MARCHING ORDERS
Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula officially opened the Defence Force Service Commission satellite office at SAS Wingfield, Goodwood, yesterday.
DEFENCE and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says a new compensation policy for the families of military members who have died in service is to be implemented.
Mapisa-Nqakula made the announcement during her address to military personnel and dignitaries at the unveiling of the Defence Force Service Commission’s (DFSC) satellite office and memorial wall at the SAS Wingfield Base in Goodwood yesterday.
She said the new compensation policy for SANDF members would ensure more willingness for deployment under a bilateral banner with the UN.
“The ministry has approved, signed off and gazetted the policy, and (it) is in the process of being implemented. This comes along with the work of the DFSC, which provides us insight into a number of challenges within our bases that we were not aware of,” said MapisaNqakula.
She said stronger relationship-building between the commission and the Military Command Council was vital as the military needed to be open if it wanted the public to rally behind it.
Construction of the new office, memorial and renovations on other SANDF premises in the province were done exclusively by its Works Regiment members.
Mapisa-Nqakula said this not only showed the skills of military personnel, but saved the SANDF hundreds of millions of rand in expenditure.
The commission was established in 2013 as an independent entity to research and recommend improvements regarding remuneration and the conditions of service for SANDF members.
The DFSC undertakes visits to the country’s military bases and conducts interviews with close to 20 000 members, and the new office provided a central point for personnel in the southern, Northernand Western Cape, MapisaNqakula said.
DFSC commissioner Edna van Harte said the new satellite office would allow for the commission to have a footprint in the province.
“This allows us to have more direct access with policymakers in Parliament, as well as provide access to the military personnel for the designated region.
“Another recommendation currently set to the military is to begin a process to unblock policy which prohibits a union as it is believed it would undermine military structures,” said van Harte.
She said the process before construction of the new offices had posed challenges, but provided lessons as to how to better navigate military policy. Van Harte further said it would help the SANDF to fully exploit the skills of its personnel as in the instance of the Works Regiment.
The ministry has approved, signed off and gazetted the policy