Portfolio committee concerned about Department of Defence’s strategy, budget constraints
The Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans has raised concerns that the ongoing budgetary constraints experienced by the Department of Defence (DoD) will result in the ongoing decline in the department’s capabilities and performance.
The department briefed the committee on April 24, including on its strategic plan and performance plan for the 2025/26 financial year.
The committee noted that it was clear from the presentation that it should anticipate another chronic underwriting of budgets, which will continue the decline in defence capabilities.
Committee chairperson Dakota Legoete says it is necessary to engage National Treasury to reconsider their allocation in line with the 2024 Presidential directive that ordered the defence budget to be moved from 0.7% to 1.5% of GDP to redress chronic underfunding.
Members of the committee are also concerned about the deteriorating condition of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), particularly the lack of maintenance of its prime mission equipment.
Despite previous commitments from SANDF leadership, the committee notes its repeated failure to deliver a fresh, effective strategy to reverse the decline.
While the committee acknowledges plans to develop a strategy to address force rejuvenation and rising personnel costs, it believes that current plans as presented during the meeting lack innovation and do not seek ways to enhance SANDF operational capacity within tight fiscal constraints.
“The DoD must use allocated funds wisely since there is concern about growing irregular and fruitless expenditure and, furthermore, to answer all audit queries as raised by the Auditor-General to reduce an adverse outlook on its books,” Legoete states.
The committee further urges the DoD to engage with Treasury and find innovative ways to reduce the cost of employees without undermining the department’s human capabilities.
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