Further indications of what appears to be an increasing interest in the well-being – now and into the future – of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) by parliamentarians comes with two questions to Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga.
Both were asked by African National Congress (ANC) Members of Parliament with one coming from Molefi “Dakota” Legoete, who chairs the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV). Parliamentary whip Faith Muthambi, also a PCDMV member, asked the other. Replies to both were posted by the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG).
In response to the PCDMV chair seeking ministerial input on “innovative steps” to rejuvenate the SANDF with an emphasis on human resources, Legoete was informed the Department of Defence (DoD) “has been engaging” with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s National Treasury (NT). This is to “secure appropriate funding towards measures that would enhance the force rejuvenation process”.
This is ongoing and Motshekga’s reply reads further “once consensus is reached on the funding model, the DoD will operationalise its existing HR [human resource] strategy and related policy frameworks to implement force rejuvenation initiatives”. These will include but not be limited to increased recruitment and implementing exit and reskilling programmes over the medium or long term.
Muthambi’s question to Motshekga reads: “What proactive steps will her department take to develop a vibrant and forward thinking strategic plan to enhance the capabilities of the SANDF, modernise its equipment and ensure readiness to address the security requirements of the Republic?”
The written Ministerial reply starts by noting the SANDF has taken steps and went through a deliberate appreciation and planning process for the long term periods “emanating from the approval of the Defence Review 2015”.
Elaborating, it continues: “Through its Military Cap[s]tone Concept that analysed the requirements in the strategic environment linking the strategic objectives with the military strategic focus, the DoD was able to chart the way forward in determining what is required. In addition, the SA Military Strategy to 2055 (30-year projection) was developed as a Capstone Document guiding strategies in the SANDF and it details the ends (what), ways (how) and means with what must South Africa be defended and protected. The desired force design and force structure capabilities are also encapsulated in the SA Military Strategy to 2055 in the form of the blue print force design/force structure as an envisaged force which is futuristic inclined (30 years cycle projection)”.
“In line with the Military Strategy, a ‘Journey to Greatness Plan’ (SANDF) long term capability development plan was developed to ensure the implementation of the strategy. These plans cover a period of multi MTSFs [three-year medium term strategic frameworks] detailing how to rebuild, modernise equipment and enhance the SANDF capabilities. All the requirements to improve the current state of the SANDF have been appreciated, costed with a phased implementation approach.”
In closing, the Motshekga response states: “It is also important to note that all these strategies and plans have been costed for the long term plan, however they remain unfunded and therefore not implementable due to lack of resources”.
