Jammer, Adjunkspeaker, maar ek dink ons moet maar die vraag vra. U het te vinnig gepraat. Ek wil aan die agb Minister die volgende punt maak: Ek dink nie dit is net die Lugmag wat in die moeilikheid is as gevolg van te min fondse nie. Die hele SA Nasionale Weermag het 'n probleem.
My vraag is, agb Adjunkspeaker, en ek vra dit nie aan die agb Minister van Verdediging nie en Militre Veterane - ek vra dit aan die agb Minister van Finansies: Wat gaan die Kabinet doen om te verseker dat ons nog 'n professionele Weermag bly? Daar word hopeloos te min begroot. Dit is 'n wreldstandaard dat ons minstens 2% van die bruto binnelandse produk nodig het om te kan oorleef. Ons is nou op 1,3%. Wat gaan die agb Minister van Finansies daaromtrent doen? Dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: I am sorry, Deputy Speaker, but I think I have to ask the question. You spoke too quickly. I want to raise the following point to the hon Minister: I think that the Air Force is not the only entity suffering due to a lack of funds. The whole SA National Defence Force is suffering.
My question, hon Deputy Speaker, and I am not asking it of the hon Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, but of the hon Minister of Finance: What is Cabinet going to do to ensure that we remain a professional Defence Force? Large-scale underbudgeting is taking place. According to the world standard, at least 2% of the gross domestic product should be allocated to the Defence Force. We are currently allocating 1,3%. What is the hon Minister of Finance going to do about this? Thank you.]