Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers and hon members, the UDM supports Budget Vote No 22. [Applause.]
Niza kuyeka ukuqhwaba ngemizuzu nje embalwa. [Kwaqhwatywa.] [You will stop applauding in a few minutes. [Applause.]]
President Zuma's decision to reshuffle the Cabinet a few months ago slowed down the progress the department has made since 2009. We are pleased to hear from the Minister today that at last the inordinate amount of time the department took to finalise the Defence Review and appointing permanent Defence Force Service Commissioners is finally bearing fruit.
This House will recall that the Interim National Defence Force Service Commission tabled a report which recommended that government reviews the 1998 Defence Review with a view to allocating adequate resources to the task of building an effective Defence Force, among others. This is particularly critical in the light of our obligations and mandate to maintain peace and stability here at home and on the continent.
Hon Minister, allow me to be critical of your style of running your department.
Hayi kakubi, sisi wam. [Not in a bad way, my sister.] The nation is concerned about the fact that you are spending most of your time out of the country, attending to some insignificant issues, rather than in the country, running your department. If the majority of your trips had any significance, the department would have benefited from them.
With regard to your overseas trips, the UDM is still considering where to direct a sensitive question about the close proximity of a UK-based company and a certain Zimbabwean citizen to your office.
Your failure to prioritise the department and its needs could be seen in the dismal manner in which you handled the Central African Republic fiasco. Whilst you were busy gallivanting around Durban during the Brics bash our troops were engaged in a 13-hour battle with the rebels in the CAR. You did not even deem it appropriate to leave the bash and join the SA National Defence Force commanders in Pretoria. It took almost 48 hours to hear from you.
In conclusion, hon Minister, you failed to provide leadership in the CAR fiasco in that you have thus far neither established a board of inquiry to look into the matter, nor have you briefed this House on your department's operational report on it, if there is any. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]