What (a) mechanisms are in place to make sure that no more soldiers are killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and (b) are the reasons that she refuses to withdraw the soldiers from the DRC?
(a) The SAMIDRC deployed soldiers are trained and capable to apply the necessary and applicable drills and actions to prevent and or minimise the loss of lives in the deployment area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
(b) The decision to withdraw or not to withdraw the SAMIDRC deployed soldiers in DRC is a collective decision of SADC member states, and not of ...
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Given the announced withdrawal of the SA National Defence Force troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo, what were the key (a) security and (b) financial considerations that informed the specified decision?
The RSA Minister of Defence and Military Veterans is not aware of the announced withdrawal of the SA National Defence Force troops (SAMIDRC and or MONUSCO) from the DRC.
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1 . What reasons and/or advice were received in the consideration for the relocation of the headquarters of the (a) Infantry Formation and (b) Army Support Formation of the SA National Defence Force to the dilapidated, rat-infested Bester Building in Pretoria?
1. The relocation to Block A and Block E of the Bester Building was necessitated by the evolving problematic security situation, the significant increase in traffic congestion and parking shortages at the previous facilities, rendering it unsuitable for a military establishment, as well as to reduce the lease footprint as required by Auditor General.
2. While the Bester Building comprises of five blocks, only ...
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With reference to the approved Military Veterans Pension Regulations and veterans' entitlement to receive pension benefits each month, what total number of applications have been (a) received by her department and (b) verified and paid out by the Government Pensions Administration Agency from the date that she approved the regulations until the latest specified date for which information is available?
No applications are received by DMV, in terms of the a[proved Regulations all applications are received and processed at GPAA Information as at January 2025 20 965
1. (a) (i) Total number of applications received 13 314
(ii) Total number of applications under consideration 6 254
(iii) Total number of applications approved 1 397
(iv) Total number of applications rejected 3 987
(b)(ii) Total number of ...
(1) With reference to her 2024 Budget Vote speech, wherein she stated that her department needed to deal with the challenges associated with the verification and database for military veterans, (a) what was the number of veterans listed on the database and (b)(i) on what date was the Department of Military Veterans (DMV) established and (ii) what was the breakdown of the forces that were recognised as constituting the DMV;
(2) what (a) is the total number of military veterans of each specified force currently listed on the DMV database, (b) is the current total of outstanding applications that still have to be processed and (c) total number of applications have not been acknowledged within the stated 30 days according to the regulations of the department;
(3) what (a) are the reasons that the DMV informs veterans, whose applications have been acknowledged as received, that such will be finalised within 6 or 12 months or before end of 2025 and (b) is the total number of military veterans that her department planned to process for benefits, as it issued over 1,6 million force numbers? NW358E
(1) With reference to her 2024 Budget Vote speech, wherein she stated that the Defence and Military Veterans (DMV) will be working with the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) to ensure that robust Information and Communication Technology (JCT) infrastructure is implemented, (a) on what date did cooperation with SITA in respect of the database kick off, (b) what progress has been made so far, (c) on what date is it expected to be implemented and (d) how will it streamline the process for military veterans;
(2) whether the ICT infrastructure will include the initial Department of Defence personal details on the PERSAL system so that military veterans do not need to obtain and submit the required printouts; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
(3) whether ICT infrastructure will include the doing away with (a) obtaining Department of Home Affairs letter stating the old and new identity numbers are according to legislation and only the first 10 digits should be checked and (b) the initial requirement for copies of drivers' licences, spouse and children's details, proof of residence, banking details, marriage certificates, co-habitation certificates, Education qualifications and rather request these when relevant to applications for specific benefits that require this information; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details in this regard;
(4) whether ICT infrastructure will include (a) an online status enquiry system in order to enable Military Veterans to enquire the status of the process and (b) the dates for acknowledgement of application as well as a finalisation date after all details have been received; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case? NW357E
(a) SITA and the Department have signed a Business Agreement (BA) that governs the entire relationship with SITA. In line with the Business Agreement, the Department of Military veterans has outsourced its entire ICT infrastructure environment to SITA. The Department together with SITA manages the relationship between the two parties using signed annexures which outline what type of services SITA will provide to DMV. ...
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(1) Whether the SA National Military Veterans Association (SANMVA) has been approved as the association as mentioned in the Military Veterans Act, Act 18 of 2011, as the representative association; if not, why not; if so, on what date;
(2) Whether the constitution of the SANMVA has been accepted and/or recognised officially; if not, why not; if so, on what date;
(3) whether the mandate of the SANMVA has been renewed as the military veterans' umbrella body, as mentioned in her 2024 Budget Vote speech; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW356E
(1) The current SANMVA NOB was elected in October 2013 as mandated by the Military Veterans Act, Act No. 18 of 2011 paragraph 7(I)(a), which states that "the Director General must as soon as possible after commencement of the Act establish a body which is to be an association representing Military Veterans association nationally". Therefore, SANMVA is an approved body representing all Military Veterans ...
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(1) What were (a) the original dates for the finalisation of Project Hoefyster, (b) dates of each extended finalisation date and (c) reasons for each extension;
(2) What (a) was the initial envisaged cost of the completion of Project Hoefyster, and (b)(i) were the dates, (ii) reasons and (iii) adjusted envisaged cost of each extension;
(3) What (a) are the current delivery dates for each Badger variant, (b) are dates on which the number of Badger Infantry fighting vehicle's was reduced and (c) was the reduction number on each specified date.
(1) What were (a) the original dates for the finalisation of Project Hoefyster, (b) dates of each extended finalisation date and (c) reasons for each extension;
Response:
(a) The original Phase 1 Development Order was contracted to be delivered on or before 25 November 2012. The original Phase 2 (Production Orders) was contracted to be delivered on or before 30 November 2023.
(b) The ...
(1) Whether the logistics division of the Department of Defence is operating without the intervention of the office of the Secretary for Defence; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
(1) The Logistics Division of the Department of Defence is not aware of any specific intervention by the Office of the Secretary for Defence that would impact its operations. However, there is collaboration with the Secretary for Defence on reporting matters as required. If any intervention from the Secretary for Defence is needed, the Logistics Division will report to the Secretary for Defence accordingly ...
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In light of the recent deaths of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), what (a) immediate measures are being taken to ensure that SANDF soldiers who are deployed on peacekeeping missions are properly equipped and protected, given the growing risks in regions like the DRC, (b) steps is the Government taking to reassess the safety protocols and military strategies that are currently in place for SANDF soldiers deployed in peacekeeping missions and (c) are the full details of the support her department will provide to the families of the SANDF soldiers who died during the peacekeeping missions in the DRC?
(1)(a) The immediate measure, amongst others, is to continue requesting adequate funding allocation as per international norms and standards for the defence of the country and be able to respond to threats , as well as contribute to ensuring peace on the region, the continent and globally. Mainly the measures required are long-term to capacitate the SANDF with necessary military equipment for Land, Air, ...
