Agb Voorsitter, as ek net my tydaanwysing kan kry, sal dit goed wees. Ek wil begin deur te s 'n land en sy mense wil trots wees op hul Nasionale Weermag. Hulle wil 'n Nasionale Weermag h wat professioneel en gedissiplineerd is, en die mense moet vertroue kan h in daardie Weermag, sodat hul internasionale integriteit beskerm kan word.
In hierdie jaar was daar twee krisisse en eintlik 'n skandaal in Suid- Afrika en elke keer was dit 'n vingerwysing na die SA Nasionale Weermag. Die Minister het vandag ges dat sy nou na die prosedures en rels aangaande Waterkloof kyk en dat dit opgegradeer sal word. Dit is te min, en te laat! Die skade is reeds berokken. Dit is onaanvaarbaar.
Wanneer ons kyk na die Sentraal-Afrikaanse Republiek, wil ek dadelik s dat ek daardie mans en vroue in uniform salueer wat hulle op die gevegsterrein onderskei het. [Tussenwerpsels.] Dit is onaanvaarbaar as gekyk word na die gebrek aan logistieke en intelligensiesteun. Dit skep die indruk dat die Nasionale Weermag onprofessioneel is.
Ek wil vandag vir die Minister s dat dit nie professioneel is wanneer die publiek moet lees dat 'n duikboot teen die kaai vasgemeer het en skade opgedoen het nie. Dit is nie professioneel wanneer 'n duikboot die bodem van die see in 'n veiligheidsoefening tref nie. Dit is nie professioneel wanneer 'n Dakota-vliegtuig in die berge vasvlieg nie. [Tussenwerpsels.] Dit is nie professioneel wanneer 'n helikopter in die Krugerwildtuin val nie.
Ek wil vandag vir die Minister s - want niemand wil dit vir haar s nie, want dit is nie polities korrek nie - dat die probleem in die SANW nie net 'n dissiplineprobleem is nie, maar ook 'n opleidingstandaardprobleem. Ek wil vandag 'n beroep op die agb Minister doen dat die Nasionale Weermag vrygestel moet word van die transformasiebeleid van die regering.
Ek wil vandag vir die Minister s dat die transformasiebeleid veroorsaak dat opleidingstandaarde in die Nasionale Weermag verlaag word om mense te akkommodeer. 'n Vliegtuig is nie 'n voertuig wat sommer deur enigiemand bestuur kan word nie. Dit verg hoogs opgeleide personeel.
Ek wil vandag vir die Minister s, as sy nie die opleidingstandaarde gaan verhoog nie, sal daar meer ongelukke in die Nasionale Weermag gebeur. Ek wil ook vir u s dat dit onbillik teenoor die belastingbetalers is om meer geld te kom vra - en ek vra altyd meer geld - en ... [Onhoorbaar.] ... dit word nie gebruik nie. [Tyd verstreke.] [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Chairperson, if I can just have my time indication, it will be fine. I want to start by saying that a country and its people want to be proud of their National Defence Force. They want a National Defence Force that is professional and disciplined, and the people must be able to have confidence in that Defence Force so that their international integrity can be protected.
In this year there were two crises and actually a scandal in South Africa, and each time it was a pointer to the SA National Defence Force. The Minister has said today that she is looking into procedures and regulations as regards Waterkloof and that they will be upgraded. This is too little, too late! The damage has been done. This is unacceptable.
Looking at the Central African Republic, I can immediately say that I salute those men and women in uniform who have distinguished themselves on the battlefield. [Interjections.] It is unacceptable when considering the lack of logistical and intelligence support. It creates the impression that the National Defence Force is unprofessional.
I can tell the Minister here today that it is not professional when the public has to read that a submarine was damaged while mooring at the quay. It is not professional when a submarine hits the ocean floor during a safety exercise. It is not professional when a Dakota aircraft flies into a mountain. [Interjections.] It is not professional when a helicopter crashes in the Kruger National Park.
I want to tell the Minister today - seeing that nobody wants to say this to her, because it isn't politically correct - that the problem in the SANDF is not just a disciplinary one, it is also one of training standards. I want to appeal to the Minister today for the National Defence Force to be exempted from the government's transformation policy.
I am telling the Minister today that the transformation policy is causing a lowering of training standards in the National Defence Force in order to accommodate people. An aircraft is not a vehicle that can be operated by just anyone. It requires highly trained personnel.
I want to tell the Minister today that if she does not lift the training standards, there will be more accidents in the National Defence Force. I can also tell you that it is unreasonable towards the tax payers to come and ask for more money - and I am always asking for more money - but then ... [Inaudible.] ... not being used. [Time expired.] [Applause.]]