Parliament’s Joint Committee calls for serious debate on the role and funding of the SANDF

Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence has called for a serious debate on the role and funding of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

The committee has commended the role the Defence Force has played in its support of the police following the recent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

President Cyril Ramaphosa informed Parliament that the cost of the deployment of 25 000 SANDF members is over R600-million.

The deployment is from July 12 to August 12.

President Ramaphosa deploys army after looting sprees in KZN and Gauteng:

Following their visit to the areas of deployment, members said they have noted the poor state of the equipment of the defence force due to budget cuts. Members were also unhappy with the lack of strategic airlift capability of the Airforce and its impact on the movement of troops and equipment in support of the police.

The committee has also raised concerns about the level of strategic intelligence provided to the SANDF and SA Police Service (SAPS).

Committee researcher Willem Janse van Rensburg who read the report that was adopted by the committee following the oversight visit says, “The negative impact of budget constraints on the status of the SANDF’s equipment and the resultant impact thereof was clearly visible during the most recent oversight visit.”

“In line with the committee’s constitutional mandate to make recommendations on the defence budget and armaments, the committee will request a joint report from the SANDF and the National Treasury on critical equipment requirements and the funding thereof,” he adds.

 

 

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