more concern is that we hear that the Defence department was looking to buy two Boeing 767s, two 737s, and two Bombardier Global Express XRS aircraft for use by the President and Ministers. Now we hear that the department has settled for two Embraer Lineage 1000 aircraft to transport VIPs, at a cost of R800 million. I suspect there is something very wrong here, and in the coming weeks this deal needs to be scrutinised.
In any event, we need to look into the excessive secrecy that surrounds VIP flights and the massive increase in costs of VIP flights. I wrote to the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Stanley Motimele, in this regard. And, I am sure that the Minister will be delighted to hear that I never received a reply.
In the end, the fact is that proper parliamentary scrutiny and oversight of the Defence department is in danger of collapsing. And the parliamentary defence committees are now in danger of turning into a political charade where members ask questions and officials pretend to provide answers.
The struggle to keep proper scrutiny and oversight of the Defence department has not collapsed, however. The battle will culminate sometime this year, I suspect, in a battle to prevent the Minister from turning the Joint Standing Committee on Defence into a joint standing committee on intelligence, which meets behind closed doors.
Now, rather than take the easy road and hide behind the Defence Force's favourite fig leaf, namely national security, let us take the hard road and find a proper balance between secrecy and transparency. Let us also do this because in the words of one distinguished legal scholar: "A society that demonstrates no concern for this problem has ceased, or is ceasing to be democratic."
In the end, effective scrutiny and oversight may not always be good for the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, but it is good for the Department of Defence and Military Veterans. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Excuse me, Chairperson, according to this timer, the hon member has one minute of his allotted time left. I timed him from the moment he started. [Interjections.]
Hon member, your time has expired. We have our own timekeeping here. [Interjections.]
With all due respect, Chair, there is a minute left of the time for the hon member! [Interjections.]
On what point are you ... [Interjections.] Hon member, please respect the House. The time of the member did expire, and I have already called on the hon Nhanha to speak.
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, Members of the Fourth Democratic Parliament, ladies and gentlemen, firstly, may I wish Gen Ngwenya well in his future endeavours and I also thank him for having served our nation with flying colours. [Applause.] No, no; you'll hound me very soon. [Laughter.]
Secondly, may I respond to the Minister when she accused the hon Lekota of having jumped ship. Can I just say that he didn't jump ship; he took a principled decision to forfeit the blue lights, luxury lifestyle and good package when he left the ruling party. [Interjections.] That is precisely what he did.
Order, hon members! Order!
He marched against some of his colleagues at the time who could not face hunger, and they remained in Cabinet.
As the Congress of the People ... [Interjections.] ... either of the two. [Laughter.] [Applause.] As Cope, we are worried about the reports that have been filtering through for several months now about the department moving from military might to a military Mickey Mouse outfit.
The parliamentary committee recommendations, budget review summaries, and the subsequent Auditor-General's reports reflect a lot of managerial, financial and strategic operational failures. In this regard, the department has failed to raise about R200 million to fund full military brigade exercises in the 2009-10 financial year.
The navy suspended its involvement in international naval exercises last year. Ships spend over 324 days per year docked and inactive. Allocations for this programme decreased significantly by just over 28% since the 2008- 09 budget. To illustrate this point, the first submarine acquired under the controversial 1999 arms deal, the SAS Manthantisi, has not left Simon's Town naval dry dock in more than two years. A R3 billion deposit remains uncollected from the Canadian Gripen helicopter suppliers whose contract was cancelled last year.
There was a budgetary shortfall of more than R7 billion in the current financial year, and a shortfall in operational funding of nearly R4 billion. Demands on the South African military are ever increasing. The planned target of 70 000 to 100 000 army reserves was not and has not been met. The Minister has just announced that an amount of only 16 000 reserves was met.
For your information, hon Minister, I attended a birthday celebration last week at 6 SA Infantry Battalion in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. I spoke to a helicopter pilot from Durban who was very worried about the loss of pilots from the SA Air Force, in that the private sector is poaching highly qualified senior pilots who have been trained with our own tax monies, hon Minister. Something has to be done about this. Another issue is that the SA Military Health Service has a shortage of health care practitioners.
The continued nonattendance of portfolio committee meetings by the department's audit committee left an unpleasant constitutional void of accountability in the past financial year. I am glad that the hon Minister has offered to appear before the committee. It's intriguing, hon Minister, I must say.
Cope welcomes the establishment of the Civil Secretariat last year. This will help South Africa and the Ministers to enhance civil control, compliance and oversight. Cope supports the policy of citizen democracy, which will force the department to abide by its constitutional mandate and accountability through civilian oversight.
For the 2010-11 financial year, the department has ...
Hon member, please take your seat. I will refund you the time lost. Hon members, the previous Chair, the hon Skosana, requested that we contain ourselves and allow speakers to speak and lend them our ears. Whatever we do, we must do it in such a way that it does not disrupt the proceedings of the House. So, I am appealing to you once more to give people who are speaking the opportunity to make their points. Continue, hon member.
Please take note of the time, Chair. For the 2010-11 financial year, the department outlined 14 priorities, inter alia, the transformation of Armscor and Denel. But surprisingly, whilst the President talks about job creation, it is alleged that the Minister is holding back the R12 billion Hoefyster programme intended to sustain current jobs and jump-start further job creation at Denel Manufacturing.
The 2010-2011 budget represents a significant minus 10,11% decrease in allocation in real terms. While the international norm is 2% of GDP, a decreasing defence budget does not respond to the overall defence mandate, especially in these uncertain times.
Cope recognises the need for war veterans of all relevant organisations to be acknowledged and be given the status and pensions they so deserve. We are, however, worried about the ill-defined verification process to determine eligibility and the number of genuine beneficiaries. For example, in Alice in the Eastern Cape, where I come from, there are many so-called military veterans who have not seen a Makarov pistol, or carried an AK47, for that matter. We, as Cope, will in due course move a motion that a watertight nondivisive verification process be introduced without excluding those who genuinely deserve the benefit.
In conclusion, sound leadership is needed in the department. The Minister herself has been a thorn in the flesh to the parliamentary processes, subjecting the role of Cabinet, the executive and Parliament to her emotional whims. All of the above put together have caused the department and the country delayed delivery and accountability.
As Cope, we support this budget, but we would like to see an increase in Defence of at least 3%, more transparency, accountability, humble yet professional leadership, and absolute assurance of our safety and that of the country. My mom knows who I am. I thank you, Chair.
Chairperson, the paramount duty of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans is to defend the borders and the people of South Africa.
Our defence veterans, our warriors of old, must not be forgotten now that they are very old. They must be given a pension on which they can live and other benefits. In this regard, the IFP seeks clarity of the definition of who qualifies to be a veteran. Am I one, or are you one? That's exactly what I want to know.
Another concern is the ill-treatment of some of the members of the Defence Force who do not come from uMkhonto weSizwe, and the Azanian People's Liberation Army, Apla. We hear reports that these members are being treated differently from members who are originally from MK and Apla.
Yini umsindo ongaka, ibulala izindlebe zabantu lento lena. [Why is there so much noise? This thing is damaging people's ears.]
Could you control the noise, please? When it comes to promotions and benefits within the Defence Force, we ask that the Minister investigate this matter and report back.
The SA National Defence Force, SANDF, must continue with its recruitment drive. Advertisements must be prominently displayed in each of our provinces. Our youth are currently one of the largest segments of our unemployed people.
Hon members, I shall now request the technical people to please take care of the sound. There is a disturbing noise. Use another microphone, hon member.
Thank you, Chairperson. Our youth are currently one of the largest segments of our unemployed people and should be encouraged to spend at least one or two years in service in defence of their country. Training, discipline, travel, remuneration, a sense of responsibility, and the knowledge that one has been part of and contributed to something bigger than oneself are just some of the benefits of military service and, as such, must be encouraged.
In this respect, the National Youth Service concept must remain one of the department's key priorities. Budgets should be made immediately available for this and a concrete plan for its implementation should be debated and agreed upon.
The issue of trade unions operating within the Defence Force is another issue that must be dealt with immediately and decisively. Trade unions have no place no place - in any Defence Force as they undermine military discipline, divide members and have the overall net effect of weakening the military. There can only be one commander in chief in any army. In our case, it is the President, represented by the hon Minister. Soldiers have to be wholly loyal to the chain of command. Trade unions weaken that loyalty and, by so doing, place the lives, not only of soldiers but also of civilians at great risk. For that reason alone, trade unions cannot and should not have any place whatsoever in the military personnel structure. [Applause.] They should not and must not, by any means.
The sale of arms and ammunition to regimes guilty or even reasonably suspected of committing human rights atrocities must not be allowed to take place under any circumstances. The IFP urges the Ministry to carefully scrutinise any requests for arms sales, lest South Africa becomes a part of human rights abuses by states that we have supplied with arms.
In this regard, the IFP would like to request the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Chairperson of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee to keep an eye on what is happening in the NCACC as the committee's oversight controls - which should prohibit the sale of weapons to countries where they may contribute to international repression, human rights violations or are likely to escalate regional military conflicts - seem to be nonexistent, as evidenced in the R70 million in arms sales by South Africa to Libya in 2010.
Regarding border control, the IFP welcomes the deployment of troops along our borders, which have become so porous in the past 10 years. This will greatly assist in reducing illicit movement across our borders of humans, animals and goods, and, it is hoped, reduce the instance of rhino poaching in our national parks situated along our borders. Syndicates operating ... [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members, the Secretary for Defence, commanders, Judge Bosielo and the Defence Force Service Commission, commissioners, ladies and gentlemen, the UDM supports Budget Vote No 22. [Applause.] Taking a retrospective view from the time the Minister took charge of the department, we can all agree that the Defence Force is on its way to recapturing lost ground, the lost ground often being occasioned by a lack of leadership. [Applause.]
Indeed, the UDM believes that in order to build a strong Defence Force which South Africa can be proud of, this House, together with the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, needs to review the department's strategy. This strategy should be influenced by our internal security threats, as well as our country's foreign policy requirements. High on the agenda should be investing more resources in the training and standardisation of military equipment, especially in the field of troop carriers.
This department is fortunate to be on the verge of having its own National Defence Force Service Commission whose role, among other things, would be to increase the capacity of its leadership, together with its rank-and-file members. From time to time this body will be required to account to this House on its work and how it spends the funds that have been allocated to it.
In conclusion, the Portfolio Committee on the Defence Force and Military Veterans and the Joint Standing Committee on Defence need to develop a structural framework to ensure that the work of this commission provides maximum benefit to our country.
Reports about the state of army equipment were tabled in this House and with the National Treasury a long time ago. However, the responses to these requests have been very slow, while on the other hand, our Defence Force is expected to perform duties in line with our foreign policy. One hopes that the Joint Standing Committee on Defence will monitor the department's trends on budget allocations by the National Treasury. I thank you. [Applause.]
Uyathetha kwedini. [You speak your mind, young man.]
Heyi, mnt'omdala, bendiyakubuyela kuwe kodwa ke ndicinga ukuba umdala mandikuhloniphe. [Hey, old man, I would respond, but I think you are an old man and I must respect you.]
Agb Voorsitter, ek sien ek het net drie minute. Ek het gevra vir vier. In die eerste plek wil ek tog van die geleentheid gebruik maak om die agb Minister, die portefeuljekomitee en ook my party, die VF Plus, te bedank vir die geleentheid wat hulle vir my gegee het om in die Tussentydse Weermag Dienste-kommissie te kon dien. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Chairperson, I see that I only have three minutes. I asked for four. In the first place, I would really like to use this opportunity to thank the Minister, the portfolio committee, and my party, the FF plus, for providing me the opportunity to serve on the Interim Armed Services Commission.]
Hon Minister, I can assure you, appointing politicians, former generals and a former dictator to a commission, one needs a bishop and a medical doctor under the chairpersonship of a judge. [Laughter.] Sometimes you have to give a verdict. Luckily nobody went to jail and nobody was fined. I want to express my appreciation towards my colleagues on the committee, because I'm not available for the permanent commission.
I can assure you - and we even have a professor there and that is even worse, you know - that I learnt a lot. Be assured that as a Member of Parliament, I will keep on doing that oversight work to ensure that the Minister does not manipulate the commission, because she couldn't do it with the interim commission.
Thank you also for the mutual respect we had towards each other. It was really a good time in the service of our country and good luck to those other commissioners who are going to continue the work.
Having said that, all the work of the commission will be of no value if we do not put the recommendations into practice. That is the challenge for the future. We must ensure that the recommendations which come from the permanent commission are put into practice.
Minister, daar is 'n groot debat oor of ons vakbonde in die Weermag moet toelaat. Dt wat ek by die kommissie geleer het, is dat die swak hantering van die griewe van ons lede van die Weermag die bron is wat die vakbonde voed, want as ons lede se griewe hanteer word, sal hulle hul nie wend tot vakbonde om vir hul regte op te staan nie. Ons sal dit drasties moet takel en verseker dat ons gelukkige lede in die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag het.
Die grootste uitdaging bly natuurlik die begroting van die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag. Minister, u moet nie beloftes maak nie. U moet nie aankondigings maak soos in verlede jaar se begrotingsdebat en s dat almal in Suid-Afrika geakkommodeer behoort te word om diens te lewer nie. Ons het nie die geld daarvoor nie.
Ons moet nie by ons militre veterane die indruk probeer skep dat ons na hulle sal omsien as ons nie die geld daarvoor het nie. As ons beloftes maak en verwagtinge skep, moet ons seker maak dat ons dit kan nakom, anders skep ons groter ongelukkigheid. Ek dank u. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.) [Minister, there is a huge debate about whether we should allow trade unions in the armed forces. What I have learnt from the commission, is that the poor handling of grievances of members of the armed forces, is the source that feeds the trade unions, because if the grievances of our members were addressed, they would not have to turn to trade unions to stand up for their rights. We have to address this urgently and ensure that we have members who are happy in the SA National Defence Force, SANDF.
The biggest challenge, however, remains the budget of the SA National Defence Force. Minister, you should not make any promises. You should not make announcements, as in the case of last year's Budget Vote, stating that everyone in South Africa should be accommodated to serve in the SANDF. We do not have the funds for that.
We should not try to create the impression with our military veterans that we will take care of them if we do not have the funds to do so. If we make promises and create expectations, we have to ensure that we are able to honour those promises and expectations; otherwise we create even greater unhappiness. I thank you. [Applause.]]
Hon members, I have been requested by the people who are dealing with the sound to ask hon members not to turn up their earpieces too high as they interfere with the sound network. [Interjections.] Well, the list I have is the one I am following.
Mgcinisihlalo, aBaphathiswa abakhoyo, mandibhotise ngale mvakwemini ndisithi ndiyayithobela yonke imiqathango. [Chairperson, Ministers who are present, and all protocol observed, let me greet you this afternoon.]
The Presidential Proclamation on the establishment of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, Government Gazette 32 844, dated 28 December 2009, ensured that military veterans are, for the very first time, catered for at an executive level. The intervention by the President was occasioned, in particular, by the plight of military veterans, being former members of the liberation armies.
Ndithetha ngoMkhonto weSizwe, ne-Azanian People's Liberation Army Military Veterans Association, APLAMVA, ezimalungu azo ikati ilele eziko. [I am referring to uMkhonto weSizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army Military Veterans Association, APLAMVA, whose members are poor.]
This will also deal with the verification of military veterans and those who were deliberately forgotten by those who created them.
Apha, mzontsundu, ndithetha ngamagqala angalufumaniyo uncedo ngokubhekisele kwezi zinto zilandelayo: izindlu; ukufikelela eziklinikhi; imfundo nokufundela izakhono; ukungxwelerheka kwawo emfazweni ngokwasemzimbeni, emoyeni, nangazo zonke ezinye iindlela. La magqala kufuneka encediwe ukuze akwazi ukukhathalela iintsapho zawo. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Here, fellow Africans, I am speaking about the military veterans who are not getting help with regard to the following: Houses; access to clinics; education and skills training; war injuries, whether those injuries are physical or emotional; or other suffering. These veterans must be assisted so that they can take care of their families.]
Members of the former liberation armies were not gainfully remunerated during service in their respective armies. Today they are worse off because they were not in a formal employment environment. They could not possibly do the things which gainfully employed people normally do, that is to take care of their retirement needs and their families.
The constitutional provision of equality of all citizens includes those who served in the military, regardless of the military formations they served in. All military veterans are, therefore, entitled to equal access to benefits and services as provided for by government.
The commitment and generosity of government administrations worldwide, in the quest to support military veterans, is invariably linked to the extent to which ruling parties believe that soldiers contributed immensely to the attainment of their political goals. For example, Algeria and the United States of America, with their diverse historical backgrounds and government policies, demonstrate this point.
The women and men in uniform who served in the military, be it in the liberation forces or in conventional armies, rendered a unique service that cannot be measured only in monetary terms because of the immense sacrifices involved. The rigorous discipline involved in training and engagement in armed conflict, including the possibility of dying for gains that are not for individual benefit, compel government and society to feel indebted for the services rendered honourably to the people. This is the essence of those who are soldiers in a society.
However, in the context of the South African situation, where there is competition for scarce resources, the government, with its meagre resources, will roll out these benefits and services to the needy and deserving beneficiaries and their dependants by using the means test. This is not all.
It is, therefore, incumbent upon government to also utilise military veterans as a resource, considering their skills and expertise across the spectrum of the security cluster. The department should utilise the military veterans' expertise that is lying untapped.
It is necessary that military veterans be involved in internal matters of peacekeeping and the fostering of patriotism and social cohesion among the youth. The expertise that military veterans possess can be used in the national interest, and thus more social cohesion or consciousness will be entrenched in the South African populace.
Mgcinisihlalo, ndithetha ngamagqala oMkhonto weSizwe ... [Chairperson, I am referring to the veterans of uMkhonto weSizwe ...]
... who, during the Public Service strike, also heeded the call to go out and assist the SA National Defence Force in taking care of patients at the Natalspruit Hospital, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.
UMphathiswa sele eyikhankanyile into yokuba kulo nyaka amagqala oMkhonto weSizwe aza kubhiyozela iminyaka engama-50 ngowe-16 kweyeNkanga. Apha sithetha ngamagorhakazi namagorha alele ukuphumla, adla umhlalaphantsi nadla amazimba athi anikela ngobomi bawo akwabeka neempilo zawo esichengeni esilwela ukuba ilizwe loobawomkhulu lifumane le nkululeko ixhanyulwa ngabo bonke abemi beli lizwe. Yiyo loo nto sisithi: "Halala, maz' enethole!" Siwothulela umnqwazi amakhaya, izihlobo nezalamane ezasiboleka oonyana neentombi zawo ukuze babe lidini lesizwe. Nangamso! AboMkhonto weSizwe bathi makube chosi kube hele!
Ndingekayiqukumbeli intetho yam, mandithi esi sixa-mali sinikwe iSebe loKhuselo naMagqala oMkhosi asenalanga; siyayivuma loo nto. Loo nto ayithethi ukuba masingazinanzi iinkqubo nezinto ekufuneka zifezekisiwe. Siyile komiti siyambongoza undlunkulu wezezimali ukuba alithele chatha eli sebe kolu lwabiwo-mali. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[The Minister has already mentioned that this year the veterans of uMkhonto weSizwe will be celebrating their 50-year anniversary 16 November 2011. We are talking about heroines and heroes who have died, pensioners and those who are still alive, who put their health at risk to fight for the land of our forefathers so that we can get this freedom which is enjoyed by all the citizens of South Africa. That is why we are saying: "Congratulations! Thank you." We thank the families, friends and relatives who lent us their sons and daughters so that they could be a sacrifice for our nation. Thank you. Those who belong to uMkhonto weSizwe, we say, "Let there be light; all must be well!"
While I am still on the floor, let me say the amount which is allocated to the Department of Defence and Military Veterans is not enough; we agree with that. That does not mean we must not take note of the programmes and other things that are supposed to be accomplished. This committee is pleading with the Department of Finance to allocate more money to it in this Budget.]
With this year's allocation being approximately 1,14% of GDP, against an international norm of around 2%, the challenging position of the Defence Force presents distinctive demands to the defence fraternity.
Kungoko ke sisithi siyalwamkela olu hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali lubekwa ngohloniphekileyo nobekekileyo uNksz Lindiwe Sisulu phantsi kwesi simo kuba lilinge eliya empumelelweni. Ndisatshaya. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[That is why we say we support this Budget Vote tabled by the hon Minister, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, because it paves the way to a better future. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Chairperson, hon Ministers present, hon Members of Parliament, the Military Veterans Bill before Parliament signifies the ongoing work to provide support and care to military veterans and their dependants since our budget debate last year.
The month of April was fated to be the month in which two of South Africa's outstanding soldiers for nonracialism and democracy met their violent deaths from barbaric apartheid murderers, namely Thembisile, alias Chris Hani, and Solomon Mahlangu. Allow me therefore, Chairperson, to dedicate my remarks today to their exemplary lives and their legends and to the tribulations of their families.
Cabinet has confirmed our interim policy for military veterans and the machinery to deliver these benefits and services, as enunciated in the Bill. The costing of the Bill has since been finalised and approved by Cabinet. It gives the Ministry great pleasure that the Bill has received overwhelming support from South Africans across the spectrum and from all sides, and we have taken note of submissions which point to areas which deserve further improvement.
Contrary to the scare raised by some in the media around this Bill, stakeholders and the broader public seem to have figured out the real issues themselves, in spite of the heavy fog of negativity which threatened to drown the Bill in its inchoate stages. The submissions from members of the public and observations made by members of the portfolio committee pick up the real challenges that this intervention by government seeks to address.
The nub of the proposed government policy on military veterans is to accord a decent life to South Africans who are destitute today and are part of the needy masses, because they were at the coalface of the apartheid conflict of the past, in particular those who fought hard to end apartheid.
Once again, on behalf of the Ministry, we should express our appreciation for the commendable work delivered by the Minister's task team on military veterans. The dedication and passion displayed by all its members and the desire to find a credible and sustainable solution to the problems of military veterans in South Africa has won you our admiration in the Ministry and in the Department of Defence and Military Veterans.
The tabling of the Military Veterans Bill has brought a sigh of relief to many families and communities. The previous efforts by government to support demobilised soldiers were grossly inadequate. In all fairness, the many unsung heroes and heroines of yesterday's fierce battles against apartheid rule and their courageous families have, to this day, borne the pain and sacrifices they made with dignity and patience. The wise decision by government to correct what is a glaring and embarrassing omission to all of us can never be too late. We can always draw comfort from the experiences of many other countries that it is better late than never, when it comes to the neglect of former combatants or demobilised soldiers.
I wish to take this opportunity, on the occasion of the Defence and Military Veterans budget debate, to state for the record and for the benefit of South Africa's broad public that the estimated cost of the Military Veterans Bill currently before Parliament is R1,6 billion only, over the three-year Medium-Term Expenditure Framework budget period. The projected annual spending of the outer year of the MTEF period is expected to be a constant projected average of approximately R500 million.
I wish to avoid the temptation to comment on the Bill before benefiting from the wisdom of the portfolio committee, which has been enriched by public hearings. However, I am fairly confident that considerations underpinning the policy recommendations from which the Bill derives are sound, well informed and carefully chosen.
One of the important priorities of our work over the period under review was - as the Minister already indicated - the setting up of the Department of Military Veterans. After Cabinet endorsed the policy framework report in June 2010, we proceeded to submit the structure of the new department and its posts to the Department of the Public Service and Administration and to Treasury for consideration.
Once approval was attained, the advertising of posts and the process to populate the structure commenced. We have been hamstrung by capacity constraints from moving swiftly in executing this work. However, assistance from the Department of Defence's human resource division has been solicited.
We have commenced the process of establishing work streams together with line-function departments which are responsible for some of the benefits that must be delivered to military veterans. After elaborating on the operational details of the policy pertaining to their respective sectors, these work streams will assume permanent status as work groups through which the Department of Military Veterans interfaces and collaborates with these line-function departments to deliver services and benefits to military veterans.
Almost every day a military veteran who was destitute dies. The benefits we are talking about are needed now. As a relief measure, the Council on Defence, led by the Minister, tasked the Department of Military Veterans, in collaboration with the SA Military Health Service within the Defence Force, to roll out health services to all military veterans who are 60 and older and to those with chronic ailments and life-threatening medical conditions, through access to all our military hospitals from 16 December 2010.
We have assisted the SA National Military Veterans Association, SANMVA, to launch provincial structures of its affiliate associations in order for us to develop the capacity to reach the vast and disparate community of military veterans in all nine provinces. Five provincial chapters of SANMVA have been launched since the department started functioning.
Critical work around the consolidation of the database of military veterans has commenced. However, the associations with whom we must collaborate are struggling to expedite this process because of their inadequate administration capacities, among other challenges, as a result of a shortage of resources.
The challenge we have is that there are no statistics in government on military veterans. Reliable data on the profile of our community of military veterans with regard to, among other things, age composition, economic status and educational qualifications, must still be compiled. This demographic information is key to the elaboration of plans around programmes and projects.
The Department of Military Veterans' budget allocation over the MTEF period has since been revised by Treasury. It has increased from the original R20 million in the 2010-11 financial year to R45,4 million in the 2011-12 - financial year instead of the original R30 million, as hon members would recall. The increase in expenditure emanates from the posts to be filled in this financial year and other inputs required for the department to execute its mandate, including office equipment and accommodation.
Across the MTEF period, Treasury has approved R45,3 million for the 2011-12 financial year, R51,2 million for the 2012-13 financial year, and R52,591 million for the 2013-14 financial year.
In collaboration with the portfolio committee, we hope that we will make resources available for benefits to be rolled out to military veterans. In the process of realising this policy, it is our commitment to contribute significantly to the five Medium-Term Strategic Framework priorities of government, namely health, education, jobs, rural development and safety, and to the 12 derivative government outcomes.
The Department of Defence has a property portfolio of more than 430 000 hectares of land, approximately 35 000 buildings and more than 12 million square metres of surface area within buildings. This sizable estate portfolio is currently under the management of the Department of Public Works, as the Minister alluded to earlier, on whom rests the responsibility to perform Total Life Cycle Management, TLCM, of all state-owned immovable assets.
The state of the Department of Defence facilities has deteriorated to unacceptable levels of dilapidation. A report from the Department of Labour inspectorate in 2007 indicated that more than 35% of the Department of Defence's military barracks was not fit for human occupancy. In 2010, the investigation by the Interim National Defence Force Service Commission, referred to earlier, into conditions of service for SANDF members came to a similar conclusion in that the state of disrepair of defence facilities was unacceptable.
The main cause of the above-mentioned state of affairs is the lack of resources to perform proper maintenance and repairs, thereby accumulating a maintenance backlog situation that is even more difficult to get out of. At the end of the 2009-10 financial year, the maintenance backlog of the Department of Defence facilities was already above R13 billion. Furthermore, the maintenance budget allocation model used by the Department of Public Works is not based on any relationship between the department's contribution in accommodation charges and allocated maintenance funds by departments.
In the 2009-10 financial year, the Department of Defence paid R932 million to the Department of Public Works, and only received R465 million for rates and taxes. The rest of the paid accommodation charges were reallocated to other departments by the Department of Public Works. This means effectively that departments or institutions with a smaller property portfolio may get allocated higher amounts than the Department of Defence.
To remedy this malady, my Minister, Minister Sisulu, has tasked me to set up the capability within the Department of Defence to ensure that it has the requisite capacity to take over the facilities maintenance responsibility from the Department of Public Works. This involves developing a migration plan that will see the Department of Defence incrementally taking over this responsibility.
This measure by the Department of Defence will also assist in alleviating the load from the Department of Public Works. The Department of Defence is one of the largest departments in terms of its property footprint, and has a maintenance backlog of more than R13 billion. This is certainly one of the conspicuous concerns on the Department of Public Works' radar screen. Thank you, Chairperson. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Chairperson, the military has many success stories, not limited to the success of supporting democracy and peacekeeping initiatives in Africa, securing the South African airspace during the Fifa Soccer World Cup, securing borders against illegal activities, providing humanitarian and disaster relief, and being the military provider of last resort when all else fails, such as during last year's Public Service strike at 74 hospitals. The Minister needs to be commended for these achievements.
Last year, hon Minister, you commended the ACDP's input as we argued passionately for more funds for the military following years of underfunding. We will continue to do so. However, for us as parliamentarians to be sympathetic and exercise our powers in terms of the Money Bills Amendment Act, we must be assured that funds allocated will be properly spent.
This brings me to the vexed issue of VIP travel. We, in the ACDP, are extremely concerned about the estimated expenditure of R800 million on the lease of two additional VIP jets. We would ask you, hon Minister, to help us understand the motivation behind this expenditure, given that the portfolio committee emphasised that maximum efficiency and accounting in the use of limited resources is essential.
We ask you what message this sends out to the average person who is struggling with widespread poverty and unemployment, including military veterans. Wouldn't it be cheaper to charter a jet when the President's Boeing is not available? The total cost of charters last year was R36,9 million, less than a quarter of the R160 million available per year over five years with the allocated R808 million.
The department is expected to save R1,3 billion over the medium term. I don't know how that is going to be achieved, given the budgetary constraints. But the saving on this aspect could go a long way in this regard, and that saving could be used to finance increases in salaries and benefits for members, as well as for operational expenses.
Hon Minister, it is interesting that last year when I travelled with the former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to Nairobi, it was on a commercial airline. If he can fly on a commercial airline, why can't our former President, considering that he also has security concerns.
As far as trade unions are concerned, we support the Minister's view and look forward to processing the legislation in this regard. However, as my colleagues have pointed out, we will then have to deal with grievances properly and expeditiously.
May I conclude by saying that we can be proud of the exceptional role our Defence Force has played, and continues to play, in the country and on the continent, notwithstanding severe budgetary constraints. Let us spend funds more wisely to properly equip, train and pay our men in uniform, who are prepared to offer the supreme sacrifice in defence of our country and its citizens.
We, as the ACDP, also wish to thank the former Chief of the SANDF for his dedicated service and wish him everything of the best with his new appointment as ambassador. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mgcini-sihlalo, Mphathiswa weSebe loKhuselo naMagqala oMkhosi, Baphathiswa abakhoyo, Sekela-mphathiswa weSebe loKhuselo naMagqala oMkhosi, ooSekela-baphathiswa abakhoyo, Malungu eNdlu yoWiso-mthetho abekekileyo, zindwendwe ezibekekileyo, umongo wentetho yam uza kugxininisa kwi-National Youth Service.
Ndivumele Mgcini-sihlalo ndicaphule kumazwi obulumko enyange, umongameli u- Oliver Tambo wombutho wesizwe i-ANC ndenjenje: (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Ms N R MABEDLA: Chairperson, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, hon Ministers who are present, Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Deputy Ministers who are present, hon members of the National Assembly, distinguished guests, the main topic of my speech focuses on the National Youth Service.
Allow me, Chairperson, to quote from the wise words of the old man, president Oliver Tambo, who was a member of the ANC and say: "A nation that does not take care of its youth, does not deserve a future."]
Youth unemployment is fast reaching crisis proportions in our country, which could pose a threat to national security. There are millions of unemployed youths in urban and rural areas who have no sense of hope that they will have a better future, and are dehumanised and robbed of their dignity as a result.
These young people go through formal education, are either failed by the education system or face extreme social difficulties, and do not pass matric, or pass but without matric exemption. The majority of them end up on the streets in townships and villages across the country without a skill, with poor and inadequate education, and with no work experience at all owing to the terrible legacy of apartheid.
The ANC always looks for workable solutions for every challenge it confronts, and the aforementioned youth challenge is no particular exception. The ANC has resolved that its government should implement a national youth service programme to address not only the challenge of youth unemployment, but to build social cohesion among the youth. The National Youth Service should be strengthened as a platform to assist in training young people and in ensuring the availability of guaranteed jobs in the public sector after training.
In the same vein, as we speak, there are noticeable achievements in this area, for example the concept paper on the National Youth Service has been completed. A pilot programme is under way in Bloemfontein, with a group of 500 recruits undergoing training. However, another 2 000 recruits are planned for the financial year 2012-13, and 6 000 recruits are also planned for the financial year 2013-14.
Umzali waseMntla Koloni, e-De Aar, uyalincoma iSebe loKhuselo naMagqala oMkhosi likarhulumente okhokelwa yi-ANC. Uthi unyana wakhe ukwenye yeekholeji zasemkhosini, kwaye uyakwazi ukuthumela itiki ekhaya, nto leyo igxotha ikati eziko. Kaloku amathuba amancinci anje enza ubomi bubengcono. Ubamemile abazali ukuba baye kumxhasa kumboniso wokuthamba owaziwa ngokuba yi-Parade Day ngomhla we-11 kuCanzibe, e-Oudtshoorn. Unyana lo unqwenela ukuba ngumqhubi weenqwelomoya kwicala lezokhuselo. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[A parent from the Northern Cape in De Aar commends the Department of Defence and Military Veterans of the ANC-led government. He says his son is undergoing military training in one of the Defence Force colleges, and he can send money home, which helps to eradicate poverty. As you know, small opportunities such as these can change people's lives. He has invited his parents to attend the Parade Day on 11 May 2011 in Oudtshoorn. This young man wants to be a pilot in the Department of Defence and Military Veterans. [Applause.]]
We commend the department on its commitment to implementing the National Youth Service by using core defence capabilities to provide initial training to the youth prior to absorption into service delivery departments. Through the National Youth Service programme, the department aims to produce highly disciplined young people by inculcating the following: Time management; self-management; understanding of basic regional and international dynamics and how they impact on South Africa; preparedness for workplace professionalism; being conscious change agents and pioneers of nation-building who are active in social crime prevention and agents of social security; understanding of the family as the basic structure of society; being holistic individuals in body, soul and spirit; and being community builders and patriots.
However, it should be noted that as much as it is desirable to roll out this programme to all interested youths, budgetary constraints dictate that the department enrols a capped number of youth per particular intake. Also, the need arises for the Department of Defence and Military Veterans to work together with other departments in the Public Service to ensure that the trained youth are gainfully employed in the government. We also call upon the business community to come to the party and assist, not only in resourcing this initiative that is bound to change the complexion of our country for a long time to come, but also to avail themselves to assist in skills training and job placement of the trained youths.
The ANC seeks to build a national democratic society through developmental state that is nonracial, nonsexist, prosperous, united and democratic. The National Youth Service is the relevant vehicle through which to realise this ideal as youths from all parts of the country will be given the same training, regardless of race, gender, culture or creed. This programme will undo the racial exclusion that was imposed upon our people. It will produce a united nation, not in name, but in vision and outlook.
Through this budget, the youth will be taught life skills, discipline and patriotism. It is true that this programme is what South Africa has been waiting for as it has the capacity to remove the youth from the streets, crime and drug abuse. It has to be linked with moral regeneration.
Through this budget the youth will be given skills which they can use to make an honest living, even if they are not employed. It is our plea that all future-loving South Africans rally behind the National Youth Service programme for the sake of future generations. We should remember that even though we attained our freedom through a negotiated settlement, apartheid had a huge impact in terms of destroying the family structure, and our youth paid the dearest price.
We therefore need to reconstruct our society in the manner we seek it to be, and the National Youth Service programme offers us the opportunity to teach our youth values. To build a future united society, we need our youth to be kept away from the negative influences that beset our society and teach them how to live as responsible and constructive citizens.
In conclusion, allow me, Chairperson, to stress that, as the ANC, we are committed to the development of our youth, committed to assisting them to succeed and committed to seeing that they contribute meaningfully to our economy. It is, therefore, satisfying to note the efforts of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans to make a success of the National Youth Service and they can be assured of our full support. I thank you. [Applause.]
Sihlalo, amalunga wePalamende nabayeni abakhona lapha ... [Chairperson, Members of Parliament and guests present here ...]
The DA would like to see that military veterans are supported financially, psychologically and emotionally by the government. However, with the Military Veterans Bill being so deeply flawed, this raises some questions.
With the current budget for the Department of Defence and Military Veterans being insufficient to run the administration properly, it remains difficult to see how this department is going to be able to assist the veterans. The military veterans' unit should have its own budget, but its budget is still within the Department of Defence and Military Veterans.
Hon Minister, we cannot make promises that are not going to be fulfilled, especially when people are desperate for basic human needs like shelter, food and health care. It is a disgrace that so many veterans who fought for freedom are now living in shameful conditions. The hopes of military veterans have been raised by this Bill, but the proper groundwork has not been done to ensure that the correct decisions are taken.
As long as the following factors have not been considered properly, it will remain a pipe dream to address the plight of military veterans. The department is unable to disclose the final number of military veterans, as defined by the Bill in its current form. Taking into consideration the definition, more time is going to be wasted on eligibility through appeals and court proceedings.
The cost of the Bill is not based on the final number of military veterans and their dependants. The Bill made mention of two dependants as the average number, but that number could be higher. Also, the cost of the Bill is too high for the department to afford. Lastly, there are no figures to say how much the government currently spends to support military veterans. The Bill may have gone through, but are veterans going to get what has been promised? Time will tell.
Coming to the Budget Vote, the President always says the details are with the Ministers and departments. Minister, your department presented the committee with the Budget Vote for 2011-12 and strategic plans that lacked details and clarity.
The department has identified 10 priorities to focus on for this financial year, but details remain unclear because some of the plans are prioritised despite the fact that Treasury is not allocating funds, as required by the department. There are more priorities, but I want to mention those which the department has listed as priorities.
The department discussed restructuring and support of the defence industry. This is a serious matter on which the portfolio committee members must be briefed properly. But there are no details as to how this restructuring is going to take place. It is not enough just to say restructuring; we expect more details on this matter. Minister, you said we could look at the files, so we will look at the files to see if the details are there.
The landward and maritime defence capability enhancement is a priority for the department, but Treasury is not allocating any extra funds as requested by the department. So, how does the department prioritise this programme if it is not receiving extra funding?
A more controversial priority is the National Youth Service. These are youths recruited by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform for the Department of Defence and Military Veterans. But the question is: How does this relate to the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, and why is it a priority for the Department of Defence and Military Veterans? It remains suspicious that these are ANC members recruited through an improper process, as it is flawed with irregularities.
Hon Minister, we welcome the creation of jobs, as so many South Africans are unemployed. Your department has committed to filling 1 401 funded vacancies in the department, and has also promised to recruit 5 700 young people per year for the military skills development system. We will wait and see if this is going to materialise, given the slim budget of the department.
I must just remind the Minister that last year during the Adjusted Estimates of National Expenditure, Parliament had to approve 19 shifts within the Vote to cover the shortfalls in salaries. The shifts for salaries alone amounted to R2,2 billion.
The strategic plan for the department lacks clarity and a timeframe. Minister, the objective of a timeframe is a clean audit for the department for the financial year 2012-13. Minister, your department cowardly made a three-year plan before they could achieve this. I think they should have done far better than this.
Hon Minister, the DA in the Western Cape took over from the ANC in 2009 and had a clean audit within 12 months. How many years does the ANC want to have in order to get a clean audit? I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members, distinguished guests and invited guests, ladies and gentlemen, in 1874 China took a decision to bolster only its Air Force and landward defence, and Japan capitalised on this weakness during the Japanese aggression in Formosa, and China was exposed.
China then had to make the humiliating decision of paying off the aggressor, rather than fighting it because of its decision not to bolster its naval programme. This was despite China having more soldiers than Japan; a ratio of 5:1, not to mention that Japan was small and poor compared to China. [Interjections.] Thank you; this is a free lecture. This defeat made the Western powers take note of China's vulnerability and cast covetous eyes on China.
I am recounting this history, because we do not want South Africa to suffer the same fate as China: facing humiliating defeat because we did not bolster our maritime defence. I know some will say that we are not facing war, or that we are not at war. On the contrary, I am saying that we always face wars, some of which are not obvious, such as piracy and terrorism.
For example, nowadays we have an increase in the instance of piracy and sea robbery, an increase in shipping in general and shipping of drugs in particular, and a rise in the spectre of maritime terrorism. These have placed greater emphasis on maritime security.
Naval bases, harbours, ports, terminals and underwater pipelines are amongst the maritime facilities and boundaries that can be easy targets for terrorist attacks and other criminal activities owing to their vastness, making it hard for security officers to safeguard all of them.
Also, it is now a well-known fact that terrorist organisations are investing in training operatives in diving techniques, and the risk of attack on facilities is unfortunately a growing concern for everyone. These kinds of terrorist attacks can severely affect economic stability and, at the same time, damage property and, worse, lead to the loss of innocent lives.
Therefore, it is important to invest in maritime defence solutions in order to tighten maritime security and ensure that all maritime borders are well guarded. Investing in maritime defence security is vital to ensure the security of all maritime borders and protect all assets. I am therefore happy that the department has made the establishment of a balanced maritime security capability to respond effectively to emerging maritime threats one of its 10 priorities.
When it comes to maritime security, it is clear that maritime security officers cannot do the job alone. So, there is a need for advanced technology to help them to effectively ensure the security of all maritime borders. Unfortunately, technology does not come cheap.
Hon Chairperson and members, maritime defence, as part of overall defence, has an economic perspective as well. Today we talk of South Africa as a dominant economy in Africa and an important player on the global market. To maintain this status, South Africa has to be secure. The path to prosperity begins with security. That is all the more reason to have a defence spending conversation on South Africa's role on the continent and in the Southern African region and on an understanding of the demands of our long- standing strategy.
South Africa's dominant position on a vital, global-trade sea route, its dependence on sea trade and its vast maritime area make maritime defence a matter of great importance. So, the protection and defence of maritime lifelines of commerce during times of conflict and hostility may prove crucial to the survival and wellbeing of our people.
South Africa has six major commercial ports, and it is of vital importance that these ports be kept open to shipping, even during times of war or tension. The present lack of finance for defence, however, has determined that two critical areas, comprising Durban and Richards Bay on the East Coast and Cape Town, Saldanha Bay and Simon's Town on the West Coast, should be prioritised. I am glad that to this end, two maritime defence areas have been planned, based on these two areas. This shows how critical maritime defence is.
This economic perspective, and others, shows that the duties of the navy as part of the Defence Force are multipronged. For example, the navy is also called upon if there is a natural disaster in order to provide aid to the country that needs it. The navy also rescues those who have entered the waters of another territory, or a conflict zone. The navy also protects trade routes which aid our economy.
There are many other areas in which the maritime force can make a major and, in some cases, indispensable contribution. A specific instance in a specific area is in hydrographical surveying. The navy's survey vessel SAS Protea has undertaken missions to Antarctica and other SADC countries to help make the sea a safer place for all sailors.
Another instance is in search and rescue operations: assisting in rescuing passengers on the Oceanos, a Greek passenger ship that sank in August 1991. With regard to fishery protection, the South African navy is deployed in the Stop Illegal Fishing Programme as part of the SADC statement of commitment on illegal, unregulated and unlawful fishing, in terms of which illegal fishermen are arrested.
Sihlalo, sengibale izinto eziningi eziyimpumelelo ngaphinde ngabonisa nokubaluleka komkhosi wasemanzini wezwe lethu. Isikhalo esinaso kwaKhongolose ukuthi imali iyasishodela kulo mNyango. Thina siwuKhongolose sithi siyacela kumNyango weziMali ukuthi ukhuphule imali ukuze izwe lethu liphephe, sikwazi ukuthi sikhusele izwe lakithi. Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Chairperson, I have mentioned things that are a success and I have even indicated the importance of our country's navy. The complaint that we have as the ANC is that there is a shortage of money in this department. As the ANC, we request that the Department of Finance should increase the funding for the safety of our country, so that we are able to protect our country. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Hon Chairperson, I rise on a point of order. I just want to say that when we started, you referred to the Westminster system. I specifically raise this point of order before the hon Minister replies. You said that according to the Rules, there was the length of two swords between the opposition and the government.
But you are wrong, hon Chair. It is actually three lengths. There must always be a sword's length between the two swords also, and I do not see it here. [Laughter.] So, I just want to caution a bit, and make sure about that.
I understand, hon member, that you want there to be the length of three swords. You are allowed to have that. Hon Minister, I hear there are minutes that have been saved by several speakers, which lengthens your speaking time from five to 15 minutes.
Thank you very much, Chairperson. I will not take up that entire 15 minutes, but I am very grateful that my colleagues here have saved enough time for me to be able to respond appropriately.
As we commemorate 50 years of uMkhonto weSizwe, the outstanding "Spear of the Nation", we pay attention to the fact that we must pay homage to outstanding soldiers of a particular period of MK represented amongst us here. First and foremost, the hon Mlangeni, who was the first soldier trained by MK, is here with us today. [Applause.] When they talk of South Africa as a remarkable country, these are some of the facts that they overlook. We also have a trained soldier here following very close on the hon Mlangeni. It is the hon Diale, who also is a member of MK and trained. [Applause.] Following close on him is Comrade Mokopo, who is also here with us now and who will be making sure that we can honour these outstanding soldiers who brought us the kind of freedom that we today enjoy in this House. [Applause.]
I would like to thank all those members present here who supported the budget. I would like to thank and convey appreciation for the concern that most of them have indicated about the inadequacies of the budget. We have recognised this, and we are working on that. We hope that the next time we come back here, we will be talking a different story.
Indeed, the budget that we have is woefully inadequate, and for those members who have the opportunity, I am informed that Parliament has so transformed that we do have a word we can throw in to support the budget that we are requesting. Therefore, Chairperson, please think kindly of the words that were spoken during the time you spent with us here to make sure that we can have an increased budget.
Our soldiers are indeed the most valuable resource that we have. We will look after them. We spend our time looking after them. They give their lives for us, and they can be assured that we value that, and we continually make sure we are committed to giving them a better life.
To members who supported the budget, again, I want to say thank you. I want to thank you for your constructive input, and some of the concerns that you have raised we will take into consideration and ensure that we can respond and attend to them.
In particular, hon Ndlovu; you spoke so well. Hon Holomisa, you also spoke so well. You distinguish yourselves always in ensuring that you make constructive inputs in our debates. I was wondering if the two hon members would please consider taking a part-time job to coach some of the members of the portfolio committee here in how they can contribute constructively to this asset poll of the Defence Force. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
This is a serious responsibility that we have. It gets more serious as we have more problems on the continent, and perhaps you could take them out for coffee and just try to instil that sense of responsibility.
Mr Chair, on a point of order: Are the ANC members not trained? [Interjections.]
I have a point of order, Mr Chair.
Could you wait? What is your point of order?
Mr Chair, the Minister has asked certain members of the portfolio committee to train her members. I can only presume it is the ANC members who need the training. That is why I was asking. [Interjections.]
Order! Order, please! Order! Order! Hon member, that is not a point of order. What is your point of order, hon member?
Chair, my point of order is the following: Is it parliamentary for the hon member to address the Chair whilst seated?
Continue, hon Minister.
Comrade Chair, please allow me to continue, and ignore this. If anybody out there is guilty of feeling that perhaps some of these comments are directed at them, I have taken particular care to make sure that I am within my rights according to the Rules of Parliament. I have read them. [Interjections.]
Order, please! Order!
It is also the very members of the opposition who have consistently been thrown out of Parliament for the disrespect they have for this House. They sit there and they want to teach us how to behave. The very same person who is standing here now is the very same person who used the most outrageous language in Parliament - both of them.
I would like to say to the hon Groenewald: Thank you for serving on the commission. We are sorry to learn that you are unable to continue with us. We value the work that you have put into the service. However, you did make mention of something that concerned both the Deputy Minister and me. We are unaware of the promises that you are particularly concerned about. Perhaps you could note them, so that we can ensure that we correct the concerns that you raised about promises that we were not able to keep. The promises that we have made are promises that are now before Parliament, and we want to make sure that we can fulfil them.
I would like to thank the hon Swart for his very incisive, very good input. We will take note of your request to understand the replenishment of the Air Force fleet. At the next available time that you have with the portfolio committee, we will ask the chairperson to allow us to actually indicate to you the age of our fleet and how we want to replenish that; and perhaps the question that you have asked will be answered in that particular way.
Hon Mabedla, we are on track with our National Youth Service. In fact, we have received a great deal of support in this regard. So great has been the support that we have received that we have had to take a step back to make sure that our policies are in place. We want to make sure that as we move forward and deal with further intakes from other departments, we will be able to give the country a solution to the massive problem of unemployment that we face.
I want to say to the hon Daniels ... sisi, makube chosi nyhani; makube hele, ntombazana. Enkosi. [... my sister, let there be light, it must really be well, my girl. Thank you.]
I want to thank the hon Mlambo, who picked up on one of the priorities that we have outlined. We want to make sure that we can live up to the commitment that we have made. If you could please assist us with the necessary support and the financial support that we need, we can ensure that our maritime security is what it should be. The rest of the SADC subcontinent depends on us, and we are committed in this direction.
As I close, I would like, once again, to thank everybody for the incredible support that we have received in the Department of Defence and Military Veterans. We would not be where we are right now without your support. I would like also to extend a particular word of thanks to all of the members here of the portfolio committee who made it possible for us to pass the amending Bill.
I listened to the hon Maynier, and I challenge him to say any of these things that he said, which are actually designed to mislead this House. None of what you have said here has any substance. Most of what you have said here is conjecture. Most of what you have said here is proving the point that I have made repeatedly, and that is you are here to grandstand. You have absolutely no place here. Does the character of Mother Hubbard at the Baxter Theatre perhaps beckon to you? I advise you to try your luck there. You might have better luck there than you have here. [Interjections.] While you are at it, I think that you owe a lot of support to the rent-a-crowd that you have brought in today. They have given you quite a lot of support, but there is absolutely no ...
Chairperson, on a point of order: The members behind me are hon members. I take great exception to their being referred to as a rent-a-crowd. [Interjections.]
Hon Chairperson, I would like to say to the hon member that unless you make yourself relevant to the constructive work of the Defence Force that all of us are concerned with, you will forever carry that load of complaints, because you are unable to do anything about it.
Hon Minister, direct your speech to the Chair, please.
We have a whole load of complaints that the hon member is unable to do anything about, because his role in life is to be disruptive. The minute you are constructive and you want to build the Defence Force, then you will be able to solve all of those problems. [Interjections.]
We have been working to improve the conditions of soldiers. Over the past two years, this has been our unwavering preoccupation. The very least I expect of all of you in this House is to assist us to work hard towards this end, and I thank those members who have committed themselves in this direction. I must hasten to add that I have received a lot of support from most of the members and parties represented here, except for the whimpering, pampered classes of our society, whose only concern is their fledgling image, whose only concern is to imagine that life is about the drama and hysterics that they throw around. The greater part of their time is spent being hellbent on rolling back the successes of this government. "Fight back" is the slogan which is imprinted in their minds. "Fight back" against the progress of this government. "Fight back" against the very cornerstone of democracy, which is the will of the people. "Fight back" for no reason than to hold on to the vestiges of their privileges. "Fight back" in any way that you know how - grandstanding back there is the only thing that you are able to do and laying claim that you have moral authority to tell us anything about the democracy that we gave our lives for.
It is clear that all that the DA can do ...
... is deliver!
Absolute rubbish! [Interjections.] They have no role to play in the improvement of the lives of the Defence Force. They have no role whatsoever, except to denigrate our soldiers. That is what they stand for.
As for the hon Maynier, I don't know why I still call him "honourable," but that is the protocol. [Interjections.] Where were you when we fought, now that you stand there? Where were you when we fought against oppression? Think back to when the former Chief of the Defence Force was ambushed in Angola. You were in the Defence Force, right in the trenches of the oppressor, and what do you do? You stand up and you grandstand in Parliament and dare to call one of us ...
Hon Minister, I want to repeat that you address the member as the "hon member" and not "you". [Interjections.]
Hon Chair, I want to draw your attention to the fact that the hon member here stands up in Parliament and dares to call one of us ... [Inaudible.]
I have a point of order, Mr Chairperson. [Interjections.] This is an unprecedented attack on the integrity of an hon member by a Minister. I would ask that you intervene, sir. Thank you. [Interjections.]
Order! Order! Order! Order, please! Order!
May I finish?
Hon member, what is your point of order?
Mr Chairperson, I said that this is an unprecedented attack - a personal attack - by the Minister on an hon member. I really don't think this is a court of law. This is a House of Parliament. This is the official Opposition, and I find her comments outrageous. Please ask her to withdraw them. [Interjections.]
Order, please! Order!
Chairperson, may I address you?
No, I am just trying to say to the hon member that I will look into that, and we will make a ruling at some point. Hon Minister, may you continue.
Hon Chair, I am pointing out the fact that is recorded in Hansard, where the hon member stood up and accused the hon Jeff Radebe of having blood on his hands. Where is the denigration there? The denigration is from that hon member on the Minister.
Chairperson, on a point of order: How does the Minister justify that the last National Party leader sits in the same Cabinet that she does, and he's got blood on his hands? [Interjections.]
Can you continue, please.
I will continue. [Interjections.] I am talking about the hon member who dared to say to the hon Minister Radebe that he had blood on his hands. When last did you look at your hands? It is not so easy ... [Inaudible.] [Applause.]
Mr Chairperson, I have a point of order. I would ask that the Minister retract that excessively offensive remark, along with the rest. [Interjections.] I would ask you to look at Hansard and, in fact, ask her to withdraw at least half of these vicious words that she has exchanged here today. It is outrageous and out of line. [Interjections.]
Order! Order, please! Order! Hon Minister, take your seat, please. You have finished.
Thank you.
Hon member, I want to indulge you and say that we will look into that point, and we will make a ruling. [Interjections.]
Next year.
It doesn't matter when. [Laughter.] This is Parliament. It doesn't matter when, but we have to fulfil the promises. We will make a ruling, hon member. It doesn't matter when, hon members.
Chairperson, we just want to know from the hon Kohler- Barnard: Is it that painful? [Laughter.]
What? To have a nationalist amongst your ranks? It must be terrible.
Hon members, I think I must end this debate before we draw our swords. This is what I was worried about at the beginning of the debate.
Debate concluded.