Cape Town – South Africa will continue with its engagements in support of peace and stability in Africa to ensure future food security and survival of the people of the continent.
Tabling her Budget Vote on Thursday, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, said Africa had enough resources that could be shared for common prosperity, security and human development.
However, poor governance, instability and war posed the biggest threat to the ability of the continent to harness this potential.
War has led to the plundering of African resources. “The continued plundering of these resources is a direct threat to our future food security and survival. It is for this reason that we will continue our engagements in support of peace and stability in the continent,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.
The minister said SA has pledged to contribute a battalion to an envisaged intervention force for the eastern part of Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Challenges facing SA
The death of 13 soldiers in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, in March, accidents involving military aircraft, and the recent unauthorised use of Waterkloof Air Force Base for private purposes had starkly exposed the challenges facing SA’s defence and security environment.
“In the aftermath of these events, the department has had to conduct deep introspection and review, the result of which will have serious implications for the work and organisation of our armed forces, particularly during this financial year,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.
The Defence Review, which is sitting with Cabinet, has already taken into consideration some of the weaknesses in tactical planning, design, legislation and operation requirements that had led to these challenges.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was preparing to align its planning activities to accommodate the implementation of the Defence Review’s recommendations. This could require some reprioritisation and adjustment to be made to plans and financial projections.
Lessons learnt in the CAR were also being used to assist the SANDF in planning, preparing forces, and the deploying of troops in current and future operations.
Because of Waterkloof, the SANDF was conducting a review aimed at strengthening identified weaknesses in command and control, policy, delegations, as well as the standard operating procedure governing the use of and access to its facilities.
Mapisa-Nqakula said the Department of Defence and the SANDF would continue to do their work in pursuit of constitutionally mandated obligations, adding that the SANDF was developing a fully integrated approach to the defence of the Republic, international obligations and ordered tasks.
“South Africa’s national interest is always central to the fulfilment of the defence mandate,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.
In the Indian Ocean, Operation Copper was implemented in the Mozambican Channel to deter piracy and ensure the security. These operations would continue with an amount of R585 million allocated for South African Development Community Maritime Security Strategy.
Bolstering operations
On training, Mapisa-Nqakula said that an agreement had been concluded with the Russian Federation to train SANDF members, particularly pilots, in essential skills.
SANDF personnel have been active in border security operations in four provinces. Their presence has contributed significantly to government’s efforts to combat crime.
Cabinet had approved the purchase of VVIP aircraft in 2011. Funding has been approved for the acquisition of these aircraft in this financial year.
This year, the Defence Budget Vote totals R40.243 billion, which is the equivalent of 1.1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product and 3.8 percent of total government expenditure.
Mapisa-Nqakula said it was a matter of concern that over the years, South Africa had gradually been losing its influential position as one of the industry leaders in defence innovation.
“It is for this reason that the department must play a direct role in the restructuring of the defence industry to ensure that it focuses primarily on the requirements of the SANDF.”
The department would continue to pay attention to improve the lives of military veterans. An amount of R300 million has been allocated for socio-economic benefits. – SAnews.gov.za
