Mhlalingaphambili ohloniphekileyo, Mphathiswa uSisulu ohloniphekileyo, Sekela-Mphathiswa uMakwetla, malungu nabaPhathiswa abahloniphekileyo, malungu eSebe lezoKhuselo naMagqala oMkhosi, nani zindwendwe, kuquka nentombi yam, ngqanga neentsiba zayo. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.) [Ms S T NDABENI: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister Sisulu, Deputy Minister Makwetla, hon Members and Ministers, members of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, visitors, including my daughter, all protocol observed.]
Chairperson, our budget must contribute to building capacity in the SA National Defence Force by providing adequate resources so that it can play an even bigger role in peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance in Africa and the world.
Members of the SANDF, in conjunction with the SA Police Service, should ensure peace and stability by way of effective management of the crime- prevention strategy which has fostered greater co-operation among the security cluster departments.
This budget must ensure landward, air force and naval readiness for the detection and neutralisation of all forms of possible threats. With the 2010 Fifa World Cup and border-related operations, our Defence Force must really be ready to enhance a peaceful environment with the necessary resources beyond 2010.
Our understanding of a state of readiness should not mean weaponry, equipment and the narrow interests of local and international capital. It should mean building a secure and peaceful developmental state, and transformation of the Defence Force in a manner that is underpinned by gender, race and age considerations. Our Constitution is unequivocal about the role of defence. We need to strengthen our flexible approach to defence planning so that it takes account of the changing need of defence. This calls for multirole approaches, skills-based capability and the effective use of the reserve force. Indeed, it requires an integrated approach to military strategy.
I am happy because the department has a process to promote combat- readiness, and to do so indirectly through the national commission of defence and military veterans. This will ensure upgrading of infrastructure and equipment to ensure safe conditions of service. This will ensure the recruitment and retention of scarce skills, and particularly the modernisation of equipment in landward defence, air defence and the navy with the idea of ensuring combat-readiness.
Our budget must ensure that the SANDF can maintain and sustain its combat- readiness. It must improve the equipment and ammunition of the SA National Defence Force.
Combat readiness also means that the health and safety of our soldiers are paramount, and these are advanced through this budget. We welcome an increase in the landward defence programme, compared to last year's allocation. We recognise that most of the allocation is aimed at the modernisation of the landward defence capability.
This budget must promote the necessary training and skills courses and the exercising and supporting mechanisms to promote readiness. It must ensure the maintenance of systems and required equipment.
The number of women in senior positions in the SANDF is still low in comparison with that of their male counterparts. For instance, the maritime and air force defence programmes are largely male-dominated. In the same vein, there is a need to ensure that young people, both black and white, swell the ranks of the SANDF.
Gender imbalances continue to persist, as revealed by the small personnel of women deployed in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Darfur. A total of 15,6% of the women in junior ranks were in the combat course. However, we must applaud the department's plan to address the gender imbalance over the long term by way of increasing their current recruitment target of women from 30% to 40% at entry level.
The effective nature of maritime capability within our region is noticeable. In recent years, maritime and naval power has become increasingly relevant, both locally and abroad. South African air force and naval capability needs to be strengthened by this budget to ensure that it continues to play its vital role on the continent and in the region.
This commitment is at the centre of the defence and military veterans' science and technology strategic plan. Technological developments in defence must contribute to the goal of socioeconomic development.
President Zuma, in his state of the nation address, stated:
Government will intensify efforts to promote the interests of South Africa globally. It will support efforts to speed up the political and economic integration of the Southern African Development Community region, and promote intraregional trade and investment.
South Africa continues to play a leading role in continental efforts to strengthen the African Union and its organs, and to work for unity.
The President's emphasis demonstrates commitment to the Freedom Charter, namely that "There shall be peace and friendship". This document contends that economic and political co-operation with other countries will bring about a better life for all, peace, and a better Africa and world.
The ANC's Polokwane conference characterised the current global situation as a situation in which an exploitative socioeconomic system ruled the world, and that the danger should not be underestimated of widening wars of conquest - and other more sophisticated means of subversion - in search of resources, markets and geopolitical advantage. Equally, though, we acknowledged that most countries have become peaceful and democratic and that peace is widely shared.
Hon Maynier, the ANC believes in the sovereignty of all nations to choose their own economic and developmental path, without undue influence by the developed nations or any other country or party. In the same vein, you must also take note that our budget debate is placed within the current global economic crisis.
We really need to commend the leadership of our Minister for her endeavours to place the department on a new path after years of the slow pace of transformation. This is clearly demonstrated by the decrease in expenditure trends, particularly in the cancellation of the A400M Airbus strategic airlift last year. That decision was informed by our budget realities and the developmental interests of our country, and not by dogma.
Hon members, we must assure all South Africans that our boys will be taking good care of our borders and are ready to deal with anyone that seeks to undermine our country and democracy by getting into the country without the proper documentation.
The security preparations for the Fifa Soccer World Cup are at an advanced stage to ensure the security of the event and our country. Therefore all criminal suspects are warned.
Parliament has the power to ensure that national security is strengthened. Therefore, the redeployment of our soldiers to the borders and other ports of entry is overdue. Inkongolo yabantu ithi, "Whuntshu. Mathol' anyongande kukudlelana." [Kwaqhwatywa.] [The ANC says, "Well done." [Applause.]