Charter to transform military

DEFENCE and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula wants greater involvement of women and young black South Africans in the country’s multibillion-rand defence industry.

To achieve this‚ Mapisa-Nqakula has introduced a defence industry charter, which will also see military veterans participate and become entrepreneurs in the “white maledominated” sector.

Mapisa-Nqakula was briefing the media on her department’s budget priorities before delivering her budget votes speech in parliament yesterday.

“The defence industry charter is a charter that will now pave the way for inclusion into this sector of young black South Africans.

“Let me remind all of us that the defence industry is a very well organised industry in this country. However‚ it is a white male-dominated industry.

“So the idea‚ the intention of having this charter‚ is in the first instance for women.

“I’m talking about women of all races‚” Mapisa-Nqakula said.

She said transformation of the defence industry remained a critical strategic goal.

“In this regard‚ we established the National Defence Industry Council last year to facilitate a platform for government support and repositioning of the defence industry‚” she said.