The Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans, led by Minister Angie Motshekga, along with her Deputy Ministers, Major General Bantu Holomisa and Richard Mkhungo, have reaffirmed their commitment to support and safeguard the welfare of all deployed personnel.
The leaders emphasised the importance of maintaining operational excellence and ensuring the wellbeing of those who serve the nation.
This statement follows a series of meetings convened by Motshekga and her Deputies this week, aimed at aligning the department with the national agenda for progress and development.
They were briefed on all ongoing peacekeeping missions and the overall health of South African troops actively serving in these critical operations.
The leaders also engaged with the newly appointed Armaments Corporation of South Africa (Armscor) board members.
Armscor is the acquisition agency for the Department of Defence (DoD), and other organs and entities of the State.
“The new board has been entrusted with the critical task of steering the entity towards achieving the ‘Journey to Greatness’ - a strategic vision inspired by the President’s directive to increase funding for the DoD.
“The Minister expressed confidence in the new board’s ability to drive innovation, efficiency, and enhanced defence capabilities while ensuring prudent financial management,” the statement read.
The meeting was held to discuss the South African National Service Institute programme, an initiative designed to equip young South Africans with vital skills and career opportunities.
“The ministry emphasised the importance of this programme in addressing the country’s youth unemployment crisis by offering diverse skills development platforms aimed at empowering the next generation of leaders.”
The day wrapped up with a productive meeting with the Defence Sector Charter Council.
“This meeting was a great opportunity for the Minister to connect with the council, whose crucial role is to oversee the implementation of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) in the South African defence industry,” the statement read.
The department said it remains steadfast in its commitment to national security, operational readiness, and socio-economic development through initiatives that create sustainable impact. – SAnews.gov.za
