A defence force for all SA
Budget for what you expect, not what you can afford writes NOSIVIWE MAPISA-NQAKULA
We must remain vigilant in protecting and securing our airspace and maritime zones
SANDF REMEMBERS ITS FOUNDING COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 1918 - 2018
ON BEHALF OF THE NATION, I want to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Defence Force for the manner in which they conducted the funeral services of our stalwarts Mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela and Dr Zola Skweyiya.
Last Wednesday, May 9, marked 24 years since our mother Albertina Sisulu stood on the floor of this House to nominate Nelson Mandela as our country’s first democratically elected president. This year the nation commemorates the centenary of the births of President Nelson Mandela and Mama Sisulu. The SANDF is deeply honoured to remember Nelson Mandela as its founding commander-in-chief and continues to be inspired by his values and vision for a defence force that symbolises unity and service to all our people.
The Defence Force is committed to the principles and values enshrined in our constitution. The Defence Force’s first policy document appropriately entitled “Defence in a Democracy” was approved by this Parliament. A central principle of our constitutional democracy is the subordination of the military to civil authority. The entrenchment of that principle during Tata’s tenure as president of the republic is one of the many positive legacies he bequeathed on our nation.
South Africa is a peaceful country that lives in harmony with its neighbours. However, the unpredictability of the strategic environment, together with emerging conflict trends on the African continent, requires us to maintain a credible military force as a deterrent. Some of the countries in the SADC are injecting financial resources to build their military capacity through acquisition programmes. Conversely, South Africa is on a path of reduced defence expenditure.
The Defence Review 2015 warned us that: “No country can be considered immune from international acts of terror that are difficult to counter, owing to the international networks involved, and which may be perpetrated by individuals not affiliated to a specific country or group, but to an ideological cause”. Terrorism poses a real danger to our region.
South Africa’s constrained ability to effectively manage, monitor and react to land, air and maritime threats allows for the continuous inflow of illegal migrants, smuggling of goods, weapons and human trafficking. These factors contribute to internal instability and lawlessness. The porousness of our borders requires a multidepartmental approach and the cooperation of our neighbours. For instance, the barbaric manner of the recent slaughter in Durban is a concern to our people.
We must remain vigilant in protecting and securing our airspace and maritime zones. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and privately owned small aircraft are often used for acts that threaten the safety and security of our people.
We are all aware of the growing cyber-threat to the republic. It is paramount that efficient, powerful and cost-effective cyber-defence and cyber-security solutions are implemented to protect the critical information infrastructure. Natural and man-made disasters remain a reality that could have catastrophic consequences for our country. Increased and possibly detrimental global warming is forecast.
Both cabinet and parliament endorsed the South African Defence Review 2015 as the national policy on defence. I reported to this House last year that: “the persistent and continued dramatic downward trend in real-terms of the funding allocation to defence has reached a point where the DOD runs the risk of losing more of its essential capabilities, in addition to those already lost”.
We have had ongoing engagements with the National Treasury and the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation over the last year, but I must now report that, despite these efforts, the defence allocation has not improved. Specifically, the critical requirement to raise the defence base-line during the MTEF by R18,2 billion to implement the Defence Review has not been realised. This poses serious constraints to defence and the Plan to Arrest the Defence Decline remains unfunded. Defence should remain mandate driven, and not budget driven as is currently the case.
Not only is the Defence Force expected to defend and protect South Africa, it is expected to rapidly intervene during crises on the Continent. It must sustain Peace Support Operations and continuously secure the land borders, the full maritime zone and the airspace. We also expect the Defence Force to be a key role-player in the cyber-defence of South Africa and to support other departments, when required. We further expect our Defence Force to execute our many international obligations.
This level of ambition is not sustainable on the current level of funding. I want to repeat what I said last year, South Africa has now reached the point where it must make a decision on the kind of Defence Force it wants and what it can afford. In terms of planning, we must assume that Defence will remain on this downward funding trajectory for the foreseeable future. Should this be the case, urgent steps will have to be taken to stabilise the department and create a more sustainable defence capability, albeit at a lowerlevel than was envisaged in the 1998 and 2015 Defence Reviews.
We must put in place dramatic measures to ensure that the Defence Force can sustainably function within this reduced allocation. I have directed the Department to formulate targeted interventions to achieve short-term sustainability. These interventions must ensure the least possible disruption to the fighting units and must enhance the SANDF’s operational output.
I have also directed the Department and the Chief of the Defence Force to follow a “SoldierFirst” principle for its members, emphasising discipline, fitness, training, medical health and the personal equipment of the individual soldier. The Defence Force exists to conduct military operations and must ensure that each and every soldier is ready to deploy in military operations as required.
In terms of human resources, the budget constraints drive us to consider a reduction of personnel. However, considering operational pressures, the Council of Defence made a decision not to reduce the defence personnel complement. I have directed the department to make personnel interventions focussed on the combat units, supported by both a ‘feeder system’ that will bring in young, fit and healthy soldiers and an accelerated, attractive retirement programme with full benefits, beyond that of the current Mobility Exit Mechanism (MEM), but without losing critical skills.
I would also like to thank the 15 000 Reserve Force members who voluntarily served in the past financial year.The new Reserve Force Regulations were gazetted on June 22, 2017. Deficiencies and corruption in the current Reserve Force System are being addressed and I have directed that the whole Reserve Force System must be overhauled.
We will have to prioritise the maintenance of that equipment which is required for priority missions and dispose of legacy and irreparable equipment and ammunition. Notwithstanding the severe fiscal constraints, we must prioritise the acquisition of domain-awareness systems in order to deliver more effective operations.
Our facility footprint is one of our most significant cost drivers. This must be rationalised in alignment with the priority missions. In addition, we must reduce the DOD’s exposure to high-cost leases, ‘sweat’ surplus Defence Endowment assets and lease out our under-utilised facilities.
I have further ordered a forensic investigation into the 1 Military Hospital refurbishment programme due to the number of years and the cost it has taken for the hospital to be fully refurbished and completed.
The Defence Force is currently involved in Border Safeguarding Operations along the Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia and Botswana borders with tremendous successes. However, due to the current budget cut, the roll-out from the current 15 sub units to 22 sub units will probably be delayed.
In order to enhance the mobility, quick-reaction and wide coverage of forces deployed along the borders, the Defence Force has procured new Troop-Pack vehicles that are being rolled-out in phases as part of an Integrated Mobility Package on the borderline. 200 of these vehicles have been distributed and are currently being used in Operation CORONA: 50 in the Free State and 25 in each of the other seven Provinces having a border-line.
The Defence Force will continue to conduct maritime border safeguarding operations under Operation CORONA. The SA Navy’s visible presence has led to the absence of piracy incidents in the Mozambique Channel and the total absence of maritime piracy within South Africa’s maritime zones.
In support of our foreign policy, and within the mandates provided by the United Nations and the African Union, we have continued to make a meaningful contribution to the security of the Continent. The SANDF’s Brigadier General Patrick Njabulo Dube took over command of the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in the Eastern DRC during April 2018.
South Africa supports the United Nations intention to downscale MONUSCO. However, in doing so this should not affect the capacity and capability of the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB). We cannot accept that South Africa withdraws its assets, in particular the Rooivalk, which would weaken our combat capability and place our troops at risk.
In terms of our SADC commitments and foreign policy objectives, our Commander-in-Chief remains the mediator in Lesotho. South Africa has pledged its support to the SADC Police and Military Operation in Lesotho (SAPMIL).
The African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC) was set up in November 2014. Although established as a temporary measure, it must continue until the African Standby Force is fully established, organised and operationalised at a Continental level. To this effect, South Africa will be the framework nation for ACIRC in 2020 and will continue to participate as a volunteer nation throughout.
The SANDF, through its humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response operations has continued to provide support for disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and search and rescue missions on an ongoing basis. An example was the recent fire-fighting in the Eastern and Western Capes, building of bridges in rural communities and the South African Military Health Services deployment to the North West Province.
The local building of three patrol vessels and a hydrographic survey vessel for the SA Navy will significantly bolster the national ship building industry.
Project Koba-Tlala is aligned with the country’s policy for the agriculture sector.This project is focussed on boosting small-scale and emerging farmers and SMMEs as part of the value-chain. This initiative should have a footprint in all rural provinces. We intend to provide greater job prospects for the youth as well as the re-skilling and education of our Reserve members. In this financial year, the Defence Force will launch a ‘Production Brigade’.
The Defence Industry Charter was gazetted in August 2017 for public comment and the Sector has agreed on the set targets.The charter now awaits a formal launch. A Defence Industry Fund will be launched on 06 June 2018.
Armscor has continued to execute its mandate within a framework of good governance and fiscal discipline. Between Armscor and the industry, over 120 science and engineering university bursaries have been awarded to new students this year. Over 130 schools were reached nationally through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives assisting educators and learners to safeguard the future talent pool for scientists and engineers for the defence industry.
Armscor has established a military veterans enterprise development incubator and the enterprise supplier development to ensure that this designated group is supported and included in the defence industry.
The DOD welcomes the changes being effected in Denel and in particular the appointment of a new board. As the biggest client of Denel, therefore the DOD requests an urgent intervention by Government to develop a rescue plan that ensures the retention of critical sovereign assets, intellectual property and the critical skills that resides in Denel.
Last year, I informed members that we had initiated the development of a multi-purpose logistic support vehicle called Truck Africa under Project Palama. This project has since commenced under the accelerated acquisition programme, making use of indigenous local knowledge and expertise.
Since the 2015 commencement of Project Thusano, in collaboration with the Cuban armed forces, 5 601 vehicles have been repaired at a saving of R434 million. Skills were transferred to 1 171 members. 202 Defence Force students are undertaking professional training in Cuba, including training as doctors.
The UN follows a “Zero-Tolerance” policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse cases committed by its peacekeepers and requires stronger enforcement action against perpetrators. South Africa has come under scrutiny in this regard. Nonetheless the UN regards us as the ‘case for best practice’ in the manner in which we conduct investigations and prosecutions within the mission areas. I am however concerned that the lenient sentences imposed by our military courts do not act as a deterrent, and this has resulted in strong criticism against South Africa. I have directed the Chief of the Defence Force to issue a Defence Force Instruction on sexual exploitation and abuse in mission areas. If a perpetrator is found guilty, he or she must be dishonourably discharged.
Following security breaches in some units, the Defence Force has instituted management interventions to address security at military bases. We need to have a combination of both technology and armed guards. This includes ill-discipline and criminal acts, such as the recent incident in Limpopo where a member of the SANDF was arrested by the police for criminal activity. The member has since been dishonourably discharged from the Defence Force.
Mechanisms to deal with corruption are also in place, which have resulted in the arrest and prosecution of a number of senior officers and other officials.
It is both illegal, and unacceptable, for any serving member of the Defence Force to be involved in party political activities and make party political utterances. In this regard we have current ongoing disciplinary cases. Members, if found to have acted in this manner, will be disciplined. The integration of the seven different armed forces into one single, cohesive force anchored South Africa’s transition from Apartheid to democracy.This was a difficult and painful process, and in this regard, we have noted and condemned the racist comments made by one of our own members in the social and mainstream media. Disciplinary processes are already underway.
We are one of the few countries that has a Military Ombud.The ombud finalised 664 cases. A total of 43 cases where submitted to me, and in each instance, I accepted the recommendations. Only six of these remain outstanding for implementation. There needs to be a more concerted effort to strengthen aspects of governance and administration in the Department of Military Veterans, as well as combating corruption and its impact on service delivery.
On behalf of all members of the Defence Force and employees of the Department of Defence, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the excellent work done over the past years. I want you to always remember that it is an honour to serve your people with dedication. We take great pride in your achievements.
I request the Honourable Members to approve the R47,9 billion that has been allocated to the Department of Defence this financial year.